T-Bone Walker began recording in the late 1920s and was one of the first artists to use an electric guitar in the late 1930s.
He's had his guitar licks and stage moves "borrowed" by countless musicians. Whenever you see Blues and Rock musicians playing a guitar behind their backs, between their legs, or playing with a pick in their mouths: T-Bone Walker did it first, and in the late 1940s.
B.B. King cites T-Bone as a major influence, particularly on his electric guitar playing. He even stated that when he first heard Walker, he thought: "Jesus himself had come back to earth playing an electric guitar."
Chuck Berry totally lifted T-Bone's guitar solo on "Strollin' With Bones" for his own "Johnny B. Goode".
T-Bone's influence is enormous and widespread on numerous musicians across various genres.
Unlike the rawer Chicago blues, elements of jazz and swing.
The freeload is a 24-bit/96kHz vinyl (180 gram) rip of a 2011 release on the Friday Music label. It was remastered by Joe Reagoso (the founder of Friday Music) from the original Atlantic Records monophonic tapes. This is my favorite version of 'T-Bone Blues', and long out of print.
For the freeload, who are some of your favorite artists or bands who also possess exceptional showmanship?
James Brown - saw him three times, and each was spectacular from the music to his stage presence. Saw Springsteen a couple of times before he hit it big, and he also know how to get the audience in the palm of his hand. From a local NO standpoint, Ernie K-Doe was a great showman.
ReplyDeleteJB for sure! And I recall being transfixed by a Tim Buckley performance in '73, not sure why as he just swayed in front of the microphone with his guitar.
ReplyDeleteI second Springsteen.
ReplyDeleteFreddie Mercury for sure.
James Brown was undoubtedly one of the most spellbinding acts in all of soul, R&B, and funk. In the world of jazz, Roland Kirk projected a titanic presence from the bandstand, and Dizzy Gillespie could always be counted on for a show peppered with his wry humor. I saw him do a set sometime in the 70s where his extended patter between songs took on the feel of a standup comedian's schtick.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the T-Bone, Babs. Some of the 78s he cut for Capitol in the 40s and 50s still sound amazing, even by modern sonic standards. Maybe the thing I most admire about T-Bone is his cool, collected style—the man never broke a sweat.
Max Roach - awesome showman. David Byrne always steps up with intriguing shows. Thanks Babs
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's Tom Waits...the ultimate non-showman?
ReplyDeleteJoe Brown was the first musician I ever saw play the guitar behind his back, and Peter Jay & the Jaymen had drums that lit up. I thought they were both pretty classy back in 196? at a One Night Stand show at the Harrow Granada.
ReplyDeleteKeith Moon and Pete Townshend. Mick Jagger for being possibly the worst dancer on the Planet. Mr David Jones as Ziggy Stardust. Elton John's Portrayal of the Pinball Wizard. Rock N' Roll bands such as Sha-Na-Na and Showaddywaddy in their early days not forgetting originals like Jerry Lee, Little Richard and when he first arrived on the scene a certain Mr Presley. Madness were brilliant when they first arrived on the scene and of course Michael Jackson in his way was up there with the best (I still remember waiting up until 3am just to catch the release of the Thriller video). Not forgetting Alice Cooper, Arthur Brown and the original Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch.
ReplyDeleteI never saw "Ziggy Stardust" but Mr. Jones was amazing as Bowie in his other guises (I immediately think of the "Stage" tour). I did see Keith Moon on stage, and yes, that was an experience (Mr. Townshend was relatively restrained at that show, but Mr. Daltrey put in his usual, showy performance).
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine being more amazed by showmanship than I was by the performance of The Tubes at the Roxy. (It appears that was on June 29, 1975.) Yes, Fee put on the "Quay Lewd" glasses, but there was So. Much. More. They had costumes and/or a bit for every song they did, and they also played with precision and conviction. It expanded my vision of what rock music could do ...and I've never seen anything to match it.
Fortunately, I've seen performances I enjoyed just as much since then. But not because they put on as good a show.
D in California
James.Brown. My father took me to see him when I was 8 and I had no idea and I thought the man was dying, which my father thought was highly amusing. I saw him about 10 years later and maybe 15 and he was amazing each and every time. Age 10 I saw Jerry Lee Lewis at the State Fair and after a desultory country set that I almost wandered off from he said something about getting real and proceeded to give a wild-ass master class in the piano as a rock'n'roll instrument I've never forgotten; it was incredible. Carlene Carter at DC's 9.30 Club in 1980 and she pulled out all the stops. One night in Austin Joe Ely was insane.
ReplyDeleteSorry, the above was me as is the follow on below, which was supposed to be attached as a reply...sigh. #aging
DeleteAnd thank you, Babs, day after day after day you deliver.
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ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/QsQCFRFPnGu
The best show was We've got a fuzzbox and we're gonna use it, in Doornroosje Nijmegen. must have been 1988 or so. 600 guys all falling in love with those four girls, Guys mentioned here, can all jump, shout, twirl and whatever, they never beat that.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of the best showWOmanship Björk
God Gawd! Thanx for this...as Doug Sahm said...Ain't nuthin' that a T Bone Shuffle won't do! And a young Steve Miller was introduced to to it all cuz his parents invited T Bone over to jam at their house. Them were the days!!
ReplyDeleteAnd may I humbly ask for more, please?
DeleteLove to see Doug Sahm invoked; fond memories of Soap Creek Saloon and his great patience and tolerance of, uhm, a diverse audience...punks with an affection for him, Alvin Crow, and even ol'Farmer Dave Gilstrap were a thing in late 1970s Austin... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
DeletePerry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and yes, James Brown!
ReplyDeleteHi Babs off topic question.A few sites have been posting Stones Nasty Music. The "The Rolling Stones — Brussels Affair: Definitive Edition" has same track list etc you posted last year in boot bonanza.I had the original Nasty music on Vinyl( sadly sold it long ago.it had the best version of Midnight Rambler with Mick Taylor.That was from USA concert. Can you shed any light? i would love to have a copy.
ReplyDeleteThe Kinks with MC Ray Davies.
ReplyDeleteJames Brown, Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stones and David Byrne.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to see Ray Davies on his X-Ray book tour and with just one electric guitarist and Ray on acoustic it sounded like The Kinks.
Peter Gabriel in the 80's and 90's was extraordinary as a performer.
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