In a colourful life he started out singing gospel and was a useful boxer, winning a Golden Gloves title. When Led Zeppelin included his 1962 song for Muddy Waters called "You Need Love" into a track on their iconic second album, he sued, got an out of court settlement and the song writing credits amended on all subsequent versions of the Zep album. If that wasn't enough, the money was used to help set up the "Blues Heaven Foundation" charity (now administered by his family). It's probably better left to the listener to fire up a search engine to get more detail. Pretty sure the legal niceties are the reason the movie hasn't been commissioned (the plot is terrific).
His "Signifying Monkey" was a big sheet music seller before the Big Three cut a record of it and we went to his final solo album called "Hidden Charms" stuffed full of his own songs on silvertone. (The following project "Ginger Ale Afternoon" was a soundtrack).
We inadvertently chose a poor copy of Charles Clark's version of "Hidden Charms" - the fidelity probably through the radio may not have been great: sorry (sourcing old vinyl does that sometimes).
I was away from the bridge for just two weekends and look what happens: the blues died. Well it did if you read Uncut magazine. Patent nonsense easily rebuffed when you consider Mavis Staples had just done a terrific set from the stage of Glastonbury. I also have a handsome heap of brand new albums for airplay audition arrived while I was away. Classical music didn't die when Beethoven died.. Sure BB King was a gifted musician who continues to influence so many other players, his real loss is that of a humanitarian of grace, patience and understated wisdom. Celebrate what he did and what we have now. I struggle each week trimming my playlist into a two hour slot: the blues will be dead when I can't find enough good stuff (not while I have so much).
We paid tribute to Big Time Sarah and Wendell Holmes who died this month; Wendell's passing is particularly poignant given band-mate Popsy Dixon's recent death and the lovely cover feature in the newest Living Blues magazine. His version of "Beast of Burden" showed off a smoky voice and textured guitar and organ.
If you want to write off our music, you should probably note our next planned holiday is 15th November. Before then - Sunday in fact - I'm plotting more trivia, tomfoolery and good old-faashioned blues, be good to have you along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
track.title | track.artistsort | index | album.title | album.artistsort | label | duration | writercredit |
one bourbon one scotch one beer | John Lee Hooker | 4-20 | chess blues | Various Artists | mca | [ 2 mins 50 secs ] | John Lee Hooker |
Iou Blues | Bobby 'Blue' Bland | 17 | Ace's Wild! | Johnny Ace | Fantastic Voyage | [ 3 mins 12 secs ] | Bobby 'Blue' Bland |
Overworked and Underpaid | Selwyn Birchwood | 7 | Don't Call No Ambulance | Selwyn Birchwood | Alligator | [ 4 mins 6 secs ] | Selwyn Birchwood |
turn me round | mavis staples | 9 | we'll never turn back | mavis staples | anti | ||
just about to lose your clown | breezy rodio | 3 | so close to it | breezy rodio | wind chill | [ 2 mins 32 secs ] | mcRae |
Beast of Burden | Wendell Holmes | 7 | Paint It Blue : Songs Of The Rolling Stones | Various Artists | Ruf | [ 4 mins 46 secs ] | Wendell Holmes |
Long Tall Daddy | Big Time Sarah | 1 | Wild About That Thing - Ladies Sing The Blues | Various Artists | DELMARK | [ 4 mins 55 secs ] | Big Time Sarah |
Statesboro Blues | Guy Davis | 13 | Juba Dance | Guy Davis (Featuring Fabrizio Poggi) | Dixiefrog | [ 3 mins 56 secs ] | Guy Davis |
big meat shakin on the bone | Toby Walker | 1 | hand picked | Toby Walker | band in the hand | [ 2 mins 44 secs ] | Toby Walker |
signifying monkey | big three trio | 3-13 | bullet records story | various artists | spv | willie dixon | |
i live the life | willie dixon | 6 | hidden charms | willie dixon | silvertone | [ 3 mins 13 secs ] | willie dixon |
Black Angel Blues | Robert Nighthawk | 2 | Weak Brain Narrow Mind | Willie Dixon | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 3 mins 3 secs ] | willie dixon |
Seventh Son | Willie Mabon | 19 | The R&b Years 1955 Vol.2 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT | [ 2 mins 52 secs ] | Willie dixon |
Broken Hearted Blues | Buddy Guy | 17 | Deep Feeling | Various Artists | Fantatsic Voyage | [ 3 mins 12 secs ] | willie dixon |
Young Fashioned Ways | Muddy Waters | 8 | Messin' With The Man | Muddy Waters | Essential Music and Marketing Ltd | [ 3 mins 0 secs ] | willie dixon |
Hidden Charms | Charles Clark With The Willie Dixon Band | 29 | Goin' Down To Eli's (The Cobra And Abco Rhythm And Blues Anthology 1956-1958) | Various Artists | WESTSIDE | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Willie Dixon |
When the Lights Go Out | Jimmy Witherspoon | 3 | Weak Brain Narrow Mind | Willie Dixon | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 2 mins 51 secs ] | willie dixon |
29 Ways | Willie Dixon | 16 | Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage | [ 2 mins 11 secs ] | Willie Dixon |
Shake for Me | Howlin' Wolf | 24 | The Back Door Man | Howlin' Wolf | Essential Music and Marketing Ltd | [ 2 mins 13 secs ] | willie dixon |
forty four | Howlin' Wolf | 4 | The Back Door Man | Howlin' Wolf | Essential Music and Marketing Ltd | [ 2 mins 13 secs ] | |
Do Me Right | Lowell Fulson | 6 | Complete Chess Recordings | Lowell Fulson | MCA/CHESS | [ 2 mins 30 secs ] | willie dixon |
You Know My Love | Otis Rush | 8 | Weak Brain Narrow Mind | Willie Dixon | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 2 mins 40 secs ] | willie dixon |
Too Many Cooks | Jesse Fortune | 10 | The Way I Feel | Various Artists | FLYRIGHT | [ 2 mins 55 secs ] | willie dixon |
Crazy Mixed Up World | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | 21 | Blues With A Feeling | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | ROOTS | [ 2 mins 20 secs ] | willie dixon |
Pretty Thing | Bo Diddley | 7 | Jungle Music | Bo Diddley | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 2 mins 0 secs ] | willie dixon |
Whatever I Am You Made Me | Koko Taylor | 9 | Koko Taylor | Koko Taylor | MCA / CHESS | [ 2 mins 40 secs ] | willie dixon |
Third Degree | Eddie Boyd | 6 | Weak Brain Narrow Mind | Willie Dixon | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 3 mins 15 secs ] | willie dixon |
Violent Love | Big Three Trio, The | 2 | Tribute To Willie Dixon | Various Artists | CHARLY | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | willie dixon |
pain in my heart | willie dixon | 3 | Tribute To Willie Dixon | Various Artists | CHARLY | [ 3 mins 0 secs ] | willie dixon |
Mellow Down Easy | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | 11 | Weak Brain Narrow Mind | Willie Dixon | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION | [ 2 mins 41 secs ] | willie dixon |