The Blues Blogger

The following article was originally featured Dec 3rd, 2007 on blogcritics.org. Coincidentally a few weeks later, Little Walter was inducted into The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. The timing made this a very popular piece… As May 1,2010 would have been Little Walter’s 80th birthday, I’ve re-posted the article adding the video below for any of my readers who might have missed it the first time around. ~tbb

Rehearsal 1968

I love Saturdays… In the basement of our house we were getting ready for another band rehearsal in the afternoon, and there was no place I would rather be. However, there were a few other things that captured my attention. I didn’t have many, but they were some shows on TV I liked to watch. Programs like Underdog, The Flintstones, Spiderman, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and then American Bandstand. Why not? After all, I was only eight.

My brother and I would have canned spaghetti for lunch. After that he’d indulge in a piece of chocolate cake and a slice of processed cheese, which made me wince with disgust.

While helping setup for practice, I would pay close attention to what needed to be done, and learn as much as possible.

BROTHER: Whatever you do, don’t fart around with the gear. I’m serious.

TBB: Don’t worry. I wouldn’t think of messing with everyone’s stuff.

BROTHER: The last time I left you alone you bit my guitar. I see those bucktooth marks every time I play.

TBB: That was years ago… Besides it adds some character.

BROTHER: That type of character I can do without.

My brother had to leave for a while to get something that can only be left to the imagination. My parents were at work and my sister was nowhere to be seen. No one thought much of leaving a kid alone for a few hours back then. Besides I could be trusted. I was left alone to gawk at all the gear. But I would never think of actually sitting down by the drum kit… Well… maybe just a few snaps on the snare…

It sounded good to pound away at the drums. I would imagine I was Gene Krupa and continued to hammer away… How terrible I must have sounded. But it sure felt great… I then went to the bass guitar, picked it up, took a seat and plugged into the amp. Cranking the volume I plucked away at a few of the strings and decided to stop when a bit of plaster came off the ceiling and landed onto the floor… Hmm… maybe I should clean that up.

I grabbed my harmonica that I received as a gift… Hovering over our Admiral console player I found a 45 already on the turntable. It was a Checker Records single called “Key to the Highway” by Little Walter. Placing the stylus in its groove, I positioned the harmonica close to the mike and played along… Who was this Little Walter I thought? He was amazing. I would amuse myself by playing along; getting lost in my imagination. He was unlike any harp player I heard before. Little Walter breathed life into an instrument that I only knew as a toy.

I often thought to myself how cool it would be to actually play music, but those were only fleeting moments. Truthfully I wasn’t interested in being a musician. I wanted to do something different. I wasn’t sure what it was I wanted to do, but I knew it had to involve music.

I finished up my little session and by the time I tidied up, the boys came barreling down the stairs eager to rehearse.

DRUMMER: (sitting down on stool) What’s this white crap on my kit?

BASS PLAYER: (concerned) Hey kid … Where’s your sister?

TBB: I don’t think she’ll bug you … She’s not home.

BASS PLAYER: (relieved) That’s good… I don’t think that chick likes me.

I briefly asked the guys about Little Walter and they told me a little bit about him. They mentioned he died in a street fight in Chicago. What a terrible outcome for such a talented musician. He was only 37. My brother and his friends were working on a few of his tunes. One of those songs was Key to the Highway, which Walter did a version of.

The other song was called Off The Wall. It was the first song on their list to go through. The rehearsal went on for almost 2 hours, and I listened with enthusiastic interest.

Walter Marion Jacobs

known as Little Walter was born May 1, 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. He taught himself harmonica at the age of 8. After quitting school at 12, Jacobs left Louisiana and traveled wherever his mood took him. He would work at all types of jobs and busk on the streets of New Orleans, Memphis and St. Louis. Little Walter would later honed his skills with great blues man like Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Bill Broonzy, who originally wrote Key to the Highway.

In 1948 Little Walter hooked up with Muddy Waters, and while playing in the Chicago clubs, helped define electric blues. Walter played the amplified harmonica by holding a small microphone in his cupped hands, and achieved a saxophone like sound that expressed his highly creative improvisations. Walter’s ground-breaking playing and distinguishing sound contributed deeply to Muddy’s recordings of the early 1950’s.

The tunes my brother’s band was rehearsing at that time were more from Little Walter’s solo career which began in 1952. Walter formed a group called The Jukes with David and Louis Myers on guitars and Fred Below on drums. This trio were known as The Aces and had been working previously with Junior Wells.

