Tribute Blues

For those who came before us

Photo by Florencia Viadana on Unsplash

Happy Blue Wednesday!

And just like that, it’s time for another Blue Wednesday! I hope you all had a blessed Easter and are still finding joy in Christ’s resurrection. It’s still Easter, after all..

For our new readers, here’s how Blue Wednesday works; each week I share a song or two of the blues genre with all of you and then ask all readers to share their songs with us in the comments. Most songs are then added to the Blue Wednesday playlists on Spotify and YouTube. This is a really fun and community-driven way to share great music and I hope you choose to join us.

Gathering Tributes

In gathering songs to share each week, I’ve come across several great songs to save for later. Well, this week is “later” so I’ve got two songs for you this week that I’ve been waiting to share for a month or two. Funny enough, it was only as I started writing this post that each song is a cover, played in tribute to the original artist. Yay for tributes! Seriously though, I respect anyone, no matter the field, who humbly recognizes the work and people who’ve come before them.

First up this week is a song called, “Lord I Just Can’t Keep from Crying” as performed by Swedish-artist Bror Gunnar Jansson. The record is featured on a two-song release entitled For Blind Willie, an obvious nod to blues legend, Blind Willie Johnson. Johnson wrote and recorded “Lord” all the way back in 1928 but, as it is a timeless blues song, it still rings true today. The traditional gospel/blues tune is simply about a man who’s seen his whole family pass away, yet, through tears, he still holds faith. Jansson’s modern version is a bit slower but doesn’t stay too far from the original. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Next up, we have two guitar greats paying tribute to prolific songwriter and bluesman, JJ Cale.

Eric Clapton arranged an entire album in appreciation of songs written by Cale. While Clapton does a few solo tunes, the album is mostly Slowhand (a.k.a Clapton) teaming up with other legendary musicians for Cale covers. You’ll hear Clapton playing with Tom Petty, Derek Trucks, Willie Nelson and a few others. The song I’d like to share today features the Blue Wednesday staples Eric Clapton and John Mayer performing the song, “Lies.”

It’s not a rip-roaring blues/ rock tune but this mellow track is perfect for lighting that blues flame. It’s the perfect song to begin with if you intend to spend the next few hours soaking up the blues. The guitar work is of course impeccable and gives you just enough to want more. Thankfully you have an entire album to help with that!

Only YouTube

I want to try something a little different just to change things up a bit.

I’d like to share two songs/videos solely meant for our YouTube playlist.

First up is a song by Joe Bonamassa. I came across this first when a very kind man gifted me a DVD set of Bonamassa in concert in London. This is the blues jam you need to start your day! Especially if you’ve got any manual labor to do or any sort of physical activity. This jam session will certainly get you pumped and ready to hit the ground running. The song initially starts with Bonamassa playing ZZ Tops, “Just Got Paid,” but he weaves in songs from Led Zeppelin and a few other artists as well. Try not to have fun listening to this!

The next YouTube only song for today is Jack White of The White Stripes performing on SNL. I’m not sure how I came across this video but it’s really fantastic and probably the best television performance of any artist I’ve seen in a while. Recorded in 2020 (this matters), White manages to combine three songs here. Two songs he wrote, which are “Ball and a Biscuit” performed by The White Stripes and “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” performed by Beyonce.. Yes.. Beyonce. Then White comes in with yet another song by Blind Willie Johnson called, “Jesus is Coming Soon.” A song originally written about the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. See, that’s why 2020 mattered. Here’s a few of the lyrics.

Great disease was mighty and the people were sick everywhere

It was an epidemic, it floated through the air

….

Well, the nobles said to the people, "You better close your public schools"

"Until the events of death has ending, better close your churches too"

Homework

That’s what I’ve got for this week. Please share your songs with me here and let’s get this blues train rolling!

I do have some homework for you ahead of next week.

Alan Putzke

had a great idea to theme one week on blues featuring the harmonica. So, readers, next Tuesday, let’s do our best to share blues songs where the harmonica is really vibing. I trust you.

If you’ve got any ideas for another theme week, shoot me a message!

Have a wonderful Blue Wednesday!