Buddy Guy -- I Came Up Hard

Buddy Guy put the "Bad" in "Bad Ass," no doubt about it. "Guy was born and raised in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He began learning to play the guitar using a two-string diddley bow he made. In the early 1950s, Guy began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. While living there, he worked as a custodian at Louisiana State University. Soon after moving to Chicago on September 25, 1957, Guy fell under the influence of Muddy Waters." L'est we forget the journey...

Eric Clapton Sings Willie Dixon

One of my favorites from Clapton's 461 Ocean Boulevard release circa 1974, a pretty good year if memory serves...

Al Green & The Memphis Horns -- Still In Love With You

1972, talk about that special touch, it's everywhere with this one...

Rory Gallagher -- Bowed Not Broken

One for DeucE, No Pain - No Gain, To Better Days...

Tony Joe White -- The Train I'm On

This Louisiana boy is some bummed... So long Tony Joe, RIP.

Levon's Dream -- Hurray For The Riff Raff

Giving thanks here on a Sunday morn for every now and again, the tumblers click into place, see for yourself...

Dr. John -- History Lesson With Clint Eastwood

What he said...

Cry Sky -- Double Trouble & Company

One for Stevie Ray - Studio and Live. Still waiting for Stevie's next release if you know what I mean, should be any day now...

Bird Nest On The Ground -- Doyle Bramhall & Company

Memphis Horns, anyone?

Sixto Rodriguez -- I Wonder

Bass anyone? Great comeback story with this artist. Speaking of same, just wondering how the Saints will do tomorrow against the Browns after losing to the Bucs last week for "deep" we will be if the season start is 0-2 yet again...

St. Roch Blues -- Hurray For The Riff Raff

For we simply must, or not...

Jackie Wilson -- Baby Workout

Released in March 1963 and taking it to the next level for the world to behold. Man, JW had some moves...

Clifton Chenier -- I'm Coming Home

Just something about going home...

Up On Cripple Creek -- The Band On Ed Sullivan, 1969

This one for the L'Man, a year early. Mr. Sullivan was so gracious, something lost today for many I hate to say. As for their place in time, Garth Hudson's smile says it all...

The Band -- Atlantic City, 1993

Maybe, oh maybe, Levon, Garth and Rick, just like riding a bike, none better, no way, no day...

Kara Grainger -- Man With Soul

Consider this one artist you just have to see soon, Skip said so! This bad ass tune is off of Ms. Grainger's latest, "Living With Your Ghost," where she got some nice assistance from Anders Osborne, Ivan Neville and crew. Evan and I had the pleasure of meeting Kara at the Bradfordville Blues Club not to terribly long ago (I just happened to be wearing my Anders' tee that night) and made her promise to get in touch when she's in NOLA next for we will be there to laissez les bon temps rouler, cher...

Aretha and Skydog -- The Weight

What you talkin' 'bout, who dat, true dat...

Call Me -- St. Paul and the Broken Bones

Strong soul out of Birmingham on a Sunday evening, that cat's got some moves too, where's my cold one?

Eric Clapton -- Black Summer Rain

From his '76 release "No Reason to Cry," with a little help here and there from Jesse Ed, Levon and the boyz of the Band among others...

The Band -- Home Cookin' and The Importance Of...

No truer words... Here's looking forward to lookin' back, helps to not get lost...

Tony Joe White -- Even Trolls Love Rock N Roll

Skip is in Louisiana on this Fourth with family visiting family, we sure miss him back here in Tally, wonder if he's come across any trolls as of yet, hope like this one in Tony Joe's tune, he's the "helpful" kind... Wikipedia offers that "A troll is a class of being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human beings... Trolls are sometimes associated with particular landmarks..." Rock On Skipster!

Frankie Miller -- Little Angel

From his 1974 High Life album, produced by none other than the late, great Allen Toussaint. For those were the days...

Milligan Vaughan Project -- Here I Am

One from Stevie Ray's nephew, Tyrone Vaughan, and Company on Father's Day. To family and friends...

Robert Cray Band With The Memphis Horns

The Forecast (Calls for Pain) from Mr. Cray's 1990 Midnight Stroll powerhouse release, original and live in Austin for your viewing pleasure. If I could go back in time, methinks 1990 would be a year in the running for better than Cray and Company with the Horns, not likely...

