And it is after midnight. Gotta stay on a mini-roll here while I can. J.J. Cale. Today’s artist is a singer, songwriter, and musician, best known for writing two songs that Eric Clapton made famous. After Midnight and Cocaine. He’s been well covered by many other artists as well. In fact, he has said that he writes songs for other people to cover. Which I guess is somewhat normal for a songwriter, but given all his talents, it just seems a strange thing to say. Oh well, it’s all good. And did I mention that he’ll be 70 yrs old/young this December? Time does indeed fly by.

The first two songs are studio covers and the last two are from a live radio gig in San Francisco. Sweet stuff!

J.J. Cale - Closer To You

J.J. Cale - Don’t Cry Sister

J.J. Cale - Ride Me High

J.J. Cale - Travelin’ Light

Wheeesh. Time to get back on track here. Lots of stuff that has been keeping me busy, mostly work though. I have only had 3 days off in a month so it’s been a bit crazy here. And this last week, I was busy gathering up some St. James Infirmary tunes for Pete over at http://prewarblues.org/ for his nice SJI/Gambler Blues project.

Today’s artists is just a collection of tunes that I came across that are in my ‘to burn’ folder that I really like. Not going to go into each artist’s bio this time. Some like Buddy Guy, Dr. Feelgood, and Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, you’ll probably recognize and others like Corey Stevens you may not. All are very good.

Buddy Guy - One Room Country Shack

Corey Stevens - Road to Zen

Dr. Feelgood - Milk & Alcohol

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers - Texas Twister

Been awhile. No excuse but maybe with spring just around the corner, things will be getting better, as in more productive.

Today’s artist is a good one. Snooks Eaglin (born January 21, 1936 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a guitarist and singer in New Orleans. Although he has been performing for about 50 years, his releases are rather slim. Blind since the age of one, he really didn’t get started recording until the 50’s. Leaning towards the rhythm & blues tone that was so popular then, he also did what was called folk blues too.

One of his more notable attributes, is his repertoire. Consisting of over 1000 songs, there is really no telling what he’ll be playing on any given night! Today’s songs include two covers that have been covered by other artists here on DemBluez previously.

Snooks Eaglin - Locomotive Train

Snooks Eaglin - Saint James Infirmary

Snooks Eaglin - Jack O’Diamonds

Snooks Eaglin - Every Day I Have The Blues

Damn. Working 17 days in a row is putting a crimp in my posting endeavors. So, today’s post is a real short one ’till I can get back to some normalcy around here.

Sister Rockaway. Now there is a name to die for. I can’t find hardly anything on her, other than she recorded just this one song with IH Smiley And His Rockateers. I’m guessing that this song was recorded in 1939. Fortunately, it’s a great song.

A tiny bit more is known about Violet Hall. This song, ‘Six Foot Papa (Whole lotta woman)’ was recorded in 1951, I think. The song is included on a couple of albums I have. I’m A Bad, Bad Girl and Mercury Blues ‘N’ Rhythm Story 1945-1955. It’s too bad these ladies didn’t release more records and I wish I knew more about them too! Oh well, enjoy!

Sister Rockaway - Young Women’s Advice

Violet Hall - Six Foot Papa (Whole Lotta Woman)

The blues was the basis for so many music genres, that it could be argued, and rightly so, that all Americana music has it’s roots in blues. One of them of course is bluegrass.

Today’s artists are two of the very best in the bluegrass world. Dan Tyminski and Alison Krauss. Having performed together for so long in the Union Station band, they are as one when it comes to singing and playing bluegrass. Both are multi-talented singers, and masters of the instruments they play, which include banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and others. Though they have gone their separate ways professionally, they are still performing, recording, and at the top of their game. One of today’s songs, Faith is a Mystery is, I feel, simply a great love song. It should also be noted that Dan is the voice on the I’m A Man Of Constant Sorrow track in the movie Brother Where Art Thou. You didn’t really think George Clooney could sing like that did ya? Enjoy!

