Guns N' Roses - Bad Obsession

This is a live performance by hard rock band Guns N' Roses, they perform the song "Bad Obsession" from their studio album "Use Your Illusion I". Use Your Illusion was a double release, meaning the band released two separate albums on the same date e.g. "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II".
The song is a bluesy tune, with a slide guitar and added harmonica which are typical elements in blues arrangements, here used in a more rock 'n' roll kind of way.
I love the live versions of this, it's such a big production, with a horn section, Teddy Zig Zag on the harmonica and Slash soloing with a slide on the Travis Bean. A great song, and a great performance.

Enjoy ; )

Deep Purple - Highway Star

Okay, thought it was about time for a little rock 'n' roll. This is a performance from 1972, Deep Purple perform their classic song "Highway Star" in Denmark. The song and lyrics are pretty straight forward rock 'n' roll, but the organ solo and guitar solo are not your typical rock solos. They stray from the classic pentatonic scale, and Ritchie Blackmore wanted a sound inspired by Bach.
It's a great song, and I really love it. I think it's one of Purple's best songs, and this performance is energetic and perfect, and they all deliver. Ritchie plays great, Gillan sings well and Lord delivers an amazing organ solo that's easily the highlight of the performance.

Enjoy ; )

Sugar Blue - Hoochie Coochie Man

I knew at some point I would be posting different versions of the same song. I previously posted this in a version from the rock 'n' roll film about Chuck Berry featuring Keith Richards, Robert Cray and Etta James singing the song. Click here to go to that post.

This is another version of the same song. It's by blues musician Sugar Blue. He plays the harmonica, and plays it better than anyone I've heard. He truly pushes the limitations of what that instrument is capable of. And he's so cool wearing his military belt with harmonicas in different keys. Truly a great player, just thought I'd share his talent with the world.


Enjoy ; )

Correction - Wrong Song Title

Correction for this post: Eric Clapton - If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day
I recently posted a song that I at the time thought was called "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day". It isn't a wrong title, but the song has several titles depending on who recorded it.
The original title is "Rollin' and Tumblin'", but Robert Johnson recorded the song under the title "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day" and John Lee Hooker recorded a version under the title "Rollin' Blues". The most famous version is Muddy Waters' version under the title "Rolling and Tumbling", removing the apostrophes.
The reason I post this correction is that it's always important to acknowledge the roots, and I believe Clapton uses the original title for his version.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Come On (Part III)

This is a live performance from blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He performs the song "Come On" originally recorded on the 1985 album "Soul to Soul".
The song was originally recorded and performed by Earl King. The song is also known under the title "Let the Good Times Roll".
The song was popularized by Jimi Hendrix who covered the song on his "Electric Ladyland" record. Hendrix sped up the song, but kept the original guitar riffs etc. SRV's version is basically a cover of the Hendrix version.
The song was also done by Freddie King and many other artists.

Enjoy, and let the good times roll ; )

Rory Gallagher - Off The Handle

This is a live performance from blues rock guitarist Rory Gallagher. The song is from Gallagher's 8th studio album "Top Priority". It is an original song by Gallagher, as is all of the tracks on "Top Priority" they're composed by Gallagher, and the album is also produced by Gallagher.
The song is about anger, and getting mad with uncontrollable rage. It's a great song, and this live performance is perfect. Love it when he starts playing with the volume knob, makes the guitar talk in a voice-ish kind of way.

Enjoy ; )

B.B. King - Telephone Song

This song was originally recorded on the 1990 album "Family Style" by the Vaughan brothers. The album was recorded after Stevie's recovery from his alcohol and drug addiction. Stevie had always wanted to do something with his brother Jimmy, but due to success at the same time in different bands, they had never had the time to do it. Stevie took the initiative and the album happened.
This performance sadly is from the SRV memorial concert. A concert played in memory of Stevie shortly after his passing. B.B. plays a version of the song that is a little slower than on the album, but still brings his unique brand of guitar playing to the song. He also sings it very well, and Stevie would've loved B.B. performing one of his songs, as B.B. was one of Stevie's idols. Jimmy Vaughan joins B.B. on stage, but doesn't do much lead playing, he leaves most of that to King.

Enjoy ;

Roy Rogers - Walkin' Blues

This is a performance by slide guitarist Roy Rogers. The song was originally composed and recorded by blues legend Robert Johnson. It was released as a B-side to Johnson's song "Sweet Home Chicago".
It's a pretty classic song, and it's been covered by a lot of artists such as Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher.
I love Roy's version, he's just so good with that slide, and comes closest to capturing some of the original. Both Rory's and Clapton's versions are much slower than the original, and are good in their own right. But Roy's version rocks!

