Confessing The Blues » admin

Confessing The Blues #12

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:05:06 +0000

We wrap up the first year of the podcast with a nice meaty show. We've got some great new music for you, including a non-English blues track. We've got a full track from Michigan blues artist David Gerald. We have mini-rants from both Keith and Jonathan. We've got a wrap-up of Red Hot Blues & BBQ. We've got a history of Texas Blues and how to work them into a blues dance set. And we wrap it up with some feedback. Check it out!

Confessing The Blues #11

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 20:13:36 +0000

00:10 Welcome to Episode #011 of Confessing the Blues!

02:24 New Music!

“Dust My Broom” off the eponymous Taj Mahal, available on eMusic and Amazon.
“Every Day I Have the Blues” by Luther Johnson on Born in Georgia, found on eMusic and Amazon.
“Hold That Train Conductor” done by Byther Smith on the album Hold That Train, findable on eMusic and Amazon.
“Basin Street Blues” performed by Johnny Maddox on Dixieland Blues, available on eMusic and Amazon.

15:55 The Jook and the Ballroom: We Continue to Discuss

Prompted by an email from Tim Jones in Australia, we continue the discussion about the music played for the two different venues and how it matters to us. We offer up a ton of music to show the differences and go over some of the nuances that set the music and dance styles apart.

“Paper Wooden Daddy” by Dennis McMillon, available on the compilation East Coast Blues Classics on eMusic.
“Sugar Blues” done by Preservation Hall Jazz Band on the album The Hurricane Sessions, available on eMusic; another version is available on New Orleans Preservation Vol. 1 which you can get on their website.
“Black and Tan Fantasy” off The Great Summit – The Master Takes by Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, available on Amazon.
“Hoodoo Hoodoo” by Sonny Boy Williamson off of Mean Old World: The Blues From 1940-1994 Vol. 1, painfully available on Amazon, less painfully so on Mississippi Blues on eMusic.
“Gangster’s Blues” by Peetie Wheatstraw on Peetie Wheatstraw vol. 7, found on eMusic or on Amazon.
“Rose Get Your Clothes” done by Wynonie Harris, available on the Properbox Rockin’ the Blues which can be found on Amazon.
“Let’s Fall In Love Again” by Harlem Hamfats, found on Harlem Hamfats Vol. 2 on eMusic.
“You Ought to Be Ashamed” by Byther Smith on Hold That Train, found on eMusic and Amazon.
“St. Louis Blues” as performed by Ruth Brown on Blues on Broadway, obtainable on eMusic or Amazon.

54:08 Blues Shout! Instructors’ Choices

Joe Demers gives us “Come On In My Kitchen” by Porterdavis on Live at Eddie’s Attic, available on eMusic or on their website.
Damon Stone loves some Keb’ Mo’ and wants you to hear “Gimme What You Got” off of The Door, found on eMusic or Amazon.

59:12 Feedback

Tim Jones emails from Australia to draw our attention to C.W. Stoneking. We play “I Heard the Marchin’ of the Drum” off of Jungle Blues. You can find his music on his Myspace and on his website.
Jenn Santiago draws our attention to a couple of articles via Facebook. The discussion regards whether or not the music of Robert Johnson is being reproduced in the same way as it was originally recorded. The original column is here; the follow-up on the discussion is here.

72:35 Thanks!

( – Just a reminder, instead of playing the show from the website, click the Download link and save it to your computer or MP3 player/iPod to listen to later, OR subscribe to the show via iTunes or using our RSS feed on the front page – )

Confessing The Blues #10

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:09:09 +0000

00:13 Welcome to Episode #010 of Confessing the Blues!

02:40 Tribute to Lena Horne

With the recent passing of this amazing performer, we decide to point out a few of her more noteworthy songs and give a few notes on her incredible life.

“I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues” off The Young Star (Bluebird’s Best), available on eMusic.
“Hesitating Blues” on A Fine Romance and available on eMusic.
“St. Louis Blues” and “Stormy Weather,” both on Stormy Weather on eMusic.

11:56 New Music

“New Orleans Bump’” by Jellyroll Morton, collected on the Doctor Jazz Properbox which is available on Amazon.
“Lost a Good Woman” from Johnny Shines on Back to the Country, found on eMusic and Amazon.
“Standing at the Crossroads” by James “Son” Thomas on Hard Times, on eMusic and Amazon.
“Goin’ Down Slow” done by Cousin Joe off of Bad Luck Blues from eMusic and Amazon. His autobiography is available on Amazon.
The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn were awesome enough to let us play a full track off their album Good Night Harry! We chose to play “Let It Roll,” which you can go buy from them on cdBaby.

