The following songs show the blues evolving, becoming smoother and tighter – more like the blues modern listeners are used to. This is still strictly acoustic material, but the roots of modern electric blues are firmly in place.
Joshua White
“Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dyin’ Bed” (Perfect 0258, 1933)
Josh White was a versatile performer who was equally at home playing blues, folk and gospel music. Because of this versatility and because he spent the latter part of his career as a folk revival singer, he sometimes gets overlooked as a blues musician. That is a shame, as his blues musicianship was the equal of any of his contemporaries.
“Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dyin’ Bed” is a gospel blues classic (and, incidentally, the original inspiration behind Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying”). The record is almost too easy to listen to: White’s pleasant voice and smooth, effortless slide guitar are almost soothing, and the lyrics are simple and straightforward. But listen to it again! Yes, that slide guitar is polished, but it is also as passionate as any Delta bluesman. White’s playing may be wine instead of whiskey, but it is no less intoxicating. His technique during the bridge is particularly impressive, as he snaps out a series of compelling, deep notes.
The same can be said of his singing voice: easygoing, yes, but also expressive. Listen as he sings: “In the time of dying, I don’t want nobody to moan / All I want my friends to do: come and fold my dying arms.” The subject matter is bittersweet, and his tone mirrors it: simultaneously buoyant and reflective. It is an amazing performance, and it’s no wonder that it was able to inspire artists like Led Zeppelin so many years later.
~ You may also like a more traditional blues song with White’s unmistakable touch: Joshua White, “Blood Red River” (Perfect 0257, 1933)
--------------------------------
1934 Headlines … Great Depression continues … More “Dust Bowl” storms in Great Plains … Apollo Theater opens in Harlem, New York City … Adolph Hitler becomes Führer, completes rise to power in Germany
--------------------------------
Big Bill Broonzy
“Mississippi River Blues” (Bluebird B-5535, 1934)
While growing up in the Mississippi Delta region, Big Bill Broonzy’s first instrument was the fiddle, but he switched to guitar when he moved to Chicago in 1920. He struggled to find success as a recording artist until 1934 when he signed with Bluebird Records and his many years of effort finally paid off. The records he made with Bluebird would help define a new style of urban blues that would set the tone for all blues to come, and Broonzy himself would go on to have a long, well-respected career.
In “Mississippi River Blues,” we can see all of the elements coming together. Pianist “Black Bob” Call provides a steady, walking beat and the occasional flourish, but it is Broonzy’s voice and guitar that make the record sound so fresh. Although the song progresses at an easy pace, Broonzy’s guitar is quick, crisp and loud. His percussive, staccato playing style fills the song with energy, neatly predicting the rise of rhythm and blues in the 1940s and rock and roll in the 1950s. Broonzy marries his kinetic playing to confident yet intimate vocals. His down-home Delta voice is magnificent: equal parts character, power and restraint. Notice the way each line starts small, swells in the middle and then steps down measurably again at the end. The song tells the story of a man trying in vain to find a way to cross the imposing river: “Mississippi River is so long, deep and wide / I can see my good girl standin’ on that other side.” As Broonzy sings the final word of that first verse, his big voice softens and cracks. By the time the song ends, he convincingly sings, “Lord, I’m gonna get me a good girl or jump over board and drown.”
~ You may also like: Big Bill Broonzy, “Long Tall Mama” (Banner 33085, 1934)
Milestone Recordings in American Music
7/10/09
New Blues (1933-1934)
Labels:
1930s records,
1933,
1934,
Big Bill Broonzy,
Chicago blues,
Delta blues,
Josh White,
Piedmont blues,
urban blues
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
© Bryan Mangum
About Me / About This Project / Contact Me / Follow on Facebook / Legal Disclaimers / Links / Print Version


jianbin0309
ReplyDeletekobe shoes
michael kors outlet online
hollister canada
mcm outlet
nike air max
michael kors outlet online
air max 2015
rolex watches
camisetas futbol baratas
michael kors outlet sale
michael kors outlet
giuseppe zanotti outlet
michael kors wallet sale
coach outlet store
abercrombie and fitch
kobe 9
true religion outlet
coach outlet online
nike huarache
basketball shoes
cheap nfl jerseys
louis vuitton handbags
lacoste shirts
ray ban sunglasses
nike outlet store
michael kors canada
nike air max uk
michael kors handbags
true religion jeans
calvin klein outlet
tods outlet
nike roshe run
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin uk
nike air max
ReplyDeleteray bans
coach factory outlet
toms outlet
true religion
beats headphones
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
hermes outlet
polo ralph lauren
air jordan retro
fitflops sale clearance
longchamp handbags
cheap jordan shoes
ghd flat iron
jordans
toms
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton outlet
hermes birkin handbags
christian louboutin shoes
ralph lauren
giuseppe zanotti sneakers
tiffany outlet
gucci outlet
jordan 8
kate spade handbags
jordan shoes
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors outlet
nike roshe flyknit
celine bags
jordans
gucci outlet
christian louboutin sale
cheap jordan shoes
longchamp outlet
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors handbags
20167.22chenjinyan
canada goose
ReplyDeleteuggs outlet
red bottom shoes for women
ugg australia
rolex watches
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors uk
cheap ugg boots
canada goose jackets
pandora bracelet
20161018yuanyuan
20161026 junda
ReplyDeleteoakley sunglasses
nike air max 90
nfl jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglasses
mulberry handbags
kobe shoes
ugg boots
ray ban sunglasses
toms shoes
giuseppe zanotti outlet
michael kors handbags
ReplyDeletecheap jordans
houston texans jerseys
armani exchange
michael kors handbags
moncler outlet
omega watches
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags
mulberry outlet
ReplyDeletechrome hearts outlet
coach outlet
true religion uk outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
cartier watches
coach outlet online
coach outlet store online
adidas nmd runner
beats by dr dre
20170118caihuali
coach factory outlet
ReplyDeleteoakley sunglasses
polo ralph lauren outlet
nike blazer pas cher
ray ban sunglasses uk
michael kors outlet
adidas outlet store
chrome hearts outlet
louis vuitton outlet
cheap mlb jerseys
chanyuan2017.02.21
replica watches
ReplyDeletejordan 13
polo ralph lauren
scarpe hogan
ugg outlet
lebron james shoes
michael kors handbags
louis vuitton handbags
oakley canada
mlb jerseys
chenlina20170309
louis vuitton outlet
ReplyDeletemont blanc
michael kors
ralph lauren uk
coach outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
wholesale nike shoes
red bottoms
yeezy boost
kate spade outlet
20170321huazhen
kate spade outlet
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet stores
coach outlet store online
polo ralph lauren
cheap nba jerseys
coach factory outlet
coach outlet
jordan shoes
louis vuitton handbags
christian louboutin outlet
20170323lck
longchamp bag
ReplyDeletemichael kors purse
nike outlet
pandora bracelet
polo ralph lauren
christian louboutin outlet
yeezy boost 350
fred perry shirts
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors outlet clearance
0406shizhong
hxy4.18
ReplyDeletenike trainers
adidas outlet
oakley sunglasses
rolex outlet
pandora outlet
polo outlet
true religion outlet
louis vuitton handbags
reebok shoes
christian louboutin shoes