Muddy Waters EP

Muddy Waters - Muddy Waters EP
PYE INTERNATIONAL - NEP 44010 - 1963

Side A
You Shook Me
Little Brown Bird

Side B
You Need Love
Muddy Waters Twist

This is a very influential EP. Recorded in 1962 and released in the UK in 1963 it features two tracks that would go on to shape rock music for generations to come. With the exception of 'Muddy Waters Twist', Muddy's voice was overdubbed on to instrumental tracks already recorded by Earl Hooker. The A-side contains two slow blues numbers while the B-side contains two upbeat numbers. It is the first track on each side that are the influential and most covered ones. Both of these songs were written by the bass player/producer/songwriter genius Willie Dixon.

'You Shook Me' was famously covered by both Led Zeppelin and the Jeff Beck Group. Jeff Beck recorded it in 1968 for the 'Truth' album and Led Zeppelin recorded it for their debut album in 1969. Both versions are very similar and have lead to accusations that Led Zeppelin 'stole' the idea from Jeff Beck. No one seems to worry about the similarity to the original though!

It is 'You Need Love' that is the most famous track here though. It was covered by the Small Faces on their debut album for Decca in 1966 as 'You Need Loving' and was (and still is!) credited to Marriott/Lane no mention of Willie Dixon at all. Then in 1969 Led Zeppelin recorded it as 'Whole Lotta Love', again with no mention of Willie Dixon in the credits. Admittedly the music on both covers, especially Zeppelin's, is quite different to Muddy's original but the lyrics aren't. Subsequently, in 1985, Led Zeppelin have settled out of court with Willie Dixon and he now appears in the credits. So far the Small Faces seem to have got away with it.

Here's all the tracks of the EP in their original running order. If they inspire you to 'borrow' them to create a rock anthem don't forget to give credit to the original authors......

Flash Lightnin' / Bad Boogie

(Covers of both albums almost identical)

Lightnin' Hopkins - Volume One: Flash Lightnin'
DIVING DUCK Records - DD 4307

Side A
I Love You Baby
Shine On Moon
Lightnin's Boogie (Boogie Woogie Dance)
Lonesome In Your Home
Remember Me
Sittin' Down Thinkin'
Lightnin' Special (Flash Lightnin')

Side B
Please Don't Go Baby
Don't Think Cause You're Pretty (Blues Is A Mighty Bad Feeling)
Life I Used To Live (Gonna Change My Ways)
Grandma's Boogie (Lightnin's Stomp)
My Baby's Gone
Early Mornin' Boogie (Hear Me Talkin')

Lightnin' Hopkins - Volume Two: Bad Boogie
DIVING DUCK Records - DD 4308

Side A
Sick Feeling Blues (I'm Achin')
Movin' Out Boogie (Let's Move)
Hopkins Sky Hop
Evil Hearted Woman
Don't Need No Job
Blues For My Cookie
Had A Gal Named Sal

Side B
They Wonder Who I Am
Nothin' But The Blues
That's All Right Baby - (Ruth Ames vocal)
Finally Met My Baby - (Ruth Ames vocal)
My Little Kewpie Doll (Bad Boogie)
Lightnin' Don't Feel Well (Wonder What Is Wrong With Me)

These two LP's collect together all of Texan blues guitarist, Lightnin' Hopkins's thirteen singles released on Herald Records in 1954. Recorded in Texas, in April of that year with Donald Cooks on bass, Sam Turner on drums and Ruth Ames singing on two tracks, these are some of his best recordings. From the low down country blues of 'Sittin' Down Thinkin' and 'Life I Used To Live' to the upbeat boogie of 'Movin' Out Boogie' and 'My Little Kewpie Doll' this is Lightnin' Hopkins at his most powerful and electric.

Around this time a rift occurred between Lightnin' and Muddy Waters. Lightnin' saw Muddy as a modernist who would cause the blues to decay, and Muddy saw Lightnin' as a traditionalist firmly rooted in the country blues of the old guard. Despite many of the recordings for Herald being upbeat, electric and modern the record buying public seemed to side with Muddy. None of Lightnin's Herald singles troubled the Billboard charts, whereas Muddy was headed for stardom. Lightnin' did enjoy considerable local success though, and let's face it local success in somewhere the size of Texas is nothing to be sneezed at. International success and recognition were only a few years away with the folk blues boom in the sixties.

