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R.L. Burnside - traditional and not so traditional
Years ago I was fortunate to see John Lee Hooker play at Penns Landing in Philadelphia. He was then in his mid-70's, still compelling, and he played by himself. Aside from the thrill of seeing him at all was the fact that it was just him, his low rumble of a voice and just his guitar making the songs come so alive. A full band would have been just fine too, but if I could have picked the way to see him if I could only see him just once, solo is the way I'd have preferred it. A few weeks ago, I was listening to his Best of Friends record, on which guested folks such as Los Lobos, Van Morrison, and Jimmy Vaughan among others, and the full band arrangements sounded great. That record got me to thinking of another great old bluesman who was never was well known as John Lee Hooker, but should have been - R.L. Burnside. R.L. spent years in obscurity playing more traditional blues, then later in life did a record with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion called "A Ass Pocket Full of Whiskey" that brought more recognition though not nearly the level of creativity of subsequent records on Fat Possum records, which updated his songs with modern sounds. Some lamented the updating of his songs with some elements of hip hop and synthesized sounds, but I thought the Fat Possum recordings did him great favors. Though I never saw him play, if I'd have had the chance and the choice of seeing him playing in traditional mode or in Fat Possum mode, I'd have chosen the updated version...and would have loved the traditional too.
Interested in hearing what level of interest there is in R.L. and what people think about the modernized blues of his Fat Possums recordings vs his great, older, more traditional work
For those unfamiliar, of the Fat Possum stuff, give Come On In, Too Bad Jim, Wish I was In Heaven Sitting Down, and A Bothered Mind (some records contain different versions of the same song as on other records).
Interested in hearing what level of interest there is in R.L. and what people think about the modernized blues of his Fat Possums recordings vs his great, older, more traditional work
For those unfamiliar, of the Fat Possum stuff, give Come On In, Too Bad Jim, Wish I was In Heaven Sitting Down, and A Bothered Mind (some records contain different versions of the same song as on other records).
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dionne on -
Thanks for bringing up RL; I did get to see him - I saw an amazing kickass show of he and Junior Kimbrough in Cambridge MA when Fat Possum was getting going. RL played with his grandson on drums and protege Kenny Browne on 2nd guitar; the way RL presented himself and the way he performed, I think it was all the same to him - "traditional" and the JSBE collaborations, which were great too in their own way.
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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on -
Jack, have you heard Chris Thomas King's albums 21st Century Blues...from Da Hood and Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues? I have, which pretty much answers your question. Yes, I'm all for experimentation and modern updates, as long as the ability and passion for tradition isn't lost in the process.
I see Chris as the blues answer to Hank III. Heavily traditional at times, but also willing to go to the edge. He actually has a new one coming out in December I believe. I've heard it and it's really good stuff.
As for R.L. Burnside, he was a true master of the juke joint blues style, although I tend to prefer T-Model Ford.
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Permalink Reply by Rudyjeep on
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There was a great article on R.L, Mathew Johnson and Fat Possum in the New Yorker several years ago. It started with a funny bit about R.L. bitching that his welfare was cut $48 a month even though he made $175,000 that year! He was dropped from the welfare rolls shortly after.
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Permalink Reply by Jack Williams on -
I've got some of the more traditional stuff. The acoustic Mississippi Hill Country Blues, Too Bad Jim, and the excellent live album Burnside on Burnside. Didn't venture in to the more hybrid stuff as I was not quite that adventurous when I was first getting into him. Probably more open to it now. For example, I like all of the Black Keys' stuff, including the Danger Mouse produced stuff, which is maligned by some of the faithful.
Have you all seen the Deep Blues documentary with Robert Palmer (author of the classic blues book of the same name)? R.L. and Junior Kimbrough are featured fairly prominently. A highlight is Junior doing his All Night Long at his juke point. Feral stuff.
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Permalink Reply by Faith Brennan on -
Wow - there is a lot more to know about him than I thought. I have one song by him, "Someday Baby" on A Bothered Mind. Is this a new song ? An old one ?
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