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Every once in a while I come across something that really makes me stop and think. This interview with bluesman Willie King from Memphis is one of those articles. Willie is a bluesman/social activist/deep thinker who talks about where the blues is today and why it’s so needed. My takeaway: the blues has the power to heal, and it’s never been more needed than today. Check it out here.

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Confession time: I actually liked the Muddy Waters album Electric Mud back in the day. I guess that’s because my ear was more attuned to Jimi and the Jefferson Airplane than Muddy, BB, Albert, and the rest. Now that I’ve spent a lot more time with the Kings, I agree with Muddy: the album is “dog s***”. But it sold well (Muddy didn’t mind that), and you definitely can hear the echoes in all kinds of stuff from Big Brother and the Holding Company up to the Black Keys and the White Stripes. Read an interesting retrospective on this album here.

Shemekia Copeland bemoans the guitar hacks that have taken over blues today. Blues started as hollers and songs in the fields, so she’s got a good point. If you’ve ever heard a really good blues singer (and she’s one), you know there isn’t much that can shake your soul better. Read the whole article here.

A very personal recollection of the life and music of Otis Rush by a blog critic who goes by the name of DJRadioHead.  If you want an introduction to the music of one of the great blues guitarists, as well as some strong opinions on what to buy and what not to buy, this is a great place to start.

The ever-modest BB King says in this interview that he considers Clapton better than him as a blues guitarist, and the best rock guitarist ever. This should launch a firestorm of controversy among blues guitar aficianados.

My take? Listen to the CD “Riding with the King”, which features both BB and EC. I’ll take 2 of BB’s notes over any 50 of EC’s. And I say that as a Clapton fan. BB’s stuff can stab you right through the heart. Clapton might be able to play rings around him, but I don’t think he’s got a quarter of the “juice” that BB’s got.

This is a topic near and dear to my heart.

I love the blues.  But I hate cigarette smoke.  I must be allergic to it. So it’s torture to sit in a smoky blues club for several hours.  It’s a torture I’m willing to endure because I love the blues, but man, wouldn’t it be great if ….

I know several states/provinces/cities have outlawed smoking in public places (like clubs and pubs).  I’m just hoping it’s a law that comes to south central PA soon!

Here’s an interesting article on the BBC website about the smoking ban in Scotland, from the viewpoint of a smoker and a blues band member.

What do you think?

Not personally. But he thinks the blues needs one right now. If only Stevie Ray had lived… His vote is for Derek Trucks. Just could be. Read the whole interview here.

Not strictly blues-related, but if you have ever wondered why those old Chess and Telmark records sound so good, here’s some scientific explanation.  Basically CD’s produced today are over-produced and compressed so much that they have almost no dynamic range (the difference between the loudest sound and the softest).  A fascinating read here.