Blues On Thursday: Roy Brown -- "Ain't Got No Blues Today"

This title is on the 1971 album "Hard Luck Blues Vol. 1"

 Read more about the artist here.


Am I the only one that thinks Jackie Wilson sounded a lot like Roy Brown?

 

Look out NOLA! Here comes Raggedy!

I am fixing to spend a few days in New Orleans. Although I won't be able to see the jazz fest, I am quite excited about visiting that city again after my first trip there in the late 80's.
So, here's some NOLA music to get me in the mood for more ...

Joe Simon -- "Neither One Of Us"

There's no doubt about the high intensity delivery of the song by, in my opinion, the greatest female soul singer Gladys Knight. Joe Simon, on the other hand, with his creamy voice puts the sadness of the situation at hand on display ... He's Mr. Sadness in person.

WRAG Radio Raggedy -- "Tried It, Liked It"

Intro

00:14 Whether It’s Right Or Wrong — Jackie Lee and Dolores Hall
03:07 Let This Be A Letter — Jackie Wilson
06:08 I Love Him —Jean Plum
09:49 It Seems Like I’ve Been Here Before — J. J. Jackson
12:13 I Just Found Out — Freddie Hughes and The Chevelles
14:55 Taking Love And Making Love — The Eliminators
18:54 Tried It And Liked It — The Ingram Family
22:36 Come To Me (When Your Love Is Down) — The Futures
27:10 When You Come To The End Of Your Road — Bobby Blue Bland
30:11 Jealous Love — Wilson Pickett

Outro

John Mayall/Peter Green -- "Out Of Reach"

I can't help but love the blues ... Just give me that haunting guitar sound and pour me a me a glass of red wine -- and I enjoy even having the blues.

White Family Band -- "Miss America Stand Up"

Well, what can I say? Here I am back with a 1972 song. I do not only like this song, but I also found a recording by the co-writer of the title, R. Evans, that is pretty nice.

D. (Deadric) Malone, btw. wrote lots of songs for the great Bobby Bland.

And here's Robert Evans & Universal Love.  I do like the "Latin" touch.

Remembering my Sister (8/28/1943 - 4/9/2017)

Two years ago, my sister died. And I'd like to dedicate a classical piece to her. It's called "Beethoven's Silence." Ludwig v. Beethoven, one of the greatest composers ever, had lost his hearing towards the end of his life. "Beethoven's Silence" is composed by Ernesto Cortazar

My sister lost her hearing when she was three months old. So, she never experienced the peace, pleasure, and joy music brings into one's life.

To us, it is self-understood that the beautiful sound of a guitar or an outstanding voice make us feel a certain way ...  But not everyone is blessed with that precious experience.

Keep that in mind and be thankful for the richness music brings to your life.

Rest in sweet peace, Ute

Bobby Patterson -- "It Takes Two To Do Wrong"

This is one of those nice "little" tunes that make me move to it. Just the right music to spruce up a Monday ...
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Blues Thursday: Jessie "Guitar" Box and Harry Dallas Band -- "Heart Trouble"

I really would like to resume the Blues Thursday postings I used to do back then when I was diligently posting here ...

So let's start with a surprise find of mine.

I've never heard of this artist/group before; just came across it in my library and took an instant liking to it. Unfortunately, there is not much info available. Anyway, the music is good! 

Pure Genius: Norman Whitfield

Jeez... I've planned this post for ages. I actually started to write around Christmas -- and now it's almost Easter ... Time is flying. But the good thing about time is that some music never gets old, and that time has the power to prove the value of truly great compositions. Just as the best of the past's music have turned into classic music, the best of our times will become the classics of the future. And if you ask  me, one composer surely will be among the classical masters of the future: Norman Whitfield.

Norman Whitfield. came up with a completely new sound, added new instruments to his arrangements, shifted music in a totally new direction. So to me, he is a genius who created something unique: the psychedelic sound.

I just found this tribute-kind-of tune while I was looking for articles etc. about Norman Whitfield. This short piece, in my opinion, showcases the innovative contribution of Norman Whitfield.

Tribute podcast

Ball of Confusion (composers Barrett Strong/Norm Whitfiled)

The Eliminators -- "Try, Try, Try" and "Blood Donors Needed"

Today's post is from the 1974 album of the Eliminators "Loving Explosion." The album brims over with some great funk. But you know me -- I love me some sweet "make-me-mushy" love song. 

According to Discogs, the song was written by Alonzo Tucker, who "also worked with Jackie Wilson" and himself was a member of the Royals and Midnighters.

 Also interesting is their take on "Blood Donors Needed." I knew that song only by David Ruffin's 1973 Motown release. Although no one beats "my" David, The Eliminators' version isn't bad either. 

Curiosity led me to snoop around a bit and see if I could find some more info about the group. Apparently, they are also known as The Mighty Eliminators, (The page I linked to has some great pics of the group posted.)

Also, Levon Meyers the group's vocalist has a very short Youtube clip up.

(From a time when music was still hand-made by humans with talent and enthusiasm.)

Here's a list of the Eliminators' group members:

James Funches (saxophone, flute), Nathaniel Williams (bass), Clifford Little (congas), Carl Johnson (drums), Calvin Rhodes (guitar), Robert Burris (guitar), James Anderson (organ), Godosakahi Jordon (saxophone), Jonathan L. Robinson (trumpet, flugelhorn), Levon Meyers (vocals), Donald Clark (vocals, harmonica)


Maybe someone who knows a little more about the group would like to share that knowledge with us?

Repost of Soultaker's Treasure Chest -- "4 to 5" (2012)

Here's something I really, really enjoy! My co-blogger and friend Soultaker's efforts to keep soul music alive found the appreciation it deserves by being recognized by SoulCoolRecords. Soultaker's collection is, as his mixcloud and SOTS posts prove, truly a treasure chest.