Ed Parker’s Yer Blues playlist, in 15 volumes, stretched from Thursday, March 16 to Thursday, July 6. Thank you, Ed! Your selection provided me with lots of material for years to come. The next Blues Roots will appear on Thursday, August 3.

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There were a few more songs in Ed’s original Yer Blues playlist because there are some that he had recorded that I was unable to find on YouTube. For this recap, I left Ed’s list intact but put the titles that didn’t appear in the YouTube playlist in italics and in parentheses and didn’t number them (because the numbers correspond exactly to the YouTube playlist).

When the name of the record varied slightly from what was on Ed Parker’s list, I used the actual name, if I noticed the difference. One recurring difference was when his list featured part 1 and I included parts 1 and 2 (when they were available) and noted that.

If you notice that one of the videos is has been deleted or made private, please let me know (in this playlist or any of the other playlists). I’ll find a different copy as soon as possible. Thanks!

This week, I replaced Sleepy LaBeef’s “Baby, Let’s Play House” (which had been deleted) and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Spoonful” (made private). In most of my regular YouTube playlists, I replace the deleted ones when possible, but leave the private ones, in case the person changes their mind again, but the second part wouldn’t work here. (One of the drawbacks of replacements is that I may have said something about a particular version in my earlier comments, but I don’t have the luxury of time enough to check through all of those.)

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I’ve made so many little discoveries because of this list; for one thing, I found an amazing version of “Eyesight to the Blind” by the Larks, 1951, about the same time as Sonny Boy Williamson’s version came out (volume 13, June 8).

The very best thing this list revealed to me was just how many records Johnny “Big Moose” Walker played on. He’s been everywhere. He played guitar really well too; check him out on Curtis Jones’ Trouble Blues (numbers 76 to 87 on the playlist directly below; Curtis Jones’ 1937 version of “Lonesome Bedroom Blues” is the original). It was actually kind of unbelievable to me how many of the great Elmore James records that Johnny “Big Moose” Walker played on.

The only better “measure” of greatness on Elmore James’ records was whether his cousin Homesick James was on them. I’m not sure if this compilation includes all of their joint efforts, but even if this is all of them, it speaks to the power of finding the right people to play with. In combination, they’re beyond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoclNGSDTZI&t=2329s

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The movie I Am the Blues opened in New York on Wednesday, July 12. Link in the title has Forum post with links to movie website and trailers.

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YER BLUES, VOLUME ONE (Thursday, March 16, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Outside Woman Blues”

1. “I GET A THRILL” WYNONIE HARRIS
2. “I GET A THRILL” THE HONEYDRIPPERS

3. “LOVE MY BABY” LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER’S BLUE FLAMES
(“LOVE MY BABY” PAUL BURLISON with KIM WILSON)

4. “LITTLE GENEVA” MUDDY WATERS
5. “LITTLE GENEVA” BO RAMSEY

6. “MILK COW BLUES” KOKOMO ARNOLD
7. “MILK COW BLUES” BOB WILLS
8. “MILKCOW BLUES BOOGIE” ELVIS PRESLEY
9. “MILK COW BLUES” RICKY NELSON
10. “MILK COW BLUES” AEROSMITH

11. “CHICKEN SHACK BOOGIE” AMOS MILBURN
12. “CHICKEN SHACK BOOGIE” WILLIE & THE POOR BOYS

13. “BLUES STAY AWAY FROM ME” THE DELMORE BROTHERS
14. “BLUES STAY AWAY FROM ME” GENE VINCENT & THE BLUE CAPS

15. “GOOD ROCKING TONIGHT” ROY BROWN
16. “GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT” WYNONIE HARRIS
17. “GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT” ELVIS PRESLEY

18. “I GOT LOVE IF YOU WANT IT” SLIM HARPO
19. “GOT LOVE IF YOU WANT IT” WARREN SMITH
20. “I GOT LOVE IF YOU WANT IT” THE KINKS
21. “GOT LOVE IF YOU WANT IT” THE YARDBIRDS

22. “FUJIYAMA MAMA” ANNISTEEN ALLEN
23. “FUJIYAMA MAMA” WANDA JACKSON

24. “FEELIN’ GOOD” LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER’S BLUE FLAMES*
25. “FEELIN’ GOOD” SONNY BURGESS
* This song was also notably covered by Magic Sam; it’s the third song on his West Side Soul. I think it had to have been one of the inspirations for his “Lookin’ Good” on that same album.

