Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 10:59 AM

Opinions are like a**holes ~ everybody's got one, and most of 'em stink.

Robert Johnson was so very much one-of-a-kind; you were lucky to stumble upon such a great introduction to the blues, but it's impossible for us to identify what aspect of his playing you responded to, which would indicate which other artists would also turn you on.

Since Mr Johnson was a pre-war acoustic player, some respondants have been assuming that only the real "pure" early stuff will fill the bill. On the other hand, those who recognize him as an innovator who was ahead of his time figure that you might well be interested in more modern stuff.

That said, lemme offer my opinion as to the bluest blue recording of all time: Buddy Guy's "A Man And The Blues," recorded for Vanguard in about 1968 and featuring Otis Spann on piano. The slow tunes, especially, are absolutely excruciating. I've worn out a vinyl LP and a cassette; I'm sure it's available on CD by now.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Scoville
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 11:13 AM

I swear I don't want to start an argument--I agree that the musicians suggested by Wesley S. (and myself) are not Delta blues, which appears to be what Jonathan Swift was asking about in the first place. So, you're right--if you're looking for Delta blues or "true" blues, those are not the original article.

However, since the title of this thread is JUST GETTING INTO THE BLUES, I thought it might be nice if somebody put out some suggestions that weren't the most obvious ones but might still be of interest to somebody who was new to it. It's not like you can't learn from somebody who learned it down the road. Some of the modern musicians have DVD's out and have done a *lot* of research. As far as I know, there are no DVD's of Robert Johnson playing the guitar.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 02:28 PM

Sorry folks but I had to ask my self about a name mentioned a couple of posts back, who the hell is that? I then heard a clip of his version of "Little Red Rooster" and I must be honest; It's laughable much worse than when the Rolling Stones did it way back when. It's just the sort of material and performer I was thinking of in my first contribution re opportunistic pretenders.

But hey it's only my opinion and whether or not you liken it to a funky butt that's your perogative.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 04:18 PM

with most artists there's stuff in there to enjoy. occasionally you can find fault with theunderlying vision, but by and large - most people when it comes to being recorded, do their best - really give it their best shot - in terms of dedication and creative energy.

My advice to our neophyte bluesman is - look on the positive side - look for what you can learn and what you can steal from all these guys.

Someone clverer than me once said, a wise man can learn from anybody even if they're a fool - a fool can't learn from anybody.
Even if you're only learning what not to do - keep your ears and your mind open.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 06:20 PM

Perhaps Hoot would like to share a link to where we can hear some of his stuff.... Or where he is playin'???

Scoville brought up an interesting point about DVD's and if yer willing to hunt there are some out there. Most are from the 2nd "recorded" generation folks but these's a real good one in particular with Son House and Bukka White that is available and very nice... Son gets into some of his preachin' and has the most bizarre littel feud with himself between his blues self and his minster self...

But, head to Tweeds and you'll learn alot of stuff other than jsut history... Like tunings, etc...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 05:37 AM

In answer to Bobert:
Despite messing around with a guitar for longer than I care to remember, I don't consider myself to be a performer worth spending good money on to hear when there is so much excellent material out there already. I do play in pub sessions two nights a week and have done for a number of years. I also play the odd club as long as the people booking me know exactly what to expect (usually the three chord trick). I do it for fun and that's it. I don't have an over inflated ego and certainly wouldn't claim to be able to sing blues (which I don't).
With modern advances in technology virtually anybody can make a CD of themselves and sell it, absolutely nothing wrong with that. But please don't describe the product incorrectly. As one of my southside Chicago friends often used to say "some people don't know shit from Shinola". I sing and play folk songs but I don't claim to be a folksinger.

Keep playing and keep having fun, ain't that what it's supposed to be about.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 06:48 AM

Well, Hoot, we agree on one thing: It's gotta be fun.

In addition to my peforming I have been a regular at the Archie Edwrds Blues Heritage Foundation, i.e. Archie Edwards Barber Shop, where folks from the the D.C. area collect every Saturday for an all afternoon jam session in NE Washington, D.C.. We also do workshops in schools and festivals and won the KBA (keep Blues Alive) Award at the W.C Handy's last year fir education...

