This Boy's Too Young To Be Singing The Blues

I wasn't talking about this guy. Elton John said that.

Today is a gloomy day, perhaps even a "bluesy" day. (Not that it has to be, I wrote some of this on a grey day and some of it on a sunny day tbh.) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But nonetheless, it's the kinda day where I want to hear some call and response or a filthy harmonica break. The kind of day to "get crazy tonight", to "get it all down. get it all night, get it all right, get it out of sight". "Whammer Jammer".

I recently read the biography about Jimi Hendrix, "Room Full Of Mirrors" by Charles R. Cross. And there was mention of a quote about how Jimi played blues very well. "Jimi didn't just sing the blues he felt it too", because he lived through it in his early life and likely experienced (ArE yOu ExPeRiEnCeD) all of these lyrics. I've realized that is probably true with a lot of great bluesier artists and I guess that's the basis for a lot of great songs. Some great blues songs are just made great from a beefy harmonica lick or raunchy guitar sound though. Either way, here's a bunch of those blues tunes that get "my mojo working" and you can decide which category each one fits under.

Of course with that silly little word play I just referenced I must recommend a thorough listening to the "Full House" live album from the The J. Geils Band. "Whammer Jammer" is probably the greatest piece of harmonica work in history. LET ME HEAR YOU DICKIE! The album is way bluesier than most of the band's stuff. I've also spent much time listening to Junior Wells' album "Coming At You". You can expect to hear great harmonica inclusion throughout, I believe he was the replacement of Little Walter for Muddy Waters and would have been playing on the track "Got My Mojo Working". That happens to be one of the most infectious examples of the instrument You'll find. There's also a great version of some dudes playing along to this on YouTube,(https://www.youtube.com/watchv=P4AtRyCQBc) they've got a harmonica being played through a green bullet harp mic/amp set-up, a great sounding banjo and a cool washboard percussion accompaniment that seems to be played with metal banjo finger picks and a drumstick. An included old sounding tinny harp mic makes all the difference; with their inclusion in most of these tracks. Another favourite harmonica-filled blues tasting is "Whiskey and Wimmen" from John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat. A solid use of repetition often creates the catchiest and beefiest blues harmonica lick. Just like the proper gear does; while I still love the old, stripped-down sound of someone with a voice and a guitar, like Robert Johnson.

Maybe I'll dip into some proper outlaw country that I always include in a bluesy music listening session. "Darlin' Commit Me", specifically Steve Earle's version, embodies the spirit of the blues-to-be-found like no other. Much like how "Honky Tonk Heroes" by Waylon Jennings does, including its perfectly countrified harmonica solo to help.

What even is "the blues"? You might ask. Does anyone actually know? Or does everyone know? Defining music genres is exhausting. Kris Kristofferson said "If it sounds country man, that's what it is. It's a country song, yeah okay". Does that apply for a blues song too?