26. “JAMES ALLEY BLUES” RICHARD “RABBIT” BROWN
27. “JAMES ALLEY BLUES” DAVID JOHANSEN

YER BLUES, VOLUME TWO (Thursday, March 23, 2017),
Our Blues Roots remembered Chuck Berry and James Cotton

28. “YOU NEED LOVE” MUDDY WATERS
29. “YOU NEED LOVING” THE SMALL FACES
30. “WHOLE LOTTA LOVE” LED ZEPPELIN

31. “FROM FOUR TILL LATE” ROBERT JOHNSON
32. “FOUR UNTIL LATE” CREAM

33. “BACK DOOR MAN” HOWLIN’ WOLF
34. “BACK DOOR MAN” THE DOORS

35. “MAGGIE CAMPBELL BLUES” TOMMY JOHNSON
36. “MAGGIE CAMPBELL” ROBERT NIGHTHAWK
37. “MAGGIE CAMPBELL” DAVE ALVIN

38. “PREACHING THE BLUES, PARTS 1 and 2” SON HOUSE
39. “PREACHING BLUES” RORY BLOCK

40. “KEEP A-KNOCKIN’ AN’ YOU CAN’T GET IN” JAMES “BOODLE IT” WIGGINS with BOB CALL
41. “BUSY BOOTIN’” KOKOMO ARNOLD
42. “KEEP A-KNOCKIN’” MILTON BROWN & HIS MUSICAL BROWNIES
43. “KEEP A-KNOCKIN’ (BUT YOU CAN’T COME IN)” LOUIS JORDAN
44. “KEEP A-KNOCKIN’” LITTLE RICHARD

45. “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN” BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
46. “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN” BOB DYLAN

47. “JOLIET BOUND” MEMPHIS MINNIE & KANSAS JOE McCOY
48. “JOLIET BOUND” JOHN MELLENCAMP

49. “I AIN’T SUPERSTITIOUS” HOWLIN’ WOLF
50. “I AIN’T SUPERSTITIOUS” THE JEFF BECK GROUP

51. “BULL DOZE BLUES” HENRY THOMAS
52. “GOING UP THE COUNTRY” CANNED HEAT

YER BLUES, VOLUME THREE (Thursday, March 30, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “I Just Want To Make Love To You”

53. “THE SEVENTH SON” WILLIE MABON
54. “THE SEVENTH SON” MOSE ALLISON
55. “SEVENTH SON” JOHNNY RIVERS

56. “PARCHMAN FARM BLUES” BUKKA WHITE
57. “PARCHMAN FARM BLUES” JEFF BUCKLEY

58. “BABY PLEASE DON’T GO” BIG JOE WILLIAMS
59. “BABY, PLEASE DON’T GO” THE ORIOLES
60. “BABY, PLEASE DON’T GO” THEM

61. “YOU SHOOK ME” MUDDY WATERS
62. “YOU SHOOK ME” THE JEFF BECK GROUP

63. “I WISH YOU WOULD” BILLY BOY ARNOLD
64. “I WISH YOU WOULD” THE YARDBIRDS

65. “BIG TEN INCH RECORD” MOOSE JACKSON
66. “BIG TEN INCH RECORD” AEROSMITH

67. “BIG RAILROAD BLUES” GUS CANNON’S JUG STOMPERS
68. “BIG RAILROAD BLUES” THE GRATEFUL DEAD

69. “I CAN’T QUIT YOU BABY” OTIS RUSH
70. “I CAN’T QUIT YOU BABY” LED ZEPPELIN

71. “CHUMP MAN BLUES” BLIND BLAKE
72. “CHUMP MAN BLUES” DAVID BROMBERG

73. “SATAN YOUR KINGDOM MUST COME DOWN” BLIND JOE TAGGART
74. “SATAN, YOUR KINGDOM MUST COME DOWN” UNCLE TUPELO

75. “I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU” MUDDY WATERS
76. “I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU” THE ROLLING STONES
77. “I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU” THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT

78. “ROLL ’EM PETE” BIG JOE TURNER & PETE JOHNSON
79. “ROLL ’EM PETE” THE BLASTERS

YER BLUES, VOLUME FOUR (Thursday, April 6, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured Lonnie Brooks and “Spoonful”

80. “I’M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER” LAZY LESTER
81. “I’M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER” THE KINKS
82. “(I’M A) LOVER NOT A FIGHTER” DAVE EDMUNDS

83. “BABY, LET’S PLAY HOUSE” ARTHUR GUNTER
84. “BABY, LET’S PLAY HOUSE” ELVIS PRESLEY
85. “BABY, LET’S PLAY HOUSE” SLEEPY LaBEEF