Enjoy ; )

Johnny Copeland & Johnnie Johnson - Down Home Blues

This is a performance from New York in 1991, it features Texas blues man Johnny Copeland and piano player Johnnie Johnson who is most famous for playing with rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry.
Copeland isn't the most famous blues artist and he's probably most famous for playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan on several songs at Vaughan's 1985 Montreux concert.
The song "Down Home Blues" was originally recorded by blues artist Z.Z. Hill. Z.Z. isn't the most famous blues artist, but Down Home Blues has become quite a classic song and is probably his most famous song.
The song has also been covered by Etta James and many other artists.

Enjoy ; )

Steven Tyler & Joe Perry - I'm A King Bee

 This is a performance from the great blues film "Lightning in a Bottle" that features various artists performing blues standards and blues classics.
The original song was recorded by swamp blues artist Slim Harpo who wrote and recorded the song in 1957.
Rolling Stones also did a cover for their debut album, it's pretty similar to the original, but also features a slide solo by Brian Jones.
The song has also been recorded by Muddy Waters in 1981, and been spoofed by John Belushi on SNL, where he performed the song wearing a bee costume.

It's a great little blues song, enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - They're Red Hot

This is a performance by Eric Clapton, he plays the classic Robert Johnson song "They're Red Hot". It is a somewhat different Johnson song, because it isn't based on the classic 12-bar blues, but on a classic ragtime chord progression instead.
The clip is from the Robert Johnson film "Sessions for Robert J.". Clapton plays the chord progression while his band get to solo on the progression.
Clapton once said: 

"We thought he was accompanied by someone[...]my take on Robert Johnson so far is that it needs two people to play what he plays and sing at the same time"

I think he was right!

The song also gained some notoriety when covered by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I prefer Clapton's version.

A great song and performance, enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - Badge

This is a performance video from 2001, it's off the "One More Car One More Rider" CD that was enhanced and also contained a video performance on each disc (it was a two disc album).
The song is from Cream's album "Goodbye". The song is composed by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and Ringo Starr allegedly also helped, but Harrison and Clapton are the only ones who are credited.
The song's title was a bit of an enigma for some time, some people thought it was a rearrangement on the letters used to describe a standard guitar tuning (EADGBE), but that doesn't fit entirely. It is actually a result of Ringo's bad handwriting, Ringo wrote the title "Bridge" on a piece of paper, and Clapton read it upside down, and read it as "Badge", and that became the title.
The chanting of the line "Where is my badge?" was added much later, so it isn't on the much shorter album version.
Harrison's guitar influence can be heard in the interlude, it resembles Harrison's playing on the Beatles song "Here Comes The Sun", but without the capo and at a lower pitch.

A great song and performance, enjoy ; )

Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

This is a great performance by rock 'n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis. It's a classic rock 'n' roll song, but the origins of the song have not been mapped with certainty.
Jerry has played this as part of his live act since the early days of his career, and probably picked it up from swing parties in the afro-American corners of his home town. At least that's how it's depicted in the 1989 film "Great Balls of Fire" starring Dennis Quaid as Jerry. It's a pretty mediocre film, but Jerry's music alone makes it worth watching.
The song has been played by many artists including; Little Richard, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Johnny Winter and Prince, but Jerry's version is still the most popular version, he kinda owns this song.

A great performance enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - Bullfrog Blues

This is a great blues song from blues legend Rory Gallagher. I only recently discovered Gallagher, and I must say that I'm impressed. He's definitely a blues man, and a good one.
This is one of my favourites from him so far (haven't listened to all his stuff yet). I love his slide work, it's gritty and not perfect, but very rock 'n' roll. He has played many genres like blues, rock, hard rock, blues rock and much more, but in the end genres are just labels.
I love his energy when he's playing live, and the fact that he gets up close with the audience, a true performer, he's just great.
He has influenced many players, and Slash was a big fan of Gallagher. Slash also does slide work, and this may be influenced by Rory.

Enjoy ; )

Robert Cray - Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark

This is the music video for the Robert Cray song "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark". It's a great little blues number, with an upbeat rhythm. The good thing about Cray is that he's original while still sticking to and knowing all of the old blues stuff. He composes and does his own original songs and makes his own lyrics, a relate-able blues.
Cray has played with many artists and a lot of his idols, I love the version him and Stevie Ray Vaughan did live of Cray's song "New Blood"(click link to listen). It's a great performance, and Cray's got a great voice and good guitar skills, a true double threat.

