December 2010
Bonjour mes amis,
In this issue of South of France Blues;
So was that my psychic side coming out in my last blog? Not only has Warner Music Entertainment announced that Hugh Laurie’s debut blues album will be out in Spring 2011 but, Tom Jones will be one of his duet guests – I did mention Tom in the same paragraph as Hugh didn’t I?
In this issue of South of France Blues;
- More on Hugh Lawrie Sings the Blues
- Blues at the Crossroads : Robert Johnson Centennial Tour
- The birth of Brit Floyd
- Beatles, and Lennon's "I'm Only Sleeping", go on sale
- A pardon for Jim Morrison?
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun with "Memphis Blues"
- The best list of Blues concerts & gigs in France and more.
So was that my psychic side coming out in my last blog? Not only has Warner Music Entertainment announced that Hugh Laurie’s debut blues album will be out in Spring 2011 but, Tom Jones will be one of his duet guests – I did mention Tom in the same paragraph as Hugh didn’t I?
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| Tom Jones |
Sadly bluesman Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers passed away on Saturday 20 November 2010 aged 71. The talented Chicago guitarist had had a lengthy illness.
Born in Tchula, Mississippi on 2 January 1939 he later moved to Chicago, on the heals of his big brother Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers (I assume there was just the two of them!!!).
Through the years Little Smokey accompanied Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Magic Sam - and a few others - both on stage and in the recording studio.
Influential in helping Paul Butterfield form his blues band he also mentored Elvin Bishop, who later took his place in the band. This collaboration with Elvin Bishop led to the 2000 recording of "That's My Partner".
Smothers final recording was in 2009 with "Chicago Blues Buddies", the proceeds from which went to help offset his growing medical expenses. R.I.P.
Influential in helping Paul Butterfield form his blues band he also mentored Elvin Bishop, who later took his place in the band. This collaboration with Elvin Bishop led to the 2000 recording of "That's My Partner".
Smothers final recording was in 2009 with "Chicago Blues Buddies", the proceeds from which went to help offset his growing medical expenses. R.I.P.
Four years after she released any new music, the wait is finally over and if there was ever a song fitting for Amy Winehouse
’s trials and tribulations it is Lesley Gore's 1963 hit ‘It’s My Party’. Laid down in April with Mark Ronson for a Quincy Jones tribute album, doubts may remain about the coherence of her wandering vocal but there's little denying its enduring aura, all dressed-up in the producer's typically authentic sound. But is this cover enough to rebuild her shattered career? I suspect it is back to black for Amy!
’s trials and tribulations it is Lesley Gore's 1963 hit ‘It’s My Party’. Laid down in April with Mark Ronson for a Quincy Jones tribute album, doubts may remain about the coherence of her wandering vocal but there's little denying its enduring aura, all dressed-up in the producer's typically authentic sound. But is this cover enough to rebuild her shattered career? I suspect it is back to black for Amy!
Marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mr Robert Johnson is the “Blues at the Crossroads” tour starting January 2011 in San Francisco. On tour will be the “Two Man Wrecking Crew” of Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm, original Delta bluesman (and friend of Robert Johnson) David “Honeyboy” Edwards, and the great Hubert Sumlin (former Howlin' Wolf guitarist).
Winding its way through the States the “Blues at the Crossroads” tour is currently scheduled to complete in March 2011 in Urbana, Illinois. Other venues and dates may be added. If anyone is listening out there – don't forget us in Europe.
Oh, I almost forgot, there will be an accompanying tour album – of course.
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| Pink Floyd |
Yes, I know that Pink Floyd was not a blues band but there are blues links. The blues influenced Syd Barrett and, Gilmour's solo style is often characterised by blues-influenced phrasing. And, of course, the name was concocted by Barrett combining the names of Pink Anderson and Floyd Council when, in a blind panic, he had to find an alternative band name to The Teas Set – hence Pink Floyd was born. A miracle really. Can you imagine a band called The Tea Set making ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ or ‘The Wall’? No, nor can I.
Anyway, the Pink Floyd legend lives on with a handful of tribute bands and, arguably the best (up to now) is the Australian Pink Floyd Tribute Band (which I have had the pleasure to have seen play in Lisbon, Portugal in 2008). But, allegedly, a problem has occurred whereby the Aussie members of the band do not want to go on tour in the USA. Perhaps unknown to their American audience the band that they see during this major annual tour is made up almost exclusively of Brits and does not feature the Aussie artists at all. This, as you can imagine, has caused some problems that have
resulted in the members that do tour the States forming a breakaway band called The British Pink Floyd Show (or Brit Floyd for short).
