A Girls Guide To The Blues A Girls Guide To The Blues
Ever since I was 8 years old and heard Billie Holiday cry out for her "Lover Man" on the, I've been hooked on the blues. Jump blues, Chicago blues, Mississippi Blues, Texas Blues, Electric Blues, Soul Blues, Classic Blues, Rhythm & Blues (or R&B) or, what I like to call, the New Blues... it's all good.
The problem, as I see it, is not enough girls know about the blues. The blues are cathartic -- the perfect antidote; non-toxic with no side effects, other than an improved state of mind and, in some cases, slimmer hips and a taut bootie (much of it's very danceable and aerobic; hence, cheap, painless weight-loss!).
You might already love the blues and not know it. Much of the new blues is wrapped in rock, pop or country wrappers. Some call it soul, some jazz, but it's still bluesy to me. The reason for this is many of our great rockers (and even rappers) listen to and are influenced by classic blues music. Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Fionna Apple, The Black Crowes are just a few rockers that obviously pay homage to their blues bases.. Did you know that Rod Stewart did the vocals for guitarist Jeff Beck's first (and classic) English blues album "Truth." With tunes like "Blues Deluxe" and "I Ain't Superstitious," this is a piece of music history.
I'd like to speak about the power of the blues, or "blues power" if you will. Blues power will help you get over your boyfriend dumping you. Blues power will help you get over another Saturday night without a date. Blues power will give you courage to go out there and get a new boyfriend. Blues power will give you the strength to not care if you're alone, because Blues power will help you believe in yourself. Blues power will help you if someone or something you love dies. Blues power is like a musical lost and found, where you morn what's gone and celebrate what's to be discovered. Blues power will help you find your inner strength. Blues power will make you wanna dance and shout. Blues power will make you want to cry it out. Blues power will make you want to throw it all out. Blues power is what it's all about.
And now for a quick list of Blues classics to start off your quest for infinite happiness and blues betterment. I don't want to be hearing from you that this and that selection is not a "true blues" selection, there's no room for blues nazis in this world, as far as I'm concerned.
Some of these cds are all good, some have one or two tunes that make it worth the purchase. Those of you who have itunes and ipods and such can pick and choose the choice cuts if you want and make your own ultimate blues collection. I've got a link here where you can order these things for download, rip and burn baby burn... and, of course, if you order it from this link I'll get a couple of pennies here and there so I can buy myself a cup of Joe.
I've also got links to these cds on Amazon.com. This is for your convenience, and yes, I make like a half a penny for every cd you buy through one of my links. I'm not planning on sending my kids to college from this guide. The reason I'm doing it is to heal the sick, feed the emotionally hungry, quench your thirst for love and life and maybe steer you to some tunes you wouldn't have found on your own or from reading some generic music review site. Think of me as your blues doctor, free of charge and if you order it from one of my links, I'll be getting a little tip here and there for my services. If you find the stuff cheaper at your local music shop or on Ebay, by all means, go for it. All I know is, I've been collecting blues music for most of my life, chiefly based on tips from other blues musicians, some famous, some infamous... some from the West Coast, some from the South, some from NYC, some from the back woods of New Hampshire, Massachussettes and Vermont... it's all good.
Let me kick this off unconventionally with the last music purchase I made: "So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross." I can already hear you purists in the background poo-pooing me but I stand firm when I say Luther Vandross knew the blues. I dare anyone to listen to Aretha Franklin's version of "A House is Not a Home" and say that Luther didn't know blues. It may not be a blues cd per say, but it's bluesy enough for me to buy.
This is one of those cds where there's enough good stuff on it to make it worth a whole purchase. But personally, I skip over Celine Dion singing "Dance with my Father." I don't know what the producers were thinking with that one. Celine has a good voice and I can certainly understand popping by her show when in Vegas, but just like I don't want to see Zeigfried and Roy opening up for BB King. If you're in the mood for "Dance with my Father," stick with Luther's original version. Likewise, I skip over Wyclef Jean's version of "Always & Forever." The real star cuts on this album are Aretha's cut of "House is Not a Home," Mary J. Blige's take on "Never Too much" Usher's "Superstar" and Alicia Keys "If This World Were Mine."
Now for some classics. I think it all goes back to Willie Dixon (or maybe Robert Johnson, but I don't feel like getting into his stuff just yet). Willie wrote for some of the greats, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters -- you name it. If you want to learn about Willie, there's enough stuff in books, on the internet and in liner notes to understand what a seminal influence this man had on blues music of the past and the present. The bottom line is, if you don't have "The Chess Box Willie Dixon Collection," you just can't call yourself a dyed in the wool blues fan. Two cds full of Howin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Little Walter, Koko Taylor, Little Milton as well as the man himself with his Big 3 Trio. There's not a bad song in the bunch -- this one's a keeper.
More old school blues with a jazzy swing to it is found on "First Issue: The Dinah Washington Story: the original recordings." I've got many Dinah recordings, but this one is the best for sound and performance quality. Between "Evil Gal Blues" "Teach Me Tonight" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" I think every emotional occasion is covered in this 2 cd set. It's a real dessert island pick, as far as I'm concerned. Whether you've recently broken up with a guy or are celebrating our bad mama side, this is a collection no bluesy gal should be without.
Speaking of collections, when they're bad they're very very bad, but when they're good they're on the level of "B.B. King of the Blues." I just can't say enough good things about this box set. I know it's pricey, but it's got everything you'd need (almost) in the BB set. The four cds are broken down by time periods... lately, I've been listening to 1949-1966, which has some great jump blues to die for. "Everyday I have the Blues," "Rock Me Baby," "How Blue Can You Get", "Don't Answer the Door,"... you just can't lose. I've been suplimenting with BB's "Best of the Millenium Collection," which is also great. But if you have to pick between the two, get the "King of the Blues" set first.
Before I go, I'd like to leave a word about Etta, the great Etta James that is. I've been buying the great blues chanteuse for the past 10 years or so, after being turned onto her from the jukebox of a little dark and smokey joint in New York's Hell's Kitchen. I started with "At Last" and "These Foolish Things, The Classic Balladry of Etta James", which I still turn to at least 2 or 3 times a month to feed my soul. These two cds have seen me through some tough, lonely times and now that things aren't as tough or lonely, well, I still love 'em. Her more recent concert album's are fun once in a while, but not the same to me; although I really do like the balladry of "Love's Been Rough On Me." "Love's Been Rough" is an older, more wizened Etta; almost like a different singer altogether, but again, worth the money -- especially for tunes like "Cry Like a Rainy Day" and her version of "I've Been Loving You Too Long"... I'll stop now.
Next time, I'll be giving you my takes on some vintage jump blues collections, harp master madness, the sleek smokey sound of Nina Simone, which John Lee Hooker is a must have, my take on some English rockers who went blues in the 60's, as well as some of the New Blues sound I was talking about from Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Fiona Apple and more. And if you want, don't forget that I make Blues T-shirts for all occasions at www.bluesyworld.com.
--What to do after he's dumped you
Download the Best of Dinah Washington on your Ipod.
Download Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon doing "Insane Asylum" on The Chess Box