Deep Blue Wednesday

Blues for Thought

IT’S BLUE WEDNESDAY!!!!

Y’all, I’m so excited for another Blue Wednesday! I’m not sure how but it gets more and more fun each week.

I’ve invited a few new people to join us here, so let me lay out the ground rules. Every Wednesday, I share a song or two of the blues genre and ask readers to share their favorite blues songs of the week with me in the comments or on Notes (the home page of Substack). Most suggestions are then added to the Blue Wednesday playlists on Spotify and YouTube.

Last Week

Once again, we had another incredible week and added 22 songs in one day. That is, by far, the most songs added in one day to the Blue Wednesday playlists.

Scoot

in particular went ham on the playlist and single-handedly added 10 songs to our rotation.

Josh Tatter

and

Michael S. Atkinson

also showed up with multiple suggestions and our number of weekly single-song contributors seems to be rising as well. Again, thank you all for showing up and making this so much fun.

This Week’s Hunt

I’m continuing my “hunting-gathering” theme for now. A refresher on what that means; I’ve *hunted down a song that is new to me that I think is worth sharing and have *gathered a song I’ve loved for a while in hopes that it’s new or refreshing to someone else. This week I’m sharing tunes that have resonated with me on a contemplative level.

For the hunt this week, I’ve decided to highlight an instrumental tune I find really interesting. Lend your ear now to Charlie Musselwhite and his tune “Christo Redemptor.”

First of all, the name caught my attention. Those of you who read about my faith on this Substack won’t be surprised to find me drawn to a tune that translates as “Christ the Redeemer.” Also, my current memory verse is Philippians 4:8, so what better way to think on higher things than to play a tune naming my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? I’m still trying to imagine how this song might play in a biblical scene. No matter what that means to you, just try to allow the soft snare, billowing organ, harmonica, and guitar to carry you to a better headspace. I’m sure glad I did.

My Gathering

I’ve gone back and forth on sharing this song, mostly because of the numerous songs by Stevie Ray Vaughan that already grace this playlist. But, I’m feeling drawn to this song so I’m just going with it. My gathering this week is Vaughan’s “Life by the Drop.”

I’m not joking when I say this song forced me into a mindset shift when it came to the blues. Until I heard this song, I only knew Stevie Ray Vaughan as a raucous electric guitar-playing phenom. And I really thought of the blues in general in the same way. A genre all about having fun and blistering guitar solos. But this song is so different... Here we have this guitar master doing beautiful work on an acoustic guitar while allowing his voice and lyrics to have as much room as his instrument. It’s not that I hadn’t heard sentimental blues songs before, but this song was what I needed to remind me that the blues is as evocative and contemplative as any genre of music.

On a personal level, this song makes me think of lost friendships. Those friendships that slowly fade due to nothing but life and the passage of time. No one person is to blame in that situation. Unfortunately, it just happens as each person tries to find their way. There may be sweet moments of reunion here and there, but loss is, unfortunately, just something we must sometimes accept.

Your Turn!

I’ve shared my songs, so please share yours. I’d be ecstatic if made got anywhere close to last week’s engagement but will be thankful for anyone who shares. Let’s get this Blue Wednesday rolling!

Thanks for reading and all of your support.

Now, stay cool, stay blue, and may God bless you.