Jason Isbell is just fantastic. Thanks for hunting this down, man. I've never heard this one before and I'm a big fan. And I have never given Chris Isaak's catalog a second glace beyond Wicked Game. I can see now that's been a mistake.
The first time I heard Isbell was when I saw him open for Stapleton back in 2016, and I was immediately hooked. My wife and I danced to his song "Flagship" at our wedding.
I've been a Chris Isaak fan for as long as I can remember. The guy is just such a ridiculously talented singer/songwriter. This is my second favorite song of his, though I don't think it's quite right for BW:
Great choices, Derek! SRV is top-notch. Both his tunes and his humanity elevated the genre. He got sober and was an even better musician for it, proving you don’t have to destroy yourself to play the blues. (I’m in part paraphrasing the words of his friend, Bonnie Raitt, whom Stevie inspired to start her own journey to sobriety.) Life By the Drop is classic SRV – beautiful playing, beautiful spirit. And the Musselwhite song is a haunting hallelujah.
His bio is as interesting as many of his songs. He’s been a soldier, a trucker, a competitive fencer, a Mensa member, a sometime-criminal, and more. He has lots of great tunes but Holler #4 is, to me, the essence of Slim. It lays out the existential grappling with the facts of life that’s at the heart of so much about the blues:
“I’m singin’ this ol’ song by myself. I don’t need no band / And if the blues, Lord, was whiskey, I’d have a half gallon jug in either hand.”
I love how real and raw this is. I'll be listening to more of Slim's music for sure. You can really see the struggles of his life coming through this song.
Life By The Drop is one of my favorite songs by any artist in any genre. What a great tune!
https://youtu.be/s7KzzospHVY?si=XkJ59UC0hExEyl0K
Here’s one contribution from me so far.
“Who Did You Think I Was” as performed by the John Mayer Trio.
Life by the Drop really is a special song. It hits deep every time.
GREAT SONG! Any of the John Mayer Trio tunes is a-okay with me.
I've been hunting for a song from this guy pretty much since the inception of Blue Wednesday, and I'm thrilled to have finally found it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcsiswg5GAs
And I gathered this one, which has long been one of my favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GCS3EtZNv8
Jason Isbell is just fantastic. Thanks for hunting this down, man. I've never heard this one before and I'm a big fan. And I have never given Chris Isaak's catalog a second glace beyond Wicked Game. I can see now that's been a mistake.
The first time I heard Isbell was when I saw him open for Stapleton back in 2016, and I was immediately hooked. My wife and I danced to his song "Flagship" at our wedding.
I've been a Chris Isaak fan for as long as I can remember. The guy is just such a ridiculously talented singer/songwriter. This is my second favorite song of his, though I don't think it's quite right for BW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHHC3XVudjY
Oh man, I'm digging this. Thanks!
Not strictly a blues but in spirit. John Mayall’s undercover agent. https://open.spotify.com/track/5CPe3ToeIg2bOywqiV0awe?si=WWAb0Bo2S2O4a1pp1BVYYQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0RgGjoUHoHqZJ2FSqXe3k8
Thanks Alan!
Great choices, Derek! SRV is top-notch. Both his tunes and his humanity elevated the genre. He got sober and was an even better musician for it, proving you don’t have to destroy yourself to play the blues. (I’m in part paraphrasing the words of his friend, Bonnie Raitt, whom Stevie inspired to start her own journey to sobriety.) Life By the Drop is classic SRV – beautiful playing, beautiful spirit. And the Musselwhite song is a haunting hallelujah.
My offering is Holler #4, by Watermelon Slim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X1dciF63EM
His bio is as interesting as many of his songs. He’s been a soldier, a trucker, a competitive fencer, a Mensa member, a sometime-criminal, and more. He has lots of great tunes but Holler #4 is, to me, the essence of Slim. It lays out the existential grappling with the facts of life that’s at the heart of so much about the blues:
“I’m singin’ this ol’ song by myself. I don’t need no band / And if the blues, Lord, was whiskey, I’d have a half gallon jug in either hand.”
Enjoy!
I love how real and raw this is. I'll be listening to more of Slim's music for sure. You can really see the struggles of his life coming through this song.
Thanks for sharing, Hangnail!
My pleasure! Glad you like.