Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Sonny Boy Williamson II

Sonny Boy is my favorite harp player. A lot of harp players just get a couple licks that they repeat over and over but not Sonny Boy. He always keeps it fresh and creative. Sonny Boy was around during Robert Johnson's hayday and died in the 60's. This bastard was one of the few that got to see all the good stuff and truly lived the life of a bluesman. You can tell that when you look at his face.

Sonny Boy Williamson - I'm A Lonely Man

Frustification.

I'm sure I'm the only animator that does a million drawings like this...

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Some heavy playin' there, man.

Dig?

Willie Dixon.

Willie Dixon is the blues. What more can you say about the man that wrote tons of songs that would become standards, including Little Red Rooster, Back Door Man, I Can't Quit You Baby, etc?

Willie Dixon - I'm Nervous


Willie Dixon - Sitting and Cryin the Blues

Friday, November 16, 2007

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Bits and Pieces II. The Reckoning.

Muddy Waters

The big voice himself, Muddy Waters. It's hard to talk about blues without talking about Muddy. He grew up in the Delta, but toured the Chicago circuits. Best of both worlds if you ask me: throwing the slow Delta groove into an electric setting. On top of having the greatest voice ever, he was a phenomenal slide guitarist, and I heard that everyone in his band could play every instrument proficiently when they were challenged at juke joints. Muddy on drums! What a low down shame!

Muddy Waters - Long Distance Call


Monday, November 12, 2007

Lou the Frog.

Finally getting around to animating my first short with my pal Lou. He hates the long hours, and says the pay sucks.

Hound Dog Taylor AND Little Walter

Two for the price of one! What a deal! Wait, you didn't paying anything? Why, get out of here you bum!

Anyway, here is a great example of Little Walter. I haven't seen much footage of him. He's the quintessential blues harp player, probably alongside Sonny Boy Williamson Jr. Little Walter really blows it on this tune (in a good way, immature readers) and Hound Dog is backing him right up on slide.

Hound Dog Taylor is one of the few upbeat blues players that I can follow with any enthusiasm. There's just something about his playing that really hits home. He's got a really crunchy tone and his sliding is sloppy (because he was not only a great guitarist but a great alcoholic too) and makes for some really great down home blues. There's probably 3 songs in the Hound Dog catalogue that he rearranges and puts different lyrics to, but you'd never notice.

Hound Dog Taylor & Little Walter - Wild about You Baby


Hound Dog Taylor - It's Alright


Hound Dog Taylor - I Held My Baby

Slower tune of the Dog's that I really dig.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Bits and Pieces.

Kindly observations.



Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

No, I'm not 50 years old. Your dad has all the Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young records, huh? Well, my dad had a couple too and that's how I found out about them. This was my first album to introduce me to Neil Young and Stephen Stills. Just about died when I got ahold of those Stephen Stills and Hendrix tapes from their San Fransisco jam sessions. Anyway, here's where that chapter of my life started.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young - Almost Cut My Hair

Sadly, I just recently cut my hair to the enthusiasm of everyone that knows me.