DEATH LETTER BLUES

Son House was one of the greatest blues singers. Some people don't like the blues, or feel it's too rough and down-home for their sophisticated tastes, but these people are insensitive swine. The blues is feeling, pure and simple, and unless you plan on being an inanimate object like a chair or endtable you'd better start feeling, and the blues is a good place to start. Son House had a hell of a life--spent time in Parchman Farm prison in the 1920s, had serious illnesses, and five wives--at different times, of course. All that bad luck and hard times--all that feeling--went into his music. Listen to Death Letter Blues. Can you feel that?



I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon it read?
It said, "Hurry, hurry, yeah, your love is dead."
I got a letter this mornin, I say how do you reckon it read?
You know, it said, "Hurry, hurry, how come the gal you love is dead?"

So, I grabbed up my suitcase, and took off down the road.
When I got there she was layin on a coolin board.
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I said and I took off down the road.
I said, but when I got there she was already layin on a coolin board.

Well, I walked up right close, looked down in her face.
Said, the good ole gal got to lay here til the Judgment Day.
I walked up right close, and I said I looked down in her face.
I said the good ole gal, she got to lay here til the Judgment Day.

Looked like there was 10,000 people standin round the buryin ground.
I didn't know I loved her til they laid her down.
Looked like 10,000 were standin round the buryin ground.
You know I didn't know I loved her til they damn laid her down.

Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul.
I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold.
I said, Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul.
You know I wouldn't mistreat nobody, baby, not for my weight in gold.

Well, I folded up my arms and I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell honey, I'll see you on Judgment Day."
Ah, yeah, oh, yes, I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell, farewell, I'll see you on the Judgment Day."

You know I went in my room, I bowed down to pray.
The blues came along and drove my spirit away.
I went in my room, I said I bowed down to pray.
I said the blues came along and drove my spirit away.

You know I didn't feel so bad, til the good ole sun went down.
I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around...

BLUES HARP FOR WHAT AILS YOU

Did you catch this story? Researchers have shown that playing the harmonica on a regular basis can help people with chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema. The good folks at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood told CBS4's Cynthia Demos it really works and it's fun. The hospital is now offering classes in harmonica for its patients.

According to Science Daily, "The repeated pattern of pushing air from the lungs into the instrument, and then sucking air back into the lungs helps patients learn to control and boost their breathing."

It makes sense. So if you're suffering from bronchitis or emphysema or your mojo just ain't working properly grab your blues harp and play along with Sonny Boy Williamson II, joined here by Otis Spann and Muddy Waters. Get well soon.

ROCK ME BABY

Sugar Pie DeSanto sings a smoldering version of "Rock Me, Baby." She was born Umpeylia Balinton on October 16th, 1935, to an African American mother and Filipino father, and the great Johnny Otis nicknamed her Sugar Pie. Cool name, huh? She toured with Johnny's band, and with James Brown, and collaborated with another red hot mama, Etta James.


Jimi Hendrix plays his psychedelic acid rock take of "Rock Me, Baby" at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. What can you say about Hendrix? What can you say about those wacky threads and that funny cigarette he was smoking? You'd rather hear Chet Atkins?


Finally, some old guitar geezers, BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jimmy Vaughn, try their hand at "Rock Me, Baby." These oldtimers may sit down when they're playing, but they sure hit the right notes. That's about a thousand years of playing experience in those chairs, dude. Bow down.

SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING

A fella by the name of Chester Arthur Burnett, otherwise known as Howlin' Wolf, possessed a voice that could topple buildings. Born in White Station, Mississippi, he sang, played blues harp, and bent steel rails with his bare hands. When he sang, wild animals cowered, strong men wept, and clocks ran backwards. He joined the army in World War II, and worked as a radioman in Seattle.

BUZZ ME, BABY

Man, these cats can swing! Louis Jordan (1919 - 1975) and his Tympany 5, playing "Buzz Me, Baby" in 1945. It's Friday night and Louis is waiting for his baby to call. What great musicians.

FROM THE ANIMATION ARCHIVE

Here is the St. James Infirmary section of Betty Boop's "Snow White" from 1933. Yes, that's Cab Calloway singing! What wonderful animation! Produced by Max Fleischer, directed by Dave Fleischer.

LIGHTNIN' IN A BOTTLE

This is some real down home blues from Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins. They say he learned the blues from Blind Lemon Jefferson, and his older cousin Alger "Texas" Alexander, but he really learned it from life itself. Here he performs "Lonesome Road."

Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins (1912-1982)

LIKE A ROLLING STONE #1

McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, shook my hand and offered me a drink. I was working for a tiny newspaper in some jerkwater town, lugging a notebook and tape recorder and camera. His hand felt like iron. I was sent to interview him, but he really interviewed me and I was too young and dumb to know at the time. The man was a genius. My editor was an ass. Square as a box of Apple Jacks. He wondered why this old guy was worth valuable column inches. Just listen to Muddy sing "Rollin' Stone." Can you dig this?