Who was the best old school bluesman?

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

I'd say that Robert Johnson had the most unique sound, but sadly he was never to be able to explore it to its full potential, or develop or expand or experiment - which I'm sure he would have done had there not been Satanic recriminations.

I've always felt that John Lee Hooker was the true heir to Johnson's blues crown - he had a more modern take on the blues and ploughed a resolutely singular and unchanging furrow, but fuck, what a furrow it was. Every nuance of the playing; every secret that man's fingers shared with the fretboard - every twang, every pluck, every squeak, every whine - works magic in these shell-likes.

 

[thestraightman]

I don't know much about the Blues, although I'd like to learn a bit more. I voted for Muddy Waters on the strength of Mannish Boy - I love that song.

I'm going to Chicago in December and fancy going to Buddy Guy's Legends bar, I didn't get a chance last time I was there. The idea of listening to live Blues in a dingy, smoky lounge really appeals to me.

Does Buddy play there? I'll be passing through next year.

 

[MarkMark]

Damn right. West Weston worth a look Friday. Or the jam night Monday if you're a player.

Open mic sessions on Saturday daytimes are a good bet too. One guy in particular always brings the place to a standstill. He stands up with just a harmonica and sings prison songs & gospel blues. Another guy does rap over 12bar blues on an accoustic. Another will do slide guitar on a 12 string etc. Quality stuff.. and the guy who introduces them all is a comedy genius.

 

[rutabowa]

sorry just noticed the poll... can't vote as in my opinion only Robert Johnson could be classed as old-school bluesman, and even him not really. A lot of them on the poll use electric guitars! which killed blues, turning it into cabaret music. Leadbelly, although good, was a bit of a latecomer, he never made records before he was discovered by alan lomax... and no way was he the first to use a 12 string either, Blind Willie McTell for one was recording in the 1920s with one.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Memphis Minnie

 

[rutabowa]

sorry i was being unfair, Big Bill Broonzy and Lightning Hopkins could at a stretch be called "old school"... though they were definitely second generation to the first lot of those recording.
Also listen to Tommy McClennan "Whiskey Headed Man Blues"

 

[thestraightman]

Elecricity killed the blues?

Come on now

 

[bluestreak]

my knowledge ain't too hot on this... i'm a fan of howlin' wolf, robert johnson and leadbelly especially of those on the list, so i picked howlin' wolf cos he's got the best name.

i think i'm gonna have to soulseek some of them later.

 

[jugularvein]

i think i'm gonna have to soulseek some of them later.

robert johnson is fantastic

 

[rutabowa]

Elecricity killed the blues?

Come on now

yep i was there, when Robert Johnson plugged in his guitar just before he was killed I shouted "Judas"
ps for Robert Johnson songs, my favourite is "Preaching Blues" it is well scary, he sounds like he is totally possessed

 

[thestraightman]

 

[rutabowa]

Memphis Minnie

yep, there aren't a whole lot of female Delta Blues (not talking about piano blues like Bessie Smith, I see that as more jazz), but there's an obscure track by (I think) Evie Thomas called Motherless Chile Blues (I think) that is amazing

 

[thestraightman]

Listening to someone called Georgia Boyd now on the broke black and blue compilation.

 

[MarkMark]

I would like to recommend the old recordings of Sonny Boy Williams snr too for some incredible harmonica stuff! I've got a CD of some scratchy old recordings from the 30s.. I'm sure you can download it somewhere. Truly inspiring

 

[Dr. Furface]

I'm going to Chicago in December and fancy going to Buddy Guy's Legends bar, I didn't get a chance last time I was there. The idea of listening to live Blues in a dingy, smoky lounge really appeals to me.

Do they still allow smoking in bars in Chicago?

 

[MarkMark]

& yeah, pre war country/acoustic is a diffent animal from the electric 40s 50s that followed it (I do prefer the later stuff though)

like I said.. way to much to cover in 1 thread, but ta for reminding us all about it

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

A lot of people reckon Charley Patton was the first widely-known bluesman - there was a box-set of his old recordings out a few years back called 'Screaming And Hollering The Blues', some dating from the end of the 19th century.

