Okay... It's been a truly lousy week.
First... that... that... that stuff that happened on Tuesday. And now Keith Olbermann's been suspended for doing what Joe Scarborough's done and didn't get suspended for. Somehow I don't think my sternly-worded letter of objection to Phil Griffin at MSNBC (phil.griffin@nbcuni.com) will make a difference. On the other hand, if I was just one of thousands upon thousands, just maybe...
Nah. Doesn't bear thinking about.
In fact, I've got a deep need to hear some blues.
And adding to my troubles is the fact that some of my abosolute favorite songs aren't on freakin' youtube. Stuff like the incomparable Esther Phillips singing a great compilation of lyrics from a dozen or so other songs in "Cry Me a River Blues." You gotta hear it. It's on her "Burnin'" album.
And Dinah Washington singing "How Long How Long Blues" and "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman." How can that stuff not be there?
Not a broad selection here... More some of my favorite folks. And more women than men, because I think women get short shrift in the blues department.
Ruth Brown's got it covered for us this week:
Good Day for the Blues
And Esther Phillips:
Misery
Because of the Dark Happenings this week, here's a Triple Threat for you: Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Etta James with B.B. King, telling the right wing to get out of our morals:
Ain't Nobody's Business
Here's some more Esther Phillips:
Disposable Society
I Can Stand a Little Rain
We Are Through
*****
Dinah Washington is my favorite blues singer. It's a tough choice to make -- there are so many brilliant blues artists out there. But Dinah has always spoken to me. I love her voice, her free style, the joy or pain she conveys in every note.
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby
*****
Some more Ruth Brown ('cause there's no such thing as too much Ruth):
Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
*****
Found this Janis Joplin recording while stumbling through youtube: never heard it before:
Trouble in Mind
And an great group of blues stars singing
Midnight Hour
*****
This song means so much to me, I actually want it played at my funeral. ;)
The Staple Singers:
I'll Take You There
*****
And I feel the need to leave you with a couple of screaming rock/blues pieces that make me happy every time. From Edgar Winter and the Full Tilt Boogie band:
Frankenstein
Buried Alive in the Blues
*****
Please bring us your favorite music (preferably blues, but there are no constraints). Or just enjoy what's here.
*****
*****
And finally, a message of hope and courage to our own tapu dali:
O, Canada
Eesti Hümn
We're all pulling for you, td. Please get well and come home to us.
And don't forget:
We Are Family