John Primer was born in 1945 in Camden, Mississippi, USA. He grew up with music all around, from family and friends playing to listening to old 78s. John said he always wanted to be a musician, a guitar player.
In 1963 John moved to Chicago and played guitar on Maxwell St. with a band called The Maintainers which also had Arthur Adams on guitar. John played in the house band at Theresa’s Lounge for eight years. In the show John talks about some of the artists he got to play with there as well as some of the different bands he played in like Willie Dixon’s, Muddy Waters’ and Magic Slim’s.
This weeks show will be focusing on his solo record All Originals. This is a record of good old blues, no screaming rock guitars just blues music. John Primer is a man that has played with some of the biggest names in blues and has walked away with the understanding of what makes a good blues song. This is evident by the fact that he has been nominated for two 2010 Blues Music Awards. One for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. The other one is for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year.
Judge for yourself, these are the songs played on this weeks show. If you like them be sure to go to The Blues Foundation and vote for John Primer.
Other Man
Bad Child
Keep on Loving the Blues
At Home Alone
One more thing, John Primer along with Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, and Lurrie Bell have put out a record called Chicago Blues: A Living History. This record was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album 2009.
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Shane Dwight is doing something I’ve only heard the “Boss” (Bruce Springsteen) and Guns N’ Roses do. He is releasing two records at the same time. Shane described Give Me Back the Money as more of an overview of his different influences. It has R&B, some kind of country stuff, as well as alternative rock. Shane feels this is some of his best studio music yet. The other CD is the one we will be talking about and playing songs from in the show. The name of the CD is Plays the Blues which starts out with five really good studio tracks. The last five tracks are live and they are great.
Shane’s guitar playing is really good on all the tracks. As you will hear in the show he has a unique sounding voice that’s really cool. “Standing” starts off with a really good lead guitar introduction as it goes into a solid blues rocking number. “Have Some of That” has hit written all over it with good hooks, good guitars, nice horns and clever lyrics. “She’s So Sweet” is another song that really gets you rockin.
Shane tells an unbelievable story in the show about how the live tracks came about. You will get a real kick out of his story. The Allman Brothers are know for Eat A Peach, B.B. King is known for Live at the Regal, for better or worse Shane Dwight will probably be known for the five live tracks on Plays the Blues. The only thing I don’t like about these tracks is I really don’t think he will ever be able to top these five songs. These five tracks are over the top. Shane’s guitar playing is great, the band is playing great and tight, the jamming is excellent, and Danny Whole’s saxophone playing is great too. The song “Ode To Albert” (of course Albert King) is six minutes of the best Albert King style music you may ever hear, this is a grand slam home run. The last song “Boogie King” is eight minutes of about the best boogie music you may ever hear. Plays the Blues is a great CD. The studio songs are really good, a few of which could be hits on blues or rock radio stations. You should call your local radio station and request “Have Some Of That”. If your radio station will play longer songs, you know beyond three minutes ask them to play “High Times”, “Ode To Albert” or “Boogie King”. You may like to warn the radio station their phones will be ringing off the hooks after these songs.
Shane Dwight’s Plays the Blues is a must have CD. Below are some links to where you can buy perhaps the best CD you buy this year.
Thanks to Kool Breeze at KCOR Kansas City Online Radio who does the show Kool Breeze & Sizzlin Blues for turning me on to Shane Dwight. I’ve really had a great time listening to Plays the Blues over and over again, Thanks Breeze.
Songs played on this week’s show
Have Some of That
Standing
High Time
Pretty, Young and Mean
Ode to Albert
If you have not heard yet I’m sorry to inform you of the passing if blues guitarist Lil Dave Thompson. Dave was killed in an automobile accident on February 13th while touring with his band. The other band members were not seriously injured.
Lil’ Dave is survived by Susan White, his wife of 15 years; his children: David Jr. (20), Danielle (19), Shequeena (18), Shirleiah (16) and Destiny (13); sisters Patricia, Barbara Denise, Jennifer and Pasty Thompson, Zenovia Henderson and Rose Marie Richmond; and brothers John, Sam, Elijah Allen and Tyrone Thompson. Please keep them and his band members in your prayers.
When I interviewed Lil Dave Thompson back in December he was in good sprites and looking forwarded to working on a new live record. Dave will be greatly missed.