37:30 Blues Shout! The Post-Mortem

We discuss several of the points of how we feel about the event, and wanted to discuss the particulars of the two bands that played over the weekend.

Omar and the Howlers were the Friday band, their website is here.
“Dream Girl” is off of their latest album Big Town Playboy, available on their website or on eMusic.
The Asylum Street Spankers played Saturday, their site is here.
“Got My Mojo Workin’” is off of their album Mercurial, available on their website or on eMusic.

We also have a few picks from the instructors at Shout!

Nelle Hatley chose “Further On Down the Road” by the Crazidays, you can hear more of them on MySpace.
Heidi Fite went with “I Pity the Fool” from Bobby Blue Bland off of Two Steps From the Blues, found on Amazon.
Roy Rydbeck offers up “Rain” by Charlie Baty; the song is available on the Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection, available on Amazon. The credit on the track is Rick Estrin; it’s the same song, Charlie formerly played with Estrin in the band they’d formed, Little Charlie and the Nightcats.

60:15 Competitions and Performances: Relevance?

We discuss the ways that competitions and performances are pertinent to the music you hear at dances, and how important it is that we pay attention to what people do with these events. One of the primary points we discussed over Shout was the music used for the competitions, and we discuss how we differentiate between them and offer some examples.

“The Mooche” by Sidney Bechet on Vive La France on eMusic (seems like a nice set).
“I Want to Talk About You” as done by John Lee Hooker on That’s My Story, available on eMusic and Amazon.
“Slow Down” by Louis Jordan on The Complete 1950-1952 Decca Recordings, which you can find on Amazon (ouch!).

90:36 Feedback

Doug Sutton comments on how we’re helping give him more to think about and play in his sets as a new DJ. Thanks, Doug!
Damon Stone is back again, this time wanting to mention Down Home Blues coming up this summer. Check out the website for details.

94:10 Thanks!

Confessing The Blues #09

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:26:53 +0000

00:12 Welcome to Episode #009 of Confessing the Blues!

01:10 Keith’s New Music To Check Out

“St. James Infirmary’” by The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn and released on Good Night Harry, available on both eMusic and CD Baby. Check out their website here.
“Dream Blues” from Johnny Hodges on Essential Jazz Masters, found on eMusic.
“Trouble Blues” by the great Sam Cooke, found on The Man Who Invented Soul on eMusic.
“Trouble in Mind” as presented by Jimmy Rushing on Five Feet of Soul, available on eMusic.
“Trouble in Mind” yet again, this time by Peter Carlsson and Blå Grodorna off of their self-titled album, also on eMusic.

12:31 Jonathan Speaks! He’ll be at Emerald City Blues Festival in November!

14:50 Jonathan’s New Music to Check Out

“Moaning and Groaning” by Johnny Young on Chicago Blues on eMusic.
“Wee Baby Blues” from Lynwood Slim’s Last Call, available on CD Baby and eMusic.
“Feather Brain Blues” done by Muggsy Spanier, available on Manhattan Masters 1945 on eMusic.
“Honey Babe Let the Deal Go Down” off of the Mississippi Sheiks tribute album Things About Comin’ My Way, performed by Bruce Cockburn and available on CD Baby and eMusic.

25:04 Feedback

Christine Moser writes in to point us towards the thriving blues and jazz communities in Europe, show us a couple of new artists on the way: The Lake Village Ramblers Jazz Band and The Caldonian Blues Band. Check out her blog here, where she gives us a mention, as well as talks about her experiences DJing and enjoying blues music.

30:43 Keith Returns…Now With More Feedback!

Kate Bramley-Moore talks to us about the workshop Damon Stone taught in Sweden. She wanted to point out Albert King’s “I’ll Play the Blues For You,” which is available on eMusic on the album of the same name. The shorter version is available here.
More audio feedback, this time from Duane Grover asking that we stem the tide of “Black Rattler” being played at dances across the country; the album is available on Amazon on The Carl Sonny Leyland Trio Meets Nathan James and Ben Hernandez (price = ouch!). He also mentioned how truly awesome the Spankers were at Shout…you guys really did miss out, if you weren’t there.

39:40 Thanks!

