Mitch's Playlist: 0.5

This is a special, post-birthday edition of Playlist. After a particularly unpleasant stay in hospital, I have some music to share with you.

• Essential Collection: The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958 -- Otis Rush. Otis has an amazing feel as a guitarist, and also one of the best voices in blues music. The blues landscape, as we know it, owes much to Otis Rush. The recordings here have their place in *blues* history. (And it's a fun CD to play!) I just love these tunes; many of which were 'picked up' by British blues acts, like John Mayall, Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin. It's mighty difficult, when the originals are so good, though!
  
• Mississippi Fred McDowell -- Fred McDowell. I really enjoy this album; the atmosphere is very laid-back. McDowell is/was a gritty, honest bluesman. (The real deal!) His lyrical slide guitar, and vocals, always get to me! He absolutely tares through these songs. I think it might have actually been recorded in someone's house, which gives the whole thing a really unique, 'party' vibe. Everybody is enjoying themselves -- probably getting good and drunk, too -- and it brings out the best in Fred.

More soon... Stay tuned!

Mitch's Playlist: 0.4

• The Very Best of Otis Redding, Vol. 1 -- Otis Redding. Albums with titles such as this one, often fall far short of their boasted greatness. In rare cases, an artist's body of work does not merit a 'best of' album; but that is rare. Most commonly, the songs that are chosen as 'the best of' don't meet the listener's expectations.
  

With this collection, though, one suffers no let-downs. I came to love both the CD, and Otis! All the songs here display Redding at his best -- often backed by the Stax record label's legendary house band! Highlights for me include: 'That's How Strong My Love Is', 'Pain in My Heart', 'I've Got Dreams to Remember' and more.

Otis was to make huge impact, in a short time. He played a highly-memorable set at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Sadly, he was killed in a plane crash later that year, aged 26.

Redding's 'deep soul' music lives on.

Mitch's Playlist: 0.3

I'd like wish to my readers a happy and safe year, for 2009! Thanks for sticking around. I've felt pretty unwell, lately. I just try to keep going!

I am listening to:

• Bach: St. Matthew Passion Highlights -- Cleobury, King's College Choir. Obviously, this piece was written by J.S. Bach. It's about the events surrounding Christ's crucifixion. It is also regarded as being one of the greatest pieces of Western music, of all time! I have no disagreements, there! Bach is my favourite classical composer. Actually, I had not heard it, before.
• I have been watching a lot footage of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Their albums are good, too (eg. Backwater Blues). Sonny and Brownie's partnership was one of the greatest, in the history of folk-blues. It was also one of the stormiest! Some of the footage on the Net/YouTube -- just great!

(Started post on 01/01/2009.)

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!
  

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.
  

Mitch's Playlist: Edition 0.0

I thought it would be fun, every so often, to take some time to talk about the music that I have been listening to. I'll try to comment on each entry, as well.

It is a study, unto itself but it's also an interesting way to talk about newly-discovered CDs, or old favourites. It's almost always in CD format; but I have been using iTunes more often, lately.

So, the first edition of Mitch's Playlist:

• The Essential Leonard Cohen -- Leonard Cohen. From what I can gather, it was supposed to be a double-disc set. It was loaned to me by a friend. I found out later that there may have been a second disc. It doesn't matter; Cohen is great!
• 03 -- Son of Dave. I have reported on this album, before. It is so much fun! It is always interesting to hear musicians, who combine such diverse elements.
• King Biscuit Time -- Sonny Boy Williamson II. The album has its roots in radio show, on which Williamson and his band were regular guests. I think they even did the advertisements! The second 'Sonny Boy' (aka Aleck Miller) was an harmonica legend.

See you next time.