Picking and grinning through the blues on the back porch.
Back in the day, LA’s Ash Grove was the home to folk and blues artists, coming to town in 1970 was Lightnin’ Hopkins, in a boogie-ing mood on this avuncular collection of tunes. He gives world wise intros to most of the tunes, which include a couple swinging instrumentals like “Ain’t It Crazy” and “Lightnin’s Boogie”. There’s a classy and sleek read of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” as well, with Hopkins plugging in on a ’71 gig in Palo Alto for a rollicking “Lightnin’ Can Do It” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”. And we do!
Also hitting the Ash Grove, albeit in 1973 and 65 was the team of Sonny Terry on harmonica and Brownie McGhee on guitar serving up a blues storm of boogie. Terry wails like a Chicago wind on the instrumentals “Hootin’ The Blues” and “Blowin’ The Fuses” while McGhee preaches it on “Midnight Special”. The two are relaxed and joyful on “My Father’s Words” and “Life’s A Gamble” melding voice, harmonica and guitar like a sauce on baby back ribs. Sittin’ well in the belly.
Hailed as a mentor to Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk was one of the pioneers of folk blues, with this studio album from 1995 having him reviit some of his most famous tunes. He’s got a leathered voice on an earthy take of “Lovin’ Spoonful” and even takes on a couple of Bobby Zimmerman’s tunes as on “He Was A Friend of Mine” and “The Old Man”. A trip to Chicago brings in “Hoochie Coochie Man” with a side route to Missouri for “Kansas City Blues”. Hues of blues.