 

[rutabowa]

A lot of people reckon Charley Patton was the first widely-known bluesman - there was a box-set of his old recordings out a few years back called 'Screaming And Hollering The Blues', some dating from the end of the 19th century.

yep see my 1st reply. you cd "download" "Green River Blues" for a start, tbh the recordings are so worn away that a box set would be overkill unless you get totally into him!

 

[MarkMark]

yep see my 1st reply. you cd "download" "Green River Blues" for a start, tbh the recordings are so worn away that a box set would be overkill unless you get totally into him!

you can bearly make out the music

CHRCHKKKK...strum... cccchhhKK...strum... ccchhhhHKKKK...strum... "woooooa"...

 

[Bob]

Howlin' Wolf's slide guitar and amazing primaeval sounding voice really does it to me. But so much talent in this poll - I could have equally voted for John Lee Hooker (things like Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U and miniskirts), or Muddy Waters (I do a mean mannish boy impression at karoke).

But what about Albert King? Sadly underappreciated inmho.

 

[boing!]

Open mic sessions on Saturday daytimes are a good bet too. One guy in particular always brings the place to a standstill. He stands up with just a harmonica and sings prison songs & gospel blues. Another guy does rap over 12bar blues on an accoustic. Another will do slide guitar on a 12 string etc. Quality stuff.. and the guy who introduces them all is a comedy genius.

does it cost anything to get into that do you know?

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

yep see my 1st reply. you cd "download" "Green River Blues" for a start, tbh the recordings are so worn away that a box set would be overkill unless you get totally into him!

Ahhh, barely listenable recordings are no obstacle to me - I'm a Fall fan after all.

 

[MarkMark]

does it cost anything to get into that do you know?

free!

and of course you get a good seat and free entry for the Saturday night band too. I tend to do this once a month or so anyway, but judging some of the interest here we could make it an urban night out sometime

maybe new year, when its otherwise quiet & all the xmas stuff is over and done with (??)

 

[thestraightman]

I'd be up for seeing that rapping blues guy, I'm going away next year though.

 

[MarkMark]

before '06 we have:

26th Nov, December 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th (no can do for me), 31st (same)

we could just make it a daytime / open mic thing if there's too many other festive stuff in the evening, or just leave it for later in the new yr.

I'm probably going anyway on the 3rd coz my girlfriend isn't working that weekend

 

[STFC]

Does Buddy play there? I'll be passing through next year.

From reading some reviews of the place it seems the man himself is there a lot, and when not playing is happy to chat and sign autographs for people. I'd love to get his autograph for my ex-boss, a great bloke and a big, big Blues fan.

 

[STFC]

Do they still allow smoking in bars in Chicago?

They did in May, I hope it hasn't changed since then.

 

[ICB]

I would like to recommend the old recordings of Sonny Boy Williams snr too for some incredible harmonica stuff! I've got a CD of some scratchy old recordings from the 30s.. I'm sure you can download it somewhere. Truly inspiring

Word.

A particular favourite of mine is Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Joe Williams compilation "Blues from the Fields to the Town"

Great tribute by John Mayall as well "I heard Sonny Boy Blow"
(now he's a mean old man, but I love him so)

 

[thestraightman]

before '06 we have:

26th Nov, December 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th (no can do for me), 31st (same)

we could just make it a daytime / open mic thing if there's too many other festive stuff in the evening, or just leave it for later in the new yr.

I'm probably going anyway on the 3rd coz my girlfriend isn't working that weekend

90% for the the third, slight chance I won't make it cos its all a bit mental atm

Who else?

 

[thestraightman]

From reading some reviews of the place it seems the man himself is there a lot, and when not playing is happy to chat and sign autographs for people. I'd love to get his autograph for my ex-boss, a great bloke and a big, big Blues fan.

Love Buddy, he has that Richard Prior terrifed look.