Motown Monday ~ “Live” Full House” ~ The J. Geils Band

The Motor City & this Boston band just seemed to adopt each other, they thought we were home and we thought they were ours.

Their first live album recorded at The Cinderella Ballroom in 72′, The J. Geils Band officially became a Detroit Band, period!

In my book among live albums it ranked right up there with Grand Funk Railroad’s “Live 69′, Humble Pie’s “Performance Rockin’ The Fillmore”, The Allman Brothers Band “Live at the Fillmore East” and Deep Purple’s “Made In Japan”. For that matter Rare Earth’s as well.

Further more the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame should have been built here in Rock City. For what came out of Detroit from the 50s on with Motown and beyond, somebody f’d up big time!

And maybe one day Rory Gallagher, GFR, Humble Pie, the band playing and other bands mentioned will finally be inductee’s. When Donna Summer is considered a worthy Rock-n-Roller but not the real rock bands maybe it’s better the sham is where it’s at in Cleveland.

Full House defines it for what it is so Enjoy!

 

 

 

J. Geils – guitar
Peter Wolf – lead vocals
Seth Justman – keyboards, backing vocals
Daniel Klein – bass
Richard Salwitz aka Magic Dick – harp, trumpet
Stephen Bladd – drums, backing vocals

 

First I Look at the Purse – (Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson)
Homework – (Dave Clark, Al Perkins, Otis Rush)
Pack Fair and Square – (Walter Travis Price)
Whammer Jammer – (Juke Joint Jimmy)
Hard Drivin’ Man – (J. Geils, Peter Wolf)
Serves You Right to Suffer – (John Lee Hooker)
Cruisin’ for a Love – (Juke Joint Jimmy)
Looking for a Love – (J. W. Alexander, Zelda Samuels)

 

 

 

Friday Fried Out ~ “Same Old Blues” ~ Clarence Gatemouth Brown

 

Motown Monday ~ “Looking Back” ~ Mary wells

Mary could Blues it, Soul it, Sass it and Seduce it, but most of all her pipes could sell it. She set the standard and the tone for the rest of the females who followed her.

From the beginning Mary Wells stood in a league of her own with hit after hit after hit. An individual still missed, a legacy that will never fade away.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ ” Driftin’ and Driftin’ ” ~ The Butterfield Blues Band

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Queen Of Hearts” ~ Gregg Allman

Once I was glad
Always happy, never sad
And everyday
Seemed like Sunday…………

I always felt sorry for Gregg, with the loss of Duane then a year later Barry it seemed the whole world was ripped out from under him. How he managed to forge through life at that point let alone music it still astounds me. But with his talent how could it have been kept down.

There’s a sadness in his first solo album “Laid Back” yet the songs come out like a fire from a broken still mending heart. Through thick and thin this man has blessed and given all of us the best part of that heart and that’s why the music within him will always carry on.

Queen of Hearts was just another expression of it.

Thank You Gregg.

 

Wednesday “Whiskey Store” ~ Tab Benoit & Jimmy Thackery

Brilliant performance by two blues greats.

Motown Monday ~ “As The Years Go Passing By” ~ Jim McCarty and Mystery Train

The Blues is Alive & Well in Detroit.

This is an outstanding rendition of Albert King’s song by McCarty & Mystery Train and in my opinion this band deserves more recognition nationally as major blues players outside of the Motor City. McCarty who has been grinding out the rock and these blues since the late sixties doesn’t ever seem for me to get enough mention as being among the best guitarists ever and he is.

 

Thursday “Storming and Raining” ~ Sam Baker

A befitting song for our weather here in Detroit, where it’s been raining for 3 days with 2-3 inches more on the way and more in the forecast through the next 7 days. Cold rain warmed up with a cup of Hot Blues.

 

This artist seemed to have fallen through the cracks of the music business for whatever sad reason because he had one powerful voice.

Born in Jackson, MS on June 14, 1941 he started his career in the late 50s and shared the stage with the likes of Jimmy Reed and Clyde McPhatter. He put out his first 45 in 1960 on a local label, Copa. This tenor who also exploded into bursts of a fabulous falsetto as you can hear recorded a lot of singles for a few more labels but even though he had the talent just never could land a major one.

Wednesday “Deep Winter Blues” ~ Chris Rea

Last year at this time in Detroit over a week of 70s & mid 80s.

This year it seems winter just doesn’t want to end and it feels like a strangling grip. Go already, I’m fed up with cold.

~

Chris Rea is a gifted musician and artist who has been writing and composing his own music since the latter 70s. His realm reaches the depths and his tone always scores. Cheating death in 2001 with pancreatic cancer, he returned to the studio to compose a 11 CD Blues series called Blue Guitars that also features his artwork. It took a year and a half to produce the 137 songs and I haven’t found a bad one yet.

