Robert Johnson / Cream (studio / BBC) / Peter Green Splinter Group (live / studio) / Eric Clapton & Doyle Bramhall II In his twenty-seven years on earth, Robert Johnson did only two recording sessions, both for the Columbia label, each one stretching over two days; the first in November of 1936, the second in […]
“The Blues of Otis Spann” (Decca 1964) / “Raw Blues” (Ace of Clubs 1967) ‘Stirs Me Up’ (Decca 45) Muddy Waters made his first trip to the U.K. in 1958, at the invitation of Chris Barber. Rather than bring his full band, he brought only his best friend, pianist Otis Spann. Barber had been […]
Blues (3CD Deluxe Edition) (UMC – Chess 2019) – CD3 – Live Blues In May of 2019 Rory Gallagher’s estate released “Blues” (the title as unpretentious as Rory and his music). Available in two formats: a fifteen-track single CD and 2LP vinyl set and a thirty-six track 3CD Deluxe Edition. With performances ranging from 1971 […]
Blues (3CD Deluxe Edition) (UMC – Chess 2019) – CD1 – Electric Blues In May of 2019 Rory Gallagher’s estate released “Blues” (the title as unpretentious as Rory and his music). Available in two formats: a fifteen-track single CD and 2LP vinyl set and a thirty-six track 3CD Deluxe Edition. With performances ranging from 1971 […]
Eric Clapton & Jimmy Page meet Otis Spann & Muddy Waters Born March 21, 1930, Otis Spann had made his recorded debut in 1953 as a member of Muddy Waters’ band. He released a lone single under his own name a year later, but recording opportunities were scarce for the pianist after that. He cut […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
