The recent deaths of three great blues greats has me thinking of the genre's deep impact on modern music. The roots of the blues runs as deep as music itself, and the reflections of 20th century blues can be heard in just about any pop song if you know what to listen for.
Download "Shake 'em on Down"
Download "Goin' Down South"
R.L. Burnside (1926-2005) shot to a higher level of fame in the '90s with recognition from the indie-rock set. His collaboration with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey," was his first step on the road to indie-cult status. His gut-punch delivery and willingness to experiment with newer styles and production led to some interesting grooves that definitely map new territories for the blues. Try "Shake 'em on Down" and "Goin' Down South" (featuring ever-effervescent rapper Lyrics Born) from the 2004 album "A Bothered Mind" for recent examples of his work.
Download "Louisiana Zydeco"
Another blues legend, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924-2005), fused blues, rock, swing, R&B, be-bop, cajun and anything else he felt like playing into something unusual but always cohesive. "Lousiana Zydeco" is a prime example of his mix of styles. (Via LivingBlues.com ).
Simple chord progressions and tales of longing and love-gone-wrong are the staple of most bluesmen. Little Milton, who passed away in August, followed this formula through many albums over many years. Often compared to B.B. King, Milton was a relatively lesser-known but well-loved artist. Samples of songs with guest artists G.Love, Keb Mo', Lucinda Williams and Government Mule can be heard here.
That concludes this session of Dead Blues Legend Retrospective. Next one won't be for a long while, hopefully.
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[Source: www.theolympian.com -- MP3 Blog]
