HEAR HERE:
PLAYLIST:
“Wife For Tonight” – Lonnie Brooks
“Let’s Commit Adultery” – Candye Kane
“Don’t Mess With My Man” – Denise LaSalle
“They Call Me Lazy” – Lazy Lester
“Too Lazy” – T-Bone Walker
“Lazy Blues” – Marcia Ball
“The Whale Have Swallowed Me” – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
“Catfish Blues” – Robert Petway
“Fish Ain’t Bitin’” – Corey Harris
“Big Legged Woman” – Memphis Slim
“Shave Yo’ Legs” – Keb’ Mo’
“Don’t You Feel My Leg (Don’t You Get Me High)” – Maria Muldaur
“Long Leg Woman” – Charlie Musselwhite
The work of a Cultural Detective will sometimes, get all kinds of gritty. And in the Blues, things are gritty a great deal of the time. Peel back enough of that veneer on any suburban street and even normal folk can be found flying under the radar of righteous moral conduct.
I’m a detective, not a jury. There’s no judgement being doled out. We don’t do judgement. I’m only interested in the evidence.
So, this time on Nothin’ But The Blues, we’re sleuthing on the moral stain of, Infidelity.
Once Lonnie Brooks has opened proceedings with a fiery, Live performance of his libido-driven Blues, “Wife For Tonight”, the mood takes a sudden gender-flip, offering views on the subject from the other side of the bed. (A cautionary reminder that, indeed, two can play that game.)
After all the hot flashes of guilt, you might want to relax awhile – put your feet up. Good.
It also fits in with our plan to indulge in some Lazy Blues – brought on by a broken heart, some honest self-assessment – and from being known as ‘Lazy’, by name. (Take your time. No rush.)
A subject in the Blues more common than you might imagine at first is, Legs.
Many Blues songs will evoke the image of a highly-desirable ‘Big Leg Woman’. But it sure doesn’t end there. Between offerings from Memphis Slim, Maria Muldaur, Keb’ Mo’ and Charlie Musselwhite, you’ll hear plenty more on the subject of Legs.
We also take some time to go Fishing with some Blues about a Whale (technically, “not a fish” as Alexa reminds me), a Catfish – and the frustration of fish that refuse to take the bait.
And yeah, I see what you mean, how can we possibly fit all those legs, fish, no-good lazy bums – a bunch of adulterous couples – and a whale – into a single hour of refreshingly entertaining Blues radio?
Just roll-up on your own two legs with the partner of your dreams – and laze away the time after pressing the Play button above for answers to all these questions Okay, I’ll confess, it does sound a bit, fishy.
As always, thanks for listening.
Gideon Rhyme – Cultural Detective
Trés Le Parque 