Happy Birthday Keith Richards *Come See About Me, Indeed- The Driving Blues Of John Lee Hooker

Click on title to link to YouTube's film clip of John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raiit performing "I'm In The Mood For Love". WOW!

DVD Review-August 18, 2008

Come See About Me: John Lee Hooker-The Definitive DVD, Eagle Rock Productions, 1992

In a recent entry in this space on July 18, 2009 entitled, "The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker", I made the following comments about this seminal blues artist:

“I have poured out kudos to the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Skip James, Son House, Bukka White and an assortment of other legendary male acoustic and electric blues guitar players in this space. I have not, until now, mentioned the name of the legendary blues artist John Lee Hooker, although he belongs up there with those other above-mentioned names. Why? Well, frankly, it is a question of tastes. Other than an occasional song here or there John Lee Hooker does not “speak” to me, a term that means something to me in the blues context. Sure his guitar smokes when he is on. He always had more than enough black and white bands (Canned Heat, for one) clamoring to back him up and certainly his lyrics (with a few “politically incorrect” exceptions common to the genre) drove his message home. But we never connected at that “soul” level the way Wolf, Son House or the recently discovered (by me) Bukka White do. This happens. But I know enough about the blues to know that John Lee Hooker will “speak” to others. Legends are like that.

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell “Stella Mae” is one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. Others may like the much covered “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. (This may be the best way to state my case- George Thorogood’s version “speaks” to me.) “Peace Lovin’ Man” and “I’m In The Mood” are exemplars of Hooker’s boogie guitar style.”

After viewing this DVD compilation (definitive or not, that after all is trade puffing) all I can say is oops, maybe I spoke just a little cavalierly above. Maybe it was because I viewed this DVD while we are having a heat wave here in the Northeast and his driving and sensuous blues riffs have come alive like in sultry old plantation and African roots days. Check out “I’m In The Mood For Love” in a duo with Bonnie Raitt to see what I mean. Or with Van Morrison on “Baby Please Don’t Go”. How about “Boom Boom”? Or “Hobo Blues" with the ubiquitous Ry Cooder. Or the masterpiece Hooker classic “Boogie Chillen” with Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones”. Most of this is mature work so maybe that counts for its appeal to me now. Let me just say-WOW!

"Baby Please Don’t Go"

Baby, please dont go
Baby, please dont go
Baby, please dont go
Down to new orleans
You know I love you so
Baby please dont go

Baby, your mind done gone
Well, your mind done gone
Well, your mind done gone
Left the county farm
You had the shackles on
Baby, please dont go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
To git you way down here
I make you walk alone
Baby, please dont go
Hey

Baby, please dont go
Baby, please dont go
Baby, please dont go
Down to new orleans
You know I love you so
Baby, please dont go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Git you way down here
Make you walk alone
Baby, please dont go

Know how I feel right now
My baby leavin, on that midnight train
And Im cryin

Baby, please dont go
Oh, baby please dont go
Baby, please dont go
Down to new orleans
You know I love you so
Baby, please dont go
Lets go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
To git you way down here
I make you walk alone
Baby, please dont go, yeah

Alright

When Women And Men Sang The Blues For Keeps-The Hook Is In Play- With John Lee Hooker In Mind

When Women And Men Sang The Blues For Keeps-The Hook Is In Play- With John Lee Hooker In Mind  

By Lance Lawrence

“Hey guys, do you want to go to the PX and have a couple of beers, near beers I guess you would call them but having a few drinks beats sitting here in this dumbass barracks waiting for some trusty corporal to look for volunteers to clean the latrine or make up beds or the ten thousand other stupid things they make you do here in fucking Basic,” chortled Ralph Morris as he asked Billy Raymond from Toledo and Bart Simmons from Scranton that most important question. Ralph from Troy in upstate New York was having a very hard time adjusting to the Army way, the military way the drill sergeants called it, usually called it at about four in the morning when they pulled a sneak inspection or had you carry your footlocker, Christ your footlocker, out into the company formation for no rational reason. Had a hard time adjusting there at Fort Gordon in godforsaken red clay Georgia, that red clay no joke as he had almost eaten some one afternoon when the company was doing bayonet practice drills out in the boonies and Drill Sergeant Mackey suddenly called out for the company to hit the ground and he crashed into the soft mucky soil. So every time the company was through for the day after supper (supper at five o’clock, Jesus, that was almost lunch time back home) he would head, alone or with his new found friends Basic friends this night Billy and Bart who were also having their own adjustment problems, Billy had been threatened with an Article 15 already, to the PX to drink the 3.2 authorized standard Army beer that wouldn’t get anybody’s mother drunk and listen to the jukebox to some tunes to make him forget.