Enjoy ; )

Ray Charles - What'd I Say

This is a performance from Ray Charles. It's live at the Olympia theatre in Paris. The band is the Ray Charles trio, the smaller ans amble Ray played with towards the end of his career. It's a great song and a great performance, and Ray is as full of life and energy as he always was during his shows.
The song "What'd I Say" was improvised one night in 1958. Ray was hired to play a set, but they ran out of songs. Ray and his band improvised the tune and interacted with the audience. It was such a success Ray decided to record the song as a single, the single was released in 1959.
It has certainly become a classic song, and it ranked no. 10 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 greatest songs of all time.
It's a great song, and it has been covered by several high profile rock 'n' roll artists including; Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, The Thunderbirds feat. SRV , Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.

A great song, and a great performance, enjoy ; ) 

Buddy Guy & John Mayer - Leave My Little Girl Alone

This is a performance of John Mayer and Buddy Guy jamming on Buddy's classic song "Leave My Little Girl Alone". They are accompanied by Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon from Stevie Ray Vaughan's band Double Trouble. Stevie being one of Mayer's idols, if not his no. 1 idol and with good reasoning.
The song was also recorded by Stevie on his legendary blues album "In Step", and Stevie was a huge fan of Buddy. Stevie also covered Buddy's version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
It's a great performance, and Mayer is a splendid guitarist. Love how Mayer and Buddy bounce of each other, and both enjoy the jam, a great performance.

Enjoy ; )

ZZ Top - Jailhouse Rock & La Grange

This is ZZ Top performing the classic Elvis Presley song "Jailhouse Rock". It's a typical rock 'n' roll song, and is one of the most classic songs ever. It ranked #67 on Rolling Stones list of the best songs ever.
It's a classic song, and has been recorded by an infinite number of artists; Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeff Beck, Cliff Richard and Queen to name a few.
It was also used as the last performance in the classic film "Blues Brothers", featuring a number of artists adding in words over the end credits (click here for Blues Brothers clip).
Elvis was Billy Gibbons main influence in deciding to be a professional musician and entertainer, he saw him live at an early age and has stated that it was at that point he decided to make a living out of music.
The video is a double performance also featuring "La Grange". It's a great performance, and Billy's guitar work is just excellent.

Enjoy ; )

Lightnin' Hopkins - Goin' Down Slow

This is an old recording of blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins performing the classic blues song "Goin' Down Slow". The first release of the song was in 1941, but the song gained notoriety when it was recorded by legendary blues artist Howlin' Wolf in 1962 (for Wolf version click here).
Wolf's recording made the song a blues standard, and it has since been covered by a lot of artists including; Jeff Beck, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.
I like Lightnin's version because it is everything that I love about the blues, a man and his guitar just playing, it's soul, it's fantastic and no one has been able to replicate that today, it's unique.
Lightnin' was also a huge influence on Stevie Ray Vaughan, but more in terms of Vaughan's song "Rude Mood".

Enjoy ; )

Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train a Comin

This is an acoustic recording of Hendrix playing his classic song "Hear My Train a Comin" on a twelve string acoustic guitar.
The song appears on the 1994 posthumous album "Blues", the acoustic version opens the album, and the electric version is the last track on the album.
It's a great song, both the acoustic and electric. The electric has that energized innovative Hendrix sound, but I personally prefer the acoustic, it's more emotional.
A great song, and a great performance, a man and his guitar, just beautiful.

Enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - Motherless Child

This is a live performance video for Clapton's single from his 1994 album "From the Cradle". It's a traditional up beat blues song that was first popularized by Barbecue Bob (click here for Bob's version) in 1927, so yet again Clapton goes back on the musical time line. Bob's version is a little slower than Clapton's cover, but other than that it's pretty much the same song.
It's a nice and cheerful song.

Enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Change It

This is a performance from blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, it's him performing the song "Change It". It's one of Stevie's best, it has a melancholic feel to it, but still sort of a sad cheerful nature, true soul, no one but Stevie could do this. It was released on Stevie's 1985 album "Soul to Soul".
I don't think they performed it live that often, I've only been able to find this one clip that's live from Farm Aid, but other than that I don't think they played it live that often.
It's a great song, and a good live performance that catches the soul and tension that is on the original recording, truly great.

