“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
– David Bowie
David Robert Jones (born 8 January 1947, died Jan 10 2016), known by his stage name David Bowie, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable eclecticism of his work.
He will be missed
…..Waters sings as though his life depended on it, Johnny Winter proves with every note how right he was to want to do this, and James Cotton–well, James Cotton doesn’t open his mouth except to make room for the harmonica, which sounds just great.
~Robert Christgau (robertchristgau.com)
This is Muddy Waters’ best “late” album.. Johnny Winter sure inspired the old blues legend to peak performance…. a wonderful record.
Mannish Boy:
Continue reading “Jan 10: Muddy Waters released “Hard Again” in 1977”
And Joan Baez means more to me than 100 of these singers around today. She’s more powerful. That’s what we’re looking for. That’s what we respond to. She always had it and always will, power for the species, not just for a select group.
~Bob Dylan (to Neil Hickey, Sept. 1976)“I’ve never had a humble opinion. If you’ve got an opinion, why be humble about it?”
― Joan BaezI went to jail for 11 days for disturbing the peace; I was trying to disturb the war.
~Joan Baez (Pop Chronicles interview – 1967)
Diamonds and Rust – Live, 1975:
When I first heard Elvis’ voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. He is the deity supreme of rock & roll religion as it exists in today’s form. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.
~Bob Dylan (1987)His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense, and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.
~President Jimmy Carter
August 17, 1977Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life, one whose presence, no matter how banal or predictable, brooks no real comparisons. … The cultural range of his music has expanded to the point where it includes not only the hits of the day, but also patriotic recitals, pure country gospel, and really dirty blues. … Elvis has emerged as a great artist, a great rocker, a great purveyor of schlock, a great heart throb, a great bore, a great symbol of potency, a great ham, a great nice person, and, yes, a great American.
~Greil Marcus (The Village Voice – Apr 7, 1975)
My Way:
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certainI’ve lived a life that’s full
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Continue reading “Jan 8: Elvis Presley – The King – Birthday”
This 1954 recording (the second, after 1952’s original) of blues standard “Hoochie Coochie Man” by Muddy Waters is one of the all-time classic blues records; a vital piece of Chicago-style electric blues that links the Delta to rock & roll..
~Bill Janovitz (allmusic.com)
Hoochie Coochie Man ( Chess 1954):
Continue reading “Jan 7: Muddy Waters recorded “(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man” in 1954″
An artist cannot be responsible for what people make of their art. An audience loathe giving up preconceived images of an artist.
~Stephen StillsOne thing the blues ain’t, is funny.
~Stephen StillsHe’s a musical genius
~Neil Young
Continue reading “January 3: Stephen Stills was born in 1945 – Happy Birthday!”