I recently got a nice surprise. I won a special prize at work for exceptional performance. Didn't really see it coming, but there you have it. The prize? A gift certificate. A perfect excuse for self-indulgence.
So what did I buy with it? Two DVDs: American Folk Blues Festival, 1962-1966, Volume 1 and American Folk Blues Festival, 1962-1966, Volume 2.
They were filmed in Germany, in studio before a live audience, in the early '60s. It's rather amusing because those German audiences were packed, but almost completely silent. Which is not how the best blues is supposed to be enjoyed--the blues audience at a good show is part of the show, whooping and hollering and egging the performers on. But then again, the silent audiences left room for really appreciating the performances. Furthermore, the sound and video quality is exceptionally good--black and white, but very clean, very clear.
I must say, if you're a blues fan, a real blues fan, you're cheating yourself if you don't find some way to buy both of these DVDs as soon as possible. Live performances by Sonny Boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Otish Rush, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, young Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Howlin' Wolf, Big Mama Thornton, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Lonnie Johnson, and Junior Wells, all on the same stage? I'm like to have a heart attack.
Holy cow. If you're a blues fan, a real blues fan, one who recognizes even half those names I just mentioned, you need both of these DVDs.
As in, right now. Wow.
Dean - Congratulations !!! Good to see your good work is being recognized. Enjoy the 2 DVDs
-Sid
"A rare collection of performances by America's premier bluesmen at the peak of their artistry."
That's the quote from the packaging, according to the Milwaukee Library Countycat. One set now on hold for me, another set due back at the King library next week.
Well, shoot. For a second there I thought Dean and I rooted for the same hockey team...
Matt
Me too.
Okay, fine, so I couldn't keep away. (I'm starting to get serious about starting a 12 step program for chronic blog reading.)
You're a blues fan? Who knew?
One of the major major disappointments of my life is that on the night of my high school graduation in 1979, Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters were playing at the Chicago Stadium. My parents made it perfectly clear that I would suffer if I didn't go to graduation. To top it off...Jonny Winters showed up to jam. Sigh. How do you explain it to parents who think music died with Elvis?
Next time you have some disposable income, I recommend "The Last Waltz" to one and all. Young Martin Scorsese (sp?) directing the final performance of The Band and a LOT of guest performances. Makes the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies look downright amateurish.
My Blues Tragedy:
I had tickets to see Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan in concert.
It was a four hour drive to the show, and when we got there, we realized we'd screwed up. We went for the Saturday show, but when we got there, we realized they were Sunday tickets. So we drove all the way home.
Next day, we were all too tired to drive up there again.
Next morning, my friend Bryan Pieterzak called and woke me out of bed. "Dean. Stevie Ray is dead."
We had tickets to his last show, and didn't go.
Oh: to top it off, I lost the tickets years ago, don't know what I did with them.
Now that's the blues...
Saw Stevie Ray not long before he died. Also saw John Lee Hooker's last show in Santa Rosa last year. It was one to remember.