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The Jeff Jensen Band’s CD I’m Coming Home is some of the most enjoyable and fun blues I’ve heard in awhile. This is a five peace band with trumpet, trombone, and sax added to give it a larger sound with a bit of a swing to it. The CD kicks off with the B.B. King song “Ask Me No Questions” which Jeff said the band has been doing this for years. They do it a little faster than BB and add horns, makes it work really good as the opener. “Good Morning Judge” is a Wynonie Harris hit that Jeff and the band really do a good job of. This is one of the songs you will play over and over because it really swings. About half of the songs were written or co-written by Jeff. Two of the more out standing ones are “Skinny Girls” and “She’s Evil”. Both have somewhat funny lyrics with the latter having strong vocals not to mention good guitar work. The real stand out (this has been going through my head a lot) is “Living In Los Angeles” with good hooks with fun lyrics. You will really like this song, well really the whole cd I’m Coming Home.
Songs on this week’s show:
Living In Los Angeles
I’m Coming Home
Skinny Girls
She’s Evil
129 - Bruce Iglauer - The Story of Alligator Records - Episode # 3 The Early Artists on Alligator Records [40:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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Episode # 3 The Early Artists on Alligator Records
This week you will hear Bruce Iglauer continue his interesting story about the founding of Alligator Records and about some of the early artist that were on the label.
Big Walter Horton, Son Seals, Koko Taylor and Albert Collins were some of the early artists to record with this young record label. Now almost forty years latter many of these are considered the big names in the blues world.
Below is just a few of the great CD’s that Alligator Records put out in their early years.
Songs heard in this week’s show:
Big Walter Horton “Have A Good Time” from Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell
Son Seals “Help Me, Somebody” from Live & Burning
Koko Taylor “You Ain’t Worth A Good Woman” from Old School
Albert Collins “Master Charge” from Ice Pickin’
Be sure to go by Alligator Records to buy all these records and the many many other blues classics. You should also check out NEW cd’s by The Holmes Brothers and Guitar Shorty.
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Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by A1 Mark
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
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.
