Fe BLUES ary 2013
Musical trends may come and go as whimsically as the big snow storm that never appeared this winter. Its nostalgia. Coming from the Northeast where real seasons existed, I prefer each of the climactic quadrants to behave in a certain way. Of course, they won’t. And that’s as good a reason as any to highlight some unsual blues-y moods.
Some time ago guitar legend Leslie West told me how he lost to a tap dancer in a radio contest as a kid. You read that correctly. Its a great story which you’ll hear again on The Electric Croude this week. Ironically, I had no idea we lived a stone’s throw from each other.
Blues are great in juke joints... but also in the mind. That’s where The James Gang comes in. In many ways, the most innovative trio in progressive blues/rock from 1969. That’s on the show this week, too. Not too far from that time period, The Doors entering the back door of Willie Dixon territory... and a surprise from Steppenwolf. While mainly remembered for pseudo biker psychedilia such as Born to Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride... you WILL be surprised at how superlative a blues band they could have been. What you’ll hear is up there will Cream--and somewhat more pure.
Fans of Taj Mahal won’t be disappointed... previously unreleased material sees the light of day (or night, in our case) on WCVE.
Last but not least... John Mayall and Clapton with classic Bluesbreakers trax... and those, bookened by Brit blues virtuoso Joanne Shaw Taylor who at the age of 23 cut one of the best female blues discs ever. Don’t take my word for it... tune in. She’s been blessed with working it out with legendary blues producer Jim Gaines--noteworthy for his disc with Stevie Ray Vaughn and other guitar slingers.
Bluesman Willie Brown once said “blues ain’t but a good man feeling bad.”
Fe BLUES ary... a really bad pun but really great music for you this week.
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The Electric Croude moves its sonic waves every late Saturday night at the midnight hour EST on WCVE Public Radio while simulstreaming at ideastations.org/radio.
Follow the host on Facebook at Geo Maida.
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