A Loud F Sharp Came From Upstairs

Sometime during rehearsal my sister came home. Storming down the stairs right in the middle of one of the tunes she sneered directly at the bass player. She then yanked the cord from his amp and the outlet almost came off the wall. They continued without missing a beat even though the whole bottom end disappeared. As my sister briskly went back upstairs you could now hear in the distance The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville” blend into the missing bottom end. This always signified the end of practice for the day.

From 1952 to 1968 Little Walter recorded about 100 titles of which about half were issued on record as of the early 1970’s. Previously unreleased material has made its way to CD’s, and is a great tribute. For a brief time frame in 1964 Little Walter did a tour of England with The Rolling Stones. The years during and after these times were not glorious and would eventually end in his tragic death.

Little Walter inspired artists like Clapton to Butterfield and many other great musicians of our time. I feel very fortunate to have such rich memories and Little Walter is one of those special musicians that helped influence my love for the blues.

It’s been over 40 years since we lost Little Walter. Do you have a memory or favorite Little Walter song? Can you recall a harp player that amplified his sound prior? Feel free to add your comments.

The Blues Blogger

Tags: Blues Reflections, Reflections, The Sixties, blues by The Blues Blogger
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“At that time, my writing partner was William Bell. He came over to my house the night before the session. William wrote the words and I wrote the music in my den that night. That was one of my greatest moments in the studio as far as being thrilled with a piece of music. The feeling of it, it’s the real blues done by the real people… I was there in the middle of it and it was exhilarating.” ~Booker T Jones (NPR Interview)

I’m not sure why, but whenever I get those moments when you’re feeling life’s hard rocky road, I drift back to the sixties and always find a cool moment that seems to smooth things out a bit. The sixties and some of the music from that era had a magical ability to sweep us away; taking us on a soothing, creative and in some cases, ground breaking trip. Fairly young at the time, I didn’t experience the same scene first hand as my older brother and his musician friends. But I was a keen observer.

In the mid to late seventies I had an extensive record collection and dedicated a whole room to store them. With space at a premium and today’s technology giving us access to instant digital media, why utilize the space? Yes, the convenience of a digital audio library at my finger tips is quite cool, but it does have its distinct disadvantages. All this new technology will never kick start my memory banks like going to my local used record store and looking at some old vinyl LP’s. I can search online, but it’s not the same as browsing through the record bins.

After hanging out and checking all the old releases from the sixties and reminiscing, I happen to come across the classic ground breaking 1967 release, “Born Under a Bad Sign.” by Albert King. Closing my eyes, I can still visualize the album cover easily even after all these years… Feeling privileged because it was Albert King’s birthday today, I bought the album and went home with a feeling that it was meant to be. I then converted the LP to MP3 and had a listen. And then I remembered how much this very album influenced some of the great musicians of our time… Great memories indeed!

Albert King

was born on April 25th, 1923 on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi. In 1931 when Albert was eight, the family moved to a farm in Forrest City Arkansas. One of 13 children, his real name was Albert Nelson and would be known as Albert King in 1953 after the release of his first single, “Be On Your Merry Way/Bad Luck Blues.” King’s parents were musical. His mother was a church singer, and his stepfather an amateur guitar player and preacher.

As a child King taught himself to play guitar and built his own instrument out of a cigar box. He started playing with gospel groups, but after hearing blues musicians such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lonnie Johnson, and many others; his sights were set differently. In 1950, he met MC Reeder who owned a nightclub in Osceola Arkansas called T99. In no time King moved to Osceola joining T-99’s house band, In the Groove Boys.

In 1956 King moved to St. Louis, where he sat in with local bands. Later that same year, he was headlining several clubs in the area. It was during those times that Albert began perfecting his style playing his signature Gibson Flying V, named “Lucy.” A left-hander, he learned to play the right-hand guitar upside-down.

King’s popularity was on the rise, but it wasn’t until 1967 with the release of his first album Born Under a Bad Sign with Stax Records that he earned international recognition. Backed up by the Stax house band Booker T. & the MGs, which consisted of guitarist Steve Cropper, bass player Donald “Duck” Dunn and Booker T Jones on keyboards, the album was a collection of recordings from five sessions between March of 1966 and June of 1967. The album’s tile track “Born Under a Bad Sign,” and several others would become a staple for many blues/rock guitarists for years to come such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Derek Trucks just to name a few.

