Johnny Winter - Mojo Boogie (J. B. Lenoir)

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Johnny Winter playing his rendition of the classic blues tune "Mojo Boogie". The song was released in a studio recorded version by Winter in 1986 on his album "Third Degree". This performance is from Barcelona in 1991.
The song was originally written and recorded by Chicago blues legend J. B. Lenoir. Lenoir's version of the song is a bit simpler, on the guitar front that is, but the singing and the blues feeling of it is amazing. The guitar doesn't solo on this version, instead a saxophone solos in stead. (Original version embeded below)

Winter added his slide playing to this song and it fit perfectly. He's just a master with that slide and it really fits with this song, his speed is just amazing. It's a great performance by Winter!

Enjoy ; )

The Rolling Stones - Happy

This is a live performance by The Rolling Stones playing the song "Happy" live. The performance is from the 2006 gig they played on the beach of Rio de Janeiro. They played to an audience of 2 million people, that's probably the biggest crowd ever at a live show, thus proving the grandiose scale The Rolling Stones are at.
The song originally appeared on the band's 1972 album "Exile on Main St.", and it was the second single released from the album. Richards sings lead on this one, on the record Jagger was credited for percussion and backing vocals. In this live performance, however, he does not seem to appear on stage.
It's a great performance by Richards, really proving that he could be the front man if he wanted to. His performance is so energetic. It's also a good example of how Richards and Ronnie Wood work together and play off each other. It's a great performance and in a way, in my opinion, it brings a certain intimacy to a grand show courtesy of Mr. Richards.
A fantastic performance!

Enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - Garbage Man

This is a live performance by Irish guitarist, singer songwriter and blues man Rory Gallagher. In this performance he plays the song "Garbage Man" which was originally recorded by Muddy Waters. The song was written by Willie Hammond. The performance is from 1977 and from the Rockpalast festival in Germany.
It's a great performance, but sadly it cuts off in the video and cuts to some other German programme. It's great till that happens though, and we get most of the performance. Lou Martin does a really good piano solo and Rory then goes off on slide in standard which he is amazing at. It's a great performance.
To my knowledge the only official of this release by Gallagher is on the album "Ultra Rare Rory" which I own. It's a bootleg album, so the quality isn't the best, the performances however are top notch. Cover in picture below.

It's a great performance, and Rory truly proves that he was indeed a blues man in this performance clip.

Enjoy ; )

Eric Clapton - Motherless Children

This is a live performance by Eric Clapton. He is joined on stage by Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II. Bramhall and Clapton are playing slide on this tune while Trucks handles the rhythm part which is unusual as Trucks is known for his virtuous slide playing. The performance is from a concert in France from 2006. It's not professionally shot, but the audio is surprisingly good. Also this track is pretty rare for Clapton to do live.
The song is from Clapton's "461 Ocean Boulevard" (1974) album which was a highly successful album from Clapton, also containing Clapton's version of "I Shot the Sheriff" his only #1 hit on the Billboard hot 100.
The lyrics to the song are traditional and ergo have no writer. The arrangement is credited to Clapton and Carl Radle.
The song is basically about mothers and the big impact and love they have on everyone around them. It's also about the void left should a mother die. So I thought it would at the very least be somewhat relevant on mother's day.
It's a great performance and the audio is surprisingly tolerable.

Enjoy ; )

Johnny Winter – Highway 61 Revisited

This is a live performance by American blues guitarist Johnny Winter doing his rendition of the classic Bob Dylan song “Highway 61 Revisited”.
This was the title track of Dylan’s 1965 album. The lyrics of the song all revolve around various problems that eventually end up being solved on Highway 61.
Johnny Winter did his cover of the song in 1969 and it became a career defining track for Winter. It was on his album “Second Winter”. The song became a live standard for Winter.
The song has also been recorded by P.J. Harvey and Billy Joel.
I love Johnny’s version and the slide guitar he’s playing that just seems to fit in perfectly with the original feel of the song. A great song and a great performance.

Enjoy ;-)

Bonnie Raitt – Love Sneakin’ up on You

This is a live performance by guitarist Bonnie Raitt playing her hit single “Love Sneakin’ up on You”. The performance is from The Late Show with David Letterman 1994.
The song is off Raitt’s 1994 album “Longing in their Hearts”. The album was Raitt’s 12th studio album. This song was the only hit single from the album reaching #19 on the Billboards singles chart.
It’s a great up tempo pop song with the blues feeling of slide guitar added to it. A very good song and performance by Raitt.

