paul secor

I just finished reading Gayle Dean Wardlow's Chasin' that Devil Muic. It's a useful source for someone who's beginning to get into pre-WWII Mississippi blues. Long time blues fans will already know about much of what's in the book - though that's not Mr. Wardlow's fault. Mr. Wardlow did a lot of first hand research in the 1960s and 70s, interviewing musicians, family members of musicians who had passed away, and friends of those musicians. He also interviewed H.C. Speir, who was a talent scout for a number of recoring companies in the 1920s and 30s, and was responsible for the recording of many of the legendary blues musicians from Mississippi and surrounding states. The accompanying CD is also useful for a beginning listener, though long time collectors will find that they already have a good 90% of the material on it. The excerpts from interviews on the CD are somewhat interesting, but are too short (each less than a minute) to be deemed necessary. The main problem that I have with the book is Mr. Wardlow's writing style. He was a journalist and his writing is fairly clear and concise, but not very interesting. The other problem I have with the book is that it needed a good editor. An editor is credited, but much of the book is essentially a collection of articles for various blues publications. The book would have been much better if time had been taken to blend the articles into a real book, rather than just a collection. I recommend Chasin' that Devil Music to those who are starting to get into the blues and who want to read about and listen to some of the real deal. Then spend some time listening to a few Yazoo CDs.

I still have Doug Sahm's Texas Tornado on LP and Doug Sahm and Band (expanded form) on CD - both on Atlantic and both from 1973, I believe.

Gayle Dean Wardlow: Chasin' that Devil Music

I bought some of the albums that have been listed. Some are gone from my collection: Sly: Fresh The Band: Moondog Matinee Dr. John: In the Right Place Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On Little Feat: Dixie Chicken Some I stll have on LP: Toots & the Maytals: Funky Kingston The JBs: Doing It to Death The Kinks: Preservation Act 1 or on CD: John Cale: Paris 1919 In 1973, I was in the process of leaving the pop world (but not completely) and was mostly in the world of jazz and blues.

Joey Dee Molly Bee Bobby Vee

Braxton/McDonough: 6 Duos (Nessa) Jimmy Raney/Doug Raney: Duets (Steeplechase) Marion Brown/Elliott Schwartz: Soundways (Bowdoin College Music Press) Don Cherry/Jon Appleton: Human Music (Flying Dutchman)

Little Mo Flo Bo

The Rutles Bonzo Dog Band Spinal Tap

Happy Bithday!

Polly Peachum Lucy Brown Lotte Lenya

Rob Roy The Highwaymen General Crook

Marty Ingels Jingles Der Bingle

Yes, CTI put it out in 2011. http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Moses-Records-Anniversary-Edition/dp/B0057FWU3I/ref=tmm_acd_title_0 I actually paid a somewhat unreasonable price for a used copy of the import, only to find (a bit too late) that the last track was damaged. So I was quite glad when it was reissued. Great news. I wonder if Randy Weston was bugged that they re-issued that on CD? I don't know what he didn't like about it. It wasn't African enough? That reminds me of the Joe Puma story. He was doing a gig with either Richard Davis or Ron Carter (I forget which), and the bass player said he was sick of doing all these standards written by white, Broadway songwriters. he wanted to do music of his people. Joe said to him," Alright, you wait there for a minute. I'm gonna go outside and get a log, and you can beat on it." Whoever it was should have taken the log and have beaten on Puma with it.

Luther and Percy Huff Riff Ruffin Stuff

A friend sent me this link a couple of months ago and I forgot about it. If you've never been to Stereo Jack's in Cambridge, here's your chance: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/video/0,,20658218,00.html Starts at about the one minute mark.

Bob Roberts Johnny Johnson Billy Williams

Ashamed to say that I completely forgot about Howlin' Wolf: Moanin' in the Moonlight & Howlin' Wolf Great and powerful music.

Sean Lennon Zak Starkey Stella McCartney

Condolences on the loss of your friend, Guy. Thank you for posting the link to his blog.

Face, you've already received enough suggestions to keep you busy (and broke), but here are a few more: John Lee Hooker: Legendary Modern Recordings 1948-1954 (Ace) There are a million or so Hooker records out there. These are some of his earliest and rawest recordings. Slim Harpo: Best Of (Hip-O) Gatemouth Brown: Original Peacock Recordings (Rounder) Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Space Guitar (Varese Fontana)

Egbert Sousé Otis Criblecoblis Larson E. Whipsnade

Second Joe's rec. of the Cobra Records Singles - good way to get a taste of early Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, & others. And Joe's recs. of T-Bone's Imperial and Atlantic recordings. Joe Knows! Some other recs.: Muddy Waters: Anthology 1947-1972 (Chess) Elmore James: Classic Early Recordngs (Ace) 3 CD box, but cheap at less than $25 and you can't miss with Elmore. Little Walter: His Best - Chess 50th Anniversary Collection Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller): His Best - Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) Jimmy Reed: Ain't That Lovin' You Baby (Jasmine) Freddy King: Blues Guitar Hero (Ace) This material is available in other forms, but this has the best sound. Robert Nighthawk: Bricks in My Pillow (Delmark) Guitar Slim: Sufferin' Mind (Specialty) Two very fine mid-60s recordings: Magic Sam: West Side Soul (Delmark) Buddy Guy: A Man and the Blues (Vanguard)

Bobby Hurley Curley Furry Murray

Lenny Bruce Brew Moore Bud Selig

Ornette Coleman Trio: "Dee Dee"