Confessing The Blues #08

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:58:54 +0000

00:10 Welcome to Episode #008 of Confessing the Blues!

01:50 Credits/Corrections

“Haman Was Rotten (Purim Blues),” our last song from last month, is by Howlin’ Wasserstrom and on Youtube.
Keith points out that James P. Johnson taught Fats Waller, not Jelly Roll Morton. Just to make it up to you, he shows you “Yellow Dog Blues” off of Classic Piano Blues from eMusic.

05:28 New Music To Check Out

“I Got a Feelin’” by Big Maybelle and released on The Complete Okeh Sessions 1952-1955 from eMusic.
“Hoodoo Man” from Ralph Willis, available on Greatest Blues Masters which is on eMusic.
“Algiers Hoodoo Blues” as done by Billie and Dede Pierce on New Orleans: The Living Legends. Get it on eMusic.
“Reconsider Baby,” performed by The Mannish Boys. It’s on Shake For Me on eMusic.

19:56 Blues Instrumentals: How Mighty They Are

In response to Kristin Buxton’s email regarding this topic, we respond with a bunch of music we like.

“Harlem Parlor Blues” by Sammy Price, available on eMusic on Blues Routes: Heroes and Tricksters: Blues and Jazz Works Songs and Street Music.
“The Bells” done by Memphis Slim on The Folkways Years 1959-1973 on eMusic.
“Eddie’s Blues” by Eddie Boyd, from the Essential Blues Masters collection on eMusic.
Johnny Otis doing “Slo Fuse,” available on Johnny Otis: The Essential Recordings on eMusic.
“Uptown Blues” by Jimmie Lunceford on Sophisticated Lady: The Best of Jimmie Lunceford on eMusic; also available on the Quadomania box set available on Amazon.
“Careless Love” from The Wolverines Jazz Band of Bern, released on The Wolverines of Bern at 35 which is available on eMusic.
Gerry Hundt gave us permission to play the full track of “End of the Day Blues” off of Since Way Back which you should go pick up on cdbaby, but is also available on eMusic and Amazon.

44:07 Feedback

Kate Bramley-Moore gets back with us again about wangling.
Manu gets back with us about last month’s show, and has some questions about why faster blues doesn’t get played at events more frequently. We discuss it and offer up a few examples of music we like that we want to play. Also, Google translated his voice message into something…different.

Hey guys, What’s up. This is venue. It’s me, you know so that the guys who produced of the things that show bye bye bye. But what I want to pay. Great show the apartment. Every other i’m hopeful this laptop, so sounds like we have to so that you wanted to talk about the because the January show. If you guys granted if I’m not going to go to the best. I think that I show you guy’s wanted to confirm the beginning, but this payment. You know I would like to rent the of the way, but I appreciate if you are, items, although I appreciate the playing the at the Blue Elvis. Yeah, that I’m a huge fan of the all that but you actually filed a blue, so I’m gonna deal with it as opposed to you know whatever else there question. You guys have any game tomorrow for a favor of james brown blue, so I’m just getting back with you were explaining. See you soon. Hey, right. Actually, I’m calling to ask you about the mood music, dancing, but I don’t. LoopNet, well I don’t. I don’t. Alright, well I don’t know what I do, but every time I go to a movie event. The Tempo Keith. It’s an around 100. Andrew and and it seems like it’s your boy, 120, P. M. You’re kind of rake in a little if you guys ever played of that that you know he like chicken above 150 or some like that, but it’s available of salt. Have you ever done that and got it was the reaction, Good afternoon. Are they looking, just to yeah hey busy.

I don’t know. I would let you do, so that’s why. Rachel guys. Thanks.

“One Kind Favor” by Cephas & Wiggins, available on Flip, Flop, & Fly on eMusic.
“Three in One Boogie” from Memphis Slim’s Paris Mississippi Blues on eMusic.
“Come Back to Me Baby Blues” by T-Bone Walker, available on The Very Best Of on eMusic.
“Sugar Sweet” by Muddy Waters, available on the Properbox King of Chicago Blues on Amazon.
The video Keith mentioned from the Library of Congress is available here.

87:30 Thanks!

Confessing The Blues #07

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:33:42 +0000

00:13 Welcome to Episode #007 of Confessing the Blues!

01:38 Upcoming Events

Mile High Blues is March 26-28 in Denver, CO! Twitter feed still right here.
BluesSHOUT is LOOMING OVER YOU, stomping into Austin April 16-18 2010! *queue Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla”*
Ottawa Blues Blast erupts into Canada April 23-25!

