Episode 108: REPAIRED History of the Blues II (short stories and music to entertain and, ideally, inform) 08 07 2022

There's a story behind this week's show. The Blues Society of Omaha asked me and Glenn, who fills in from time to time, to go on the main stage of our annual, In the Market for the Blues, and discuss the history of the blues.

So we did. Sorta.

The blues is a pretty big topic - especially to pack into 45 minutes. Instead, I put together A History of the Blues (rather than The History...). I decided to discuss some of the events that made the blues the artform it is today including The Great Migrations of Blacks from the American South to the north and west, some of the sources for blues music including field recordings, Chess Records, and John Hammond.

I also told some stories like how John Lomax's efforts to get a recording label for Leadbelly tied together with the sit-com Friends, or how John Hammond's search for Robert Johnson created, in large part, the sound that was Classic Rock, or how a Memphis kid's love of a jug band player lead, indirectly, to several hit recording acts in the 60s and 70s. Or how Reg Dwight played the blues and became Elton John.

We are ecclectricity and, ideally, listeners find that entertaining and informative. At the very least, but perhaps the most important, the show is not predictable or driven by cliches of what the blues is or isn't.

Thanks for giving this a listen.
It was an act of love putting this together.
I hope you enjoy the effort.

Pacific Street Blues
August 7, 2022

Link to Visuals

23. Billie Holiday / Ain't Misbehavin'
24. Stevie Ray Vaughan / The Sky is Cryin'
25. Charley Patton / Hang It On the Wall
26. Robert Johnson / Sweet Home Chicago
27. Eric Clapton / Malted Milk Blues
28. BB King / The Thrill is Gone
29. Joe Bonamassa / You Upset Me Baby
30 Chuck Berry / House of Blues Lights
31. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers / Carol
32. The Rolling Stones / Confessin' the Blues
33. John Mayall Bluesbreakers / Parchman Farm
34. Cyril Davis All Stars / L.A. Breakdown (Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Charlies Watts, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger)
35. Long John Baldry / Don't Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock n Roll
36. Elton John /Susie
37. Dana Fuchs / Save Me
38. Mike Farris / Precious Lord, Take My Hand
39. Hadden Sayers / Tip of My Tongue
40. Hector Anchondo / I'm Going to Missouri