As for the "Shinola" comment perhaps the poster is a purist who just feels that the blues should have died out when folks quit doing it the way he would like to hear it and when the second generation of recorded bluesmen died off??? We have an interesting thread going on over at Twwedsblues.net about "blues nazis" that perhaps might reflect on the Hoots reflections here???

BTW, Johnathan, there's ablues club in Charlotte, N.C.... Is that close to you? I think the name of it is the Double Door but don't hold me to it since I've only been there once and that years ago...

BTW, part 2. Have you checked out Tweeds as yet? Most of the folks there are blues players and several tour regularly... It's an excellent site with links to just about every blues sites and radio programs in the world. Check it out!!!

Bobert

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Grab
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 01:05 PM

If you're in the UK, Radio 2 have a programme about Howlin' Wolf on Tuesday night this week. If you're not in the UK, you can still have a listen via the internet, or the BBC "listen again" thing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Graham.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 01:37 PM

"Real blues" are in the ears of the beholders.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 06:55 PM

Exactly, Wesley... Plus there are so many different styles of blues that, as a genure, it purdy wid open....

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 02:33 PM

Bobert, have fun with your music but stop pretending you're some kind of prime practitioner of the blues. The fact is you sound phony as a 3 dollar bill.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:10 PM

"Phony" is in the ears of the listeners.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:23 PM

Guest - where can we buy your CD so we can compare yours to Boberts ?

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: GUEST,Michael Morris
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:40 PM

For early country blues (maybe even 'pre-blues') I recommend Papa Charlie Jackson of New Orleans. He generally recorded solo banjo and vocals, and he recorded about 60 sides in the 1920s and 1930s. His repertoire included stuff that most listeners would identify as "blues" as well as ragtime-sounding and vaudeville-influenced stuff. I should mention that there is a rumour he taught Big Bill Broonzy how to play guitar, but I don't know if there's any truth in that.

The stuff I have is on LP on the Biograph label, but I'm sure his stuff has been re-released on CD.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 09:02 PM

"Guest - where can we buy your CD so we can compare yours to Boberts ?"

Good question.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 09:06 PM

"There is so much that is essential and enjoyable listening that would take for ever to list them all."

Please list them and come back when you have.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 01:57 AM

There should be some sort of filter on this Mudcat thing to remove shit like that last comment from Guest. Guest my arse, I'd chuck the bugger out of civilised company.

Bobert is accused of sounding phony. Well ....pardon me for farting in your face pal. That's the idea of a folk revival....we're all phony.

Martin Carthy sounds so little like a 19th century miner when he sings as one, that most 20th century miners (if you can find one, they're rarer than folksingers!)would find him laughable.

Pete Seegers scholarly tones don't sound like an Ozark Mountain hillbilly to anybody.

However Martin, Pete and Bobert are all serious artists. this is what they have done with their lives, and it deserves respect. they haven't been serial killers and hurt people. they have made music to enrich our lives.

And you Guest should go and have a sexually fulfilling experience with a duck.

Subject: RE: Just Getting Into Blues - Need Help
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Apr 06 - 04:24 AM

On a more positive note.

I'm sure someone has probably suggested it, but Stefan Grossman's How to Play Blues guitar record was very good for my playing. there are some fine dissections of the blues styles. It will be particularly good if you want to get to grips with the more tricky finger picking styles - gary davis, Blind Blake, Robert Johnson - that sort of thing. It will get you started.

stefan has his detractors - you have to mix it in with going to see people who play these songs - just to get the feeling, but he and Aurora Block did a fine piece of work here. Obsession is the name of the game. None of this twenty minutes a day nonsense.

Strangely enough there isn't a blues in major E or A - of the kind favoured by Lightning Hopkins. A strange ommission by Stefan,from what is otherwise a faultless project. Listen to Lightning - its the only way!

if robert Johnson really is your man, you won't do much better than Scott Ainslie's video that he did for Starlicks. Scott is a great player - try and see John Hammond live for that feel, try an get a dvd of him.

the thing about Johnson is the writing, which is exquisite. About a couple of years ago I had the privilege of seeing two fine English slide players Bryn Haworth and Kevin Brown finish their set with Travelling Riverside. It was sinply one the best musical things I've ever heard in my life.

Sorry I lost my temper earlier. but you should respect people who put their lives a on the line with music and do their best. Youngsters and BBC folk dj's would do well to learn the value of that.

all the best

al