Katie Webster – Pussycat Moan

This is a live performance by Katie Webster, also known as the swamp boogie queen, playing the song “Pussycat Moan” live. The performance is from the 1990 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
I haven’t really been able to find any studio recorded versions of this. The only thing I’ve found is a version on the compilation CD “Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection”.
It’s a great slow blues song and Katie sings it to perfection, just the right way. Also plays the piano in that way only she can. She’s a great blues artist and more people should know about her.

Enjoy ; )

Albert King – I’ll Play The Blues For You

This is a live performance by blues legend Albert King playing the song “I’ll Play The Blues For You” live. The performance is from Ohne Filter which I assume is either a German venue or some sort of German television show. The performance is from 1992.
The song was the title track to King’s 1990 album. On the album it’s a 7:17 long blues song which makes it the longest on the album. Opening with a long blues number, now that’s Albert King.
He is joined on stage by two guitarists, and I don’t know who they are. One of them is playing a lefty Stratocaster, he only does rhythm parts, the other guitarist however does a really good solo. I’d like to credit him, but as stated above, I don’t know who he is.
It’s a great extended blues jam by The King.

Enjoy ; )

Mötley Crüe - Smokin' in the Boys Room

This is the music video to the song "Smokin' in the Boys Room" in the version done by glam metal band Mötley Crüe.
The song was originally done by the band Brownsville Station in 1973 on the album "Yeah!". The song is about students avoiding the smoking ban by smoking in the boys lavatory, quite simple premise really.
The version done by Mötley Crüe was released in 1985 as a single and it became the band's first top 40 hit. The song is from the album "Theatre of Pain".
I actually kind of like this version of the song. It's glam metal which I'm usually not a big fan of, but really this has much more a rock 'n' roll/bluesy feeling to it. The only thing that's glam really is their outfits and outfits don't matter to me. Also the harmonica on this sounds really good, it was done by Vince Neil which surprises me, didn't know he knew how to play the harmonica. It's a really good and catchy song.

Enjoy ; )

Joe Bonamassa - Burning Hell

This is a live performance by American rock and contemporary blues artist Joe Bonamassa playing the song "Burning Hell" live. The performance is from the 2006 Rockpalast festival in Germany. This performance was released on DVD. This was one of the last concerts Bonamassa played with his old three piece line-up band.
The song was originally released on Bonamassa's 2003 album "Blues Deluxe". It's a great slide guitar number by Bonamassa and I really love the groove Bonamassa has going with his band, especially towards the end of the performance. It's a great performance by a great, tight, and awesome three piece band.

Enjoy ; )

Joe Bonamassa - So, It's Like That

This is a live performance by blues and rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa performing his song "So, It's Like That". The performance is from Guitar Center's King of the Blues Finals.
The song originally appeared on Bonamassa's 2002 album also titled "So, It's Like That". The album was his second studio album.
It's a great song and it has a very familiar feel to it, obviously attributed to Bonamassa's blues influences. A great performance of a good song that ought to pick you up if you're blue.

Enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - Messin' with the Kid

This is a live performance by Irish blues and rock guitarist Rory Gallagher playing his version of the classic blues song "Messin' with the Kid".
The song was originally done by Junior Wells in 1960. The song became a signature song for Wells. This original recording also featured acclaimed guitarist Earl Hooker.
I really love Gallagher's take on this classic song. It's more rock oriented, but still keeps the blues alive. It features a harmonica which was also on the original recording of the song and Gallagher's playing is superb.
The song has also been done by a number of other artists, such as: AC/DC, Johnny Winter, The Blues Brothers, and Freddie King.
It's a great tune. I also recommend checking out some of the above mentioned versions of the song. I especially like the AC/DC version because it perfectly shows that rock 'n' roll and blues are related genres. (Click here to take a look at the AC/DC version)
It's a great song and Gallagher's performance of it is just stunning.

Enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

This is a live performance by legendary guitarist Eric Clapton playing his version of the classic Bob Dylan song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". The performance is from the concert celebrating Dylan's 30th Anniversary as a musician. (That particular concert was mentioned Friday's post Click here for that post and to read more about this particular concert).
The song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" was originally released in 1963 in a version done by Dylan. This version was very different from Clapton's approach and was more folk and country sounding. It was released on the album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan".
The song has been done by a huge number of artists, including: Johnny Cash, Cher, Elvis Presley, Flatt and Scruggs, Joan Baez, Social Distortion, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers, and Rory Gallagher. And many more. (The Gallagher version is embeded below)

It's a great song and what I really love about Clapton's version is that he really took it and made it his own. It's a Clapton blues tune through his hands and voice and I love that.

Enjoy ; )

Gary Moora - Separate Ways

This is a live performance by blues and rock artist Gary Moore performing his song "Separate Ways". The song is an original slow blues song by Gary Moore and it has that typical Moore sound to, sort of like something you also hear in songs like "Still Got The Blues" and "Parisienne Walkways".
I really love this performance. It's so soulful and emotional, a perfect example of what Moore was capable of. I really love the intro and how he ends the whole thing, it's so beautiful.
It's a great performance by an artist who was unique in his own way. We will never have another one just like Moore.

Enjoy ; )

Beck - "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat"

This is a piece of bootleg footage from a Beck concert. Beck and his band is covering Bob Dylan's song "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat". The performance is from 2008 and the video and audio is pretty good considering the fact that it's a bootleg recording.
The song was originally released on Dylan's 1966 album "Blonde on Blonde. The song features a surreal set of playful lyrics set to a typical electric blues chord progression.
The song is about a woman who wears a leopard skin pill box hat, funny enough. It's an ironic tone and the song sort of mocks the woman. A pill box hat was a popular hat worn by women in the 60's. (Picture below)

The influences on the song was a Lightnin' Hopkins song titled "Automobile Blues". It's a different and new set of lyrics by Dylan, but the rhythm and flow of it sounds similar to the Lightnin' Hopkins song.
It's a great little blues number. I also recommend checking out John Mellencamp's version of this song from Dylan's 30th Anniversary celebration concert. It's a great song and Beck does a great job with it as well.

Enjoy ; )

Albert King & The Bluesbreakers - Why Are You So Mean To Me

This is a live performance by blues legend Albert King and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers playing the song "Why Are You So Mean To Me".
The song was originally released as a single in 1959 on the Bobbin label. It is not one of King's most famous songs, but I really like it.
Also the version with the Bluesbreakers is really good. John Mayall's piano and especially his blues harp skills really adds another layer to this great song. This incarnation of The Bluesbreakers featured former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor who does a really good solo on this playing a Stratocaster.
What really impressed me about this though was King's playing at the end of the song. He really plays a lot faster than I've ever heard him play while still keeping the soul alive in his playing. Truly a great performance from all parts. A great performance.

Enjoy ;-)

The Doors – Back Door Man

This is a live performance by The Doors playing the classic blues song “Back Door Man” live. The concert footage is from 1969.
The song “Back Door Man” is a traditional blues song written by Willie Dixon who wrote the song for Howlin’ Wolf. Wolf’s version was released on his 1961 self-titled album. And the song is considered a classic of the Chicago blues.
The Doors version of the song first appeared on their 1967 self-titled album. And the song became a standard cover song for the band.
It’s a good performance of a classic song. But also brings that 60’s psychedilia into the song.