Tail Dragger was born James Yancey Jones in 1940 in Altheimer, Arkansas, USA. He moved to Chicago in 1966 where his idol Howlin’ Wolf let him get on the bandstand with him. In this show Tail Dragger talks a lot about working with Howlin’ Wolf and how Wolf not only gave Tail Dragger his name but was also a mentor to Tail Dragger.
Even though his history will be interesting to listen to, the real thrill is to hear this blues man and his music. This is raw music from the heart of Tail Dragger. He told me his job is to get out there and entertain the people. He said he never uses a playlist because he wants to see and feel what his audience will want to hear next. He also explains on the show why he never has rehearsals for the songs they are going to be playing. Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, the guitarist, seems to know where the song is going all the time even without rehearsals. Harp player Martin Lang does a really fine job on all the songs. Our old friend Jimmy Dawkins sets in one song called “Wander”.
Besides this being a really good old school blues CD there is also a DVD available of the concert. You really get a better idea of what it’s like to be in a club with an old time blues man that really wants his audience to have a good time. There is no rock n’ roll here it’s all low down gritty blues. Just like with the Byther Smith DVD Blues On The Moon from 2008 one of the real treats is the bonus track. It’s only an audio track with Tail Dragger and some band members talking about all sorts of things. Sometimes Tail Dragger is a little hard to understand and could maybe have used a little more of guidance on what to talk about. However, when it’s over you really feel you have stepped in to Tail Dragger’s world. I liked watching the DVD of the concert and the bonus track was really nice. Depending on how or what you listen to music on the DVD may be a better choice because you still hear all the songs and today’s TVs have really good sound quality. Whatever your choice is, run by Delmark Records and pick up a copy of Tail Dragger, Live at Rooster’s Lounge. They also have a short video at Delmark Records website of Tail Dragger, check that out too.
The songs heard on this week’s show:
Wander
She’s Worryin’ Me
Stop Lying
Bought Me a New Home
Check out other great CDs on Delmark Records like Quintus McCormick, Shirley Johnson, Zora Young, Eddie C. Campbell or Delmark Celebrates 55 Years of Blues.
All these artists are up for Blues Music Awards this year with the exception of Quintus who’s CD is too new to be on the list. It better be next year because it’s one of the best.
Thanks to Tail Dragger for taking time to do this interview.
Thanks also to Kevin Johnson for all his help in getting everything set up.
Bruce Iglauer - The Story of Alligator Records - Episode # 2 Bruce Iglauer & Hound Dog Taylor [34:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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Episode # 2 Bruce Iglauer & Hound Dog Taylor
This week you will hear Bruce Iglauer talk about why he thought Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers was such a good band even though the first time he saw them he didn’t get into what they were doing. Bruce talks a bit about what went into the recording of that first record in order to making it sound so full of energy like you were really there at a concert with them.
Getting the money to start Alligator Records was one thing. Getting radio stations to play an artist they’d never heard of could be a real problem but Bruce had a plan for selling Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers LP, boy did it work out good. He loaded his car with a bunch of LP’s and drive to all the radio stations asking them to play this record he had just made of his favorite artist and they did. Warning: to all you blues artists out there today don’t try this at home till you’ve listened to the show and understand how Bruce got radio stations to play his record and how he sold out of all the records before he got back home.
One of the things I liked so much about this episode is that besides hearing about how Alligator Records was started it’s also partly a show about Hound Dog Taylor, someone I’ve wanted to do a show on for quite awhile.
Bruce Iglauer will be back with us the first Thursday of next month to talk about the early years of this struggling record label and how they started getting well known blues artists to sign up.
Songs in this week’s show:
“She’s Gone” from Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers
“Give Me Back My Wig” from Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers
Elvin Bishop – “Let’s Get Funky” from Hound Dog Taylor A Tribute
“Gonna Send You Back to Georgia” from Release the Hound
Be sure to go by Alligator Records’ Website where you can read about all the artists that have been on the label, see when their tours comes near you, buy your favorite CD’s, DVD’s, T-shirts, or just enjoy the music on the Alligator Steaming Radio.
If you missed part one of the interview with Bruce Iglauer click here.
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Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by A1 Mark