86. “WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS” MEMPHIS MINNIE & KANSAS JOE McCOY
87. “WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS” LED ZEPPELIN

88. “DRINKIN’ WINE, SPO-DEE-O-DEE” STICK McGHEE
89. “DRINKIN’ WINE, SPO-DEE-O-DEE” DRINKING WINE” STICK McGHEE & HIS BUDDIES
90. “DRINKIN’ WINE, SPO-DEE-O-DEE” JERRY LEE LEWIS
91. “WINE” ELECTRIC FLAG

92. “SPOONFUL” HOWLIN’ WOLF
93. “SPOONFUL” THE BLUES PROJECT

94. “HIDE AWAY” FREDDIE KING
95. “HIDE AWAY” JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS
96. “HIDEAWAY” THE JEFF HEALEY BAND

97. “PEA VINE BLUES” CHARLEY PATTON
98. “PEAVINE BLUES” RORY BLOCK

99. “SHAKE YOUR HIPS” SLIM HARPO
100. “SHAKE YOUR HIPS” LOVE SCULPTURE
101. “SHAKE YOUR HIPS” THE ROLLING STONES

102. “KEY TO THE HIGHWAY” CHARLIE SEGAR
103. “KEY TO THE HIGHWAY” THE BAND
104. “KEY TO THE HIGHWAY” DAVID BROMBERG

YER BLUES, VOLUME FIVE (Thursday, April 13, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Train Kept a Rollin’,” “Hound Dog” and “Walk Right In”

105. “THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN’” TINY BRADSHAW
106. “THE TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN’” THE JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO
107. “TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN’” THE YARDBIRDS
108. “TRAIN KEPT A-ROLLIN’” AEROSMITH

109. “MY DING-A-LING” DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
110. “TOY BELL” THE BEES
111. “MY DING-A-LING” CHUCK BERRY

112. “JUNKER BLUES” CHAMPION JACK DUPREE
113. “THE FAT MAN” FATS DOMINO

114. “HOUND DOG” BIG MAMA THORNTON
115. “HOUND DOG” FREDDIE BELL AND THE BELLBOYS
116. “HOUND DOG” ELVIS PRESLEY

117. “WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON” BIG MAYBELLE
118. “WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON” ROY HALL
119. “WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOING ON” JERRY LEE LEWIS

120. “ROCK THE JOINT” JIMMY PRESTON & HIS PRESTONIANS
121. “ROCK THE JOINT” JIMMY CAVALLO
122. “ROCK THE JOINT” BILL HALEY & HIS SADDLEMEN

123. “AIN’T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN” LOUIS JORDAN
124. “AIN’T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN” CHUCK BERRY
125. “JOHNNY B. GOODE” CHUCK BERRY

126. “SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN” BUKKA WHITE
127. “HATS OFF TO (ROY) HARPER” LED ZEPPELIN

128. “ROLL AND TUMBLE BLUES” HAMBONE WILLIE NEWBERN
129. “ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’ PART 1” MUDDY WATERS
130. “ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’” CREAM

YER BLUES, VOLUME SIX (Thursday, April 20, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “It Hurts Me Too” and “Prodigal Son”

131. “AROUND THE CLOCK, PARTS 1 and 2” WYNONIE HARRIS
132. “REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’” CHUCK BERRY

133. “HONKY TONK TRAIN BLUES” MEADE LUX LEWIS
134. “HONKY TONK TRAIN BLUES” EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

135. “WALK RIGHT IN” GUS CANNON’S JUG STOMPERS
136. “WALK RIGHT IN” THE ROOFTOP SINGERS

(“BIG LEG BLUES” MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT, this version appeared in the OBR itself)
(“BIG LEG BLUES” PHOEBE SNOW)

137. “EARLY IN THE MORNING” JOHN LEE “SONNY BOY” WILLIAMSON
138. “EARLY IN THE MORNING” JUNIOR WELLS
(“EARLY IN THE MORNING” BOZ SCAGGS)

139. “THAT’S NO WAY TO GET ALONG” ROBERT WILKINS
140. “PRODIGAL SON” THE ROLLING STONES

141. “IT HURTS ME TOO” TAMPA RED
142. “IT HURTS ME TOO” ELMORE JAMES
143. “IT HURTS ME TOO” THE SUSAN TEDESCHI BAND
144. “IT HURTS ME TOO” JEREMY SPENCER