03:24 New Music To Check Out

“Hesitation Blues” off of James P. Johnson’s Classic Piano Blues on eMusic.
“Nickel’s Worth of Liver” done by Edith North Johnson and Henry Brown on the Classic Blues collection on eMusic.
“Every Night About This Time” from Magic Sam on The Essential Magic Sam: The Cobra and Chief Recordings 1957-1961, as available on eMusic.
“Lonesome Blues” by Nathan James & Ben Hernandez, released on Make a Change Sometime, available on eMusic and cdbaby.
“I Got a Woman” as done by Marvin & Turner Foddrell on Classic Appalachian Blues on eMusic.
If you really, really must…”Night Time is the Right Time” by Elvin Bishop on eMusic.

20:48 The Grammy Recap

The Grammies happened. And there were winners. These are the two winning albums and a track from each of them.

Best Traditional Blues Album: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, A Stranger Here, available on eMusic and Amazon. Our preferred track this week is “Grinnin’ In Your Face.”
Best Contemporary Blues Album: The Derek Trucks Band, Already Free, available on Amazon. Check out “Down Don’t Bother Me” off of this.

27:53 Jelly Roll? Something Sweet for Valentine’s Day

“Jelly Jelly” by Lowell Fulson off of Classic Cuts 1946-53, available on eMusic .
“Jelly Roll Baker” done by Frankie Lee Sims Masterly Texas Blues and released on eMusic .
“I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of This Jelly Roll,” version done by Lizzy Miles with Sharkey & His Kings of Dixieland on Jazzin’ the Blues 1943-1952, found on eMusic.
“Jelly Roll Blues” from Louis Armstrong’s Butter and Eggman available on eMusic.

41:49 Work Songs

All of the samples for this section were taken off of Field Recordings vol. 6, recorded by Neil and Alan Lomax in prisons across Texas. It’s available on eMusic.

61:54 Feedback

Wendel Ramsey offers up some positive feedback; check out his work here.
Kristin Buxton has questions about instrumental blues. Check back with us next month, Kristin…
Kate Bramley-Moore emailed from Sweden wanting to let us know about a workshop coming up there, with info on the event available here. The website is entirely in Swedish; Google will turn that into something almost, but not quite, entirely unlike comprehensible English. Please help us learn how to be more cruel DJs.

67:40 Thanks!

68:36 What the…

Confessing The Blues #06

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:09:32 +0000

00:08 Welcome to episode #006 of Confessing the Blues!

01:21 Upcoming Events

Enter the Blues DIY Blues Workshop gives you control of your fate in Atlanta Feb. 19-21.
Sweet Molasses Blues rolls through Boston Feb. 26-28!
Steel City Blues puts you to the forge March 5-7 in Pittsburgh
Blues Before Sunrise comes to Melbourne, Austraila in March 5-7
Mile High Blues is next on the road March 26-28 in Denver, CO! Twitter feed still right here.
BluesSHOUT is IMPENDING, smashing into Austin April 16-18 2010! *queue most any music from a Michael Bay movie”*

02:31 New Music To Check Out

“Red House” by the great Jimi Hendrix on Blues, a recent addition to eMusic.
“Times Won’t Be Hard Always” from George Smith off of Now You Can Talk About Me, eMusic-available.
“Steamroller Blues” as done by Elvis Presley on Elvis 75, on eMusic.
“Blues for Gamblers” by Big Joe Williams (not that one, the other one), from Have Mercy! which is, as usual, on eMusic.
“With My Maker I Am One,” a new release from Eric Bibb from his album Booker’s Guitar from eMusic.

21:30 New Additions to eMusic: Warner Music Group

This isn’t your normal addition to an already huge library of music. Warner Music Group includes a wide selection of music that wasn’t previously available to eMusic users, and we can offer a couple of examples why you should take note.

“Night Time is the Right Time” by Aretha Franklin from the album The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha’s Blues.
“Mr. Charles Blues” is from Ray Charles’s The Genius Sings the Blues.

