20 Songs Released in 1981 You Must Hear


My rules:

  • Only one song per artist/group
  • The song must be released that specific year
  • Songs from live albums not allowed
  • Restricted to only 20 songs

Here are my 20 chosen songs released in 1981.

Every Grain of Sand – Bob Dylan

Written by Bob Dylan, recorded in Los Angeles in the spring of 1981 and released in August of that year on Dylan’s album Shot of Love.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]The love in “Every Grain of Sand,” though firmly rooted in Dylan’s conversion experience and his Bible studies, immediately and obviously reaches beyond its context to communicate a deeply felt devotional spirit based on universal experiences: pain of self-awareness, and sense of wonder or awe at the beauty of the natural world.
-Paul Williams (Bob Dylan, performing artist:The Middle Years )[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet floods every newborn seed
There’s a dying voice within me reaching out somewhere
Toiling in the danger and the morals of despair[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]


Continue reading “20 Songs Released in 1981 You Must Hear”

Classic concert: Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, November 22 1981

 

Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 is a concert video and live album by American blues musician Muddy Waters and members of British rock band the Rolling Stones. In the middle their American tour, the Rolling Stones arrived in Chicago for a three-night run at the Rosemont HorizonOn their night off, several of the Stones hit Buddy Guy’s club, the Checkerboard Lounge, to see Muddy Waters and his band (which featured guitarist John Primer and harpist George “Mojo” Buford at the time). An impromptu blues jam ensued, and before the night was done, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Ian Stewart, Lefty Dizz, Junior Wells, and Guy himself had all appeared on the stage with Waters and his band. (Allmusic)

It was recorded on November 22, 1981 by David Hewitt on the Record Plant Black Truck, mixed by Bob Clearmountain, and released on July 10, 2012.

The Checkerboard Lounge was a blues club in Bronzeville, on the South Side of Chicago, which was established in 1972 by Buddy Guy and L.C. Thurman. During the club’s existence, it frequently hosted musical acts including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Magic Slim, Vance Kelly, and Chuck Berry. Continue reading “Classic concert: Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, November 22 1981”

Classic Concert: Muddy Waters live in Molde, Norway 1977

Muddy Waters concert at the Molde Jazz Festival in 1977 did not start well, Willy Lee Smith was missing the cymbals and hi-hat for his drum set. The atmosphere was intense and the chaos on stage delayed the concert (a little bit). This was the opening concert at the Molde Jazz Festival in 1977, it was the 1st of August and the venue was the local cinema, Molde Kino.

Muddy Waters was tired after the European tour (this was the last concert on the tour). He said to the people in the crew that he’d rather sleep than play, but he was going to do two concerts in Molde this night.

Muddy Waters played two wonderful shows and the Norwegian Broadcasting Company (NRK) taped the first concert and they aired about an hour from the show on 29th of August 1977. The video we are presenting here is about 40 minutes long. Maybe NRK have more Muddy Waters in their vaults?

Muddy Waters soon gets into the groove and he delivered a classic concert in Molde in 1977. Enjoy!

1 Rocket (not on the video and without Muddy Waters)
2 Honey Dripper (not on the video and without Muddy Waters)
3 Evan’s Shuffle
4 Prison Bound Blues
5 Blow Wind Blow
6 (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
7 Baby Please Don’t Go
8 Can’t Get No Grindin’
9 You Don’t Have To Go (Muddy Waters leaves the stage)
10 Got My Mojo Working (encore)

Continue reading “Classic Concert: Muddy Waters live in Molde, Norway 1977”

Classic concert: Muddy Waters at Copenhagen Jazz festival in 1968 (video)

McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who is often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues”.

This short and sweet set from Denmark, 27th October 1968 is a great showcase of his electric blues. It is a blistering concert with a great band, especially the great Otis Spann on piano. The sound and picture are both high broadcasting quality.
Continue reading “Classic concert: Muddy Waters at Copenhagen Jazz festival in 1968 (video)”

July 3: Muddy Waters At Newport was recorded in 1960

muddy waters at newport 1960

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]For many back in the early ’60s, this was their first exposure to live recorded blues, and it’s still pretty damn impressive some 40-plus years down the line. Muddy, with a band featuring Otis Spann, James Cotton, and guitarist Pat Hare, lays it down tough and cool with a set that literally had ’em dancing in the aisles by the set closer, a rippling version of “Got My Mojo Working,” reprised again in a short encore version.
~Cub Koda (allmusic.com)

A stomping live document of the period when Waters’ Chicago blues started reaching a wider pop audience. Newport has his classics – “Hoochie Coochie Man,” a torrid “Got My Mojo Working” – delivered by a tough, tight band anchored by harp genius James Cotton.
~rollingstone.com[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Got My Mojo Working (part 1 & 2)

Continue reading “July 3: Muddy Waters At Newport was recorded in 1960”

July 1: The Late Blues Legend Willie Dixon was born in 1915

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]The Blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration, feeling, and understanding.
~Willie Dixon

“The blues will always be because the blues are the roots of all American music.”
~Willie Dixon[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Chuck Berry Inducts Willie Dixon into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Continue reading “July 1: The Late Blues Legend Willie Dixon was born in 1915”