I was first introduced to this kind of music in 1963 when I first went to the all night Downbeat Club in Newcastle, a place frequented by Bohemians, Beats and long hairs. The Alan Price Combo later to be renamed The Animals had been playing there before moving on to fame and fortune. The place was dark and mysterious with very old wooden floorboards and some sort of jungle music was throbbing loudly. I had never heard this kind of music before and asked the d.j. what was playing. What ? he said unable to hear me over the sound. I tried several times before he mouthed the words clearly to me …“It’s a Chess Record”. The actual tune did not matter -only that it came from Chess Records and anything they put out was gold.
At that time Chess and many other American record companies had no outlet for their products in the UK. Big Top Ten hits yes- but obscure styles from small companies- no.
Into the void stepped Pye Records who put out this compilation called Rhythm and Blues and it became a huge seller persuading record companies that there was a market for this new “jungle” music. It did not hurt that they put it out on their budget label Golden Guinea. (A Guinea was one Pound plus one shilling.) I still have that album. It has followed me around for almost 60 years.
Now more….
Hot Chicago style guitar Blues. play loud !
Mama’s in the kitchen…with more of her women friends.
A “choinin oin of burnin funk”…some more acoustic blues.
Man is it hot today…songs about walkin the blues.
Some cool slow atmospheric blues.
JUKE JOINT SERIES : Now there’s a place you really get your kicks . It´s open every night ’bout 12-6.