22 prior albums to this 2005 release of a blues bliss, 3 more past this one. For some strange unknown reason this British guitarist/multi instrument, singer, song writer & composer struck millions of a fan base with the exception of the states and I’m left bewildered. He can take a depressing winter day and turn it into something completely mystical.

The arrangements never miss and his muse just keeps getting wider & better with age like fine wine.

Deep Winter Blues is off Album Number Seven – Blues Ballads. It came with a jazz touch and a different flare.

Tantalizing Beautiful.

Sunday Solitude ~ “You Were Never Mine” ~ Janiva Magness.

My bed has become a nightmare of insomnia madness, yet a evanescence of sorts as I just don’t care to get out of it. Somehow the blues in the end always seems to rescue me ~ ~ ~

~~

Janiva Magness was born in Detroit the same year as me and through the worst of an unimaginable start managed to fight through it and come out of it a blooming star. Only the second woman behind Koko Taylor to ever be named by The Blues Foundation the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year in 2009.

She also captured Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year in 06′, 07′, 09′ and nominated for it again in 2012.

This woman has lived the genre sung and maybe as with most genuine blues artists that’s why she exceeds in it.

You Were Never Mine is off her 6th album Do I Move You released in 2006. I’d say she’s moved a whole lot of people. She has since produced three more albums after signing with Alligator Records.

Her 2012 release Stronger For It is phenomenal. I’ll blog on a particular favorite off that one in the future. Today this featured song struck a chord nerve. Enjoy this lady as she sings blues as they were meant to be. It’s what makes her so real and beyond good.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Blues Nightmare” ~ Duke Robillard

Co-founder of Roomful of Blues in 67′ this man has never slowed down. Has fronted, played and recorded among blues best. Has a couple of W.C. Handy awards, Grammys and The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C.Handy Awards) named him “Best Blues Guitarist” four years out of five (2000,2001,2003,2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award. Also was nominated in 05′, 07′, & 08′.

All you have to do is listen to hear why.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Another Dream” ~ James Armstrong

Another player to keep the blues alive and this man has it running through in his veins. He also has lived the daylights out of it.

His first album “Sleeping With A Stranger was released in 1995, then before his next in 1998 “Dark Night” became a reality that almost ended his life. Because in 1997 Armstrong was attacked when someone broke into his home and almost stabbed him to death. It left him with such severe injuries to his left shoulder that it affected his left hand as well.

After months of rehab he had to hire a couple of lead guitarist to complete the second album. He turned to playing slide to bring his arm and playing hand back to full ability during this recuperation time. As you can hear on this third album release Armstrong thankfully returned to his prime.

Alvin Lee of Ten Years After Goes Home To Heaven.

What has come across the news wire within the last hours has more than saddened me. The death of 68-year-old guitarist Alvin Lee.

I may be going on 56 but in my mind I’m still that Woodstock Generation teenager. And the performance that this man gave at that concert of all concerts will forever be etched in my mind.

Saturday Psychedelics ~ “Rattlesnake Shake” ~ Fleetwood Mac

If this don’t take you on a trip nothing will.

The guitars of Green & Kirwan riffing off each other, absolutely Mind Blowing.

Tuesday Thought of More Snow.

Pretty much sums it up.

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!” ~ Janis Joplin

This Queen of Rock would have been 70 now. One can only wonder how much more she would have contributed and became had she lived beyond 27. Sadly a further explosion we never got to experience.

And why she was also called Queen of just Psychedelic Blues? It might have been the era, but this lady was 100% good old-fashioned low down dirty Mother F’N Blues. To me “Work Me Lord” was a Masterpiece.

Pipes, Talent and Real but all so alone.

One song on this album would ultimately define Janis for the song she sang was really about herself, Little Girl Blue.

Raw, Honest, Pure, Heart, Soul, Emotion… and Beyond Missed.

Wednesday “Winter” Johnny that is. “Mean Town Blues”

Somebody please invent a time machine so I can step back…..

This man Smoked!

Wednesday Woes ~ It’s My Own Fault” ~ Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers

Actually it’s his…

Cannot get enough of this man’s playing and am clueless why his name isn’t bigger then most. Absolutely Blazin’

 

Mellow Monday ~ “Pastorale” ~ Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters.

As the snow gently falls here in Detroit.

Band not the first time featured on this blog and certainly won’t be the last.

Monday “My Heavy Load” ~ Big Momma Thorton

Willie Mae & Mississippi Fred McDowell = Blues Perfection

What more else do you need.

Recorded 65′ – 68′.
Released in 1993 off the Ball n’ Chain album.

Thursday Thirst ~ “Solid Ice” ~ Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers

More from this powerhouse of a guitarist. Info on my last blog about him. This ex Nighthawk blazes this jam that sort of reminds my of Neil Young’s Down By The River & SRV’s Riviera Paradise with an ending befitting Hendrix.

