AUSSIE BLUES #4
Chain - Towards The Blues (1971)
Welcome to my compilations of great Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Jazz, Rockabilly, Early Rock & Roll, Hillbilly & Country music.
Chain - Towards The Blues (1971)
Best Of Jazz Vol 116 - All About The Chicks Vol 02 - My Babe (1934-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 241 (1927-2023)
Albert Collins - Trash Talkin' (1969)
After seeing Albert Collins playing at the Ponderosa Club in Houston in June 1968, Canned Heat singer Bob Hite recommended Albert to Imperial Records, which was affiliated with Liberty/USA.
Between the years 1968-1970 Albert Collins recorded three albums for the Imperial label, which helped bring him from relative obscurity in the Texas club scene to national recognition with blues and rock audiences.
Of the three Imperial albums my favorite is Trash Talkin', which was recorded in Nashville in July 1969. The session was produced by Bill Hall and the backing musicians consisted of a Nashville-based lineup which included James Hooker Brown on organ, Charles Freeman on guitar, Tommy McClure on bass, Robert "Trap" Tarrant on drums, along with a horn section of session players.
The album was released by Imperial in the US in 1969, and in the UK on Liberty in 1970.
I bought the UK Liberty release of Trash Talkin' from 78 Records in Perth sometime in the early 1970s. At that time I was an art student, living at home with my folks, and Trash Talkin' was frequently on the turntable while I worked on my art assignments at the dining-room table. My mum was often nearby, either ironing clothes or pottering about in the kitchen, so she got to hear a whole heap of blues music too. Nonetheless I was startled when one afternoon she made a request for Conversation With Collins, "I like that song you play when the wives go out for the night and the husbands stay home and babysit. Put that one on."
So let's do just that, as Trash Talkin' sure deserves another listen.
Soul Party Vol 108 - Out On The Floor Vol 05 - The Party Freaks (1960-2013)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 240 (1951-2023)
The blog is no longer accepting anonymous comments. From now on you'll require a GMail/Google account to post a comment. Most of the regulars who frequently comment are already logged into GMail/Google accounts, so this doesn't affect them at all. I think a few of you have GMail/Google accounts but aren't properly logged in. So please sort it out and get logged into your accounts so you can continue to comment. Those of you who do not have GMail/Google accounts and are unable to make comments, all I can suggest is open an account, it's free and easy and will take about 10 minutes of your time.
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 117
Rockin' Country Style Vol 04 - We Got Each Other (1954-1975)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 239 (1950-2023)
Hillbilly & Country Vol 154 - Bluegrass Special Vol 04
Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (1962-2018)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 238 (1956-2023)
Country, Pre-War & Acoustic Blues Vol 103
The Bluemen Sing The Whites Vol 03 - Ash Can Blues (1934-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 237 (1947-2023)
Well I had comment moderation on for a couple of days in case that pest returned to plaster links to his blog all though my comments, no sign of him during that time, so I turned off moderation, and lo and behold the jerk was right back, flooding my comments with links to his poxy site. Anyway, moderation is now back and looks like staying that way. None of this makes any difference to my blog followers, things will rock on as usual, when you make a comment it'll appear as soon as I check them.
While on the subject of comments there has been a noticeable increase since I raised the subject with you a couple of weeks ago. So thanks to everyone who has commented, given me some feedback, or simply said "thank you". All comments/feedback are greatly appreciated, so keep them coming. There have been a few anonymous. It's best to use a nickname, anything you wish, you can call yourself Mickey Mouse, or Atilla the Hun, whatever you like. By using a nickname we all get to know each other. It also comes in handy if you ever request renewed links. If you've never commented there's not much chance of your request being dealt with, but if Mickey Mouse has said thanks often, then I'll fill Mickey's request.
Today's "Best Of Jazz Vol 115" brings you a fine selection of the greatest jazz drummers. Here are tracks by the legends like Chico Hamilton, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Idris Muhammad, Kenny Clarke, along with a few lesser known drummers.
And "Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 236" brings you 21 fine recordings dating from 1941 to 2023. Featured here today are Elmore James, Fenton Robinson, Bobby Rush, Coco Montoya, Sax Gordon, Melvin Sparks, Ivan 'Boogaloo Joe' Jones, B.B. King, Loleatta Holloway, Peggy Lee & Shanna Jackson.
So dig in my friends, enjoy the fine music shared here, and I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
Best Of Jazz Vol 115 - A Handful Of Jazz Drummers Vol 04
Blues On The Rocks (1950-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 236 (1941-2023)
Soul Party Vol 107 - Cities & Places Vol 03
Got An Island Feelin' (1959-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 235 (1937-2023)
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 116 - Cities & Places Vol 03
Moon Over Miami (1956-1988)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 234 (1957-2023)
Hillbilly & Country Vol 153 - Cities & Places Vol 06
Trip To Little Big Horn (1949-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 233 (1948-2023)
Country, Pre-War & Acoustic Blues Vol 102 - Blues Duos Vol 04
Wild Cow Moan (1927-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 232 (1950-2023)
I was asked recently by how many compilations I have made so far. Well I had to check first in my backups, so I did that today and the result is:
To date I have posted a total of 1340 of my own "Bob Mac's Compilations", plus there have been 56 released albums posted, mainly as "Albums That Deserve Another Listen". So the grand total is 1396 albums and compilations shared so far.
In addition to this I presently have 260 various compilations already made up and in folders waiting their turn to appear on the blog. I have also been compiling a new 50 volume set titled "Bob's Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Playlists", these will no doubt be finished in a few months, but won't appear on the blog for a couple more years as there's so much stuff lined up ahead of them.