Born Under a Bad Sign

Track Listing of Original Release

Side 1

1. “Born Under a Bad Sign” (William Bell, Booker T. Jones) – 2:47
2. “Crosscut Saw” (R.G. Ford) – 2:35
3. “Kansas City” (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – 2:33
4. “Oh, Pretty Woman” (A.C. Williams) – 2:48
5. “Down Don’t Bother Me” (Albert King) – 2:10
6. “The Hunter” (Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Al Jackson, Jr, Booker T. Jones) – 2:45

Side 2

1. “I Almost Lost My Mind” (Ivory Joe Hunter) – 3:30
2. “Personal Manager” (Albert King, David Porter) – 4:31
3. “Laundromat Blues” (Sandie Jones) – 3:21
4. “As the Years Go Passing By” (Deadric Malone) – 3:48
5. “The Very Thought of You” (Ray Noble) – 3:46

Complete with all the charming crackle of the vinyl format, listening to Born Under a Bad Sign after so many years was really cool. The songs are short, but so soulful and sweet. The brevity of the tunes was tied to the 3 1/2-minute limit set by the mandates of radio airplay at the time. But that still doesn’t prevent the album as going down as one of the most influential blues albums of our time. It’s a record that will be long remembered by musicians and fans worldwide.

And since today would have been Albert King’s 87th Birthday, I can’t think of a better time to reflect on this landmark release.

I’ve included a widget of Atlantic Records version of the album titled “King Of The Blues Guitar.” It includes all of the music on the 1967 Stax release, in addition to all of the recordings Albert King did with Booker T & the MGs. Have a listen!

Musicians

* Albert King – Electric guitar and vocals
* Steve Cropper – Electric guitar
* Booker T. Jones – Piano
* Isaac Hayes – Piano
* Donald “Duck” Dunn – Bass
* Al Jackson, Jr. – drums
* The Memphis Horns – Horns

Albert King would play his last gig in Los Angeles on December 19, 1992. He passed away of a heart attack two days later at his Memphis home on December 21, 1992. He was 69 years old. As his hearse sailed in a procession down Beale Street, the Memphis Horns led the way playing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” King would then be laid to rest at Paradise Gardens Cemetery in Edmondson, Arkansas.

While The Blues Blogger utilizes digital media to bring these articles to life, there still isn’t a product in the world that can take me back like an old 33 1/3… And “Born Under a Bad Sign” is a perfect example.

Do you have any favorite versions of the song Born Under a Bad Sign? Were you aware of the importance this album played not only on the musicians it inspired, but a whole generation of blues/rock music fans? I’d love to hear you comments.

Happy Birthday Albert King! You will never be forgotten…

The Blues Blogger

Tags: Blues Reflections, Reflections, The Sixties, blues by The Blues Blogger
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The Blues Foundation will present the 31st Annual Blues Music Awards (formally known as “W.C. Handy Awards,”) on May 6, 2010, from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Artists, industry reps and supporters from around the world will have the opportunity to celebrate the finest in Blues recording and live performance from 2009.

Growing up in the sixties many of the vinyl LP’s that were spinning around the house featured artists on Delmark Records. It was Delmark’s class acts that inspired so many of us, and as a result would contribute to my initial introduction to the blues. Today any discussion regarding the genre and its illustrious past would not be complete without mentioning this historic label.

When I write about the blues I always tend to reminisce. It never fails whenever I hear a particular song or do some research; I seem to have some snippets of metaphors that have me drifting off…

Flashback 1967

Our car soared through the stillness of the dawn. Inside the vehicle you could hear my brother playing his lone acoustic guitar; recreating those classic sounds with tunes from blues legends like Junior Well’s “Hoodoo Man Blues” and Magic Sam’s “All Your Love.” The music captured the spirit of the moment and would inevitably be embedded into my earliest memories.

My father was taking my brother and me on one of our trips to visit family in Chicago. The three of us always left first thing in the morning, and I don’t mean 7 am. Some of that innate behavior my dad was known for (no doubt where I get it) had us on the road by at least three.