27:53 Blues That Ain’t: Songs That Aren’t Blues That People Keep Playing

“Glory Box” by Portishead? Why not try out a little Ike & Tina Turner, doing “I Smell Trouble” from The Soul Anthology on eMusic?
Feel like playing “Sweat” by Popa Chubby? The kids’ll just love to hear “I Just Want to Make Love to You” by Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon off of At the Village Gate With Pete Seeger. Can be found on eMusic and Amazon.
Does playing “Fire” by Babyface and Desiree’ get you down? Try putting Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Ain’t Superstitious” out there off of The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions, available on Amazon. The Wiki for this album can be found here.
If playing “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5 makes you blue, try some actual blues! “Fine and Mellow” by Ella Fitzgerald, on Bluella: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Blues. Get it on eMusic or Amazon.

63:39 Feedback

Carter Halloran from London recommends Kenny Neal’s “Going to the Country” off of Bayou Blood, available on eMusic and Amazon.
Stokie writes back in wanting our listeners to hear The Hottest Aussie Blues and Roots, available on eMusic or Amazon. We liked “Much Too Much” by Diamond Dave and the Doodaddies and “Little Journey” by Juzzie Smith.

75:30 Thanks!

Confessing The Blues #05

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:44:41 +0000

00:00 A Touch of the Holidays

“Jingle Bells” by Brother Yusef, available for free online here.

00:43 Welcome to episode #005 of Confessing the Blues!

03:19 Upcoming Events

Lindy Focus is was Dec. 27-31 in Asheville, NC. Blues electives in the classes.
Lone Star Championships is ready for you to come compete in all of their competitions Jan. 15-17.
Enter the Blues DIY Blues Workshop gives you the tools and the manual in Atlanta Feb. 19-21.
Sweet Molasses Blues rides the wave through Boston Feb. 26-28!
Mile High Blues rises up March 26-28 in Denver, CO! Twitter feed right here.
1. Performing at this event are The Shuffletones, who were kind enough to provide us a track to play! “Here I Am” is available on CDBaby.
BluesSHOUT is EVEN CLOSER, hitting Austin April 16-18 2010! *queue Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyries”*

11:01 New Music To Check Out

“Tell Me Baby” from Sonny Terry’s All Alone Blues, on eMusic.
“Crying Blues” by Lowell Fulson, off the collection Music History – Blues which is on eMusic.
“Song With No Words” by those Asylum Street Spankers on their album Strawberry, as usual on eMusic.
“Reap What You Sow” as done by Guitar Slim on the album Sufferin’ Mind, also available on eMusic.

22:32 The Grammys, and Why We Care

Keith and Jonathan discuss why the Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album are an indicator of how blues is still relevant to us today and how these awards help show the expectations for future viability of the music, and we describe each of the albums and our impressions of each.

A Stranger Here by Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, a contemporary of Woodie Guthrie. The track we play is “Rising High Water Blues” and is available on Amazon.
John Hammond’s Rough and Tough, also on Amazon. We provide a sample of “Got to Find My Baby” for you.
The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band offers up Blue Again; “Looking For Somebody” is the track, the album is on Amazon.
Stomp! The Blues Tonight is from Duke Robillard of the Fabulous Thunderbirds; Amazon has “Three Hours Past Midnight” and the rest of the album for order.
“Night Watchmen Blues” by Billy Boy Arnold is off of Chicago Blues: A Living History, a compilation of work available on eMusic or Amazon.

44:40 Blues for the Holidays

“Merry Christmas Darling” by The Fabulous Thunderbirds off of An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas on eMusic.
“Good Morning Blues” from Jimmy Witherspoon and Panama Francis’ Savoy Sultans, from their Definitive Black and Blue Sessions on eMusic.
“Sugar Rum Cherry” performed by Duke Ellington and his band, on Three Suites off of eMusic.
“Merry Christmas Baby” by Ramsey Lewis, recorded on The Sound of Christmas which is on eMusic.
Again, “Merry Christmas Baby,” this time by Lionel Hampton from his Chronological Classics 1950-1951, available on eMusic.
“Santa” from Lightnin’ Hopkins off of Just Pickin’, on eMusic as usual.
“Christmas Without Santa Claus” performed by the amazing Victoria Spivey, available on eMusic on the album Woman Blues.
Roy Milton’s “Christmastime Blues” off of Roy Milton and his Solid Senders, finally, again, on eMusic.
The final twist on this is Keith’s offering of “(Talking About) Hanukkah Blues” by Howlin’ Wasserstrom, released on Youtube.

68:16 Keith and Jonathan List Their New Year’s Wishes

70:56 Thanks!

Confessing The Blues #04

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:08:06 +0000

00:12 Welcome to episode #004 of Confessing the Blues!