Forget that he had actually joined the Army unlike the hippies and college guys who were burning their draft cards left and right up North. He hadn’t volunteered, signed up, no way, not at first, but when his number was called he went just like his father, grandfather and younger brother, Kenny, who actually had volunteered from the get-go back in 1965 when the whole shooting match in Vietnam was just heating up and was now safely home and trying to adjust as he said to the “real” world. That duty to country when called was the way the Morris family viewed the world, viewed it through patriotic eyes like most of the families in Troy who had sent their sons off to wars, and Vietnam whatever was happening in Harvard Square, New York City, Ann Arbor, New Haven, Old Town in Chicago or out on the whole freaking West Coast was no exception, not even as he thought about heading to the PX in 1969. Then he had made the stupid mistake of listening to Kenny who told him that Vietnam was a very dangerous place for draftees since all a draftee was good for was to be a “grunt,” an 11 Bravo, an infantryman, which is all the Army wanted in late 1968 to fill in the depleted ranks after a hard year of fighting when he was drafted (cannon-fodder Ralph would call it later but that was much later after he had taken the fall) and so he had signed up for a three year commitment, became Regular Army, an RA in front of his numbers and had decided on to sign up for communications school as his job.

But that was before he took the oath, before he was hustled out of the Army Recruiting Station in Albany and sent to Fort Dix first for Basic Training which turned out to be full when he arrived and so he had wound up at Fort Gordon just outside Augusta for Basic and this awful feeling that he had made a terrible mistake, that while he had no serious objection to going to Vietnam this mickey mouse crap was not for him. He had found kindred in Billy and Bart and a couple of other guys from Newton up in Massachusetts who would go to the section of the PX that was closed off from the main body where you bought clothes, smokes, and toiletries and sit at the small tables and drink a few beers, pop quarters in the jukebox and forget about what a hellish day it had been until the place closed at 10 PM. Jesus, 10 PM back home he and his corner boys would just be going out the door going over to Ready Teddy’s Bar to listen to live music, live blues music by Buddy and the Nighthawks who covered Muddy, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Slim, and even John Lee Hooker on occasion.

That last performer, the Hook, was why Ralph wanted to go to the PX, wanted company too. See Ralph thought the Hook was dead, he had not heard otherwise, had not  heard any recent stuff on The Blues Is The Dues radio show he listened to on WSKI out of Saratoga Springs, out of Skidmore College about twenty-five miles up the road from Troy where they played the Hook and the others. Ralph had gotten all heated up when a week before he heard a group called Canned Heat on the juke playing a song called On The Road Again with a beat that sounded very much like the boom boom boom guitar stuff that the Hook had perfected along with that deep bass voice that would put the fear into anybody who crossed that brother if he had his whiskey and cocaine habits on. So he had made a call home to Ronny Black who would know and sure enough who was doing the boom guitar work on the song but one John Lee Hooker. The Army stuff was still chicken shit, probably always would be but at least for a couple of hours he could cool his fragile head listening to the real deal when they call off the names in the blues pantheon.           

“I Said, Who Do You Love”-Again-The Raucous Music Of George Thorogood And The Destroyers

Click on the title to link to "YouTube"'s film clip of George Thorogood and The Destroyers performing their version of the John Lee Hooker classic, "One Bourbon, One Scotch One Beer".