Enjoy ;-)

Bo Diddley - I'm a Man

This is a live performance by rock, R&B and blues legend Bo Diddley performing his classic song "I'm a Man", the performance is from 1992.
The song was originally recorded by by Bo Diddley in 1955. The song is a moderate slow blues with a stop tempo inspired by earlier blues recordings. The song was inspired by Muddy Water's Hoochie Coochie Man from 1954 written by Willie Dixon. After the release of the song Muddy recorded an "answer song" titled "Mannish Boy", a pun on Diddley's younger age.
The song has been done by quite a few artists and a version of Muddy and Diddley performing the song together was also recorded at one point. It was also done by The Yardbirds in 1965 when Jeff Beck was with the group. A live version was recorded as well with Clapton on guitar in 1964 before he left the band. The version with Beck did very well in the US pop charts.
A lot of songs have also taken inspiration from this classic simple song structure. Songs like "Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC and "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood. They both have the stop time thing and the same chord shifts as Diddley's song as well as a rhythm that strikes resemblance to Diddley's song.
Also really love the guitar solo Steve Cropper delivers. It's really good and not too long, he knew Diddley was centre stage, but still very nice indeed.
A great performance of this amazing blues song.

Enjoy ;-)

JJ Cale & Leon Russel - I Got the Same Old Blues

This is a live performance by the two rock and blues legends JJ Cale and Leon Russel. They play Cale's classic song "I Got the Same Old Blues" from Cale's 1974 album "Okie". This song got very popular and it was covered by a large number of well renowned artists such as Lynrd Skynrd and Freddie King.
Cale's style had been described as laid back. It is part of the so called Tulsa Sound that draws loosely on the genres of rockabilly, blues, country and jazz.
Leon Russel is a very well known and respected musician in the music world. In his early career he did session work for artists such as: Elton John, George Harrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton and Willie Nelson to name a few. He then later got a solo career that he maintains to this day. In 2011 he was also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
This is a very good song and it has a nice laid back session feel to it.

Enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - Out on the Western Plain

This is a live performance by blues and folk musician Rory Gallagher. He plays his version of the classic folk song "Out on the Western Plain".
The song was originally a folk song performed by the artist known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly. He was a folk and blues singer in the late 1880's up until his death in 1949. He was known for his strong voice, his virtuosity on the 12-string acoustic guitar, for playing the accordion, harmonica, piano, violin and concertina and for introducing a huge catalogue of folk standards.
Gallagher's version is quite different from the original recording though the lyrics are the same. Gallagher plays it with a pick and his fingers in an Open-D tuning. Leadbelly also used low tunings, but it was a baritone standard tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-b) on a 12-string acoustic. The Open-D also gives that low feel which is what I think Gallagher went for intentionally when he decided to interpret the song.
A good song that really sets the mood. You just feel like you're out on the Western Plain after listening to it.

Enjoy ; )

G. Love & Special Sauce - Cold Beverage

This is the music video to the 1994 single "Cold Beverage" by the band "G. Love & Special Sauce". The band is an alternative hip-hop group from Philadelphia. They are known for their laid back and sloppy blues style that dates back to old school R&B.
The single is from the band's first album which was a self-titled album.
It's a very good song with spoken word lyrics and that very laid back style. It sounds a lot like Red Hot Chili Peppers, but more laid back. Both groups are influenced by both funk, R&B and some hip-hop influence.
A very good song that oughta lift one's spirits.

Enjoy ; )

ZZ Top - Blue Jean Blues

This is a clip from a live performance by blues and rock 'n' roll group ZZ Top performing their classic slow blues song "Blue Jean Blues".
The song was released in 1975 on ZZ Top's fourth album "Fandango". The album consisted of recordings from live shows and original new studio-recorded content. The only single to be released from Fandango was "Tush".
It's a very good performance, the video quality could be better and it is a little annoying that it just cuts off before they finish playing. A version of this is also on the "Live from Texas" DVD which I can highly recommend picking up.
I love how Billy Gibbons talks to the audience. This was when he started to be known as The Reverend Willy G due to this part of his audience interaction.
It's a good performance, but track down either the album version or the live version from the DVD I recommended earlier. A great song and a great performance.

