BLUES
VA - Blues Roots, Rock Branches (A Butterboy Compilation) (4 x CDs)
The blues, with its raw emotion and evocative storytelling, forms the bedrock of modern music. Its authenticity, forged in the hardship and resilience of early 20th-century life, transcends time to influence countless genres. Blues Roots, Rock Branches explores this profound connection by juxtaposing original blues tracks with their reinterpretations in classic rock and folk music. It’s a journey into the soul of music a testament to the enduring legacy of the blues.
Volume 1, the Blues Roots of this compilation, reflects the original blues compositions that capture the essence of their era. Tracks like Charley Patton's “Banty Rooster Blues” or Robert Johnson's haunting “Stop Breaking Down Blues” showcase a purity of sound unadorned, visceral, and deeply emotive. These pioneers laid the foundation for blues music, threading universal themes of longing, love, and struggle into their melodies. Each song is a cultural artifact, rich in context and meaning, demonstrating the timeless appeal of the genre.
Volume 2, the Rock Branches, conversely highlights how classic rock and folk artists reinterpreted these foundational works, often amplifying them with electrified energy and modern dynamics. The Rolling Stones' rendition of “Stop Breaking Down,” for instance, infuses rock swagger into Johnson's Delta blues, while Rory Gallagher's “Messin’ with the Kid” electrifies the Junior Wells original with unparalleled fervor, and Lead Belly's Black Betty is transformed by Ram Jam into a blues rock classic. Such adaptations preserve the blues’ core while introducing new sonic textures, ensuring its relevance across generations.
This compilation pays homage to the dialogue between past and present; a musical conversation that bridges eras and emotions. By contrasting original blues masterpieces with their reimagined rock counterparts, Blues Roots, Rock Branches invites listeners to experience the evolution of music as an ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation. In this way, the blues doesn’t just survive, it thrives, branching out into new realms while staying firmly rooted in its origin story. (B)
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Track lists
Vol. 1 CD1
01 Lead Belly - Black Betty 1:55 1939
02 Robert Johnson - Crossroads Blues 2:35 1937
03 Howlin' Wolf - Back Door Man 2:47 1961
04 Sonny Boy Williamson - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 3:00 1937
05 Howlin' Wolf - I Ain't Superstitious 2:50 1962
06 Robert Johnson - Love in Vain (Album Version) 2:23 1939
07 Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues 2:32 1929
08 St. Louis Jimmy Oden - Going Down Slow 3:12 1941
09 Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie - When The Levee Breaks 3:11 1929
10 Muddy Waters - You Shook Me 2:45 1962
11 Mississippi Fred McDowell - You Got to Move 2:57 1965
12 Muddy Waters - I'm Ready 3:37 1954
13 John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom 2:30 1962
14 Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful 2:44 1960
15 Big Bill Broonzy - Key to The Highway 3:00 1941
16 Hambone Willie Newbern - Roll and Tumble Blues 3:03 2015
16 Buddy Guy, Junior Wells - Rollin' and Tumblin' 4:33 1981
17 Elmore James - Shake Your Moneymaker 2:35 1961
18 Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City 2:49 1961
19 Robert Johnson - Stop Breakin' Down Blues 2:17 1938
20 Howlin’ Wolf - Killing Floor 2:50 1965
21 Elmore James - Dust My Broom 2:55 1951
22 Blind Joe Reynolds - Outside Woman Blues 2:55 1930
23 Son House - Death Letter 4:24 1965
Vol. 1 CD2
24 Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers - Baby, Please Don't Go (1935) 3:25 1935
25 Bukka White - Parchman Farm Blues 2:41 1940
26 Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You Baby 3:07 1956
27 Little Walter - My Babe 2:38 1955
28 Robert Johnson - Hellhound On My Trail 2:38 1937
29 Billy Boy Arnold - I Ain't Got You 2:13 1965
30 Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love 2:30 1956
31 Howlin' Wolf - Little Red Rooster 2:28 1961
32 Albert King - As the Years Go Passing by (Atlantic) 3:45 1967
33 Elmore James - The Sky is Crying 2:45 1960
34 Lowell Fulson - Reconsider Baby 3:08 1954
35 Little Willie John - I Need Your Love So Bad 2:15 1955
36 Robert Johnson - Terraplane Blues 3:03 1937
37 Robert Johnson - Come on in My Kitchen 2:51 1937
