Blues catalyst for UK fans

Subject: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 04:30 AM

Last night on Paul Jones' (ex-Manfred Mann, now The Blues Band)BBC2 radio blues programme was devoted to listeners' requests for the record that got them interested in the blues. They ranged from Broonzy, Josh White and Snooky Pryor to Eric Burdon, Jimmie Hendrix and Led Zeppelin via Willie Dixon and Otis Spann.
Oh, and a certain Mr Donegan was in there as well.
I got there via jazz (and skiffle!), myself, particularly Louis Armstrong, solo or behind (alongside?!) Bessie Smith.
RtS (white boy lost in the blues)

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 04:54 AM

Oh, dear. I'm clearly a sad anal retentive (no change there, then) according to these extracts from today's London Times on the proliferation of niche top tens and award shows and the "Trainspotting" film and book:
...far be it from me to draw parallels between Nick Hornby's story about a clique of gormless musical trainspotters who while away the hours compiling pointless lists of songs and albums, as a way of compensating for the absence of any meaningful order in their own lives, ....What attracts us to these lists? Part of it is the herd instinct, which is never far from the surface when it comes to forming tastes in music. Critics, no less than fans, like to have their opinions validated by their peers, and nothing validates an opinion as effectively as a good list.
RtS (now, who er the top ten kazoo players...?)

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 06:32 AM

And you expect any of us to contribute to this thread now . . .?

Brian

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 06:39 AM

No! I thought I'd be the first to kill his own thread!
RtS

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Ritchie
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 08:00 AM

My top ten Kazoo players of all time. 1)The Pelaw Hussar's..they've probably all grown up to an interesting age now ! 2)Me. 3)Jesse Fuller. 4)Gillian Taylorforth. 5)Don Partridge. 6)the Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed Combo. 7)The Byrds or was it the Beatles ? 8)Princes Anne. 9)Nick Hornby.

regards ritchie

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 09:54 AM

I didn't really want to get into this... but.. OK include Red McKenzie,Jim Kweskin,various members of the Washboard Serenaders etc. OK, let's stop now!
RtS

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 02:15 PM

Going back to the original posting, how important was the British University for developing Blues based players - aka John Mayall's Bluesbreakers?

It always struck me as amazing the number of musicians who became well known who were involved with John Mayall.

Rana

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Ritchie
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 03:01 AM

Oh Roger, I had only picked 9 of my fav' Kazoo players, a good Kazoo player always leaves his public wanting more.

I've always hated the terms 'white man blues' or 'British Blues'. As a kid in the 60's music was also a fashion statement and it was 'hip' to like certain groups. I think it's probably the same now. I caught a bit of the Paul Jones programme and he played 2 'Stones' tracks, It's all over now and 2120 South Michigan avenue. I remember the feeling I got when I first heard the Valentinos original version of it's all over..The Stones covered some great tracks and went on to write some classics.

Do you remember the original Fleetwood Mac ? they had a hit with an instrumental called Albatross. I went straight out and bought their album , the cover had a back lane,a bin and a dog on and the music...excellent blues nothing like Albatross. of course Peter Green was 'schooled' by John Mayall....for me the best 'British blues man' was Alexis Korner his radio shows were a joy.

I think what really turned me onto the blues was hearing great songs thinking that they were the originals and then hearing the origanal versions by the likes of Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters etc.

regards ritchie

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 03:24 AM

Kazoos? Tampa Red. No idea what this thread is about:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: boz
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:35 AM

Rana, You are so right. John Mayall earnestly encouraged by Alexis Korner - Peter Green before the Mac - Eric Clapton before the Yardbirds, Cream, solo, etc.etc.. Thank god for the Brit Blues Explosion.

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Ritchie
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 09:18 AM

Well Lepus, Roger the Skiffler started this thread 'cos he was listening to the excellent Paul Jones show on radio2. Sadly there are n't enough blues shows on the radio. 'Guest' threw a spanner in the works with regards to lists and I flippantly responded. However, as much as I like the discussions on the Mudcat, blues 'fans' seem to be a little more reticent to come out of the woodwork. But let me send a personal thanks to Roger for this thread and to Rana for mentioning John Mayall which led me to Peter Green and then Fleetwood Mac, which ,I am listening to now after years mmmm.I suppose in 10 years or more time someone will say that Moby turned them on to the Blues...I'm happy with that. regards ritchie

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Jul 00 - 08:23 PM

Ritchie, as I mentioned in some other thread some weeks ago, John Mayall and Peter Green have been performing together in the UK this summer - or rather a joint show, but separate sets.

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 06:46 AM

Since my fumble fingering have confused some people (not for the first time, I'm permanently confused myself), let me explain the second post was also from me. I initialled it but forgot to add my name. I am pseudonymous (except for my original post to the Mudcat a couple of years ago), but not anonymous. I decline cookies at work so am a permanent but long-standing GUEST. Having seen the article that I quoted in the second thread just after my original post, I was trying to kill the thread. The "kazoo-player" reference was a JOKE, guys.
Yes, I know, my jokes are so feeble they need to be signposted in advance.
Now, let's read the interesting threads that were started over the weekend while I wasn't here.
Exits wearing hair shirt and dunce's cap.
RtS

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 10:52 AM

Been on a nostalgia trip in the past while by buying stuff from the early 70's. Bought a Famaily album + Free live. I didn't realise (or just forgot) that Alexis Korner was involved and helped Free come about. It is also good to see Peter Green's name re-emerging - that was Fleetwood Mac as far as I'm concerned. It seems strange that the likes of original Mac and Chicken Shack produced the commercial entity Fleetwood Mac - though one shouldn't knock there success.

By the way Roger, what do you think of the Skiffle sessions (Donegan, Barber and Morrison)? I think it's great fun (and they are having a good time) though reviews over here seems to pan it.

Rana

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 11:06 AM

Yes, Rana, I enjoyed them, both Van on LD's record and LD on Lonnie's.
Tara a bit
RtS

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 11:13 AM

Sorry! that last should have read "Van on Lonnie's" ( I was interrupted by work!)
RtS (Blues ain't nothin' but a poor workin' man feelin' bad)

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Ritchie
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 07:23 AM

Hey Rana I know the feeling, I've just been singing along to the Bonzo's 'Can blue men sing the white's ?' Now there's a thought !regards ritchie.

Subject: RE: Blues catalyst for UK fans
From: Rana
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 08:40 AM

Hi Ritchie,

'Tis probably safer than Hunting Tigers out in India!

Cheers Rana