Enjoy ;-)

Rory Gallagher - Souped-Up Ford

This is a live performance by Irish blues and folk musician and guitarist Rory Gallagher playing the song "Souped-Up Ford" live at Hammersmith, the footage is from 1977.
The song is from Gallagher's "Against the Grain" album released in 1975. The song is written and composed by Gallagher. It is one of Gallagher's slide songs where he plays slide guitar on it. I always love it when Gallagher pulls out the slide because he's so good at it that you just have to watch and be amazed.

Enjoy ; )

Velvet Revolver - Psycho Killer

This is a live performance by American hard rock band Velvet Revolver covering the Talking Heads song "Psycho Killer" live at Rock Am Ring in Germany from 2007.
The song was originally released by Talking Heads in 1977 on their album "Talking Heads: 77" The song's lyrics are about the thoughts of a serial killer. The song has a very unique and recognizable bass line. This was also the only song from the album to enter the Billboard Pop Singles chart, though only reaching no. 93 on the list.
I love the version Velvet Revolver do, it's a little harder and it adds Slash's slide playing to the song which just makes it sound awesome.

Enjoy ; )

Foghat - Fool for the City

This is a live performance by British rock band Foghat performing the song "Fool for the City" from their 1975 album. "Fool for the City" was the title track and second single from the album. The most famous track from the album is their signature song "Slow Ride".
The album is also the band's only platinum selling album. "Slow Ride" reached no. 20 on the mainstream pop-charts, but "Fool for the City" didn't do as well and only reached no. 45 on the same charts.
It's a good and steady performance and song. Personally I'm not the biggest fan of Rod's lead playing. I'm more a fan of his slide work which is stunning, fast and done to perfect precision, now that's impressive. But a very good performance none the less.

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 ; )

Rory Gallagher - Last of the Independants

This is a live performance by Rory Gallagher from the 1979 Rockpalast festival. He plays the song "Last of the Independants". I don't know much about the song other than the fact that it is also the title of a posthumous released album.
I love the performance though. Very nice playing from Gallagher on what seems to be a unique folkish blues rhythm, kind of, very unique and very Gallagher.
I really love the showmanship. He runs around and gets up close with the audience and also uses the guitar like a shotgun and takes aim, very cool indeed. I also really love it at the end where he starts playing slide guitar. It sounds so good, and Gallagher is so good with the slide, it's quite astonishing. He also taps the fretboard as he's using the slide. Very impressive.

Enjoy ; )

Muddy Waters - You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had

This is a live performance by Muddy Waters from 1966. Him and his excellent swinging band play the Muddy Waters single "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had". The song was released as a single in 1964 and is one of the last known singles Muddy did. Muddy was extremely productive and has released approximately 60 singles throughout his career.
The song was originally never released on an album, but it was recorded during a subsequent session for the Chess company album "Folks Singer" released in 1963. Today the songs from the subsequent sessions are included on reissues of the album. The album (without the added bonus tracks) is an acoustic album.
I really love this performance, the band really just has a groove unlike any band today. Plus we get some wicked slide guitar from Muddy himself, he really plays with feeling, and he's a natural at slide. A great performance of a true classic Waters song.

Enjoy ; )

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen

This is a live performance by hard rock 80's group Guns N' Roses. They play their song "Rocket Queen" which was never released as a single, but still played live frequently.
The song is the closing track on the band's '87 album "Appetite for Destruction". The song is, according to Axl, inspired by a real life female friend who wanted her own band and call it "Rocket Queen". The ballady end of the song is a tribute to her and the things she did as a friend for Axl.
The main riff was composed by Slash and Duff and Duff has stated that it is influenced by funk group "Cameo".
As mentioned earlier, they'd very often play this live. The part of the song that Axl raps is actually from the band's unreleased song "It Tastes Good, Don't It".
I really like this performance, mainly because of how well the band plays together on it. It's more a groove than a rehearsed performance, or at least seems like a groove. They take a little time to get into it. Slash takes position and lets the groove go on as he gets into it and starts soloing.
Slash is really good in this performance. He plays in that particular style that he's known for, throws a little slide in at the beginning and does a talk box solo before Axl starts rapping.
A very good performance of a really good and groovy song.

Enjoy ; )

Iron Butterfly - Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)

This is a live performance from 60's band Iron Butterfly. They play the song "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)" often shortened to "Easy Rider". The song appears on the band's 1970 album "Metamorphosis". This live performance is from 1968 which means that they are playing the song prior to recording it. This song was released as a single, but didn't do that well in the charts, it topped at no. 66 on the Billboard Charts and was considered a minor hit. The album is also famous for being one of the first to ever feature talk box on a rock album.
On this song one of the guitarists use slide and the other doesn't. The song has that 60's/70's Middle Eastern sound combined with a more traditional rock sound. Doug Ingle is the lead singer on this song and he also plays the organ on it.
I think it's a pretty good song, and I've always enjoyed it and I hope you will too.

