Tag Archives: blues

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Robert Pete Williams

I think I first heard Robert Pete Williams’ music in 1980 in the Listening Room at the York University library. They had a great collection of blues music there and a bunch of turntables. You could sign out records (some of you may remember those) and headphones. I used to take my homework up there as if I was going to do the homework while listening to selections from their collection, but I always forgot about the homework part when I started listening to the music. It was magical. I heard all these performers I had never heard of before playing these wonderful idiosyncratic blues. It was magic.

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If I had my way….

I don’t know that the Daily Dose has ventured into Rev. Gary Davis territory before. If not, it’s about time. Way back when I was a teen-aged blues freak, I found a Rev. Gary Davis record in some little record shop, just sitting there waiting for me in the blues section. It was in the blues section because there wasn’t any other place in this record shop to put it. Rev. Gary Davis played music that messed with gospel, ragtime and blues too. He was a very powerful performer. I was maybe 14 or 15 when I heard a recording of Davis singing Twelve Gates to the City and I had never heard anything like it before.

Here’s some stories about Rev. Gary Davis.

 

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Broke Down Engine

I feel like a broke down engine ain’t got no drivin’ wheel. Tonight’s Daily Dose takes us back to Blind Willie McTell and his 12-string guitar. Here he is from 19 and 33.

I was a teen-aged blues freak, and it didn’t stop into early adulthood either (I hadn’t yet discovered how cool the diatonic accordion really was). I know a lot of blues is what I’m trying to say, and this one remains one of my all-time faves.

Here’s Johnny Winter’s take on it…

Townes Van Zandt is known for his songwriting but he also played his share of blues…

If you like this tune, also listen to World Gone Wrong by Bob Dylan. He did a terrific job on this song as well.

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Sonny Boy

Today’s Daily Dose takes us from West Memphis Arkansas up to Chicago. Many of my favourite blues were written and performed by Sonny Boy Williamson. I mean the Sonny Boy Williamson often known as Sonny Boy Willamson (II) even though he claimed to be the original. Another day, I’ll post tunes by the other Sonny Boy who was also a fantastic harmonica player.

Here’s Eyesight to the Blind

Nine Below Zero

They were too close together…

Now here’s John Hammond, covering Sonny Boy’s Fattening Frogs for Snakes

And finally, one more cover…here’s a very hot James Cotton Band covering Don’t Start Me Talking