Confused? Well, there’s more. The Brits have just completed their final USA tour as the Aussie Floyd band and they have returned to the UK and will re-appear as Brit Floyd ready to start their inaugural tour of the UK early in 2011.
Willie Nelson has been charged with possession of pot. Apparently his tour bus was pulled over at a check-point set up in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The arresting officer said he could smell pot when he opened the door of the bus. Willie was held for a short while whilst he arranged a $2,500 bond.
A three-day festival on the banks of Loch Ness, in the village of Dores, Scotland, during 10-12 June 2011 will headline Paolo Nutini.Festival director Jim King said: “We have always said that RockNess is about delivering the best performers. Paolo has proven across his two albums that he is the best act of his generation to come out of Scotland and he is way to becoming one of the very best acts in the world”.
Just as many have celebrated John Lennon’s 70th birthday it has been announced that his hand written lyrics of "I’m Only Sleeping" will go on sale at Bonhams auctioneers. The lyrics, which he had written on the back of a letter chasing payment for a radio phone bill, are expected to raise between $400 – 560,000. The sale is on 15 December so you’d better get moving.
Meanwhile iTunes have come to the end of a long and winding road and now have Beatles for sale on their web based iTunes Store. All 13 studio albums – from “Sgt. Peppers’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” to “Revolver” to “The White Album” are now available.
During the first week of sales iTunes sold more than 2 million individual songs and more than 450,000 albums. “Abbey Road” was the top selling album and “Here Comes The Sun” the top selling single.
Convicted of exposing himself, on stage, at a 1969 concert in Miami, Jim Morrison of the Doors may be pardoned.
Gov. Charlie Crist, whose favourite Doors song is “Light My Fire”, has said that evidence maybe flimsy. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzareck said Morrison put a shirt in front of his crotch and wiggled his hand behind it. He briefly pulled the shirt away and said, “I just showed you. Did you see it?”
Morrison was found guilty in 1970 of indecent exposure and fined $500 with a six month jail sentence. But he never did do the time. He was appealing his conviction when he was found dead in a bathtub in Paris in 1971. He was just 27 years old.
Govenor Crist plans to ask Florida Cabinet members to support a pardon. “My heart just bleeds for his legacy and his family” says Crist.
The box set also includes the documentary “Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child” narrated by Bootsy Collins.
Coming out on the same day are deluxe editions of “Jimi Hendrix Experience:BBCSessions”, Jimi Hendrix Blues”, and “Live At Woodstock”.
Responsible for all this is Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix who is president and CEO of Experience Hendrix.
Janie says that next year will bring a documentary about Hendrix’s 1969 concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. “It’s kind of a day in the life of Jimi, how we put it together” she says of the project, which has been two years in the making.
Gibson recently unveiled their “Top 50 Acoustic Guitarists of All Time” with Belgium born Django Reinhardt taking the number 1 slot. Robert Johnson made number 4, Jimmy Page was 17th, and Eric Clapton got in at 41 on the list.
Being dead does not stop the wheels of commerce turning. “Hold My Hand”, a duet recorded by Michael Jackson and rapper-producer Akon went on sale this month. The song was first recorded in 2007.
Sony will also release a 10 track album “Michael” (to include “Hold My Hand”) on 14 December.
Another new track “Breaking News” from the upcoming album has met with skepticism by some music critics and Jackson’s family members who are reported to have said that they do not believe the vocals on “Breaking News” really belong to the King of Pop.
The Who are to perform alongside Jeff Beck, Blondie singer Debbie Harry and The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft in a charity concert to raise money for research into a little-known cancer treatment called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). The stars will appear at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London on 13 January 2011.
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| I've used this picture before and I just love it! |
Talking about his book “Life” he said: “You get stuck with an image, part of the whole reason for the book was to dispel some of the junkie, dopey, rock and roll … it’s not like that at all. Hey, I can get crazy but I aint’t stupid”
He also explains that he wrote to Tony Blair backing him in his decision to go to war in Iraq. Yep, Keith, you are well and truly stuck with the image!
Back to Blues
Some 40 years after meeting her hero, Cyndi Lauper got the opportunity to work with 85 years old B.B. King.
Her first meeting with B.B. King was in the 1970’s when she was a student at Johnstone State College, Vermont, USA.
Being a school radio DJ the Blues had made an enormous impression on her. So much so her latest, and 11th, album is “Memphis Blues”.
