Sultry Saturday ~ “Sweet Tooth” ~ Free

Favorite song off Free’s first album Tons of Sobs in 69′.

Simon Kirke’s drumming on this song gave just the right touch of a samba/blues mix along with the rhythm of 16-year-old Andy Fraser’s bass & Kossoff’s guitar to draw me in. Although this debut album didn’t score so well in the UK (197 US) or depict Rodgers still developing voice. I found it a refreshing start. Moonshine was my second favorite being totally a blues number. All four members were under 20.

With 8 originals out of ten, I’d say they set the stage for what was to come.

 

Sultry Saturday ~ “I Had My Chance” ~ Morphine

I believe most of us have lived these words… well? maybe the gutsy ones didn’t, they took theirs.

 

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “Dead Man” ~ Josefus

It’s too bad this band only produced three albums. Hookah was their own label and that was the problem. With anything no major label to market you, no money and then were left out cold. In reality they had poor management and it cost them a big career.

But cold was anything but this band was. This Texas-based underground band that had formed in the late 60s smoked. The blazed their way through the south and did make a big enough impression to be the opening acts to some very big names. Sadly they just wouldn’t become one of them. Not for lack of talent that’s for certain.

1969 “Get Off My Case”. “Dead Man” 70′ was their second and they would only produce one more their third, “Josefus” 70′ before disbanding for good.

Thursday Throwdown ~ “Sinner Street” ~ Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers

Written by Jimmy Thackery
Released from his 8th album of the same name in 2000.

This guitarist has been blues-ing it since 1972. H was apart of the “Nighthawks” for 14 years. A Washington D.C based band he co-founded. Then went onto Jimmy Thackery and The Assassins until 1991. Then began heading – The Drivers – with Mark Stutso on drums and various bassists throughout the years.

If you never heard of this artist after all these years you have been missing out. This song is just a mere taste. Some of his more laid back slow blues numbers brings out even a better clearer defined blues player. In fact some exceptional guitar work.

 

Saturday Stunning ~ “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Prong Crown)” ~ Fleetwood Mac

In reality this was the only Fleetwood Mac I have ever related to.

The original Blues-Based mid-late 1960s band.

When Peter Green left, for me it was never the same. Yes they continued on and so did he. Both scoring big but with one exception, Green stuck to his roots and it was those roots that made him grow bigger and bigger and in essence would put his playing in the history books forever.

The Green Manalishi was among the very best of his compositions.

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “The Pusher” ~ Steppenwolf

Can still remember sitting in one of my friend’s room listening to this when the album came out, we had to listen to it low.

In 68′ we were 11-years old wishing we were older and out in San Fran Haight/Ashbury with the real hippies. We turned into the latter ones in 70/71′.

Thursday Throw Down ~ “Cottonfields and Crossroads” ~ ~ Los Lonely Boys

As I’ve said in another blog posted about these guys a while back, in my opinion LLB still have never received the recognition they honestly not only deserve but have earned. In another time period they would of been a house hold name in the Rock and Blues Music World.

For some reason most people never could seem to disassociate them from their first hit single “Heaven” when they are about so much more.

Henry Garza’s playing is as good as any notable guitar player that has come from out of the past. Only these artists are here at present and with brothers Jojo & Ringo exceptional players in their own right have given, represented and have helped preserve the blues in this present day in age.

Monday Mojo ~ I Put A Spell On You ~ Creedence Clearwater Revival

Written by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

Released off the self entitled first album of CCR in 1968.

Sizzling Sunday Detroit Style ~ Frijid Pink ~ The House of the Rising Sun

Written by? Somebody in the 16th-18th century. It is an old traditional folk song recorded by multitudes of people along the way from the 1930s through mainly the 1960s.

The Animals struck the first commercial success with the song in 1964.

5 years later Detroit’s Frijid Pink released their 1969 arrangement of a more striking psychedelic version that got them Gold reaching the top 10 of U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with over a one million copies sold. It also reached number 4 on the U.K. singles chart.