38 Skip James - Cypress Grove Blues 3:11 1931
39 Charlie Patton - Banty Rooster Blues 3:04 1929
40 Junior Wells - Messin' With The Kid 2:15 1960
41 Sleepy John Estes - Diving Duck Blues 3:16 1929
42 Bo Diddley - I'm A Man 3:02 1955
43 Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working 2:53 1957
44 Little Willie John - Need Your Love So Bad 2:15 1955
45 Sonny Boy Williamson - Early in the Morning 2:52 1937
46 Jimmy Reed - Big Boss Man 2:52 1961
Vol. 2 CD1
01 Ram Jam - Black Betty 2:30 1977
02 Cream - Crossroads 4:13 1969
03 Doors - Back Door Man 3:34 1967
04 Ten Years After - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 7:08 1969
05 Jeff Beck Group - I Ain't Superstitious 4:57 1968
06 Rolling Stones - Love in Vain 4:19 1969
07 Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues 4:44 1971
08 Livin' Blues - Going Down Slow 3:52 1993
09 Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks 7:10 1971
10 Led Zeppelin - You Shook Me 6:28 1969
11 Rolling Stones - You Gotta Move 2:34 1971
12 Quakers - I'm Ready 2:44 1965
13 Animals - Boom Boom 3:49 1964
14 Cream - Spoonful 6:33 1968
15 Derek and The Dominos - Key to The Highway 9:40 1970
16 R.L. Burnside - Rollin' and Tumblin' 3:50 1998
17 Johnny Winter - Shake Your Moneymaker 2:37 1986
18 Them - Bright Lights, Big City 2:34 1964
19 Rolling Stones - Stop Breaking Down 4:35 1972
20 Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song 6:19 1969
21 Fleetwood Mac - Dust My Broom 2:50 1968
22 Atlanta Rhythm Section - Outside Woman Blues 4:52 1976
23 White Stripes - Death Letter 4:30 2000
Vol. 2 CD2
24 Budgie - Baby, Please Don't Go 5:25 1973
25 John Mayall - Parchman Farm 2:22 1966
26 Led Zeppelin - I Can't Quit You Baby 4:42 1969
27 Foghat - My Babe 4:33 2007
28 Ken Hensley - Hellhound on My Trail 3:12 1995
29 Yardbirds - I Ain't Got You 1:58 1965
30 Quicksilver Messenger Service - Who Do You Love 3:35 1969
31 Rolling Stones - Little Red Rooster 3:03 1964
32 Santana - As The Years Go Passing By 7:49 1987
33 Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Sky is Crying 4:36 1991
34 Chain - Reconsider, Baby 4:39 1973
35 Allman Brothers Band - Need Your Love So Bad 4:02 1979
36 Dion - Terraplane Blues 4:47 2006
37 Leon Russell - Come on in My Kitchen 2:16 1971
38 Ed Kuepper - Cypress Grove Blues 3:01 2014
39 Dan Phelps - Banty Rooster 4:24 2014
40 Rory Gallagher - Messin' With The Kid 4:25 1972
41 Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' - Diving Duck Blues 4:28 2017
42 Yardbirds - I'm a Man (Bo Diddley) 2:36 1964
43 Paul Butterfield Blues Band - I Got My Mojo Working 3:32 1966
44 Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac - Need Your Love So Bad 3:36 1968
45 Eric Clapton - Early in The Morning 7:58 1978
46 Grateful Dead - Big Boss Man 5:08 1971
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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And as Muddy Waters says "Well the blues had a baby and they named the baby rock and roll"
ReplyDeleteGreat compilation BB, Thanks!
Thank you, John.
DeleteI hope you are enjoying this set and will do so for a long time.
Cheers.
Great compilation BB - must admit I've never heard of the Quakers (well the group anyway)
ReplyDeleteThanks, D Robert.
DeleteIt's always great when a new artist is found. Enjoy!
Cheers.
Yes, this is an excellent and well-researched compilation! Thanks & Best, TC
ReplyDeleteThank you, TC.
DeleteYes, a significant amount of time and thought goes into making these compilations. I am pleased that this is recognised and appreciated.
Cheers.
Excelente, muchas gracias.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mirta.
DeleteEnjoy the different musical eras that are exhibited here.
Cheers.
BB A lot of the remakes stand so well on their own. But hearing the originals adds an extra dimension. Thanks for this great collection. (How do you keep coming up with these great ideas?)
ReplyDeleteHi lemonflag.
DeleteThis collection, with its distinctly different volumes, highlights the evolving approach to blues music. The originals remain powerful on their own, while the modern interpretations add a fresh perspective, making this a compelling listen.
I have a passion for crafting compilations and create a new one each week. With limitless topics and an endless supply of songs to explore, inspiration is never in short supply...
Cheers.
Excellent collection as usual, but Blind Willie Johnson is missing
ReplyDelete