CD Review

Extended Versions, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, BMG Special Product, 2000

A couple of years ago when Bo Diddley died I mentioned in a review of his work that many latter musicians, particularly white musicians were influenced by his songs, and covered them like crazy. That is the case with George Thorogood, with or without his Destroyers. Although he is probably best known for his bad boy anthem, “Bad To The Bone” Thorogood cut his teeth on doing covers of Bo, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and the other greats of the blues and early rock and roll. That is how we should measure his work, as an exponent of a certain kind or of rock and R&B.

This album delivers extended versions of his master works including: the afore-mentioned “Bad To The Bone,” the classic Bo Diddley tune “Who Do You Love,” and the classic Hooker song “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. Not the best versions technically but they give an idea of what old George and boys could do on a so-so night.

"1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 Beer"

Wanna tell you a story,
About the house-man blues
I come home one Friday,
Had to tell the landlady I'd-a lost my job
She said that don't confront me,
Long as I get my money next Friday
Now next Friday come I didn't get the rent,
And out the door I went

So I goes to the landlady,
I said, "You let me slide?"
I'll have the rent for you in a month.
Next I don't know
So said let me slide it on you know people,
I notice when I come home in the evening
She ain't got nothing nice to say to me,
But for five year she was so nice
Loh' she was lovy-dovy,
I come home one particular evening
The landlady said, "You got the rent money yet?",
I said, "No, can't find no job"
Therefore I ain't got no money to pay the rent
She said "I don't believe you're tryin' to find no job"
Said "I seen you today you was standin' on a corner,
Leaning up against a post"
I said "But I'm tired, I've been walkin' all day"
She said "That don't confront me,
Long as I get my money next Friday"
Now next Friday come I didn't have the rent,
And out the door I went

So I go down the streets,
Down to my good friend's house
I said "Look man I'm outdoors you know,
Can I stay with you maybe a couple days?"
He said "Let me go and ask my wife"
He come out of the house,
I could see it in his face
I know that was no
He said "I don't know man, ah she kinda funny, you know"
I said "I know, everybody funny, now you funny too"
So I go back home
I tell the landlady I got a job, I'm gonna pay the rent
She said "Yeah?" I said "Oh yeah"
And then she was so nice,
Loh' she was lovy-dovy
So I go in my room, pack up my things and I go,
I slip on out the back door and down the streets I go
She a-howlin' about the front rent, she'll be lucky to get any back rent,
She ain't gonna get none of it
So I stop in the local bar you know people,
I go to the bar, I ring my coat, I call the bartender
Said "Look man, come down here", he got down there
So what you want?

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
Well I ain't seen my baby since I don't know when,
I've been drinking bourbon, whiskey, scotch and gin
Gonna get high man I'm gonna get loose,
Need me a triple shot of that juice
Gonna get drunk don't you have no fear
I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

But I'm sitting now at the bar,
I'm getting drunk, I'm feelin' mellow
I'm drinkin' bourbon, I'm drinkin' scotch, I'm drinkin' beer
Looked down the bar, here come the bartender
I said "Look man, come down here"
So what you want?

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
No I ain't seen my baby since the night before last,
Gotta get a drink man I'm gonna get gassed
Gonna get high man I ain't had enough,
Need me a triple shot of that stuff
Gonna get drunk won't you listen right here,
I want one bourbon, one shot and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

Now by this time I'm plenty high,
You know when your mouth a-getting dry you're plenty high
Looked down the bar I say to my bartender
I said "Look man, come down here", he got down there
So what you want this time?
I said "Look man, a-what time is it?"
He said "The clock on the wall say three o'clock
Last call for alcohol, so what you need?"

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
No I ain't seen my baby since a nigh' and a week,
Gotta get drunk man till I can't even speak
Gonna get high man listen to me,
One drink ain't enough Jack you better make it three
I wanna get drunk I'm gonna make it real clear,
I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

***Again,The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker

Click On Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of John Lee Hooker Doing "Boom Boom".


The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Rhino Records, 1995

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell just the lyrics alone to “I’m Bad Like Jesse James” rates as one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. Others may like the much covered “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. (This may be the best way to state my case- George Thorogood’s version “speaks” to me.) “Boogie Chillen” and “I’m In The Mood” are exemplars of Hooker’s boogie guitar style.

