Howdy. Welcome to "Blue Monday." This is the first entry in a new weekly series on BC. I'll be spotlighting esoteric, overlooked and classic R&B, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Soul, Gospel & Reggae artists, musicians, producers and recordings.
Some of the artistes that I'll be discussing are world renowned, others, shadowy obscure figures lost in a musical netherworld. All are deserving of your attention and superlatives. I mean, everyone has heard of Bo Diddley, right? But how many of you are familiar with Bo Dudley? Yeah, that's what I thought. I hope to show these men & women in a hitherto unseen light and to (hopefully) introduce some of you to some really great overlooked and underrated music.
All of the self absorbed, opinionated musings to be found here at "Blue Monday" and any resemblance to sanity on the part of the author is purely coincidental.
Night Beat
Every artist has a standard by which their works are measured: a painting, poem, LP/CD, or movie, whatever the medium may be, a standard. I don't feel this is necessarily indicative of their best work but rather a rare meeting of the minds between fan and critic with both sides being close to correct.
There are some recordings which are so god blessedly and just plain undeniably aw shucks good, that they refuse to be ignored. This usually happens on that ultra rare occasion that the material is up to the level of the artist's involved.
To my ears such is the case with the following: 'Tago Mago' - Can, 'Natty Dread' - Bob Marley & The Wailers, 'Highway 61'- Bob Dylan, 'Kind Of Blue'- Miles Davis, 'Sex Machine' - James Brown, 'Phases & Stages' - Willie Nelson, 'Maggot Brain' - Funkadelic, 'Live At The Regal' - BB King, 'Get Your Ya- Ya's Out' - The Stones, 'Hoodoo Man Blues' - Jr. Wells and many, many more.
What comes to my mind when the name of the late, great 'Mr. Soul' Sam Cooke is invoked, is this recording: 'Night Beat'.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Excellent and insightful as always HW, thanks! I love this one also, but I like to balance it out with the hits collection - I love all three Sams (gospel too).
2 - HW Saxton
Thanks Eric. I like ALL of Sam's output
too. I've just been stuck on this disc
for awhile. The Soul Stirrers material
with Sam is excellent but definitely an
acquired taste. His pop sides are really
great as well but "Oldies" type stations
have beat them into the ground sadly.
3 - godoggo
I'm not real real familiar with his stuff, but I remember once on Johnny Otis's radio show, Johnny took votes from listeners on the most underrated blues singer. Sam Cooke won, and Johnny said that was his choice as well. Which is good enough for me. Presumably there's a Sam Cooke blues album out there?
4 - HW Saxton
godoggo, That is a cool story. I grew up
in So.Cal. but never got to hear J.O's
radio show unfortunately.This is Sam's
"Blues" record more or less.He covers 3
Charles Brown tunes and "Mean Old World"
as well.
This is R&B on the verge of turning into
"Soul Music". It has blues influences at
every twist & turn. It's really unlike
95% of his popularly known material.
thro