00:54 Upcoming Events

Lindy Focus is Dec. 27-31 in Asheville, NC. Blues electives in the classes.
Lone Star Championships is near! Jan. 15-17, come compete.
Enter the Blues DIY Blues Workshop hits Atlanta Feb. 19-21.
Boston take shelter, Sweet Molasses Blues rolls through town Feb. 26-28!
BluesSHOUT is STILL coming up April 16-18 2010! *queue “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”*

02:20 New Music To Check Out

“Perpetual Blues Machine” by Keb’ Mo’, off of Live & Mo’, available on eMusic and Amazon.
“Travellin Riveside,” originally by Robert Johnson, performed by Geoff Muldar & The Texas Sheiks on the album Texas Sheiks. Now on eMusic and Amazon.
“Come On In My Kitchen” from Chris Thomas King’s Red Mud Sessions on eMusic and Amazon.
“I’m Takin’ a Devil of a Chance” by Lightnin’ Hopkins, released on Complete Prestige/Bluesville Recordings available on Amazon or on eMusic.
“Blues Iblis” from an Indonesian artist named Adrian Adieoteomo producing country blues. Not available for purchase, but can be listened to on MySpace.
A little outside what we normally provide here, but John Lee Hooker doing “Hobo Blues” at the 1965 American Folk Blues Festival is something pretty special. Watch the video on YouTube.

16:14 Feedback…Feedback…and Feedback.

Henrik from Uppsala, Sweden asks about work songs in relation to blues, and how to help derive a blues scene from an existing lindy hop scene.
Kent from San Francisco takes us down a series of long roads into what comprises the elements of blues dances/music. This email hijacks most of the rest of the podcast, but is great discussion material. We play several songs through these questions to illustrate points:

“Feelin’ Good” by Otis Spann off of The Blues Never Die! Available on eMusic and Amazon.
“Egyptian Fantasy” by Sidney Bechet, available on many albums and collections, but let’s go with the Ken Burns collection on eMusic and Amazon.
“Summertime” by Gene Harris, off of The Best of the Concord Years on eMusic and Amazon.

Bill Speidel from Virgina Beach wants folks to hear the Blues Empacts, which you can check out on their website.
Finally, we get an email from Stokie in England. He and his wife have started their own venue in Stoke-on-Trent where he wants to try to focus on traditional blues, and is asking for support from dancers not just around the country but those who might be traveling through. Check out their website, and look at the interview they did for the BBC. They have made the offer of free entry to anyone who mentions the podcast and shows their U.S. passport at the door, so make sure drop by!

71:41 A Little More Music

“Love That Girl” by Raphael Saadiq, released on The Way I See It available on iTunes and Amazon.
“Bridging the Gap” from Nas, featuring Olu Dara. The single is available on eMusic.

74:55 Thanks!

75:17 Shakes?

Confessing The Blues #03

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:11:27 +0000

00:12 Welcome to episode #003 of Confessing the Blues!

00:48 Event Recap

Keith and Jonathan discuss their experiences at Knoxville Lindy Exchange and Blues Blaze.

03:42 Upcoming Events

Gypsy House Party is happening happened in Dallas, TX Oct. 23-25. Make sure to check out the promo videos here.
North Star Blues Exchange is set for Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Minneapolis.
Emerald City Blues Festival is coming up Nov. 6-8 in Seattle.
Austin Lindy Exchange, where Jonathan will DJ, will rock out Nov. 20-22.
Back in Austin again for Lone Star Championships Jan. 15-17.
BluesSHOUT is still coming up April 16-18 2010! *queue Jaws music in background*
Blues at the Abbey is a new weekly venue in Seattle, go check it out.

06:25 New Music To Check Out

“Lowdown Baby” by Joe Morris from Best of the Early Years, available through eMusic.
“Trouble in Mind” featuring Odetta and Pinetop Perkins on Ladies Man, on eMusic.
“One Room Country Shack” by Mercy Dee Walton from the Essential Blues collection, also on eMusic.
“Squeeze Me” with Pee Wee Russell, off of the Quadramania set Weary Blues available on Amazon or on eMusic.

17:36 Feature: Dialtone Records in Austin, TX

Keith sat down with Eddie Stout from Dialtone and talked about what the kind of music they offer and how they represent what Texas brings to the plate that is blues. We’re including the links to these songs on eMusic if they’re available, but we ask that you order these albums from Dialtone Records and you let Eddie know that you heard about him from us.

