SPINNING THIS WEEK.... 3/26/23 - 4/1/23

BLUES WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Yah der hey, even da Yoopers and da folks way up der in Fargo love a smidge of da ‘lectric blues time and again….., so whatddya say? Let’s start in Memphis and move south……

Recorded Live in December, then released the year I was born, this performance on vinyl is a national treasure. Loved by many world-wide, B.B. is captured at the top of his game, only turning 40 later in ‘65 he still had much of the vitality of youth. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live in his later years with Coco Taylor at the now defunct Northern Lights Theater, he was mesmerizing, the master of his craft, and still able to play with what seemed like centuries of pain, etching the blues into the soul of every pair of ears in the house….. This particular pressing, a Newberry Comics Exclusive (1000pcs.) 180g on “Opaque Blue Vinyl” Geffen B0023551-01 is an absolutely fantastic recording (and not just for the mid-60’s either). Surface noise is minimal, even those of you who dislike live recordings will appreciate this one. Buy it….., OK, let’s head south a bit…………………………, to the Mississippi hill country, home of the “Delta Blues”….

If you love the blues and don’t know what this is? WOW, are you about to be stimulated….this is honestly about the most “authentic” rendering of what the blues “really” is……., at least off the beaten-track, out in the woods, smokey Juke-Joints awash in moonshine and backdoor slam. This (and Pentecostal gospel choirs) are what define this part of the country, and ultimately, this is the stuff we can thank for Elvis Presley. This is some of the best stuff……………. EVER. Truly an American art-form. Do yourself a favor and check out Fat Possum Records for this as well as the next artist on this weeks list…., it’ll change your life. Promise. :)

Cut from the same cloth as the last artist, Junior and his band string together songs of yearning, sadness and pain. The essence of what it is to be born to a life of poverty and toil. It’s a depth of the blues that most of us will (thankfully) never understand. Fat Possum Records 80306-1 pressed on 180g black vinyl, this is a great record. Recorded slightly low in amplitude (possibly to reduce surface noise), it’s still worth picking up if you have the ability to bump up the volume. Junior’s twin-P90 humbuckers come across as gritty and natural as they do in real life. Great stuff. Oh no, is it really time for the last album? Are you sick of ribs, pulled-shoulder, and greens? Well, then let’s bend a right, drive awhile, then head south……………………..

Hello Austin, Texas! I knew it was time for some Brisket and Beef bones…..(yep, pretty much the entire U.S. can be partitioned by “BBQ”, in fact, if you travel far enough north, you’ll even find people that think Sloppy Joe’s is BBQ). Not here! This is Texas, home of Beef BBQ, and, some of the richest guitar playing in the world. I had the opportunity to catch Gary play at our annual music festival (Summerfest) several years ago and was immediately blown away at his mature choices of phrasing….., surely this guy had to be much older than he looked? Nope. Wow, that’s cool. This album, Warner Bros. 531981-1 is my “must have” album for this week, despite not enjoying any “special” pressing status (it’s pressed on plain 160g black vinyl, but does include a pair of really nice inner-sleeves and an insert), it sounds GREAT. More importantly, the music is to die for. As a fan of the blues, my collection would not be what it is without this. BUY IT. So until next week…..(and I’m thinking 80’s rock?), don’t worry, I’ve got a “Jazz” week coming up too….., peace. Out.