Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
We heard this on the blues station last night on our way home. We love Koko Taylor, and I like beer, so this works. I don’t know what year it’s from, or anything like that. It’s the blues, and it makes me feel good.
Here’s the fabulous Koko Taylor with “Beer Bottle Boogie.”
I often sing the blues. My version is the first world blues. I’m blue about the state of the world, environmental concerns, human rights. I’m also blue ’bout computer issues and awful television shows while simultaneously, hypocritically decrying our consumer society. I’m blue because I love auto racing and hate its economic and environmental impact. I’m blue because while I have plenty to eat, my metabolism has slowed and I can’t eat all the foods I want all the time. I’m blue because my hair is thinning and graying even while I know I’m in a pretty damn good place. I’m blue because I’m a basket of contradictions and because my cats don’t get along better. And the blues strike, too, because I’m pretty healthy while so many friends and loved ones suffer from health issues. I sing the blues because there are too many people who seem evil for the sake of being evil and care about no one but themselves.
That’s why I sing the blues. That’s why I’m thankful for an era where we had folks like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Etta James, Albert King, Doctor John, Phil Collins, Robert Cray, Paul Butterfield and more to lift me out of the blues via that terrible technology that I love and hate.
Here they are, strong of voice, at the top of their skills, performing ‘Why I Sing the Blues’.
Ah, something on the light side for a Sunday morning, like a little light blues. Here’s Albert Collins, ‘I Ain’t Drunk’. Enjoy the chorus and his protests woven through the song, along with some of that terrific guitar work. Maybe you know someone with Collins’ response, “I ain’t drunk, I’m just drinking.”
First, the disclaimers, the buts, ands, and the so, and the lists of ‘I know’.
I know it’s a holiday, and actually the day of one of the jewels of the holiday crown.
I know many hold this holiday sacred.
But I like this song.
And it’s been stuck in my head since I heard it on the radio yesterday.
I like this group a lot; their albums were part of my teen-age year go-to rotation. I may have posted this song before. I don’t know; I don’t track what I’ve listed. And theme music can be repeated.
And I like the blues. So, really, I’m just spreading some joy.
So — here it is, the Allman Brothers with ‘One Way Out’. For all we know, the man down there could be Santa Claus.
I’m thinking about the blues today. One, I like the blues. Two, lotta people suffer the blues during the holidays.
I’m a mixed media presentation on the holidays and the blues. Adulthood and cynicism squeezed the holiday cheer right out of me despite some terrific childhood memories. I know many suffer depression or the blues during the holidays. I can’t speak directly to Kwanzaa, Solstice or Hanukkah. Nobody I know openly celebrates Kwanzaa. My Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah without any expression of the blues. I celebrate Solstice, and it’s too joyful to feel blue.
But around Christmas Eve, the blues creep into my thoughts because I can’t go back to more wonderful times, to that time when I was an innocent and celebrated Christmas without addressing larger world issues. Memories of that time feed impressions that this era seems like a faux celebration. Along the way, I’ve learned, the blues never hibernate, and they sure as hell never die. All you can do is cope.
Here’s Otis Spann with ‘The Blues Never Die’, to remind us of that. Happy friggin’ holidays.
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.
Michael Seidel, writer 