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Special Features

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  Every month Bad Dog Blues will take an in depth look at various aspects of the blues such as musician portraits, interviews, blues history and more. This month we pay tribute to Lowell Fulson, the great West Coast guitarist, who passed away on March 6th .

"You say you once had loved me
Now I guess you have changed your mind    
I guess you once had loved me       
I guess you've changed your mind

I'm gonna let you reconsider, baby       
and give yourself more time"

(Lowell Fulson, Reconsider Baby)

  Lowell Fulson, the great West Coast guitarist, passed away on March 6 after a long illness. During his nearly fifty year career he played every style of blues imaginable from country tinged blues to sophisticated uptown blues to soul blues and played them all impeccably.

  Fulson started young, touring with legendary singer Texas Alexander in 1940. In 1943 his career was interrupted when he was drafted and then released from the Navy in 1945. Fulson returned to Oklahoma hooking up with  producer Bob Geddins and quickly began cutting records and fronting his own band. He cut many 78's for a variety of labels including Big Town, Gilt Edge, Trilon and Down Town. 1948 saw his first big hit with "Three O'Clock Blues" which was later covered to great success by B.B King.

  In 1948 Fulson teamed up with Jack Lauderdale's Swing Time label. This partnership was extremely fruitful resulting in a string of hits including "Every Day I Have the Blues", "Blue Shadows", "Lonesome Christmas" and the instrumental "Low Society Blues".  Fulson's style came into it's own creating a classy brand of uptown blues that proved very successful.

  In 1954 Fulson signed a long term contract with Chess records which bore immediate results with his first single, the immortal "Reconsider Baby". Fulson continued to turn out top quality blues but his subsequent recordings failed commercially. His change to Kent records in 1962 was just what he needed reinventing himself in a soul/funk vein and scoring  huge hits with "Tramp" and "Black Nights".

  Fulson continued with Jewel Records for the rest of the 60's and through the 70's, 80's and 90's continued to tour and make records. His last recordings for Bullseye showed Fulson still in strong form and certainly not resting on his laurels. Fulson was a true blues legend who's influence on the blues is  a timeless one.

Recommended Listening

The Complete Chess Masters (Chess): Indispensable double disc set collecting everything he did for Chess between 1954-1962.

Tramp/Soul (Flair): Two of his best 60's recordings for Kent on one CD. Classic soul blues includes "Tramp" and "Black Nights".

Everyday I have the Blues (Night Train): Classic early recordings from the Swing Time label including the title track.

Sinner's Prayer (Night Train): Second volume of classic early recordings from Swing Time.