Enjoy ; )

Gary Moore - Parisenne Walkways

This is yet another live performance by guitarist extraordinaire Gary Moore. I still felt like it was important to remember, and decided to post yet another one of Gary's performances. I explained this thoroughly in yesterday's post. I think this is one of Moore's best guitar pieces, and it's definitely on my top three of his stuff.
The song was originally released in 1979 on Moore's album "Back on the Streets". It featured guest vocals by Thin Lizzy front man Phil Lynott who also co-wrote the song with Moore.
The song is known for it's mellow slow melody and Moore's bluesy playing on it. It is probably also known for Moore's super-sustained note in the song. He also does this trick here, and it is probably something that could only be performed with a Gibson Les Paul and the skill of Gary Moore, it's quite amazing in my opinion. Moore really plays an emotional and very well fitting solo on this. The performance is from a tribute concert to Phil Lynott from 2005.
And now we neither have Moore or Lynott. Kind of sad to think about. But any ways. One of Moore's best songs in my opinion.

Enjoy, and remember Moore's music, never forget it.
Gary R.I.P.

Gary Moore - Still Got the Blues (In Loving Memory of Gary Moore)

This is a live performance by blues and rock guitarist Gary Moore playing what is probably known as his signature song, or at least his most well known song of his solo career.
As I just recently found out, Gary Moore has passed. He died in a hotel room during a vacation at the age of 58. The specific date has been dated to the early hours of 6 February. The reason I'm just posting about it now is that I just recently found out. It hasn't gotten a lot of media attention which is a little sad, because he was a great guitarist in both rock and blues and hugely successful (at least in Europe). I haven't seen a lot of media coverage in neither the American media or the European media which is why I'm a little delayed with this.
I think it is tragic in that he died at age 58 in what seems to be a sudden death. And we know that he was still making music. His latest record was released in 2008 and he seemed to still be energetic and have plenty of music left in him. And that's the sad part, all of that beautiful, soulful and rocking music we'll be missing out on.
I also always felt that Gary never got the full recognition he deserved. I mean he was somewhat well known as a blues and rock guitarist and as an influence on a lot of people spanning a broad spectrum of genres, but he never really got enough recognition. He was never really placed in the same league as Clapton, SRV and Hendrix. And in my book he ranks right up there with them. I know you should never rank guitarist, and I'm not comparing them, but Gary deserved a broader audience and he deserved to be one of those guys who everyone knows, and I don't think he is. And that's sad.
What we can do now is simply try and remember all of the beautiful music Gary has brought us. He brought us everything from hard rock to slow blues and he did it in his own style. And that's quite an accomplishment in my book. I mean he can play rock guitar and still also play blues in his own style with the same amount of feeling as the greats.

Below are a list of links to previous posts I posted featuring Gary Moore. Remember: The best memory is one's music, so click them and remember Gary for all the good music he brought.
Gary Moore - Don't Believe a Word
Gary Moore - The Stumble
Gary Moore - Dust My Broom
Gary Moore and Albert King - Stormy Monday

Gary Moore you will be missed.
R.I.P.

Johnny Winter - It's All Over Now

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Johnny Winter. He is known for his southern blues and rock 'n' roll style of guitar playing and his physical appearance as him and his brother both have albinism.
He plays the classic rock 'n' roll song "It's All Over Now". The performance is from 1983. The song was originally released by the band "The Valentinos". This version was released as a single in 1964 and entered the Billboard Hot 100, though only peaking at no. 94. The Rolling Stones did a recording of the song the same year and it became their first no. 1 hit ever.
It's a quite famous song and it has been covered by a lot of different artists, including: AC/DC, Rod Stewart, Social Distortion and Ry Cooder.
I think it's a great song and that Johnny does a great cover. It really fits his style of playing which makes for a really good and energetic performance.

Enjoy ; )

Robert Cray - I'll Go On

This is a live performance from blues artist Robert Cray. Robert and his band plays the song "I'll Go On" from their 1995 album "Some Rainy Morning" (the performance is from 1996).
The song is an original Cray song as he composed both the song and the lyrics. I think it's a very good performance and a very good song. Cray portrays the role of both rhythm and lead player very well, and sings to perfection as well. The band is also very good.
It's a great performance of a great song.

Enjoy ; )