basement jukebox
Doctor Ross (AKA Charles Isaiah Ross, 1925-1993), “Chicago Breakdown” (DR, vocals, harmonica, guitar, composition; Reuben Martin, washboard; Sam Phillips, producer), 1953
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
basement jukebox
Howlin’ Wolf, “Moanin’ at Midnight,” 1951*
Who needs chord changes?
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Wolf’s harmonica playing was always the right amount. He would never do anything on the harmonica that would detract from you waiting to get back to Wolf’s voice. . . . There is a certain lonesomeness about the harmonica that just fit the Wolf’s character in voice, in song, in lyric; and he just played that just enough to titillate things he was going to do next with his voice.
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*HW (AKA Chester Burnett [1910-1976], vocals, harmonica), Willie Johnson (guitar), Willie Steel, drums.
two takes
“Feel Like Going Home” (C. Rich)
Charlie Rich (vocals & piano), demo, 1973
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Tom Jones with Mark Knopfler (guitar), TV performance, 1996
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
I don’t think I ever recorded anyone who was better as a singer, writer, and player than Charlie Rich. It is all so effortless, the way he moves from rock to country to blues to jazz.
—Sam Phillips (Sun Records)
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radio
Happy Birthday, Charles!
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reading table
I thought that you were an anchor in the drift of the world;
but no: there isn’t an anchor anywhere.
There isn’t an anchor in the drift of the world. Oh no.
I thought you were. Oh no. The drift of the world.
—William Bronk,* “The World” (mp3 [Hudson Falls, NY, 1978], Selected Poems [1995])
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*Bronk, who died in 1999, was recently inducted, posthumously, into the ultra-exclusive MCOTD Hall of Fame, joining tenor saxophonist Von Freeman and poet Wislawa Szymborska.
only rock ’n roll
A lot of early rockers recorded in Memphis, in the 1950s, for Sam Phillips’ Sun Records. Some, like Elvis, became famous. Others, like this guy, didn’t.
Malcolm Yelvington, It’s Me Baby (1997)
Vodpod videos no longer available.***
“Drinkin’ Wine Spodee-O-Dee” (Sun 1954)
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“Rockin’ With My Baby” (Sun 1956)
music clip of the day 