For the future I'll continue compiling the various "Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel" compilations as they are really the foundation of my blog. I have 130 volumes of what I call "the other genres" ready and waiting. These are the Jazz, Country/Pre-war blues, Hillbilly/Country, Rockabilly/R&R, and Soul Party compilations. Posting these at the rate of approximately 3 per week there's enough ready for another year. When they have been posted things could slow down a bit as I'm considering other options as I don't really see the point of making 500 volumes of Hillbilly & Country drinking songs, or broken hearted Soul songs. So I'll be looking into doing other things. Not quite sure yet but perhaps more detailed compilations with more information, and a bit of a write up. Some of you may remember the excellent "Be Bop Wino" blog that sadly ended 6 years ago. I would very much like to do something similar to that, though I doubt I could equal the depth and detail that Boogie Woody did.
Anyway my friends there's lots more coming your way.
Best Of Jazz Vol 114 - Women In Jazz Vol 09
Journey In Satchidananda (1955-2024)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 231 (1955-2023)
As I mentioned in a recent chat I got to see some mighty fine performers in Australia in the 1970s.
However, I also managed to miss a few good ones:
Deep Purple played in Perth on May 6, 1971, at the Beatty Park Aquatic Center, as part of their debut Australian tour with Free and Manfred Mann. Back in 1971 I was a serious blues aficionado with very little interest in rock/pop music. I had certainly heard Manfred Mann's 60s hits on the radio but had never even heard of Deep Purple or Free, so I gave that concert a miss. A couple of years later I got to hear some Deep Purple, in particular songs like "Highway Star" and "Lazy". Ritchie Blackmore quickly became one of my top favorite guitar players and I kicked myself for missing that chance to see the classic Deep Purple Mk II lineup.
The following year in 1972 Cat Stevens played his first Perth concert at the WACA Ground. I actually quite liked Cat Stevens but not enough to go see his concert, so that one got a miss too. A day or two after that Perth concert I ran into a friend who was there. He told me supporting Cat Stevens was some old cowboy singer wearing a cowboy hat and playing acoustic guitar and harmonica in a rack. This turned out to be none other than Ramblin' Jack Elliot. I had no idea Ramblin' Jack was on that show. I had missed a chance to see one of the legends of country/folk & folk/blues, who had played and traveled with Woody Guthrie and other early legends of Americana music.
By February 1975 I was a penniless art student struggling to get by on a meager allowance plus a part-time job loading bread vans at a bakery a couple of nights a week. Rick Wakeman was in Perth with his "Journey to the Center of the Earth" show, and a few days later Ike & Tina Turner were playing. I couldn't afford both shows and a couple of friends were raving on about Rick Wakeman and convinced me to see that concert with them. So I passed on Ike & Tina. Well disappointment struck again, I was bored stiff at the Wakeman show, and kicking myself after some fellow art students who attended the Ike & Tina concert told me what I had missed. Like the solid blues set they did, including "I Smell Trouble" and "Dust My Broom" with Ike wringing the daylights out of his Fender Stratocaster. And to make matters worse it was one of the final chances to see Ike & Tina perform together, the following year they were all over.
And a few months later I missed yet another one when Lou Reed played the Perth Concert Hall on July 11, 1975. I had heard of Lou Reed but had never listened to any of his albums, so that one I gave a miss too. Much like Deep Purple it wasn't until a couple of years later that I heard some Lou Reed and realized I had stuffed up again. In particular, to see and hear Lou Reed performing "Heroin" live is something I would loved to have experienced.
Soul Party Vol 106 - Nothin' But The Blues Vol 01
I Pity The Fool (1956-2004)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 230 (1941-2023)
Rockabilly & Early Rock & Roll Vol 115 - Rockin' With The Blues Vol 04
Little Miss Blue (1955-1985)
Blues, R&B, Soul & Gospel Records Vol 229 (1948-2023)
I've been thinking recently about all the giants of blues & rock music who I've been fortunate to have seen perform live over the years.
Most of the ones I've seen were at concerts in Australia and mostly in the 1970s. There have been way too many to remember and to try and list them all so I'll just pick out some of the highlights, the ones who really blew me away and left vivid memories.
The Rolling Stones 1965 and again in 1973. First time it was the original early Stones with Brian Jones, doing "Not Fade Away" and "Mona", and more of those early classics. Then again in 1973, a very different Stones with Mick Taylor, also along for the ride were Bobby Keys and Nicky Hopkins. I have a vivid memory of Jagger singing "Midnight Rambler" and whacking the stage floor with his belt.
Johnny Cash, with June Carter, Mother Maybelle Carter & the Carter Sisters and Carl Perkins in 1973. Carl Perkins wasn't advertised as being on the show, so I was totally blown away when JC introduced Carl. Halfway through the show Carl did a set of his best known songs. And to see Mother Maybelle Carter and her daughters performing live was one of the highlights of my life. What a night of legends.
Bo Diddley 1973, I saw Bo play live numerous times over several tours he made. On a good night he was unbeatable, he could rock a crowd up into a frenzy. First time I saw Bo live he played the song Bo Diddley for around 35 minutes, every 5 minutes or so he'd crank the tension up a notch until he had the entire audience on their feet grooving along with him to that infectious driving rhythm. I can't think of any other guitar player who could play just one chord (with a few tricks thrown in) for over half an hour and have everyone screaming for more.
Some of the Guitar Legends I've seen live:
I wasn't really a big Zep fan before I saw them perform live in Australia in 1972, their heavy rock songs were good but what did totally blow me away was the acoustic set they did in the middle of the show, that was incredible music: "Going to California", Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp", "That's the Way". I was stunned.
Anyway these are some of the best shows I've seen, how about you guys? Let us know what shows you've seen, which legends you have seen play live.
Hillbilly & Country Vol 152 - All About The Gals Vol 01
Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes (1948-2016)