Damn Sure Got the Blues.

"Anytime you thinking Evil, you thinking about the blues."- Howlin' Wolf
Listen to Howlin' Wolf tell you what the blues is all about.

Robert Squared

Robert Lockwood Jr. was born on March 27, 1915 in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. 1915 was a special year, as several other influential blues artists were born within a 100-mile radius; most notably, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Little Walter Jacobs, Memphis Slim, Johnny Shines, and Honeyboy Edwards, with whom he would play with in later years. It's no wonder Robert Lockwood Jr. had something special. He learned from the best. At age eleven he learned to play the guitar from Robert Johnson himself, who was living with Lockwood's mother at the time. He was already playing professionally by age fifteen, occasionally with Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson II. He later reunited with Sonny in 1941, and they began hosting a radio show. Later Lockwood settled in Chicago in the early 1950s, and became a top session man for Chess Records. He continued to record and tour well into his 80's, and passed away at the age of 91 in 2006.

Presidents Day Blues

Furry's Blues

Born in Greenwod, Mississippi in 1893, Furry was one of the earliest bluesmen. His family moved to Memphis when he was 8. While there, he learned to play guitar from a man he simply knew as "Blind Joe." By 1908 he was playing shows with WC Handy. He cut his first records in 1927 but by the time of the depression he was working as a street sweeper. While not sweeping the streets he played them. His outdated style lead him to be forgotten until the blues revival of the 1960s. Joni Mitchell wrote "Furry Sings the Blues" about him for her 1976 album, Hejira. He died in Memphis at the age of 88.

Detroit Delta Blues

As with all things, music evolves. The blues is no different. In terms of current musicians, Jack White is one of the most influential players going. The White Stripes arguably brought blues into the 21st century. The whole brother/sister, ex-husband and wife gag and the candy cane apparel was always their admitted way of ‘getting away’ with playing the blues, a distraction. But when a band plays the blues that honestly and have such a strong appreciation, I don’t think they were getting away with anything. And I never understood how some complained about Meg’s drumming, did they want Billy Cobham? Her drumming was the key to their sound, and how Jack was able to play the style of music he did. You know how you can’t just eat one chip? This cover of Death Letter is the same, you can’t just watch once. And it ends with a goosebump-inducing version of “Grinnin’ In Your Face,” Jack’s favorite song. And it’s no coincidence we chose three videos. 

Blues Obsession: Floyd Lee

Let me guess. You haven't heard of him. He is also known as Ted Williams. Not the baseball player. Still haven't heard of him? Neither had I until about two weeks ago when I listened to the song 'Down in Lamar.' What a song. Bought the album Mean Blues late last week. What an album. One of the best blues albums I've heard. Just found out about a documentary, "Full Moon Lightnin'," about his trip to find his family he left 60 years ago. When I see that I will post a more in depth look at this woefully under-appreciated man. Till then, enjoy some Down in Lamar. 

Gary Moore

The guitar and music legend has passed, and I thought he more than deserved a blog post. Rock in peace, Gary.

Down to the Delta

Alright, so we've decided that every month or so we'll make our own list of the most important/influential blues musicians of each genre and style (i.e. Delta, Piedmont, Chicago, Jump, etc.). Then we'll do an individual, in-depth post for each on our list. Some may show up again, who knows. And no, we did not put Jack White on our list simply because The White Stripes broke up, he was on there before the news broke. Also, if we left someone off, we may have stuck them in another category...or simply forgot. First up is the Delta.

1. Robert Johnson
2. Son House
3. Charlie Patton
4. Skip James
5. Tommy Johnson
6. Leadbelly
7. John Lee Hooker
8. Mississippi Fred McDowell
9. Blind Lemon Jefferson
10. Muddy Waters
11. Arthur Crudup
12. Kansas Joe McCoy
13. David 'Honeyboy' Edwards
14. Junior Kimbrough
15. R.L. Burnside
16. Pinetop Perkins
17. Booker White
18. Papa Charlie McCoy
19. Big Joe Williams
20. Robert Lockwood Jr.
21. Furry Lewis
22. Jack White

Well It Don't

Let the Rev. Gary Davis take you to church with this one. Death Don't Have No Mercy will open the most closed of all souls.

Death Don’t Have No Mercy

Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death don't have no mercy in this land
He’ll come to your house & he won’t stay long
You look in the bed, & somebody will be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land

Death will go in any family in this land
Death will go in every family in this land
Well he’ll come to your house & he won’t stay long
Look in the bed & one of the family will be gone
Death will go in any family in this land

Well he never takes no vacation in this land
Old Death don't take no vacation in this land
Come to your house, & he won stay long
Look in the bed & your mother will be gone
Death don't take no vacation in this land

Well he’ll leave you standing and crying in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
He comes into your house and he won't stay long
You look in the bed, & somebody will be gone
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land

Death is always in a hurry in this land
Death is always in a hurry in this land
Come to your house, & he won't stay long
Look in the bed & your mother will be gone
Death is always in a hurry in this land

Well, he won’t give you time to get ready in this land
Well, he won’t give you time to get ready in this land
Come to your house, & he won't stay long
You look in the bed, & somebody will be gone
Death won’t give you time to get ready in this land

"Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go."

It’s only right that we start with the one and only Robert Johnson, and the song from which this wonderful blog got its name, “Hellhound On My Trail.” This song was recorded in a warehouse in Dallas, Texas on June 20, 1937. Johnson only recorded 29 songs, but his pioneering guitar work, unmatchable voice and innovative styling of songs has influenced generations of musicians. But his genius may have come at a price. Legend has it that Johnson went down to the crossroads in Mississippi and sold his soul to the devil; and “Hellhound” itself adds to the mysticism, as it portrays a man being swallowed by evil (is this starting to sound like an episode of The Twilight Zone?). This arguably makes him the most mysterious of all the Delta bluesmen, as he is considered the first member of the infamous “27 Club” and little else is known about him.

The lyrics are likely influenced by the idea that hellhounds (evil hell-spawn-type dogs found throughout mythology) were out to get sinners, an idea common in southern churches at the time.

I got to keep movin', I got to keep movin' Blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail Mmmm, blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail And the days keep worryin' me, there's a hell-hound on my trail Hell-hound on my trail, hell-hound on my trial

"Hot foot powder" was a concoction used to drive away unwanted persons and spirits, and Johnson's woman wasn't afraid to use it.

All I would need is my little sweet rider Just to pass the time away, huh huh To pass the time away You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm Mmm, around my door All around my door You sprinkled hot foot powder All around your daddy's door, hmm hmm hmm It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider Every old place I go Every old place I go

To add to the myth that is Robert Johnson, it is said he was poisoned by a strychnine-laced bottle of whiskey. This song is full of desolate images and perhaps, for those believers, foreshadows the morbid death that was imminent.

I can tell the wind is risin' The leaves tremblin' on the tree Tremblin' on the tree Hmmm hmmm hmm mmm All I need is my little sweet woman And to keep my company, hey hey hey hey My company

Whatever the origin or belief, you can feel in your bones how Robert Johnson meant every word he sang and every note he strummed. Songs don't get more powerful, eerie or transcendent than this...