Freddie King: Ain`t No Sunshine (When She`s Gone).

Freddie King. Deep, deep soul blues! I believe this song was written by Bill Withers.

Freddie is too often overlooked, commercially; but he had 'it'. His feel was amazing. I'll pick up my jaw, now!

He also wrote 'Hideaway'-- which a young Eric Clapton covered and recorded, in 1966, with The Bluesbreakers. King passed away, in 1976. You are missed!

(Some raw facts came from Wikipedia, but I write my own stuff!)

Funky Christmas

I want to wish my readers a happy, safe and funky holiday period... before I forget.

Put a little funk in your Christmas, y'all. The song is 'Back Door Santa' by Clarence Carter. From the album Testifyin' in 1969.

Merry Christmas, or happy holidays!

Mitch.

Harmonica Slim with Boogie Bill Webb

I don't know much about these musicians, but this deserves to seen by more people.

Full credit to these guys!

Mitch's Playlist: 0.2

• Astral Weeks -- Van Morrison. From the year 1968. It is sprawling and beautiful release. Astral Weeks is unlike any other album in Van's discography. The tracks are more like paintings, than songs.
  
• Have a good time -- Big Walter Horton and Carey Bell. A unique collaboration, from two giants of the blues harmonica. Sadly, Bell passed away relatively recently. Both are now gone, but the music is still here.
• The Band -- The Band. This is the second, self-titled album; from a group of legendary and talented musicians. Timeless and honest songs. At a time when everybody else who was making music seemed to be wearing flowers in their hair -- The Band played for themselves, and wrote tunes with country, blues and blue grass influences. It's just great!
  

Big John Wrencher: tribute

From previous posts, you might know that I have a passion for playing harmonica. I am also enthralled by the blues, and its various musical offshoots.

I take what I am doing fairly seriously; but I also have a lot of fun. I have been playing every day -- whenever I possibly can -- for roughly 3 years.

As with everything, there are challenges. For example, I can't hold the harmonica in the standard way. I can only use one hand. It can be difficult; because I have seen the majority of players hold their harp, in a certain, accepted way. I started to wonder if my physical differences would prevent me from becoming the harmonica player I wanted to be.

Then, I saw Big John Wrencher!

Wrencher was born in Sunflower County, MS, in 1924 on a plantation. His youthful interest in music -- particularly the harmonica -- kept him on the move as a traveling musician, playing throughout Tennessee and neighboring Arkansas from the late '40s to the early '50s. In 1958, Big John lost his left arm in a car crash in Memphis. By the early '60s, he had moved North to Chicago and quickly became a regular fixture on Maxwell Street, always working on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to nearly 3:00 in the afternnon virtually non-stop, as Sundays were the big payday for most busking musicians working the area.

(from Answers.com)

'How many more years', Big John Wrencher.

Big John passed away in 1977. I am using this material, only with the greatest of respect. This post is a tribute to possibilities. I feel re-energised!

Blindman's Blues Forum

If you are one of those people, who thinks they know a little something about blues, folk, gospel, jazz, or rock music -- then you will want to check this message board out!

If you are a musician (aspiring or otherwise), whose music falls into one of the aforementioned categories, you will also want to check this forum out. The depth of knowledge is amazing!

The community is close and loving, as well. As an aspiring harmonica player, I have learnt so much. If your question happens to be within those broad fields, you will almost certainly receive a detailed response. I've been posting for a while.

Link:
Blindmans Blues Forum

It is a great community!

Mitch's Playlist: Edition 0.1

As you may have been able to deduce, this is the second edition of Mitch's Playlist. I believe in keeping things interesting; so each new edition of the Playlist won't necessarily follow the same template. I could talk about artists in general, videos I am watching.

At the moment, I am feeling a sweet relief of having just been released from hospital. Every time this happens, I 'rediscover' music!

• Kansas City Powerhouse -- Count Basie. Hot, big band jazz.
• New Orleans Piano -- Professor Longhair. A fantastic pianist, with an uncanny sense of time!
• Hard Again -- Muddy Waters. Muddy's comeback album; featuring James Cotton and Johnny Winter.
• His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) -- Little Walter. This man changed blues forever.