145. “TELL THAT WOMAN” THE BIG THREE TRIO
146. “BIG BOAT” PETER, PAUL & MARY

147. “GETTIN’ DIRTY JUST SHAKIN’ THAT THING” ROMEO “DAD” NELSON
148. “STRUT THAT THING” CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON

149. “I DON’T KNOW” CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON
150. “I DON’T KNOW” WILLIE MABON
151. “I DON’T KNOW” THE BLUES BROTHERS

YER BLUES, VOLUME SEVEN (Thursday, April 27, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured Johnny Shines and “Big Road Blues”

152. “ONE NIGHT” SMILEY LEWIS
153. “ONE NIGHT” ELVIS PRESLEY

154. “DIDDIE WA DIDDIE” BLIND BLAKE
155. “DIDDY WAH DITTY” RY COODER

156. “JACK, YOU’RE DEAD” LOUIS JORDAN & THE TYMPANI FIVE
157. “JACK, YOU’RE DEAD!” JOE JACKSON

158. “BIG ROAD BLUES” TOMMY JOHNSON
159. “BIG ROAD BLUES” RORY BLOCK

160. “MULESKINNER BLUES” JIMMIE RODGERS
161. “MULE SKINNER BLUES” THE FENDERMEN

162. “RED HOT” BILLY “THE KID” EMERSON
163. “RED HOT” BILLY RILEY & THE LITTLE GREEN MEN

164. “ROCKIN’ AT MIDNIGHT” ROY BROWN
165. “ROCKIN’ AT MIDNIGHT” THE HONEYDRIPPERS

166. “FORTY CUPS OF COFFEE” DANNY OVERBEA
167. “FORTY CUPS OF COFFEE” ELLA MAE MORSE
168. “FORTY CUPS OF COFFEE” BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS

169. “I HEAR YOU KNOCKING” SMILEY LEWIS
170. “I HEAR YOU KNOCKING” FATS DOMINO
171. “I HEAR YOU KNOCKING” DAVE EDMUNDS

172. “MOTHERLESS CHILE BLUES” BARBECUE BOB
173. “MOTHERLESS CHILD” ERIC CLAPTON

174. “RAININ’ IN MY HEART” SLIM HARPO
175. “RAININ’ IN MY HEART” THE PRETTY THINGS

176. “I’M A MIGHTY TIGHT WOMAN” SIPPIE WALLACE
177. “MIGHTY TIGHT WOMAN” BONNIE RAITT

YER BLUES, VOLUME EIGHT (Thursday, May 4, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Crosscut Saw” and “Little By Little”

178. “COCAINE BLUES” LUKE JORDAN
179. “COCAINE” DICK JUSTICE
180. “COCAINE BLUES” DAVID BROMBERG

181. “FALSE-HEARTED LOVER’S BLUES” DOCK BOGGS
182. “FALSE-HEARTED LOVER BLUES” LEVON HELM

183. “PAYING THE COST TO BE THE BOSS” B.B. KING
184. “PAYIN’ THE COST TO BE THE BOSS” PAT BENETAR

185. “GUITAR RAG” SYLVESTER WEAVER
186. “STEEL GUITAR RAG” BOB WILLS & THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS

187. “CROSS CUT SAW BLUES” TONY HOLLINS
188. “CROSSCUT SAW” ALBERT KING
189. “CROSSCUT SAW” THE HINDU LOVE GODS

190. “FIXIN’ TO DIE BLUES” BOOKER WHITE
191. “FIXIN’ TO DIE” BOB DYLAN

192. “DIS TRAIN” THE FLORIDA NORMAL & INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE QUARTET
193. “MY BABE” LITTLE WALTER
194. “MY BABE” LITTLE WALTER (included Little Walter twice because three times seemed like it might be too many)
195. “MY BABE” THE JESTERS

196. “LITTLE BY LITTLE” JUNIOR WELLS
197. “LITTLE BY LITTLE” SUSAN TEDESCHI

198. “CALL IT STORMY MONDAY” T-BONE WALKER
199. “STORMY MONDAY BLUES” BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND
200. “STORMY MONDAY” EVA CASSIDY

201. “ON A MONDAY” LEADBELLY
202. “ON A MONDAY” RY COODER

203. “SOUTHERN CAN IS MINE” BLIND WILLIE McTELL
204. “YOUR SOUTHERN CAN IS MINE” THE WHITE STRIPES

YER BLUES, VOLUME NINE (Thursday, May 11, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Texas Flood” and “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”

205. “TEXAS FLOOD” LARRY DAVIS
206. “TEXAS FLOOD” STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN

207. “CONFESSIN’ THE BLUES” JAY McSHANN with Walter Brown
208. “CONFESSIN’ THE BLUES” CHUCK BERRY
209. “CONFESSIN’ THE BLUES” THE ROLLING STONES

210. “ALL AROUND MAN” BO CARTER
211. “ALL AROUND MAN” RORY GALLAGHER (Ed’s list featured Lonnie Pitchford, but his version wasn’t available)

212. “AUTOMOBILE” LIGHTNING HOPKINS
213. “CHAUFFEUR BLUES” TOWNES VAN ZANDT

214. “COTTON FIELDS” LEADBELLY
215. “COTTON FIELDS” CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

216. “CORRINE CORRINA” BO CARTER
217. “CORRINE CORRINA” BIG JOE TURNER
218. “CORRINA CORRINA” JOHNNY CARROLL

219. “THAT BLACK SNAKE MOAN” BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
220. “THAT’S ALL RIGHT” ARTHUR “BIG BOY” CRUDUP
221. “THAT’S ALL RIGHT” ELVIS PRESLEY

222. “HIDDEN CHARMS” CHARLES CLARK
223. “HIDDEN CHARMS” HOWLIN’ WOLF
224. “HIDDEN CHARMS” LINK WRAY & HIS WRAYMEN

225. “IT’S NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE” BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON
226. “NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE” SISTER ROSETTA THARPE
227. “NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE” NINA SIMONE
228. “NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE” THE GRATEFUL DEAD
229. “NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE” LED ZEPPELIN

YER BLUES, VOLUME TEN (Thursday, May 18, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Killing Floor”

230. “KILLING FLOOR” HOWLIN’ WOLF
231. “KILLING FLOOR” THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
232. “KILLING FLOOR” THE ELECTRIC FLAG

233. “HARD TIME KILLIN’ FLOOR BLUES” SKIP JAMES
234. “HARD TIME KILLING FLOOR BLUES” CHRIS THOMAS KING

235. “EAST ST. LOUIS TOODLE-O” DUKE ELLINGTON
236. “EAST ST. LOUIS TOODLE-O” STEELY DAN

237. “BROKE DOWN ENGINE” BLIND WILLIE McTELL
238. “BROKE DOWN ENGINE” PETER CASE

239. “LOST WANDERIN’ BLUES” MA RAINEY
240. “MATCH BOX BLUES” BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
241. “MATCHBOX” CARL PERKINS

242. “SOMEDAY BABY BLUES” SLEEPY JOHN ESTES and HAMMIE NIXON
243. “WORRIED LIFE BLUES” BIG MACEO MERRIWEATHER

244. “TROUBLE NO MORE” MUDDY WATERS
245. “WORRIED LIFE BLUES” THE ANIMALS
246. “TROUBLE NO MORE” THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
(“SOMEDAY BLUES” PETER CASE)

247. “IF YOU SEE MY ROOSTER” MEMPHIS MINNIE
248. “THE RED ROOSTER” HOWLIN’ WOLF
249. “LITTLE RED ROOSTER” SAM COOKE
250. “LITTLE RED ROOSTER” THE ROLLING STONES

251. “STEALIN’, STEALIN’” MEMPHIS JUG BAND
252. “STEALING STEALING” THE YARDBIRDS

253. “SOME THESE DAYS I’LL BE GONE” CHARLEY PATTON
254. “SOME OF THESE DAYS I’LL BE GONE” JAS. MATHUS & HIS KNOCK-DOWN SOCIETY

YER BLUES, VOLUME 11 (Thursday, May 25, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Sitting On Top of the World”

255. “SEE SEE RIDER BLUES” MA RAINEY
256. “SEE SEE RIDER” RAY CHARLES
257. “C.C. RIDER” CHUCK WILLIS
258. “SEE SEE RIDER” THE ANIMALS

(“MEMPHIS TOWN” LEROY CARR & SCRAPPER BLACKWELL)

(“MEMPHIS TOWN” JOHN HAMMOND)

259. “COO COO BIRD” CLARENCE “TOM” ASHLEY
260. “COO COO BIRD” BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY

261. “NOTHING IN RAMBLING” MEMPHIS MINNIE
262. “NOTHING IN RAMBLING” LUCINDA WILLIAMS

263. “SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD” THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS
264. “JUST SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD” MILTON BROWN & HIS MUSICAL BROWNIES
265. “SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD” THE RAY CHARLES TRIO
266. “SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD” CARL PERKINS
267. “SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD” HOWLIN’ WOLF
268. “SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD” THE GRATEFUL DEAD
269. “SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD” CREAM