Enjoy ; )

Foghat - Slow Ride

This is yet another 70's hard rock song, and it's awesome. It's a performance by the British blues-rock band Foghat. They perform the song "Slow Ride" which was also their most successful song. It was composed by Dave Peverett, and recorded by the band. It was first released in 1975 on the band's album "Fool for the City". It was named the 45th best hard rock song ever by VH1 and its viewers.
It's a nice and simple song mainly driven by a simple riff focused around an A power-chord. The thing that makes it an awesome performance is the slide guitar played by Rod Price. He really does a good job, and without that it would have been a boring performance. It's an interesting approach to slide guitar, it isn't slow, and much more a rock 'n' roll style of slide playing, in many ways similar to that of Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. But a great performance, of a great song.

Enjoy ; )

Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas

This is a video for the Chris Rea Christmas song "Driving Home for Christmas". It was released in December of 1988 as a single, and wasn't attached to any particular album. It did fairly well peaking at #53 on the UK single charts. It did really well in a lot of European countries (scheme below of rankings on various charts).
The song is about a guy driving home to his family or friends to celebrate the Holidays. The song also features a little solo by Chris, it's not a slide solo which is mainly, or at least one of the things Rea is attached to.
It's a nice little Holiday song in a mellow and not over-emotional tone and feeling, a really good Christmas song.

Chart	Peak position
UK Singles Chart (2007)[2]	33
Norway Singles Chart (2008)[4]	2
Swedish Singles Chart (2010)[5]	26
Dutch Singles Chart (2008)[6]	17
Finnish Singles Chart (1999)[7]	17
Danish Singles Chart (2007)[8]	19
Austrian Singles Chart (2007)[9]	35
Swiss Singles Chart (2009)[10]	41
German Singles Chart (2008)[11]	31

Enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - All Around Man

This is a magnificent performance from blues extraordinaire Rory Gallagher, it's from the concert at BBC's Grey Whistle on March 2nd 1976 which was also the date of Rory's birthday.
The song was originally performed by Bo Carter, but Rory's version is just smokin', no doubts one of Rory's best performances ever, though I don't think there is such a thing as Rory's best performance. Rory was an artist who gave 100 % on stage, and in that sense you could easily say that all Rory's performances were his best.
I really love this song and performance. Rory really shows the extent of his talent, by playing some of the best bottle neck slide I've heard, period! It's amazing, it's fast, but still keeping feel, and being right on spot in terms of intonation and execution of the playing. Not only do we get Rory's guitar playing, but Rory also plays a really good solo on the blues harp. He uses a harmonica microphone, and gets that perfectly good blues sound. He also shouts into that mike on the musical breaks of the solo. He also does something similar with his slide playing, where he sings the part, as he's playing it, true feeling, true blues!
We also get a really good piano and Hammond Organ solo from Lou Martin who also joins in as Rory is soloing on the blues harp. They basically riff off each other, and Lou tries to play the lines Rory just played, it's amazing, a true jam between two good musicians.
This is just an amazing performance from Gallagher, definitely one of his best, though all his performances pretty much fit that mark.

Enjoy ; )

The Doors - Wild Child

This is a video from the classic late 60's band The Doors. It's a video consisting of footage of some native-American kids spliced together with studio footage of The Doors recording the song "Wild Child". I don't know if it was a fan made video or an official video.
The song Wild Child is built up quite simple, with one riff pretty much driving the song, and then changing when the song breaks into the chorus. The riff is mainly a guitar riff played by Robby Krieger, but a Hammond B3 organ is also added, to give the song that trippy 60's feel. Robby also plays a psychedelic bottle neck slide that just fits the song perfectly.
The song was released as a single in December of 1968, but it was a B-side to the song "Touch Me".
Below is a little clip from the A-side to the single.

Audio sample
file info · help

It's a really good stoner song, with that delightful 60's psychedelic sound. A great video, and a really good song.


Enjoy ; )

Motörhead - Ace of Spades (Acoustic) (100th post)

This is a recently recorded acoustic version of the Motörhead song "Ace of Spades", they recorded it for a European beer commercial, and took the tempo down to a slow blues progression. Really shows the relation between genres, when you can just slow something down and add an acoustic guitar instead of an electric, and boom heavy metal turned into slow acoustic blues.
The top box is the new single in its full length, and the two videos are the commercial in which the song is featured, and a behind the scenes following Motörhead as they recorded the song.
I really like this song, it really shows that Lemmy has a broad style, and can play many different types of music. This is just pure acoustic blues, and I love it. It both features acoustic guitars playing the slow main rhythm part, a blues harp solo by Lemmy and a Dobro solo by Phil Campbell. It's a great song, and it really shows that Motörhead is much more than a metal band.

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 ; )