Here are my two favourite tracks from the Herald sessions, 'Movin' Out Boogie' and 'My Little Kewpie Doll'. These are the two tracks that made me buy these albums, they were (and probably still are) very popular at rock 'n' roll club nights and sound amazing coming out of a big sound system. Play loud.....

The Rolling Drunks

The Rolling Drunks - Rolling Drunks

Side A
Snake Woman Walk
Hot And Sticky
Don't Tell Your Pa
Hot Fruit Baby
Hot Hot And Ready For Love
Rollin' And A Tumblin'
Messing With The Kid
Midnight Rambler (Live)

Side B
Blank

In the late 80's and early 90's The Rolling Drunks were legendary in the Bournemouth & Poole area, filling venues to capacity and beyond. Their brand of high octane blues and R&B never failed to win audiences over. In fact they were so popular that if you didn't arrive early to gigs, you often couldn't get in. I remember arriving a bit late for a gig at The Winston Churchill in Wimborne and not being able to park within walking distance of the place! Recently they have reformed and play occasional gigs around the area. Unfortunately, I missed their come back gig in 2013 and then got ill soon after so I haven't been able to see them this time round, but if they come to a town near you go and see them you won't regret it.

This cassette I bought at one of their gigs (Mr.C's I think) around 1989 or 90 and I've played it to death. I'm surprised it still works considering it lived in my car for years, but it does and it's still great. Seven of the eight tracks are studio versions of their songs they played live at the time, you can hear six of them here along with a bonus one from somewhere else.

Check out their Facebook page here for more info, videos and upcoming gigs. But meanwhile, here's a reminder of (or an introduction to) how good they were live as they perform 'Midnight Rambler' at The Malt & Hops, Bournemouth Christmas 1989 ..... (unfortunately, the video doesn't work on iPads etc, if you want to see it look on a PC, sorry).....

Magic Sam (1937-1969)

Magic Sam - Magic Sam (1937-1969) - 1969
BLUE HORIZON - 7-63223

Side A
Everything Gonna Be Alright
Look Watcha Done
All My Whole Life
Love Me With A Feeling
All Your Love
Call Me If You Need Me (Shakey Jake)

Side B
Roll Your Money Maker (Shakey Jake)
Easy Baby
Magic Rocker
Love Me This Way
21 Days In Jail
All Night Long

Magic Sam Maghett was born in Granada, Mississippi in 1937 and moved to Chicago in 1950 where he developed a serious interest in the blues. Encouraged by his uncle Shakey Jake and Sunnyland Slim he bought a guitar and began to develop his own style. By 1956 he was a professional bluesman and had built up a solid reputation on Chicago's West Side leading to a contract with Cobra records. This album, released shortly after his death in 1969, contains all four of the singles released on Cobra, along with two unissued sides and two tracks released on Cobra's subsidiary label Artistic by Shakey Jake, which feature Magic Sam on guitar. Interestingly, just as Muddy Waters had 'borrowed' Ann Cole's 'Got my Mojo Working', Sam 'borrowed' her 'Easy, Easy Baby' for his 'Easy Baby' (a post on Ann Cole to follow).  The first single 'All Your Love' was a regional hit and it seemed Sam's career was under way.

Unfortunately Sam was drafted into the army in 1959 and although he only stayed in for seven months it seriously damaged his career. By the time he came out of the army Cobra records had shut down and the music scene had moved on. He signed with Chief and Crash records but his subsequent singles did not do well and Sam returned to playing the West Side clubs until he signed a deal with Delmark records in 1966 and his career took off again, only to be cut short by his tragic death from a heart attack in 1969, aged 32.

I will post more about Magic Sam's post Cobra recordings in the future. In the mean time enjoy 'All Your Love', 'Easy Baby' and Shakey Jake's 'Roll Your Money Maker'......

"Live" Full House

The J. Geils Band - "Live" Full House - ATLANTIC - 1972

Tracks:

01 - First I Look At The Purse
02 - Homework
03 - Pack Fair And Square
04 - Whammer Jammer
05 - Hard Drivin' Man
06 - Serves You Right To Suffer
07 - Cruisin' For A Love
08 - Lookin' For A Love

If ever a party was captured on an album this is it, the J. Geils Band's first live album. Starting with a storming cover of the Contours' ode to gold digging, 'First I Look At The Purse', they blast through a mix of covers and originals hardly pausing for breath. The only criticism of this album is that it's too short. If ever an album needed a deluxe reissue of the full concert, this one does.

Listen to the album on Spotify here, or the YouTube video below and crank up the volume....