270. “UP THE COUNTRY BLUES” SIPPIE WALLACE
271. “CHURCH BELL BLUES” LUKE JORDAN
272. “STATESBORO BLUES” BLIND WILLIE McTELL
273. “STATESBORO BLUES” THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
274. “STATESBORO BLUES/CHURCH BELL BLUES” DAVID BROMBERG

275. “I HAD A GOOD FATHER AND MOTHER” WASHINGTON PHILLIPS
276. “I HAD A REAL GOOD MOTHER AND FATHER” GILLIAN WELCH

277. “HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL” ROBERT JOHNSON
278. “HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL” FLEETWOOD MAC

YER BLUES, VOLUME 12 (Friday, June 2, 2017)

279. “ICE CREAM MAN” JOHN BRIM
280. “ICE CREAM MAN” VAN HALEN

281. “A MARRIED MAN’S A FOOL” BUTTERBEANS & SUSIE
282. “MARRIED MAN’S A FOOL” RY COODER

283. “DEATH LETTER” SON HOUSE
284. “DEATH LETTER” THE WHITE STRIPES

285. “ONE WAY OUT” ELMORE JAMES
286. “ONE WAY OUT” SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
287. “ONE WAY OUT” THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

288. “PISTOL PETE’S MIDNIGHT SPECIAL” OTTO GRAY’S OKLAHOMA COWBOYS
289. “MIDNIGHT SPECIAL” LEAD BELLY with THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET
290. “THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL” CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

291. “DEVIL GOT MY WOMAN” SKIP JAMES
292. “DEVIL GOT MY WOMAN” GREGG ALLMAN (Dion DiMucci’s version, which was in Ed’s list, wasn’t available)

293. “I’M WILD ABOUT MY LOVIN’” JIM JACKSON
294. “WILD ABOUT MY LOVIN’” IMELDA MAY

295. “DEATH DON’T HAVE NO MERCY” REV. GARY DAVIS
296. “DEATH DON’T HAVE NO MERCY” HOT TUNA

297. “MYSTERY TRAIN” LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER’S BLUE FLAMES
298. “MYSTERY TRAIN” ELVIS PRESLEY

299. “I WONDER” CECIL GANT
300. “I WONDER” A.J. CROCE

YER BLUES, VOLUME 13 (Thursday, June 8, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Catfish” (and many variants on that)

301. “EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND” SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
302. “EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND” THE WHO

303. “THE SOUL OF A MAN” BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON
304. “SOUL OF A MAN” BRUCE COCKBURN

305. “BLACK BETTY” JAMES “IRON HEAD” BAKER
306. “BLACK BETTY” LEAD BELLY
307. “BLACK BETTY” RAM JAM

308. “CATFISH BLUES” ROBERT PETWAY
309. “ROLLING STONE” MUDDY WATERS
310. “CATFISH BLUES” JIMI HENDRIX

311. “I’M SO GLAD” SKIP JAMES
312. “I’M SO GLAD” CREAM

313. “GOING DOWN SLOW” ST. LOUIS JIMMY
314. “GOING DOWN SLOW” HOWLIN’ WOLF
315. “GOING DOWN SLOW” HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS

316. “LOUIS COLLINS” MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT
317. “LOUIS COLLINS” PHILADELPHIA JERRY RICKS

318. “HOW CAN A POOR MAN STAND SUCH TIMES AND LIVE” BLIND ALFRED REED
319. “HOW CAN A POOR MAN STAND SUCH TIMES AND LIVE” ALEXIS KORNER
320. “HOW CAN A POOR MAN STAND SUCH TIMES AND LIVE” RY COODER
321. “HOW CAN A POOR MAN STAND SUCH TIMES AND LIVE” BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

322. “STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY” SISTER ROSETTA THARPE
323. “STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY” MICHELLE SHOCKED

324. “SINCE I FELL FOR YOU” BUDDY & ELLA JOHNSON
325. “SINCE I FELL FOR YOU” LENNY WELCH

YER BLUES, VOLUME 14 (Thursday, June 22, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Don’t Cry No More” and “Ain’t That Lovin’ You”