“First Name is Earl” performed by Earl Gilliam off of Texas Doghouse Blues.
“Key to the Highway” done by Ray Reed and released on Where the Trinity Runs Free.
“High Tempter” from Bobby Rush on the collection Texas Harmonica Rumble.
“Somebody Tell Me” by Little Joe Washington on the brand new Texas Fire Line, not available on eMusic yet.

34:45 Feature: Jump blues…wait, that’s still blues?

The onset of jump blues brought about a distinctive change in how music was produced and performed, and Keith and Jonathan discuss some of the artists and tunes that you can bring to the dancefloor.

“Blue Light Boogie” by Louis Jordan, off of Jukebox Hits Vol. 2 1947-1951. Available on eMusic or on The Best of Louis Jordan on Amazon. Also on iTunes and a giant pile of other compilations.
“Young Man’s Blues” from Wynonie Harris, released on the Properbox Rockin’ the Blues. Found on Amazon.
“Hittin’ On Me” done by Buddy and Ella Johnson on Gotta Go Upside Your Head, purchasable on Amazon.
“The Hucklebuck” originally by Paul Williams, off of the Wailin’ Saxophone Legends compilation on eMusic or on Complete 1949-1952 on Amazon.

59:00 Feedback

Tim Jones from Canberra, Australia talks about a local artist they’ve brought in for dances. We get to play a full track from Jonno Zilber called “Second Chances” off of Bigger, Better, Zilber, available on iTunes.
Henrik Erikson, a blogger from Sweden, asks about what kind of music you might here at a blues event. He also points out his current favorite tune: “Wild Woman Don’t Get the Blues” by Alive! off of Always Alive! 1976-1986, available on Amazon.

72:08 Thanks!

73:18 Outtakes

Confessing The Blues #02

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:10:46 +0000

00:17 Welcome to episode #002 of Confessing the Blues!

01:02 Thanks to Mallory Grigg!

She helped put together our website! If you like the graphic design work here, check out her work here.

01:30 Feedback

Jeri Lloi has some comments on the show, wondering if we might shift to a weekly format. For those of you looking for more music more rapidly, Nothing But the Blues is strictly music and updated weekly.

03:54 Event Recap

Keith and Jonathan break down East Meets West, go over some of the material discussed in the DJ track, and offer congratulations to Julie Brown, who won the headline DJ spot at Emerald City Blues Festival!

11:02 News & Upcoming Events

Knoxville Lindy Exchange, where Jonathan will be DJing with Heather and others, is Sep. 18-20.
Blues Blaze features Keith along with other DJs and bands in New York City Oct. 2-4.
BamBLOOZled is also Oct. 2-4 in Washington D.C.
Gypsy House Party is happening in Dallas, TX Oct. 23-25. Make sure to check out the promo videos here.
North Star Blues Exchange is set for Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Minneapolis.
BluesSHOUT is coming up April 16-18 2010!

14:01 New Music To Check Out

First, Keith gives a shout to Colin Wise and his show, The Shotgun Shack. It ranges from blues to soul and all over; go check it out!

“No Ice In My Bourbon” by Cephas and Wiggins off of Cool Down, courtesy of Colin. Available through Amazon.
“Guide Me Home” by Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Band off of With the Muddy Waters Blues Band, 1966, on eMusic and through Arhoolie.
“Hoochie Coochie Man” by Muddy Waters off Blues Legend, available via download on Amazon.
“Buddy Bolden’s Blues” by San Francisco’s Buena Vista Jazz Band, available at WorldsRecords.com.
“Suitcase Blues” by Sippie Wallace from Women Be Wise, available on eMusic or iTunes.

24:34 Feature: 1920′s Female Blues Vocalists

Discussing and describing the artists that rose in popularity at that time and their relevance to blues and jazz music, as well as their impact on entertainment and reflection on the changing position of women in entertainment and society.

“Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith, available on eMusic. This is considered one of the first recorded vocal blues performances by an African-American blues singer.
“Coffee Grindin’ Blues” by Lucille Bogan, from Reckless Woman (1927-1935) which is an import and appears to be out of print – you can see the album detail on Amazon here although we’d recommend looking for this track from other sources before dropping $90 for it.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” performed by Ma Rainey, available on eMusic. You can see an old film clip of people doing the Black Bottom on Youtube.

33:47 Interview with DJ Heather Adams

48:18 Feature: Blues in Jazz, or Vice Versa?

