Songlines: ‘Too Much Monkey Business’

Chuck Berry didn’t tour England until May of 1964, but his songs had been in the repertoires of countless British bands for years by then, including the two biggest, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Surprisingly, ‘Too Much Monkey Business’ proved to be particular favorite. I say “surprisingly” as the song was not released in […]

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Songlines: ‘Don’t Know Which Way to Go’

My introduction to this song was on “Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack – Rush” (Reprise 1992) Eric Clapton composed and performed the score and included a few songs; he brought in Buddy Guy to take the lead on this complete makeover of a number that Guy had originally recorded in 1962.  Guy turns in […]

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Songlines: ‘Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday is just as Bad’ Part 2

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers – Eric Clapton & Peter Green In 1965 new recordings of T-Bone Walker’s song were released in the U.K. in August, September and October see Part 1). There was also a live performance of the song by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers caught on tape in early November, though it wouldn’t see […]

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BBC Sessions –

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – January 23, 1967 The recordings made by British blues and rock performers for the broadcast on various BBC outlets in the mid-to-late sixties are almost an alternate history of the bands and the era.  Most of the songs were recorded live, straight through, although some sessions allowed for limited overdubbing.  All […]

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Classic Singles – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac’s Debut Part 2 –

The B-Side: ‘Rambling Pony’ The fourteen-year difference in age between John Mayall and the nineteen-year-old Peter Green at the time of Green’s joining The Bluebreakers was a lifetime in terms of life experience. Green moved into the same apartment block as Mayall on Portchester Road in Bayswater, west London, and the two bonded over Mayall’s […]

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