Oh! Suzy Q -- Dale Hawkins, James Burton & Company

The year - 1957, the place - Shreveport, La., and with 20-year old songwriter Dale Hawkins on vocals and 15-year old James Burton on guitar, Swamp Rock was born...

Train -- Drops Of Jupiter

For E. R., my friend and fellow Villanova grad. This one also with a PA and a family connection if you look for it. Hope you like it. May the road always rise up to meet you and yours... Go 'Cats!

Marcia Ball and Honey Piazza -- North Atlantic Blues Festival

Alexis just commented "Look, Dad's smiling." Bit of a rarity these days. So back to the music for that special release. Better than these two together, not likely...

Frankie Miller -- Sail Away

Meanwhile In America...

Anders Osborne -- I'm Ready

From one of Nola's best, no truer words, thanks Coach D, studio and live, take your pick...

Brickyard Blues -- Three Times...

Another gem by the great one of New Orleans, Allen Toussaint, describing his meeting with Frankie Miller who recorded in New Orleans back in the early '70s. Mr. Toussaint wrote seven songs for Frankie's killer second album, "High Life." Three Dog Night took it out for a spin as well in 1974 with just a bit of success. As my friend DeucE would say - "good stuff, great stuff, listen without prejudice." Amen Brother, a day early...

New Orleans -- Gary U.S. Bonds

Practicing this classic on the drums today adding a little 'Easy touch to it for fun but if only I could dance like that...

The Nighthawks -- With Willie Dixon's Baby, I Want To Be Loved

Got to see and talk it up with the 'Hawks last night at the Bradfordville Blues Club. Mark Wenner was kind enough to sign and add quite the self-caricature to an old Nighthawks' album cover from the '80s. I thanked him for the solid blues over the many years and he offered that he's been at it for over 40 years now. That's a legacy and then some. Johnny Castle was kind enough to take time out to "talk bass" with Evan, even suggested that Evan check in with him periodically to continue the discussion. Already knew that Mark's as good as it gets on harmonica and last night, he, Johnny on bass, Paul Bell on guitar and Mark Stutso on drums left no doubt what it's about, none whatsoever...

Blues Attack -- Sonny Landreth & Nick Forster

Has to be a good one if I'm offering it as a shout out to the L'Man, this one is from Lafayette, Louisiana, an old favorite of mine recorded when eTown was out on the road recently. It's a very nice combination of slide and acoustic, easier said than done for many musicians. If Nick Forster says Landreth's the baddest and the best, well who am I to argue, kind of like Steve Layman's blogspot...

Otis Rush -- I Can't Quit You Baby

One of Mississippi's finest leaves no doubt with this one, his first single...

Jimi Hendrix -- Lover Man

From Both Sides Of The Sky due out this month...

Taj Mahal -- Queen Bee

Down in NOLA - sure does this 504 boy good...

The Sky Is Crying -- Gary BB Coleman

Had to circle back after my last post with a blues classic. Mr. Coleman was the real deal out of Paris, Texas. From his debut album in 1986 to his untimely death in 1994, he covered a fair amount of blues territory. Didn't want certain folks to think I was losing my touch...

Jump -- Van Halen

So this one hit, and at Number 1 for five weeks, back in 1984, some 34 years ago on this Day. Man, where does the time go? Must confess that I saw VH in Baton Rouge in '86 with my younger brother. As a guitarist, he mainly wanted to see Eddie on guitar and being a drummer, I looked forward to checking in on Alex. Lo and behold, much to our surprise and chagrin, that goofy David Lee Roth, who penned this tune right after seeing a tv news report of a man threatening to jump off a building, stole the show and then some...

Mardi Gras Mambo -- The Meters

Got back home just last week for retirement plan management training in the Quarter of all places, sure good to know the back streets to get in and out this time of year...

Steve Winwood -- Holding On

Got back to the studio yesterday with Evan and Company to work on a couple of oldies after having been away for a few months lost in 2017, not as easy as it used to be that's for sure but it's also good in that much of the stress to be perfect, as if, is gone, as well it should be. A life lesson perhaps - Still holding on though...

Smoke From A Distant Fire -- In The New Year

Sanford Townsend Band - One to get the New Year started off right, nice and tight...