Keith and Jonathan discuss how blues structure is pervasive through what is perceived as jazz, and how dancers should be open to music from some surprising avenues.

“My Baby Upsets Me” by Count Basie with Joe Williams, off of Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings. Available on Amazon.
“Doggin’ Man Blues” by Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy from Jukebox Hits 1936-1949, available on eMusic or Amazon.
“River Bed Blues” by Woody Herman’s Woodchoppers on Chronological Classics 1937-1938, online on eMusic.
“East St. Louis Toodle-oo” by The Solomon Douglas Swingtet on Live at the Legion. Can be found at CD Baby. This is originally a Duke Ellington tune, and we encourage all of you to go back and relisten to all of your Ellington albums if you aren’t aware of his contributions to blues music.

67:20 News: Upcoming Event

Solomon Douglas will be performing with Kim Massie at Emerald City Blues Festival! This is one of the biggest events of the year, be sure to sign up and attend!

68:02 Feedback

Matt Stratton sheds a little light on how Steven Watkins ended up alone in St. Louis
Jerry Warwick points out Southwest Blues and their review of (mostly Texas) blues albums. They also have tons of links to bands and blues radio stations around the region.
Matt Kelsey talks about the show, fills us in on blues down around Orlando, and pointed us towards Teddy Lee Hooker’s “You Looked Good Last Night” off of Electrik Rain, which is available on CD Baby.
Miguel Weissman, a musician up around New York, directs us towards Tin Pan Blues Band. “Gambler’s Blues” positively rocked our socks off. While this track is not available yet, you can find their other album on CD Baby or iTunes and listen to more on their website.

73:47 Thanks!

74:33 Outtakes

Confessing The Blues #01

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:42:54 +0000

00:17 Welcome to episode #001 of Confessing the Blues!

00:35 Thanks to Mr. Jesse for inspiration.

Check him out here.

04:35 Introductions!

Who are you listening to on this show?

10:00 News & Upcoming Events

East Meets West is in Dallas from Aug. 21-23.

Dirt Cheap Blues, an event in conjunction with Blues at the Beach, is taking place in Virginia Beach Sep. 10-14.

Knoxville Lindy Exchange is a lindy event with a strong blues lineup Sep. 18-20.

Blues Blaze is in New York City Oct 2-4.

BamBLOOZled is happening in Washington DC, also from Oct. 2-4.

14:05 New Music To Check Out

“Ice Storm” by Marquise Knox off of Man Child, available at his website.
“Big Black Ben” by Samuel James off of Songs Famed For Sorrow and Joy, available on eMusic or at Northern Blues.
“Humming Blues” by Big Jack Johnson with Kim Wilson and Pinetop Perkins off of The Memphis Barbecue Sessions, available on eMusic.
“Blue Midnight” by Little Walter, off of the Properbox Blowin’ and Suckin’ by Little Walter and the Kings of the Blues Harmonica.

Proper Records collects the work of individual artists and bands, or of a genre of music, and releases it with extremely informative liner notes. Keith and I both tend to highly recommend these sets. This particular set is available on Amazon and you can find information (though not buy the set) here.

24:25 Feature:The Jook Joint

The jook (or juke) joint, the music that came from there, and what it meant to the blues, along with jazz, R&B, and rock and roll.

For more information about the kind of environment that blues formed in, the book Jookin’ is a really interesting read, and is available here.

“Death Valley Blues” by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup off of Rock Me Mama, available on eMusic and Amazon.
“Two of a Kind” by Memphis Slim from All Kinds of Blues, which is on eMusic and iTunes.
“Shake the Boogie” by the first Sonny Boy Williamson, also off of Blowin’ and Suckin’ which, again, is available on Amazon.

32:36 Interview with DJ Steven “Dr. Feelgood” Watkins

69:28 Music: Kim Massie performs “Doctor Feelgood” live at Cheap Thrills 2005!

If you get the chance, check her out at Beale on Broadway in St. Louis and see her with Solomon Douglas at the Emerald City Blues Festival in November.

76:52 Feedback

Well, we don’t have any yet. So, instead, we share some of the tools we use to find and explore music:

eMusic is a great source for DRM-free music if you’re willing to go through the legwork of plowing through their (very considerable) library.

If you just want to listen to music, Pandora is a really great way to explore music.

Allmusic will provide you listings of discographies, credits for performers on albums, and help find information on songs and albums.