Enjoy ; )

Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze

This is a great performance of a great and innovative song. The song is innovative in that it uses the Hendrix chord (a E7#9) and uses distinctive tritones. The guitar solo is played through an Octavia pedal, a pedal that raises the pitch one whole step which was also unheard of at the time.
It's described as one of Hendrix's best songs, and by many as his signature song.
It's been covered on several occasions including a version from "Buena Vista Social Club" who covered it on the album "Rhythms del Mundo Classics"

A great performance, enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Mary Had a Little Lamb

This is from one of Stevie's classic shows, it's from the 1983 show at El Mocambo (a DVD of the show exists). This version of Mary Had a Little Lamb was first performed by blues man Buddy Guy, and covered by Stevie on his "Texas Flood" album.
Mary Had a Little Lamb is an English nursery rhyme and dates back to around the 1830's. It's a great and funky performance.

Enjoy ; )

Gary Moore - The Stumble

This is a performance from Montreux 1990. Gary Moore performs the Freddie King classic "The Stumble" and does a banging job with it. Peter Green, one of Moore's idols, did a version of the song with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.
Moore's version is faster than the original, but other than that it's pretty much the same song.
A great performance.

Enjoy ; )

ZZ Top - Breakaway

This is a music video from ZZ Top for their song "Breakaway" from their 1994 album "Antenna". The song is a slow blues, and has some very tasty licks and guitar playing from Gibbons. The album was very popular, and the first single "Pincushion" reached no. 1 at mainstream rock charts. "Breakaway" only reached 7th place on the mainstream rock charts and wasn't as successful.
Frank Beard once said something like "blues is a guitar player's game" meaning that the guitar sound is very important in making a good blues song, and that the bass and drums are there to accompany Billy and not the other way around.
This is also heard on the tasty two guitar sound of "Breakaway", it's two guitars and drums, also performed this way live. This sound is also inspired by Billy's love of Jimmy Reed's dual guitar sound.
A great song.

Enjoy ; )

Santana - Oye Como Va

This is a performance from the "Live By Request" DVD featuring Santana performing live, and with some guest artists. It's a great performance, the band is just perfectly in sync, and everything rocks. Santna's guitar solo is amazing, and the solo on the Hammond Organ is just the highlight of the performance.
DVD can be purchased; click here for USA and here for Europe.

The song was originally done by Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente. His version is a little slower and features other instruments, like a horn section and an acoustic piano. Here Santana talks about how he rearranged the song.
It's a great song and a smoking performance.

Enjoy ; )

Drifting Blues - Eric Clapton

This is a live acoustic version of the classic blues song "Drifting Blues" (sometimes written "Driftin' Blues"). It's a classic blues standard done in the west coast style. It was originally written and performed by Johnny Moore's group "The Blazers". It was one of the biggest blues hits of the 1940's.
It has been covered by several artists including; Charles Brown, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert King and Clapton of course who recorded the song numerous times.
For a DVD of this concert click here.

Enjoy ; )

Keith Richards - You Got the Silver

This performance is from the Martin Scorsese documentary/concert-film "Shine a Light". It's Keith Richards singing on stage on his own. Richards occasionally sings lead on songs by The Rolling Stones, but for the most part Mick does it, and Keith sticks to backing vocals, or they do the vocals as a duo.
Normally during a show Keith takes over for two songs, as is also the case with "Shine a Light". On this song Ronnie Wood accompanies him, but it's a simple set-up, and a beautiful song.

Enjoy ; )

B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

This is a performance from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", it features B.B. King performing his classic "The Thrill Is Gone". The song was written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951, but popularized by B.B. King in the 70's.
B.B. tells the story that he had been jamming on the tune for some time, and tried to work it out. When he finally recorded it he didn't know it would be one of the songs that helped to plunge him into mainstream music and cross over. The original studio recording from B.B. had an added string section that also helped with mainstream audiences.
A great tune!

Enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Wall of Denial

This is a clip of Stevie Ray Vaughan performing his song "Wall of Denial" from his 1989 album "In Step". It's the fourth studio album by Stevie and the last album he did with Double Trouble. The last studio album of Stevie was the album "Family Style" done with his brother Jimmie Vaughan.
The main theme throughout "In Step" was Stevie's recent sobriety, what went before, and the fact that he had come out clean and sober on the other side.
The performance is from "The Late Show" with David Letterman, probably from a promotion tour for the album.
The album won for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" at the 1990 Grammys.

Enjoy ; )