SOUTHERN COUNTRY BLUES
Here's a post about the 1960's country rock band, CANNED HEAT. Which was kind of a nice band, reminding me of The Lovin' Spoonful and also maybe "Steelers Wheel." That almost-done-being-constipated vocal sound, plus the country picking.
But - Canned Heat reminds me mostly of my favourite blues man, ever, Mississippi John Hurt! So, we'll be hearing from him shortly. But, foist listen to these two Canned Heat hits, which should link you a bit back to the psychedelic Beatles song I posted in the last post. That's because all this stuff was growing together and influencing cross-hatched-like...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhpiUFSYWI - and here
Love that dopey, Snoopy dancing! Now, here's the cool psychedelic hit -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEwyoo3fT8w
OK - Now to the MAIN MAN: Mississippi John Hurt!
When I found out about this guy, a long time ago, I went out and bought an album of his - greatest hits, or somewhere about there. And I was was sold 100%. The way this guy picks and bottlenecks guitar? And sings in a simple, honest, blackbird voice? I mean, he is the best I've ever heard.
And, I know that he was very influential on the early folk-blues of the 1960s, including Dylan, probably because he attended at least one Newport folk festival, in 1963 - and I think in 1964. And, he is noted, from NPR to Rolling Stone, probably, as having been very influential.
But, I like him for his basic, pre-influence stuff! Not that he really changed much, after all the attention. But, he was always a diamond in the rough. And, I think he was emblematic of Mississippi blues, (which fed a lot of Chicago blues, later, esp, through Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Buddy Guy). He probably influenced Credence, and so on. Lots of hippies cut their teeth playing this kind of blues.
So, here are a number of songs, from one of my musical idols, and, lets see - at least two of these songs were on that album I once adored: You Are My Sunshine, and, Make Me A Pallet On The Floor.
So, I might be introducing him for the first time here, although I must have mentioned him before:
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RBm4tH9cA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4scedJs6hC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE2NCthkgT4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciXE66DWmq0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2HTRfbhIiE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85BvT5X6WSo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx29hxvjPfk
BTW - Any aficionado of Afro classical folk or pop knows that there is usually a real sweetness to most African music. Pre-rap, pre-rock, et al, I am talking here). Well, this guy totally reminds me of that pure sweetness, directly from the people of Africa. Before the whole turmoil of American histry, and all that. Totally sweet. Totally reconciled to reality. And to the suffering and joy of life.
OK - back to Canned Heat. Maybe, now, you can hear some of John Hurt in their music, Woodstock and beyond...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBpu3ia7Lwo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YkDH2s5eW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGW4IezbC4
IS THIS EVEN THE SAME BAND???.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sedt2LhOmc
But - Canned Heat reminds me mostly of my favourite blues man, ever, Mississippi John Hurt! So, we'll be hearing from him shortly. But, foist listen to these two Canned Heat hits, which should link you a bit back to the psychedelic Beatles song I posted in the last post. That's because all this stuff was growing together and influencing cross-hatched-like...
Click to viewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhpiUFSYWI - and here
Love that dopey, Snoopy dancing! Now, here's the cool psychedelic hit -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEwyoo3fT8w
OK - Now to the MAIN MAN: Mississippi John Hurt!
When I found out about this guy, a long time ago, I went out and bought an album of his - greatest hits, or somewhere about there. And I was was sold 100%. The way this guy picks and bottlenecks guitar? And sings in a simple, honest, blackbird voice? I mean, he is the best I've ever heard.
And, I know that he was very influential on the early folk-blues of the 1960s, including Dylan, probably because he attended at least one Newport folk festival, in 1963 - and I think in 1964. And, he is noted, from NPR to Rolling Stone, probably, as having been very influential.
But, I like him for his basic, pre-influence stuff! Not that he really changed much, after all the attention. But, he was always a diamond in the rough. And, I think he was emblematic of Mississippi blues, (which fed a lot of Chicago blues, later, esp, through Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Buddy Guy). He probably influenced Credence, and so on. Lots of hippies cut their teeth playing this kind of blues.
So, here are a number of songs, from one of my musical idols, and, lets see - at least two of these songs were on that album I once adored: You Are My Sunshine, and, Make Me A Pallet On The Floor.
So, I might be introducing him for the first time here, although I must have mentioned him before:
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RBm4tH9cA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4scedJs6hC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE2NCthkgT4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciXE66DWmq0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2HTRfbhIiE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85BvT5X6WSo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx29hxvjPfk
BTW - Any aficionado of Afro classical folk or pop knows that there is usually a real sweetness to most African music. Pre-rap, pre-rock, et al, I am talking here). Well, this guy totally reminds me of that pure sweetness, directly from the people of Africa. Before the whole turmoil of American histry, and all that. Totally sweet. Totally reconciled to reality. And to the suffering and joy of life.
OK - back to Canned Heat. Maybe, now, you can hear some of John Hurt in their music, Woodstock and beyond...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBpu3ia7Lwo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YkDH2s5eW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGW4IezbC4
IS THIS EVEN THE SAME BAND???.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sedt2LhOmc