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☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ EDDIE ☆ C. ☆ CAMPBELL ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Eddie C. Campbell (May 6, 1939–November 20, 2018) passed away on Tuesday at 79. He put out 10 albums and worked as a sideman with lots of heavy-hitters, including Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Jimmy Reed. He wrote a lot of tunes and had a good sense of humor (see his holiday tune at the bottom of the page in the Merry Christmas, Baby section). Here’s his cover of Albert King’s “Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong” from Let’s Pick It (1984).
Other albums include his first one, the very fine King of the Jungle (below, 1977), The Baddest Cat on the Block (1985) and Hopes and Dreams (1997).
Here he is in 2010, performing “King of the Jungle.”
Tear This World Up from 2009 was his ninth album. Check out his cover of his friend’s “Easy Baby” on here. He really floats over the beats, “his way.”
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A trip I took to New Orleans in 1996 with my love was among the most memorable events of my life. There were a lot of high points, spending an afternoon walking through the 7th Ward searching for the home of Jelly Roll Morton (we never found it, but we met lots of friendly New Orleanians warning us about all the bad New Orleanians, so we were in good hands); we spent another afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of Congo Square (in Louis Armstrong Park), under the old trees. We happened to be there for the grand opening of a big music store, which meant a daylong concert featuring some heavy-hitters. Hearing Dave Bartholomew singing some of his hits was a definite highlight (he was 78 when we were there, he’s going to turn 100 this December).We spent many nights club-hopping, Donna’s Bar and Grill and the Funky Butt are the two main names I remember, following brass bands from one club to the next; the main band we followed were the then-relatively-unknown Treme Brass Band. At one club, can’t remember the name, members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band sat in with Treme. We also met Henrietta, Ernie K-Doe’s sister-in-law, who dragged us to his Mother-In-Law Club, where Ernie welcomed us by singing along to his own tunes on the jukebox. That was a very laid-back scene. One of the Wild Tchoupitoulas was happy to tell us all kinds of stories. We also took a swamp boat tour; the alligators heard the boat and hurried to meet it knowing they’d receive marshmallows.
The music below has more to do with my recent experiences that what we heard down in NOLA. When we got back from that trip, the Bluesiana Triangle CD, with Art Blakey (vocals, drums), Dr. John (vocals, keyboards, guitar) and David “Fathead” Newman (vocals, saxophone, flute) plus bass and drums was waiting for me in the mailbox. I didn’t plan for that, but it’s obvious New Orleans was on my mind, and it made the trip last just that much longer.
Thanks for checking this out. The next Blues Roots will appear on Thursday, December 27.
What follows is a modest spot check music-wise. I’d be overwhelmed trying to do anything like a comprehensive survey of New Orleans. In no particular order…
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“D-I-R-T-Y D-E-A-L,” Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1956
“Confusion,” Crowley, Louisiana, 1957
“Crazy Mambo,” Crowley, Louisiana, 1957
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“Low and Lonesome,” New Orleans, November 19, 1954
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Lazy Lester passed away 3 months ago at age 85. He was playing right up to the end.“I’m a Lover, Not a Fighter” Leslie Johnson (vocal, harmonica), rest of instruments unknown. Crowley, Louisiana, May 28, 1958
Its flip, “Sugar-Coated Love,” same personnel as above.
Harp and Soul (1988), guitarists include Robert “Town Crier” Thomas, Kenny Neal, Ernie Lancaster and/or Pete Carr
Blues Stop Knockin’ (2001), Jimmie Vaughan plays guitar
“The greatest way to repay those who came before us and who shared our sound, is to make sure they are not forgotten,” recorded September 25, 2006.
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“It’s Mighty Crazy” (1954); this is a cover of a John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson song (the first SBW).
Don’t miss “Rooster Blues” (it’s the first song).
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Eddie Jones was one of the few people who didn’t follow B.B. King’s bending style; he plays a lot more staccato. He’s the author of “Things I Used to Do”; Ray Charles played on his original 1953 version of it. He was Buddy Guy’s first inspiration, the guy with the flashy outfits and wild stage manner. He died young but accomplished much in his 32 years.Sufferin’ Mind, this compilation was issued in 1991, but the songs are from 1953 to 1955.
1956-1958 Sessions (2012),
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If you’re looking for some party music, you could do worse than to throw this on. Earl King and Fird Eaglin Jr., known far and wide as Snooks, were two of the many highly skilled, charismatic New Orleans musicians—both were singer-songwriter-guitarists. I’m not sure why but I’ve always associated them with each other, and unlike many of my suppositions, the more I learn, I find out that I’m not wrong. I don’t know how well they knew each other but they were born within a couple years and played with some of the same musicians, in the ’80s they were on the same label (Black Top), so they wound up on the same playlist.
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“Well I Done Got Over It,” this Guitar Slim cover was recorded March 12, 1960, with Mac Rebennack and Edward Frank (piano), Lee Allen (tenor sax), Clarence Ford (baritone sax), Justin Adams (guitar), George French (bass), Charles “Hungry” Williams (drums).
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Goldband Records is a St. Charles, Louisiana-based label that released lots of Cajun and R&B party music (when I started looking it up, I never expected it to still be in existence; the music I think of on Goldband is from the ’40s through the ’70s). Juke Boy Bonner, Big Walter Price, Katie Webster and Hop Wilson were a few of the blues musicians who had records on Goldband. King Charles and Clarence Garlow were Cajun R&B/blues artists, both of whom made it to the Ax Grinders playlist that I started a few years back for intense music (see playlist at bottom of section). Boozoo Chavis—one of the pioneers of zydeco, the fusion of Cajun and blues music—was on Goldband. Even Dolly Parton had a few records on there. Check out the discography in the link. You’ll probably see names that mean something to you. I didn’t come close to trying to list them all, just a few standouts, there are many really outstanding musicians in that time and place.This is the record that set me off on the Goldband tangent. At first, I just wanted to say something like, “Here’s a song that wouldn’t have existed without Big Joe Turner’s influence,” but I came back around to Doc Pomus’s much broader statement. And if it weren’t for rock ’n’ roll, most of us wouldn’t be here (how do I mean that? I can see why you’d ask).
Here’s a random artist from the ANLA subsidiary.
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If you don’t know the Charles Brown Christmas song mentioned in the header, it’s down below, last but not least. These are some others I think are worth checking out.
This guy really liked Christmas songs…
I couldn’t resist these after all…
Don D.
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