Saturday, March 15, 2014

Even Cowboys Get the Blues Part 1

Wow, what awesome news! Are we excited? I think that's a yes from everyone who might have been awake when it broke, right? If you haven't heard about Richard Armitage's new role, click the link and I'll be right here when you get back but if you're expecting a Western, um, prepare yourself. If you have heard and you're a recent visitor here you probably know I've done at least one bullshit speculative playlist before so of course I started thinking about what might be on boyfriend's playlist as he starts his new gig.

The thing about addiction songs is narrowing down the list. A couple of friends made some great suggestions and this threatened to become a total monster so I'm breaking it up into multiple posts and I'm starting with blues because, well, I love the blues. It doesn't get much blusier than Bessie Smith so she's kicking us off. "Gin House Blues" was recorded in 1926.



I've played this one before here and this might be my favorite song about addiction by anyone ever. The "canned heat" in the title is Sterno, the stuff you use to cook when you're camping. Tommy Johnson recorded "Canned Heat Blues" in 1928.

 
 
Stevie Ray Vaughan got clean in the late 80s after a few decades lost to cocaine and booze and while he wrote music about it for In Step this song is not about that. It wasn't written by him but about him by his friend and fellow musician Doyle Bramhall. "Life by the Drop" was released on SRV's posthumous The Sky Is Crying and according to legend Bramhall didn't know that he had recorded it until after SRV died.
 
    
 
 
Okay, so what do you think is on Armitage's playlist if he has one? Comments are open. Have a great Saturday!


14 comments:

  1. I'm thinking some rap from the 90's tbh to get in the kids mindset

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    1. Hey, Grace, welcome to the blog! There will definitely be rap but I go on total blues benders every once in a while so it may take a few posts to get there. :)

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  2. If we're talking about blues specifically, Jake Leg blues? Talk about bad trips ...

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    1. Oooh...that's a good one. Never had you figured for a blueshead. :)

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    2. I don't know that I am, but I played keyboards in jazz ensembles for six years in school, and if you gave me a half hour I might still be able to improvise in 12 bar. Fun to play but I find it *really* hard to listen to.

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    3. Got some jazz comin' up soon...

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  3. Blues? And we haven't got Rory in there???? While talking about a 37-yr-old ex-druggie in the 1990s???? Bad Penny! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csUXZngk99s

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    1. Not there YET. Going old school first. Be patient, dude. :)

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    2. Oh - aha. Ahead of my times, as usual :-D

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  4. Good list! I really liked SRV.

    If "Urban and the Shed Crew" is about loyalty in the face of adversity (I'm only guessing), how about a little "Stand by Me"?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbg7YoXiKn0

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    1. "Stand By Me" is in my personal top ten, the movie and the song. Lovelovelove.

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  5. How about: How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times?" Here played by Paul Kelly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUQR3oqyV0g

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  6. Oops! That was Paul Jones and Dave Kelly! **blushes**
    (I seem to be mixing up stuff like that a lot lately!)

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Thanks for commenting!