*Once More,The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker

Click On Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of John Lee Hooker Doing "I'm Bad Like Jesse James"".

John Lee Hooker: The Definitive Collection, John Lee Hooker, Union Square Music, 2000

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell “Boogie Chillen” is one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. How about the power of “Boom Boom” and “Hard Headed Woman” and the classic Hooker lines of “She’s Long, “She’s Tall”.

*The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker

Click On Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of John Lee Hooker Doing "Boogie Chillen".

CD REVIEW

John Lee Hooker: The Real Folk Blues, Chess Records, 1987

I have poured out kudos to the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Skip James, Son House, Bukka White and an assortment of other legendary male acoustic and electric blues guitar players in this space. I have not, until now, mentioned the name of the legendary blues artist John Lee Hooker, although he belongs up there with those other above-mentioned names. Why? Well, frankly, it is a question of tastes. Other than an occasional song here or there John Lee Hooker does not “speak” to me, a term that means something to me in the blues context. Sure his guitar smokes when he is on. He always had more than enough black and white bands (Canned Heat, for one) clamoring to back him up and certainly his lyrics (with a few “politically incorrect” exceptions common to the genre) drove his message home. But we never connected at that “soul” level the way Wolf, Son House or the recently discovered (by me) Bukka White do. This happens. But I know enough about the blues to know that John Lee Hooker will “speak” to others. Legends are like that.

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell “Stella Mae” is one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. Others may like the much covered “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. (This may be the best way to state my case- George Thorogood’s version “speaks” to me.) “Peace Lovin’ Man” and “I’m In The Mood” are exemplars of Hooker’s boogie guitar style.

*Again, The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker: The Definitive Collection, John Lee Hooker, Union Square Music, 2000

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell “Boogie Chillen” is one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. How about the power of “Boom Boom” and “Hard Headed Woman” and the classic Hooker lines of “She’s Long, “She’s Tall”.


*Once More,The Boogie Chillen” Man- The Boogie Blues Of John Lee Hooker

The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Rhino Records, 1995

So given the above comments what is classic here, according to my tastes. Well, hell just the lyrics alone to “I’m Bad Like Jesse James” rates as one of those here or there songs Hooker songs I mentioned above that I liked. Others may like the much covered “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”. (This may be the best way to state my case- George Thorogood’s version “speaks” to me.) “Boogie Chillen” and “I’m In The Mood” are exemplars of Hooker’s boogie guitar style.


"Boogie Chillen'" : John Lee Hooker

(John Lee Hooker)

Well my mama she didn't 'low me, just to stay out all night long, oh Lord
Well my mama didn't 'low me, just to stay out all night long
I didn't care what she didn't 'low, I would boogie-woogie anyhow

When I first came to town people, I was walkin' down Hastings Street
Everybody was talkin' about, the Henry Swing Club
I decided I drop in there that night
When I got there, I say, "Yes, people"
They was really havin' a ball!
Yes, I know
Boogie Chillen'!

One night I was layin' down,
I heard mama 'n papa talkin'
I heard papa tell mama, let that boy boogie-woogie,
It's in him, and it got to come out
And I felt so good,
Went on boogie'n just the same


"Tupelo Blues"

(John Lee Hooker)

[Spoken:]
Did you read about the flood?
It happened long time ago, in a little country town, way back in Mississippi
It rained and it rained, it rained both night and day
The people got worried, they began to cry,
"lord have mercy, where can we go now?"
There were women and there was children, screaming and crying,
"lord have mercy and a great disaster, who can we turn to now, but you?"
The great flood of Tupelo, Mississippi
It happened one evenin', one Friday evenin', a long time ago,
It rained and it started rainin'
The people of Tupelo, out on the farm gathering their harvest,
A dark cloud rolled, way back in Tupelo, Mississippi, hmm, hmm

Wasn't that a mighty time,
Wasn't that a mighty time?
Wasn't that a mighty time,
A mighty time, that evenin'?
It rained, both night and day
The poor people that had no place to go, hmm,hmm
A little town, called Tupelo, Mississippi
I never forget it and I know you won't either