Hours later with the sun gradually rising, I opened my eyes to these sweet soulful sounds. My brother always took his position in the backseat where he had more room to do his thing. A young teen at the time with many years of practice under his belt, my bro played songs from LP’s he and my father had collected. Many were familiar to me as I heard him play it before in the room we shared while growing up… My brother’s guitar playing always compelled my dad to reach into his pocket and take out his harmonica. Of course he continued driving while playing his part as safely as possible. Just like a roller-coaster, the upbeat moments from our past are always the most treasured.

Back to the Present – Delmark’s 2010 Blues Music Award Nominees

Yes, The Blues Blogger is primarily a reflective blog indeed. But while these posts have me reminiscing about the past, I thought it might be cool to now take a look at some of the artists presently on Delmark’s roster which are currently nominated at the 2010 Blues Music Awards. The following lists of nominees have brilliant soulful backgrounds with strong links to the past. Their creative energy, commitment and talent are truly extraordinary.

DVD of the Year Nominee

In the spring of 2008 Delmark sponsored a 55th Anniversary party at Buddy Guy’s Legends club in Chicago featuring several of their artists. They celebrated the past while forging into the future, and created a moment with a DVD/CD compilation highlighting the night’s event for all to enjoy and forever recall.

Let’s Not Forget – The Sideman of the Year -

Bass player of the Year- Bob Stroger (on It Ain’t Over)
Drummer of the Year – Kenny Smith (on It Ain’t Over)
Guitarist of the Year – Lurrie Bell (on It Ain’t Over)
Harmonica player of the Year – Billy Branch (on It Ain’t Over)
Horn Player of the Year – (sax) Eddie Shaw (on It Ain’t Over)

Album of the Year Nominee

Sharing the stage in the late fifties and sixties with fellow guitarist like Magic Sam and Luther Allison, Eddie C. Campbell is one of the last of the “West Side” blues artists remaining. His name is not as prominent as other blues performers of the past, but his resume is impressive. He schooled his craft playing behind greats like Little Walter, Jimmy Reed and Howlin’ Wolf. He was also a member of Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues All-Stars band.

Tear This World Up is Eddie’s first album in a decade, and with a current nomination for “Album of the Year” at this year’s 2010 Blues Music Awards, It’s obvious that Campbell hasn’t lost a step in the creative process…

I should also note that on May 6th, 2010 the same day as the BMA’s, Eddie C Campbell will be celebrating his 71st birthday. Now wouldn’t taking home the award be the icing on the cake?

Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year Nominee

Shirley Johnson

Getting her start singing gospel music in church at six years old in her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, Johnson has been singing all her life. She eventually moved to Chicago in 1983 and continued her love for the blues.

In 2002 Delmark Records released her American debut CD Killer Diller; a record with a wonderful variety of gospel, R&B and soul. With her latest CD Blues Attack, Johnson attests that if you like your blues with lots of soul you’ve come to the right place. With this year’s nomination, the future for Shirley Johnson continues to look bright.

Zora Young

Like Shirley Johnson, Zora Young grew up singing gospel. Re-locating from her West Point, Mississippi home to Chicago at the age of seven, Young continued her gospel roots attending the Greater Harvest Baptist Church. A relative of blues legend Howlin’ Wolf, Young had music in her blood from day one.

As time moved on, she got inspired by R&B and would eventually progress into the strong blues vocalist she is known for today. Young has performed with artists such as Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Albert King and B.B. King. She has also recorded with Hubert Sumlin, Mississippi Heat and Willie Dixon among many others. Zora also has 30 tours of Europe to her credit as well being a featured performer six times at the Chicago Blues Festival.

The French Connection her latest release is collaboration with French multi-instrumentalist Bobby Dirninger. The CD showcases 14 tracks featuring three different bands and includes five live songs with nine studio recordings. The live tunes on the disc are from three different shows from Young’s 2008 tour in France. An eclectic record with half acoustic and the other half electric, The French Connection is a wonderful showcase of Young’s array of talent.

So there you have it…

A mixture of personal memories from yesteryear, a look at some of Delmark’s artists from the past and present, as well as a peek at the label’s nominations at this year’s 2010 Blues Music Awards. Good luck to all the nominees!

Are you familiar with any of the artists and their music featured in this post? Do you have any Delmark favorites that you would like to discuss? I’d love to hear from you! Your comments are most welcome and help broaden the subject matter which can’t be delivered in one post alone.

The Blues Blogger

Tags: Blues Music Awards, Blues News, Blues Reflections, New Releases, Reflections, Reviews, Soul, The Sixties, blues by The Blues Blogger
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