The White Stripes - Blue Orchid

This is a live performance by the alternative/blues rock band The White Stripes doing their song "Blue Orchid" live. The performance is from the Rock am Ring in 2007.
The song was originally released on the band's album "Get Behind Me Satan" from 2005, "Blue Orchid" was released as the first single from the album the same year. It's a great song and it's always great to watch Meg and Jack on stage. What they do on stage is truly unique and can't be matched by anyone.

Enjoy ; )

The White Stripes/ The Rolling Stones ft. Robert Cray - Stop Breaking Down

These are two different contemporary versions of the classic Robert Johnson song "Stop Breaking Down".
The original recording done by Johnson was recorded in 1937 and released in 1938. Johnson did two takes of the song. They are pretty similar, but the length differs with 5 seconds. This original version is a solo piece with Johnson accompanying his own vocal performance on guitar. Both takes were originally used, but on two different pressings of the single.
The top video is of the duo The White Stripes doing their version of the song. This version was initially recorded and released on the duo's 1999 debut album entitled "The White Stripes". I really like this version. Jack's slide playing really elevates this song and breathes new life into it whilst still staying true to the original. Very well done in my opinion. (The video quality isn't the best, but still enjoyable).
The video below is The Rolling Stones' version of the song. The Rolling Stones recorded a cover of the song on their 1972 "Exile on Main St." album. This performance featuring Robert Cray is from the concert DVD "The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Live". The performances on this DVD were recorded in 2004. It's a very good version. Personally I prefer The White Stripe's rendition, but this version is very good as well.
So there you have it. Enjoy Johnson's original recording along with all of the modern interpretations of his stuff.

Enjoy ; )

Repost: The Dead Weather - Blue Blood Blues

I posted a live version of this song earlier, but it has been taken down from youtube, or has been disabled in some regions in the world, I don't know which! The fact of the matter is that I can't view the video embeded in the original post, so I'm reposting it.
I wrote more about the song and it's release in my earlier post which you can check out by clicking here.
This version is a little grittier, it's recorded live from live from the Third Man Records, the independent label that publish the song.

The White Stripes - Ball and Biscuit

This is a performance by legendary alternative/blues/garage rock band The White Stripes. They could probably be attached to even more genres. They perform the song "Ball and Biscuit" from the album "Elephant" released in 2003. The band consists of Jack White on guitar and Meg White on drums. That's it, two members, and two instruments. The weird thing is that it's kind of a genius thing, because it really works. The song "Ball and Biscuit" is clearly a song deeply inspired by the very early acoustic blues the likes of Robert Johnson and Son House, but in an electric version. Jack has, by many, been said to have revitalised the guitar, and I kinda understand what they mean. He draws influence from multiple genres, and innovatively mixes them all into his own, mostly electric sound. In many ways doing the same thing as Clapton was doing when he recorded Crossroads.
This song is delightfully simple, simple rhythm and simple chord structure, with a slightly more difficult solo. It's reminiscent to the old Delta Blues because it's so simple, there's no bass, and Meg White's simple drumming is kinda like a foot tap of a self accompanied acoustic blues man. Jack also has to play the bass part, the rhythm part and the solos. This makes for a very interesting and innovative trade of playing, it makes him unique. This is a great song, and it pays tribute whilst still being new and innovative, well done Jack!

Enjoy ; )

Son House - Death Letter

This is an acoustic solo performance by legendary blues musician Son House. House isn't as widely known and famous as Robert Johnson who was also one of the old dogs when it comes to blues. Son House was born in 1902 and got to have a long life lasting to 1988 which meant he got to be around the greats and even influence some of them. Many people believe that House has influenced Johnson, in fact Johnson incorporated some of "Death Letter" into his own blues classic "Walking Blues". Son House, because of his old age, was also one of the people who helped spread the myth that Johnson had sold his soul to the devil in trade of his marvellous musical abilities.
The song Death Letter is about a man who learns about the death of the woman he loves in a letter. It is a very dark and depressive song, as the narrator views her dead body in the morgue and attends the funeral only to return home in a state of depression.
The song and Son House himself also gained some new notoriety in recent years due to Jack White being heavily influenced by him. The White Stripes has also covered Death Letter live on numerous occasions. It's a great song with a simple rhythm. One man and his guitar, that's what the blues is all about.

Enjoy ; )

The Dead Weather - Blue Blood Blues

This is a song recently recorded and released by alternative band The Dead Weather. The band consists of many members who play in different bands outside The Dead Weather most notably Jack White who also produced this song. The single was released as a digital download, but will also be released on vinyl courtesy of Jack White's own record label. It will be released on a special invention; a triple decker record which consists of a A-side 12" record with a 7" record built inside containing a hidden track. To listen to the 7" record, the listener must crack the 12" record open with a knife into two areas of the record which there is no audio and one side can be lifted off, revealing the record which can then be put back together. White created the triple decker record himself and copyrighted it in 2010.
Pictures of the triple decker record:

It's a great little gritty sounding blues rock song, it's what White does best, mixing rock and blues and other genres into something unique and new, gotta love it.


Enjoy ; )