"I'm In The Mood"

(John Lee Hooker / Bernard Bessman)

I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, I'm in the mood for love

I said night time is the right time, to be with the one you love
You know when night come baby, God know, you're so far away
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood baby, I'm in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, in the mood, baby, in the mood for love

I said yes, my mama told me, to leave that girl alone
But my mama didn't know, God know, girl was puttin' down
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood baby, in the mood for love
I'm in the mood, I'm in the mood, baby, in the mood for love

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer lyrics

One bourbon, one scotch, and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, and one beer
Hey mister bartender come here
I want another drink and I want it now

My baby she gone, she been gone two night
I ain't seen my baby since night before last
One bourbon, one scotch, and one beer

"I'm Mad Again"

(John Lee Hooker)

I had a friend one time, at least I thought I did
Taken that man in my house, give him my food,
Over my table, that I couldn't afford

He come to me, he said 'Johnny, ain't got no place to stay'
I said 'Yes man, come to my house'
I get you a place to stay, and a bed to sleep in,
That I couldn't afford

When I found out, you with my wife,
Now I'm mad, like Al Capone
Well I warned you one time,
Next time I warn you,
I'm gonna use my gun on you
'cause I'm mad with you, hahaha
I'm mad with you, like Al Capone

Look man, I told you one time before
But this time, I'm gonna teach you,
A little lesson, you won't forget
Take this man, right down by, the riverside
I might drown you,
I might shoot you,
I don't know
Gonna tie your hands, gonna tie your feet
Gag you so you can't talk to nobody
I'm mad, rrrrr, I'm mad with you
You're sinkin', I'm mad


"It Hurts Me So"

(John Lee Hooker / Bernard Besman)

That man don't love you, he told me so
He's only doin' that, baby, to break up your home

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so

That man don't love you, no he don't
He's only jivin' you little girl, lovin' the girl next door

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so Yeah!.

You know you don't love him, you know you don't
Go ahead and leave me baby, don't make me cry

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so

That man don't love you, he told me so
Only jivin' you, baby, breaking up your home

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so

So long, baby, I've got to go
Because you don't love me now, darlin', I know you don't

When things go wrong, so wrong with you,
It hurts me so, it hurts me so

"How Long Blues"

(Leroy Carr, arranged by John Lee Hooker)

Standin' at the station when the train come by
Deep down in my heart, baby, feel an achin' pain
How long, oh, baby how long?
Baby how long, baby how long,
Has that evenin' train been gone,
How long, oh, baby how long?

If I could holler like a mountain jack,
I'd go up on the mountain, call my baby back
How long, oh, baby how long?

I could see the green grass,
Growin' up on the hill
But you can't see a green-black drawin' on a,
On a dollar bill
Baby, how long?
Baby how long?

How long, baby how long,
Has that evenin' train been gone?
Baby how long, oh baby how long?
Baby how long, oh baby how long?

*In The Shadow Of The Great Blues Guitarists- Joe Louis Walker & His Bosstalkers

Click on title to link to YouTube's film clip of Joe Louis Walker's cover of the Big Joe Turner sassy classic "Rebecca".


DVD Review

Joe Louis Walker & His Bosstalkers: In Concert, Joe Louis Walker and various sidemen, Gema Productions, 2003



I have gone through the repertoire of blues great-John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Lightnin’ Hopkins and so on in this space over the last period. I have not included the artists under review, Joe Louis Walker & His Bosstalkers and with reason. Although Joe Louis played with all of the above named artists of the electric blues pantheon he, off of this performance, does not belong there. On the second or third level, yes. No question that he is a virtuoso guitar player-behind someone else. Nothing wrong with that, right? Here in this 1991 concert the stick outs are “I Didn’t Know”, “The Gift’ and “One Time Around”. Good solid blues but nothing to turn your head or stop what you are doing like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy or John Lee REQUIRE you to do.

***********

Blues Survivor
This is the title track from his Verve/Gitanes CD, recorded in 1992 in California. In this funky song he tells of the obstacles he had to overcome in his career; keeping the blues alive, as it were, while the blues were keeping him alive.

