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"One day from the month, I first
met you,
your promises proved to be untrue
Step by step, I've been a fool
That's why I'm two steps from the blues"
(Bobby Bland, Two Steps from the Blues)
Each month Bad Dog Blues takes a look at essential blues,
those artists whose music stands the test of time. Each month we'll pick an artist or two,
give a brief biography and pick a CD or two of theirs that we feel belongs in any serious
blues collection. Don't bother trying to find a pattern to the artists that get picked,
like much of Bad Dog Blues we're just glad if anything gets done! This month we take a
look at Bukka White and David Honeyboy Edwards (Honeyboy Edwards
autobiography "The World Don't Owe Me Nothing" is reviewed in
our Reviews section).
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Bukka
White's brand of propulsive Delta blues bears down on the unsuspecting
listener like a freight train. While he was a popular houseparty
musician and a successful recording artist he was also a remarkable
artist in his own right. White's music was compelling both musically
and lyrically. He played percussive, rhythmically complex music that
earned him the reputation as a breakdown artist- people danced so hard
hey nearly broke the dance floor down. Lyrically his blues were deeply
personal whether describing his life in the notorious Parchman Farm or
his life riding the rails. White
first recorded in 1930 for the Victor label cutting both blues and
religious music. Unable to make a living as a musician he drifted
for a number of years before recording again in 1937. It was
during this period he was sent to Parchman Farm for alledgedly
shooting a man. He was recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of
Congress while in prison. There is speculation that Lomax was
instrumental in his early release. Shortly after his release he
resumed his recording career cutting some of his most enduring songs
including "Parchman Farm Blues" and "Fixin' to
Die".
Country blues fell out of favor during
the 40's and White's career languished until his rediscovery in 1963
by blues enthusiasts John Fahey and Ed Denson. Not only was White
alive and well but his musical prowess was as powerful as ever. He
began recording and touring the college and coffeehouse circuit in
earnest. In 1966 he played at the Newport Folk Festival and in 1967
toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival. In 1973 he
performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Bukka White
passed away in 1977 of cancer. He was inducted into the Blues
Foundation Hall of Fame in 1990.
Recommended Listening
The Complete Bukka White:
All his classic recordings for Vocalion and Okeh. Includes "
Parchman Farm Blues", "Fixing to Die" and
"Aberdeen Mississippi Blues" among others.
Big Daddy: Some of
his most inspired later recordings. |
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David Honeyboy Edwards is one of the few survivors from the heyday of
Delta blues in the 20's and 30's. Edwards knew all the greats
including his old running partner, Robert Johnson. His ramblings
around the south led him to meet Charley Patton, Tommy McClennan,
Tommy Johnson and Big Joe Williams who took him under his wing.
While his blues credentials, not to mention his playing, were
impeccable he had little luck commercially. His first recordings were
caught by Alan Lomax who was in Clarksdale, MS, on behalf of the
Library of Congress in 1942. He wouldn't record commercially until
1951 for the Artist Record Co. and then four sides for Chess in 1953
that lay unissued until 1970. Honeyboy wouldn't get a crack at
recording again until Pete Welding recorded him for his Testament
label in 1964 and 1967.
Edwards has subsequently recorded for
Blue Suit and Trix as well as a number of fine records for Earwig Records.
Edwards is no longer an under appreciated figure but a true elder
statesman of the blues and still a vital performer. He most recently
recorded the live "The World Don't Owe Me Nothing" to
coincide with his autobiography of the same name.
Recommended
Listening
Delta Bluesman:
This excellent CD combines the vintage Library of Congress recordings made
by Alan Lomax in 1942 with recordings
made in the 1990s with Carey Bell, Floyd Jones and Sunnyland Slim.
Crawling Kingsnake:
Wonderful recordings made by Pete Welding for his Testament label in
the 60's. As an added bonus is an interview where he talks about
Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson, both he had known personally. |
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