Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
This isn’t a theme song. I could tell you that I chose this song because it’s rainy, cold and foggy outside. Or it’s Thursday and this song fits Thursday’s vibe.
It’s none of that, though. I just like the blues, Albert King, and this song. Play it. Listen to that playing and singing. Appreciate it and play it back in your head later.
Here’s the late Albert King with ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’.
I’ve seen this song performed by Taj Mahal, one of the co-writers and many others, but this Blues Brothers cover is best known. It’s a good bluesy song to carry your water through the day. Enjoy ‘She Caught the Katy’.
Bad news out of the political and economic jars dissipated my early morning dream-induced exuberance. Then Tucker attacked Meep and an epic cat fight erupted. Tucker refuses to be rehabilitated. His aggressiveness stresses us out and forces us to segregate him from the rest.
Bottom line: I’ve got the blues. Numerous ways to cope with the blues exist. I drink beer, wine, vodka, whiskey and scotch but I don’t do it in the morning. I’m not going to do it while in a funk. I did that when I was younger. I’ve learned not to. Mostly. I still trip now and again.
The best way to deal with the blues is some blues music, writing, coffee, and solitude. That’s my method. Your method may differ.
Today’s blues: ‘Ball and Chain’, belted out by the composer, Big Mama Thornton, with Buddy Guy on guitar. This is a recording from 1970. I love finding pieces like this on the net and witness such performances. I consider this one of the finest effects of our burgeoning technology.
Hope you enjoy it.
I needed a song that captures memories and wistfulness, because that’s the day’s mood, but is easy to sing.
‘Me & Bobby McGee’, Janis Joplin.
How about a little Dirty Mac today? Mitch Mitchell, John Lennon, Keith Richards (on bass!) and Eric Clapton, from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, 1968, introduced by a young Mick Jagger. Oh, the hair, the youth, the beat, the playing!
The ol’ mental juke box is full of songs today. Yes, I still use a juke box in my head. I like the sound of the coin dropping through the mechanism.
I was going to use ‘The Sky Is Crying’ but discovered this video of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble and Jimmy Vaughn performing ‘Texas Flood’ at the 1989 Presidential Inauguration Concert. Funny seeing SRV in some semblance of a tux. And there he goes, showing off, playing his guitar behind his back.
Crank it up, sit back and sing along.
A series of dreams battered me like a line of thunderstorms. Winds blowing strong and steady, whistling around windows and eaves, brought up tornado memories. Only been in two or three but they have a memorable sound.
Songs were featured in my dreams but after hearing the wind and rain, I went with ‘Stormy Monday’. Many great covers of this T-Bone Walker song are out there, but I went with a sentimental favorite. Here is the Allman Brothers Band performing ‘Stormy Monday’ from their album, ‘At Fillmore East’. Crank it up.
Getting ready to write? Or do anything else? Sometimes you need your mojo.
Time to get that mojo working. Maybe Muddy Waters can help. Sing along with the chorus – “Got my mojo working.” Feel free to move around and dance.
Get your mojo working. Go write, edit, whatever, create a better life.
Ah, a simple offering today. I’ve not known this song long but it’s taken a place in my virtual jukebox.
The song is ‘The Blues Don’t Care’ by Frank Bang and the Cook County Kings. I’ve added writing verses:
The blues don’t care how many words you wrote
The blues don’t care if you’re published or not
The blues don’t care if you’ve written all month
The blues don’t care if can’t write at all
I need to amuse myself somehow.
Michael Seidel, writer 