True blues survivor

I'm a true blues survivor, I'm proud I am
I tried a little bit of this and a little bit of that
Searching for something that would be right for me
Tryin' to find some place where I belong at
I tried a little rock, I tried a little roll
I tried a little top hit(?) and I tried a little soul
Hey hey you don't know what it's like
Fightin' the powers all of my life
I've got my own way of walkin'
My own way of talkin'
I'll do what I want and I'll do what I like
Yeah yeah

Sixteen years old, I'm fresh outa school
Tryin' to figure out what I wanna do
I couldn't find no work and I couldn't stay at home
The only thing to do was to sing the blues
I practise every day, go travellin' every night
Tryin' not to get it wrong, I'm still tryin' to get it right
Hey hey you don't know what I've done
All my life I've beren under the gun
I wanna do my own drivin'
I'm true blues survivin'
And that's what's keepin' me strong strong strong
Yeah yeah

(solo)

(I'm a true blues survivor)
I've been left in distress up sky high
(I'm a true blues survivor)
I've been busted and mistrusted, left by myself
(I'm a true blues survivor)
I've been up, I've been down, left all around
(I'm a true blues survivor)
I been busted, mistrusted, I been up, I been down,
locked in, left out, kept me hangin' around
(I'm a true blues survivor)
(I'm a true blues survivor)
(I'm a true blues survivor)




Mama Didn't Raise No Fool
This song can be found on the CD "The Gift" (Hightone Records, 1988)

Mama didn't raise no fool (D. Walker - J. L. Walker)


If I was a fool, it would sure be easy
I could fall, oh baby, for your wicked smile
Buy you a drink, whisper some lie, oh no
And we could go somewhere quiet, for a little while

But my mama she didn't raise no fool
She said, you be careful what you do
Don't let no-one take advantage of you
But my mama she didn't raise no fool
No fool

If I was a fool, I'd forget those promises I already have made
Wipe my woman from my mind, so we could play, oh baby
If I was a fool, I'd follow you home
I would hug you, kiss you and squeeze you, all night long

But no...
My mama she didn't raise no fool
She said, you be careful what you do
Don't let no-one take advantage of you
Cause my ma she didn't raise no fool


Moanin' News
From his Hightone Records CD "Cold Is The Night", a J. L. Walker composition with an intriguing, suggestive title.

There once was a man, who loved to sing the blues
He'd two pair of pants and just one pair of shoes
But when he's moan that lowdown dirty blues
People come a-runnin' from miles around
Just to hear what he was puttin' down
That is why they call him
The moanin' news
The moanin' news

Late at night, when he start to make his move
He irons his pants, and shines those pair of shoes
And then he moan that gutbucket downhome blues
People would begin to jump and shout
After they had heard what he was talkin' about
That is why they call him
The moanin' blues
The moanin' blues

He starts to moan
He said "A-hoo... A-hoo..."
He start to moan
He said "A-hoo... A-hoo..."
People come a-runnin' from far away
Just to hear what the man had to say
That is why they call him
The moanin' blues
The moanin' blues

Later on, when he finally found success
He come back home, and tried to get some rest
And he could moan, that funky urban blues
Now that you're in, you turn on your TV
You never guessed who you might see
The man they used to call
The moanin' blues
The moanin' blues
The moanin' blues
The moanin' blues


Shade Tree Mechanic
This song was written by Henry Oden, Joe Louis' long-time bass player. It's on the CD "The Gift".

