If you can’t talk it, just sing it
I’m convinced Texas is a place that gives birth to music that is heavily influenced by the blues, but I question if we know what true blues really sounds like. I’ve been trying to immerse myself in old, little known southern blues and have come to the realization that there is not a good way to explain how the blues can seep into your soul.
Lightnin’ Hopkins put out an album called Reflections that is a very rough and poor recording, dripping with the hiss and pop of an old record player. It is beautiful. The record starts out with Hopkins telling a story behind one of the songs (or maybe it’s the song that is actually telling the story.) Listen for the point where the story ends and the song begins… what you feel in that moment… that is the blues.
“Mr. Charlie” by Lightnin’ Hopkins
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Thanks–you’re ‘right on the money’ with this one. I love it.
Mom
Thank you. Thank you for exposing me to this, and reminding me of what influences the music that I love.
Fabulous story and transition into the blues! Great share!
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