326. “DON’T CRY NO MORE” BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND
327. “DON’T CRY NO MORE” BOZ SCAGGS

328. “AIN’T THAT LOVIN’ YOU BABY” JIMMY REED
329. “AIN’T THAT LOVIN’ YOU BABE” LINK WRAY

330. “COCAINE HABIT” MEMPHIS JUG BAND
331. “COCAINE HABIT” OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW

332. “MISSISSIPPI BOWEAVIL BLUES” CHARLEY PATTON
333. “MISSISSIPPI BOWEAVIL BLUES” REV. PEYTON & HIS BIG DAMN BAND

334. “TE NI NEE NI NU” SLIM HARPO
335. “TEE NI NEE NI NOO” ALEX CHILTON

336. “SLEEPING IN THE GROUND” SAMMY MYERS
337. “SLEEPING IN THE GROUND” BLIND FAITH

338. “BALD HEADED LENA” PIANO RED
339. “BALD HEADED LENA” THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL

340. “MEAN JUMPER BLUES” BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
341. “MEAN JUMPER BLUES” COUNTING CROWS

342. “FAN IT” FRANKIE “HALF-PINT” JAXON
343. “FAN IT” WILLIE NELSON & ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

344. “YOUR BABY AIN’T SWEET LIKE MINE” PAPA CHARLIE JACKSON
345. “YOUR BABY AIN’T SWEET LIKE MINE” THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS

(“I’M A GUITAR KING” TOMMY McCLENNAN)
(“I’M A GUITAR KING” DION)

346. “BOOZE & BLUES” MA RAINEY
347. “TOM RUSHEN BLUES” CHARLEY PATTON
348. “TOM RUSHEN BLUES” REV. PEYTON & HIS BIG DAMN BAND

349. “MINGLEWOOD BLUES” GUS CANNON’S JUG STOMPERS
350. “MINGLEWOOD BLUES” OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW

YER BLUES, VOLUME 15 (Thursday, July 6, 2017),
Our Blues Roots featured “Shake Your Money Maker”

351. “NINETY-NINE YEAR BLUES” JULIUS DANIELS
352. “99 YEAR BLUES” HOT TUNA

353. “GOOD MORNING SCHOOL GIRL” SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
354. “GOOD MORNING, LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL” HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS

355. “HE CALLS THAT RELIGION” MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS
356. “HE CALLS THAT RELIGION” THE SOJOURNERS

357. “DRY SOUTHERN BLUES” BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
358. “WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN” LEROY CARR
359. “LOVE IN VAIN” ROBERT JOHNSON
360. “LOVE IN VAIN” THE ROLLING STONES

361. “29 WAYS” WILLIE DIXON
362. “29 WAYS” MARC COHN

363. “’FORE DAY CREEP” IDA COX
364. “OUTSIDE WOMAN BLUES” BLIND JOE REYNOLDS
365. “OUTSIDE WOMAN BLUES” CREAM

366. “DOWN ON ME” EDDIE HEAD & HIS FAMILY
367. “DOWN ON ME” BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY

368. “SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER” ELMORE JAMES
369. “SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER” FLEETWOOD MAC

370. “NEED A LITTLE SUGAR IN MY BOWL” BESSIE SMITH
371. “I WANT A LITTLE SUGAR IN MY BOWL” NINA SIMONE

372. “SALTY DOG BLUES” PAPA CHARLIE JACKSON
373. “AW YOU SALTY DOG” LEON REDBONE

374. “THE THRILL IS GONE” ROY HAWKINS
375. “THE THRILL IS GONE” B.B. KING

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This Eddie James “Son” House, Jr. song is remarkable for its insights (we know it as Son House’s song, but he learned it from James McCoy). Although he was a bluesman, Son House was also a preacher; and although he was a preacher and a bluesman, he recognized the jackleg preachers all over the place and called them out, even though his own behaviors might cause people to accuse him of the same. As you probably already know, Son House was an incredible musician and a complicated man, full of ever-shifting contradictions.

This wasn’t Bessie Smith’s “Preachin’ the Blues” (1927) or Robert Johnson’s “Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)” (recorded November 27, 1936 in San Antonio).

In general, I’m more drawn to electric blues, and there’s so much great electric blues, I often tend to neglect this kind (mostly excepting Lightnin’ Hopkins, but I also prefer his electric blues too, they’re doubly good). It offers a more immediate payback in terms of usable riffs and even its excitement level seems more immediate to me, but Son House himself is electric, and if I give myself up to listening, I can really get into his groove. As Michael Bloomfield said, “Son House is stone blues. He’s where it’s at.”

The following videos are roughly in chronological order, with a strong focus on “Preachin’ the Blues,” but also including other notable performances. (“Death Letter Blues” may be Son House’s most memorable song, so this is far from an overview on the man and his career.)