I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I'm your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows that I'm the one

I can oil and lube you
And not lose a single drop, no no
I can cool you down
When you start to runnin' hot
I'm your shade tree mechanic
I never leave my shady spot

I can check your battery baby
With my special pressure gage
My work is guaranteed
Guaranteed for thirty days
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I'm your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows I'm the one

(guitar solo)

I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I'm your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows I'm the one

You say your drive shaft may misfire
Your piston rod is running flat
Don't you worry about a thing
I got the tools for that
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
My work is guaranteed
I've got just what you need
You can call me day or night
I'll always treat u right
I am the one

Ten More Shows To Play
Another blues about being a blues singer, from the CD "Cold Is The Night" (Hightone Records, 1986)

Ten More Shows To Play (D. Walker - L. Fulson)

Tonight I'm in Houston, then Dallas and L.A.
My woman need me with her but I got ten more shows to play
How long 'fore she'll ask me to choose
Between her lovin' and these ever lovin' blues

I've hit the road before, she never once complained
This time she was cryin' when I got on the plane
I'm hopin' and I'm prayin' she can wait and be true
And not be discouraged without the things we used to do
How long 'fore she'll ask me to choose
Between her lovin' and these ever lovin' blues
All right...

I'm sittin' here in misery, you know I'm on the spot
That woman and this guitar is all I've really got
How long 'fore she'll ask me to choose
Between her lovin' and these ever lovin' blues

Tonight I'm in Houston, then Dallas and L.A.
My woman need me with her but I got ten more shows to play

***Once Again, A Blues Potpourri-John Lee Hooker And Furry Lewis

Click On Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of Furry Lewis Doing "Kassie Jones" Wow!

DVD REVIEW

John Lee Hooker and Furry Lewis, John Lee Hooker, Furry Lewis, Yazoo Productions, 2002

I have recently reviewed a few of John Lee Hooker’s vast number of blues albums that lend credence to the title “Boogie Chillen” man. I also noted that unlike other old time electric blues artists such as Howlin’ Wolf and Lighting Hopkins that Hooker’s work, in general, leaves me cold. Although the small segment of his work presented here is good as he articulates his sense of what the blues mean, especially as it features one of his signature songs that I like, “Boom Boom”, I still am left with that same feeling. I finish by noting that this is a question of personal taste. Hooker is a blues legend, justifiably so. Case closed.

The other figure in this short Yazoo production is a different story. I have also reviewed Furry Lewis’s work elsewhere in this space and have praised his clean guitar picking style and vocals from his early career in the 1920’s when he was along with Blind Blake and Blind Lemon Jefferson one of the kings of the guitar pick. Furry does not fail here late in his career after reemerging during the folk revival of the 1960’s. His version of the famous “Kassie Jones” is worth the price of admission.

“I Said, Who Do You Love”- An Encore-The Raucous Music Of George Thorogood And The Destroyers

Click on the title to link to "YouTube"'s film clip of George Thorogood and The Destroyers performing their version of "Madison Blues".

CD Review

Live, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Capitol, 1990

A couple of years ago when Bo Diddley died I mentioned in a review of his work that many latter musicians, particularly white musicians were influenced by his songs, and covered them like crazy. That is the case with George Thorogood, with or without his Destroyers. Although he is probably best known for his bad boy anthem, “Bad To The Bone” Thorogood cut his teeth on doing covers of Bo, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and the other greats of the blues and early rock and roll. That is how we should measure his work, as an exponent of a certain kind or of rock and R&B.

This album delivers extended versions of his master works including: the afore-mentioned “Bad To The Bone,” the classic Bo Diddley tune “Who Do You Love,” “Madison Blues,” and the classic Hooker song “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer”. This album is close to the best versions technically and will give an idea of what old George and boys could do on a hot night. Yes, indeed.


Blues Lyrics - George Thorogood
Madison Blues

All rights to lyrics included on these pages belong to the artists and authors of the works.
All lyrics, photographs, soundclips and other material on this website may only be used for private study, scholarship or research.

by
Elmore James
recording of 1977
from
George Thorogood & The Destroyers (Rounder CD-3013)
&
Live (EMI E 2-46329)

Ah you babes talk about your Madison shoes
We got a thing we call the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues baby
Rock away your blues
I know a gal her name is Lindsey Lou
She told me she loved me but I know it ain't true
Put on your Madison shoes
Put on your Madison blue shoes
I got the Madison blues
Now put on your Madison blue shoes
Ah you cats talking about your Madison shoes
We do the thing we call the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues baby
Rock away your blues
Ah you babes talk about your Madison shoes
We got a thing we call the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues
We do the Madison blues baby
Rock away your blues