Not many would have linked the pop queen with the mighty, talented, veteran King but their love of Blues has brought them together.
Cyndi Lauper says that she has wanted to make a Blues album for more than a decade but has only recently found time to put everything together and get down to Memphis.
The 12 tracks are gritty, in the style of a Beale Street blues singer jamming in smokey juke joints. Inspired by the Memphis Civil Rights Museum she says that Memphis was the only place to be to cut this album. It represents the crossroads in American culture and music. “I wanted to be in Memphis. I wanted to eat the food, breathe the air, see the sites, walk the walk.”
Cyndi Lauper hooked up with Scott Bomar, a local musician and producer, who worked with Al Green and Charlie Feathers among many other local and national acts. He helped her assemble a “who’s who” of Memphis musicians to back her up on the album. In addition to Allen Toussaint, Ann Peebles, and Charlie Musselwhite, “Memphis Blues” also features the infamous Hi Rhythm Section and all-stars from Stax and Satellite Records.
Charlie Musselwhite harps the blues in the first track “Just Your Fool”, and a trio of B.B. King, Allan Toussaint, and Cyndi Lauper provide an up-beat little song called “Early In The Morning”.
Track 8 is a version of the classic “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” and features Ann Peebles. The more I play this the more I like it.
It’s not earth shattering but is a good album to own. The girl has done good and – the girl has had fun !!!
The best gig guide under the South of France sun:
December
02 The Honeymen Brasserie les Halles, Bordeaux (33)
02 Fred Chapellier Salle Jean Vilar, Romans-sur-Isère (26)
03 Nina Attal Le Soubock, Cauville (14)
03 Mannish Boys St Céré (46)
03 The Honeymen Brasserie les Halles, Bordeaux (33)
03 Cisco Herzhaft La Double Croche, Lisieux (14)
03 Dr Feelgood Moonwalker, Aarburg (Switzerland)
04 Mannish Boys Brive (19)
04 The Honeymen Libourne (33)
04 JJ Milteau Théâtre Victor Hugo, Bagneux (92)
04 Fred Chapellier Le Splendid, Lille (59)
05 Nico Wayne Toussaint Sebastian, Florida (USA)
08 Fred Chapellier Vienne (38)
08 Cotton Belly’s Showcase Cultura, Villenave d’Omon (33)
09 Cotton Belly’s L’Antidote, Bordeaux (33)
09 Nina Attal L’Entrepot, Issy-les-Moulineax (92)
10 Malted Milk Le Cadran, Evreux (27)
10 Connie Lush Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury (UK)
10 Nina Attal Espace Athina, Saint-Saulve (59)
10 Cotton Belly’s Lulu dans le Prairie, Merignac (33)
11 Cotton Belly’s El Chico, Bordeaux (33)
11 Connie Lush The Flowerpot, Derby (UK)
11 Nina Attal Espace Culturel l’Hermine, Sarzeau (56)
11 Malted Milk Espace Culturel l’Hermine, Sarzeau (56)
11 Dr Feelgood Eisenwerk, Frauefeld (Switzerland)
11 The Honeymen Ergué Gabéric (29)
12 Nico Wayne Toussaint Miami, Florida (USA)
14 Nina Attal Découvertes du Printemps, Le Nouveau Casino (75)
15 The Honeymen Chapeau Rouge, Quimper (29)
16 The Experimental Tropical Blues Band Rogers Bar, Belfort (90)
17 Fred Chapellier Bar de Luc
17 Mannish Boys Louisiana Club, Marseille (13)
17 The Experimental Tropical Blues Band La Vapeur, Dijon (21)
18 The Honeymen l' Express Bar, Cognac
19 Nine Below Zero The Musician, Leicester (UK)
21 Nico Wayne Toussaint Delray Beach, Florida (USA)
22 Rachelle Plas China Club, Paris
23 The Honeymen Quimper (29)
25 Nico Wayne Toussaint Jupiter, Florida (USA)
31 Cotton Belly’s Festiv’an, La Selve (12)
Don't forget; if you know of a great band playing a gig near you then drop me a line. Even better; if you are playing in a great band tell me about it !
Have fun, stay warm, and stay safe.
A bientôt
Labels: Al Green, Amy Winehouse, B.B. King, Charlie Musselwhite, Cyndi Lauper, David "Honey Boy" Edwards, Eric Clapton, Hubert Sumlin, Hugh Laurie, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson
posted by harpe le blues @ 17:06
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