“Preachin’ the Blues,” the original recording, made at Paramount Records studios, Port Washington, Wisconsin, 1930. Two other songs recorded at this session were “Dry Spell Blues” and “My Black Mama” (there’s a version played by Son House and Buddy Guy in 1968 below).

Complete pre-war audio recordings in chronological order; most are solo but Willie Brown (author of “Future Blues,” mentioned in the lyrics of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads”) and others appear on seven songs from August 1941; titles, personnel and other info at YouTube.

Rare audio recordings, 1964

A conversation with Son House, Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield, and some music, Newport Folk Festival, 1965.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPpKU80trdw

Father of the Delta Blues: Complete 1965 Sessions, audio recordings; titles, personnel and other info at YouTube

“Preachin’ Blues,” from Father of the Delta Blues: Complete 1965 Sessions

“Preachin’ Blues” (alt. take), from Father of the Delta Blues: Complete 1965 Sessions

“Preachin’ the Blues,” Newport Folk Festival, Newport, R.I. July, 1965

Son House (first 17:30), Buddy Guy (17:30 to end), 1965

Son House, Oberlin College concert (audio recording), 1965

Howlin’ Wolf and Son House talk about the blues (as prelude to Howlin’ Wolf’s “Down in the Bottom”), 1966. This wasn’t exactly a friendly conversation. It calls attention to the fact that Son House was known to drink to excess and often couldn’t handle his liquor.

“Preachin’ the Blues,” 1967 (segment from clip directly below)

“Death Letter Blues,” “John the Revelator,” “Preachin’ the Blues,” “I Wanna Live So God Can Use Me,” 1967

“I Had the Blues This Morning,” probably 1967-1968

“Grinning in Your Face,” probably 1967-1968.

Son House and Buddy Guy, “My Black Mama,” 1968

Son House and Buddy Guy, “How to Treat a Man,” 1968

BBC recordings, July 6, 1970

Son House talks about a train (date unknown)

A parting thought about the blues (date unknown)

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Preaching the Blues, documentary (with earlier footage), part 1 (1977)

Preaching the Blues, documentary (with earlier footage), part 2 (1977)

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Remembrances of Son House with Stefan Grossman

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Fleetwood Mac, from Preaching The Blues, Live In Concert 1971

The Gun Club, from Fire of Love, 1983

John Hammond, the Lafayette Hotel, Marietta, Ohio, June 14, 1991

Corey Harris, from Fish Ain’t Bitin, 1997

Derek Trucks, from Out of the Madness, 1998

Derek Trucks, March 5, 2009

Allman Brothers, 2011

Larkin Poe, sisters from Atlanta, Georgia, recently posted a fine cover on YouTube. They’ve done Lead Belly, Robert Johnson and many other usual and unusual artists. Find out more at their website.

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Not in the mix of songs Ed Parker put together, but one I’ve been collecting variations on, this is a semi-curated playlist. Originally, I’d thought, how cute if I find 44 definitive versions, but it became clear there were far more worth hearing than that, so I kept adding them; the curated portion is at about halfway now; the rest, at 54 as I type this, are simply collected, waiting one more screening, then I’ll integrate them into the list. This song is one I play “in F, F!…”

It’s the last number on this set (41:18 in), Bremen Germany, November 6, 1964. Howlin’ Wolf notes that it’s by special request.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP8jG-ls_3I

Plus 5 and some asphalt. Washington, D.C., November 1970

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Although Ed called the playlist “Yer Blues” (the title of a Beatles song), that song didn’t appear anywhere in the playlist. I would have liked to find out where John Lennon found his inspiration for it. The Wikipedia article (link in title) mentions Robert Johnson’s “Hellhound On My Trail” and Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man.” If anyone knows more, I’d like to hear about it. Wikipedia tells us the original was recorded by all four Beatles, without any other musicians, on Tuesday, August 13, 1968.

Here’s one released soon after The Beatles (“white album,” 1968), with the Dirty Mac from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. It was John Lennon’s first live performance since 1966.

The Plastic Ono band from Live Peace in Toronto, recorded Saturday, September 13, 1969 (released Friday, December 12, 1969, with 1970 calendar included in original packaging).

There are many, many covers. There were about 45,400 search results for “’yer blues’ covers” on YouTube.

Jeff Healey Band, Cover to Cover, 1995

Lucky Peterson did a cover version, released on The Blues White Album, 2002. The YouTube channel this is posted on might be of interest to Beatles fans; it’s dedicated to covers of Beatles songs.