When reading the liner notes of the album it states the riff is an instrumental take from one of his own earlier songs “Blue Tears” that had vocals. What ever the combination is Thackery nails it without a flaw. Just a beautiful laid back number to ease and sooth the soul from the bitter cold outside.

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.

 

Monday Moanin’ ~ “Darkness” ~ Tab Benoit

This Louisiana man has been playing since the late 80s then burst onto the music scene in 1992 with his first album. Playing and preserving pure Delta Swamp Blues. His compositions are soulfully honest and raw but he has also done some of the best covers of legends such as Professor Longhair’s “Her Mind Is Gone” and Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”.

You can find those off his 2002 album “Wetlands”.

In 2012 he was named best Contemporary Blues Male Artist and won the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Through the years has toured everywhere but always keeping his Cajun roots, Benoit’s guitar and vocals are infused fire.

Friday Find ~ “If I Had Money” ~ Blues Delight

No I didn’t find any money but I did get turned onto a band I had never heard of before as you know this Blues Woman never stops searching for. Thank God!

This 5 member Canadian band have been playing since 2005. In April of 2009 they released their second album “Open All Night”. All 13 tracks are original.

With blazing guitars, vocals, harp & sax they’ve added a welcome new flavour to the Blues.

Basically they have strictly played eastern Canada (Quebec) based venues with festivals in Montreal (International Jazz festival), (Tremblant Blues festival) and New Brunswick (Edmundston Jazz and Blues festival) but definitely need to expand their horizons.

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “No Need To Worry” ~ Cactus

Oh Yeah “Detroit Style”.

This is the original line up on this song recorded Dec. 19, 1971 in their final appearance. Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, TN.

Jim McCarty – guitar
Rusty Day – vocals, harp
Carmine Appice – drums
Tim Bogert – bass

Saturday “Cold Rain” ~ Blues Company (Germany)

This band has been the best long running blues bands that ever came out of not only Germany but Europe. Starting in 1976 and co-founded by Todor Todorovic they’ve backed U.S. bluesmen Billy Boy Arnold, James Booker, Eddie (Cleanhead) Vinson and others for European dates. They released their first album in 1977.

Since 99′ they added some horns as in BC Horns. Though the first video states Blues Company & BC Horns. Only the members of Blues Company are actually playing. Cold Rain is just one of their own compositions. Research this band there’s a ton more.

As I’ve said a thousand times, Blues is a feeling that comes from within the soul and played out through the heart. We know where it started. I’m just glad it’s still being kept alive. And you can hear, see & feel Todorovic’s showmanship and passion.

Nobody plays the blues for 36 years without loving it.

Saturday “Slow Down (But Don’t Stop)” ~ Benny Latimore

I have been waiting forever for somebody to finally post this song on You Tube.

Outside of Latimore’s 74′ release of “Lets Straighten It Out” nothing in my mind ever came close again until this one. From the 1988 album of the same name the song was the ultimate getting things heated up number. Reminds me of a lot of good times partying with friends around the time of its release. Another great one from the album was “All You’ll Ever Need”.

Latimore had a different tone than traditional Blues. He was a master at combing it with pure raw R&B ballads and all done more than tastefully. To me he was the one who finally put the “Soul” back in the 80s that had been missing since the 60s.

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.

 

Sunday Stellar ~ “Calling Card” ~ Rory Gallagher

You’ll have to find the very first blog I ever posted here on Rory, because I just cannot add to what’s already been said. He will always be among my top five favorite guitarists. And it still mystifies me and consider it a total sin that this man is not apart of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. What in the hell are they listening to from the past?

Problem in itself, listening but not really HEARING.

And there is a very distinctive difference.

This performance was from an album released in 1999 by his brother Donal.

BBC Sessions 1971-1986.

He was elite when he started apart of “Taste” in the late 60s and he never ever faltered up to his death in 1995. Sometimes I think from all the Blues players of my generation, Rory was truly the most passionate. He felt what he played and how any hall of fame could ignore and leave him out?

Yes, The Blues Comes Calling with his Calling Card.

In 2012 he is still so much missed by his fans.

 

Monday Madness!!! ~ “Insane Asylum” ~ Koko Taylor & Willie Dixon

Lorrrrrd Have Mercy! LMAO

Priceless.

This song was written by Willie Dixon and recorded in 1968 as a duet with Koko. It was released initially off Taylor’s first self entitled Chess album. It was re-released on a CD in 2001. Showcasing even more of her powerful pipes beyond what she had already done with a 1964 single by Howlin’ Wolf – Wang Dang Doodle.

But the way Dixon did the into, it was classic.

“What in the world are you doin’ here”. Then a down and out lover answering him with POWER,
“When your loved has ceased to be, ( him – Lord Have Mercy) LOL.. There’s no other place for me”.

God Bless both of their souls. They defined the song beautifully and as its title was named, Insanely.