HEAR HERE:
PLAYLIST:
“Bloodstains On The Wall” – Big Bill Morganfield
“Murderin’ Blues” – Robert Nighthawk
“I’m Gonna Murder My Baby” – Pat Hare
“Rope Stretchin’ Blues” – Blind Blake
“Blind Willie McTell” – Barrence Whitfield with Tom Russell
“Casey Jones” – Backsliders
“Joe Friday” – Alvin Youngblood Hart
“Lay Some Flowers On My Grave” – Blind Willie McTell
“Give Me The Flowers While I’m Livin’” – Champion Jack Dupree
“Flowers” – Irma Thomas
“I Was Fooled” – Billy Boy Arnold
“I Pity The Fool” – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
“A Good Fool Is Hard To Find” – Albert Collins
“I Believe (You’re Trying To Make A Fool Of Me” – Son Seals
There’s been a bit of tinkering going on about the place. Parque maintenance, if you will. Some ‘nipping and tucking’ of earlier editions has been underway. Mostly, for the sake of uniformity.
And then, there was the Sgt. Pepper’s 50th Anniversary Tribute. A labour of love, demanding a sizeable commitment, to be ready for airing on the 1st of June.
But now, we’re back with this 13th edition of Nothin’ But The Blues.
And being our Lucky 13th – we’re venturing over to the dark side of town to report on the gruesome business of Murder.
We also take in some Blues about People. As in, actual people – and almost actual – with songs about Georgia Blues legend, Blind Willie McTell – American Railway pioneer, Casey Jones – and the ‘Virtual’ Detective-Sergeant Joseph ‘Joe’ Friday – the much-loved character from the TV Crime drama, Dragnet. In the show, the role of Joe Friday was played by series creator, Jack Webb.
Now and then, for Nothin’ But The Blues, we try to challenge ourselves with a subject, which, for the Blues, is not an immediately obvious one.
This time, we chose Flowers. Not only did we find the songs were readily available, we noted the role that flowers often represent as subject matter for the Blues. In Pop music, flowers are most commonly associated with love and romance.
For the Blues, it’s a different matter. In Blues, even the benign beauty of flowers are best viewed through the muslin of trouble and hard times.
Comparatively much simpler to find in the Blues, are songs on the subject of Fools. Like songs about whiskey – the Blues is rich in songs about fools. Someone either knows a fool – is a fool – once was a fool – is about to become a fool – or is being played for a fool.
And yeah, I understand… you probably think I’m trying to fool you right now.
I mean, how can we possibly fit all those murderers and their victims – various people (real and imagined) – floral arrangements – and a world of fools – into a single hour of entertainingly articulate Blues radio?
Be sure to check your weapons at the door, select a suitable bloom for your lapel – and press the Play button above to have all all these questions answered. In fact, you’d be a fool to miss it.
As always, thanks for listening.
Gideon Rhyme – Cultural Detective
Trés Le Parque 