Blues For A Blue Day

[Jacob Boehme]

Well my fellow DU brethren, our day of infamy has arrived. And while we can't stop the unfolding travesty, we can at least lower the stress of it through music.

In this case, the music of the blues... which is entirely appropriate for today. If you are not familiar with this form of musical expression, it is very soulful and therapeutic. Which, again, seems to be a good plan for today. So kick back, turn the volume up, let the music roll in and forget for a while about all the crazy stuff going on.

With that, I'll offer the first great song on today's musical excursion, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers featuring Peter Green playing Otis Rush’s: Double Trouble:

Now on to the next selection, it’s a classic called “Red House” written by Jimi Hendrix and performed here by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson:

Next up is ZZ Top's "Blue Jean Blues":

For a little more upbeat look at the blues, here's a guy that would let it all out on stage, Johnny Winter playing his: Be Careful With a Fool:

Next, we'll really get deep into some soulful blues guitar riffs with a 70's band called Pacific Gas and Electric featuring Glenn Schwartz on Guitar and Charlie Allen on Vocals. The song is: Motor City's Burning. The guitar breaks on this one are sweet!

Of course no Blues compilation would ever get off the ground without including something from the original Fleetwood Mac where Peter Green really came into his own. These guys were awesome in every respect. So here's one great pick out of many titled: Looking for Somebody:

Here's a band that never got the recognition it deserved when it was around, but certainly held its own musically with the more popular groups. They were known as Moby Grape. One of their more powerful songs was this one called "Millers Blues":

Another phenomenal band that was under recognized was "Savoy Brown" featuring Kim Simmonds on guitar. Their classic: Just 'Cos You Got The Blues" will blow you away with the guitar solo and vocals so hang on cuz here it comes:

In a more recent vein, we can't get into the blues without introducing Gary Moore into the equation. Gary was a guitar master magician. Here's his wicked good: "As The Years Go Passing By":

OK, I’ve got to throw out another Gary Moore number called “Driftin”… Gary’s guitar work will blow you away if you’re not familiar with him:

I hope everyone listening is enjoying this. And I hope it helps ease some stress. If you're still with me, here's one of the best guitarists ever to take the stage, Rory Gallagher playing "A Million Miles Away"

If you thought I was going leave out Stevie Ray…. That’s not going to happen. Here’s the wild man Mr. Vaughn killing it with “Crossfire”

In a lighter vein, and with a sneaky Stevie Ray Vaughn playing one of the song’s solos, here’s Lonnie Mack and the “Oreo Cookie Blues”:

And now for a shout out to a guy that can make a guitar stand up and do magic tricks: Coco Montoya playing his song: "Last Dirty Deal"

Did you know that Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitarist for Jefferson Airplane) did an impromptu taping of some blues classics called “The Typewriter Tapes” named so because Jorma’s wife was tapping out rhythm on a typewriter? Well here’s a musical treat for your ears if you have not heard Janis and Jorma doing the blues. The song is the classic “Hesitation Blues”

Freddy King is a Blues Musician that pretty much every other Blues artist pays tribute to. Songs covered and made popular by so many bands were Freddy’s songs first. Here’s just one of many called “I’m Tore Down”

If you're already a blues fan, you'll know about The Years After and Alvin Lee. These guys were hot! Here's the band going all out on "Help Me" from 1967:

Most everyone knows there was the Allman Brothers Band before Duane died and the band that became the Allman Brothers Band afterwards. Both were great in their own way so I’m including a cuts from each era. The first cut is with Duane titled: Whipping Post:

For the Allman Brothers after Duane, there is a new lineup featuring Warren Haynes (more about him later) and Derek Trucks with a song that lights up the sky called Who To Believe:

OK, this band is so awesome I’m going to include another piece (which was an old Rolling Stones song) called Heart of Stone… this is classic blues at its best:

And then there’s a band called Gov’t Mule featuring Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks. These two are each superior guitarists in their own right, but together they are at the top of the blues pyramid: Here are two cuts that will blow you away. The first is one Called: Worried Down With The Blues

And the second cut titled: Time to Confess:

There's a song done by Peter Green and Snowy White which is one of my all time favorites titled "Slabo Day". it's an instrumental that is very soulful.

Well, I could go on... And I know I’ve left out so many great artists, but hopefully others will chime in with some of their favorites. So I'll leave you with one of the best live blues adaptations ever recorded. This is Cream from the Wheels of Fire album and the live version of "Spoonful" It's Eric Clapton on Guitar, Ginger Baker Drums and Jack Bruce on Bass and vocals. Sit back and enjoy this classic:

[irisblue]

1. thank you for this gift

You improved my morning x 21000000000.

[Jacob Boehme]

2. You are most welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I had fun putting it together.