Alison Krauss - Momma Cried

Alison Krauss - The Lucky One

Dan Tyminski - Faith is a Mystery

Dan Tyminski - Wild Bill Jones

I’ve been real busy after my obligatory winter cold/flu that basically wasted a week of my life. So sorry about the lack of posts lately.

There are lots of good blues bands and singers north of the border and all are doing a great service to the music genre. Came across Steve Strongman the other day. He seems to play more rock than I sometimes like to see in the blues but he does have some acoustic tunes that are real sweet. I’ll try and post some more of our northern friends later this month.

Steve Strongman - River

Jug Bands emerged around Louisville, Kentucky just after 1900 and quickly spread throughout the south. However, it was not until the mid 1920’s that a few of these outstanding groups were finally recorded. The instrumentation varied but often led by fiddle, banjo and jug. Other instruments as kazoos, harps, washboards, washtubs, stovepipes, mandolins,horns, as well as guitars were common.

Birmingham Jug Band
Cannons Jug Stompers
Cincinnati Jug Band
Clifford Hayes And The Dixieland Jug Blowers
Earl McDonald’s Original Louisville Jug Band
Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band
Jed Davenport And His Beale Street Jug Band
Kentucky Jug Band
King David’s Jug Band
Memphis Jug Band
Noah Lewis’ Jug Band
Phillips Louisville Jug Band
Tampa Red’s Hokum Jug Band
Tub Jug Washboard Band
Whistler’s Jug Band

And many more. Of these, the Memphis Jug Band was by far the most recorded, with over 100 songs. During their history, they constantly changed band members and singers. Of the female singers, which were all very good, I really like Hattie Hart. Her songs are sometimes noted for being on the risqué side, but that’s ok. She’s still a very fine blues singer. Enjoy.

Hattie Hart - Won’t You Be Kind to Me?

Hattie Hart - I Let My Daddy Do That

Hattie Hart - You Wouldn’t, Would You, Papa?

Hattie Hart - I’m Missing That Thing

Hattie Hart - Spiders Nest Blues

Hattie Hart & Allen Shaw - Coldest Stuff in Town

Hattie Hart - Happy-Go-Lucky Blues

Think I’ll finish out the month with a blitz of some nice old blues. If you’re a blues fan of the older stuff, then you will surely find something here to your taste. Most the these artists will get the bio attention they deserve at another time as I’m still under the weather. Some, such as Blind Willie McTell and Bessie Smith, I’ve already covered. Speaking of Blind Willie, this cut has an interesting history. It was only recently just discovered by a collector. That is very rare. It just doesn’t happen that much anymore. Enjoy!

Bessie Smith - He Treats Me Like A Dog

Blind Willie McTell - Talkin’ To You Wimmen About The Blues

Helen Humes - Song Of The Wanderer

Lightin’ Hopkins - Goin’ Back To Florida

Mamie Smith - Jenny’s Ball

Memphis Minnie - Kid Man Blues

Peetie Wheatstraw - Ice And Snow Blues

I’m in the middle of a medium cold, with all the joys of pain and nasal fun, etc. that goes along with it. Yuck, what a waste of time a common cold is. Oh well, first one in two years is not too bad, relatively speaking. Short one today. I’ve always liked the harmonica part of the blues, whether it is the main instrument or as part of the song. Today’s artist could easily fall into the phenom category that I’ve mention already this month. Brody Buster. This song was recorded in 1999 when he was just 15, off his second CD! This kid can play the harp. The tail end of this song blows me away. His harp playing on this last third of the cut sounds remarkably like an electric guitar. Fine stuff.

Brody Buster - Comin’ Home

I mentioned in an earlier post how some artists really pay their dues before they are ‘discovered’. Nothing too unusual in that but for some artists, you wonder why it took so damn long. Bonnie Raitt released ten albums and countless concerts and performances before she was finally recognized for her talents, of which there are many. Singer, songwriter and guitarist, she is the complete package. Today’s artist is a request from a good friend in Sweden.

Bonnie Raitt - Angel From Montgomery

Bonnie Raitt - Have A Heart

Bonnie Raitt - I Can’t Make You Love Me

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time

Bonnie Raitt - The Kokomo Medley

Buy it here:
Bonnie Raitt