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Today’s Blues Roots is different in two ways. First off, instead of focusing on a song or songs, it will feature two pivotal geniuses of the blues—both were songwriters, singers and guitarists (my intention is to focus on the guitar, but Eddie Taylor’s singing, especially on “Stroll Out West,” is just outta this world). The other difference is that instead of placing the videos individually in the page, I’ve made a single YouTube playlist (only 35 videos, I didn’t go crazy, but if I placed those in the page it would take forever to draw). This way, you can just sit back and listen (you can also save the playlist, or copy the whole block of videos to another playlist). Please click on the brown type for additional information in new windows (and use link in third paragraph labeled with “*to see…” below to see more info).
At first, I was going to focus only on Eddie Taylor (January 29, 1923–December 25, 1985) but one of my favorite albums by him is actually a recording featuring both him and Floyd Jones (July 21, 1917–December 19, 1989) that I’ll detail in the next paragraph. And they teamed up on a lot of recordings going way back; I think this 1966 recording was just an acknowledgement of that.
The Masters of Modern Blues series was produced by Pete Welding and released on his Testament Records. These songs (11 videos on the playlist) were recorded for volume 3 in June 1966 with the same musicians playing behind both Eddie Taylor and Floyd Jones. Both of them play guitar and sing (Eddie Taylor plays second guitar on the tracks that Floyd Jones sings on, while Floyd Jones plays bass when Eddie Taylor sings). The other musicians are Big Walter Horton (harp), Otis Spann (piano), Fred Below (drums). The songs from this album are labeled with “Masters of Modern Blues, [name] on vocals, recorded June 1966” next to the titles in the list (*to see that information next to the titles, please click on this sentence).
Eddie Taylor was the second guitar on many of Jimmy Reed’s and John Lee Hooker’s recordings, on the great ones, the ones they’re known for. He also played with Muddy Waters (until 1961), Elmore James (mostly between 1961 and May 24, 1963, when Elmore James died), Sunnyland Slim, John Brim…
Eddie Taylor and Jimmy Reed were childhood friends and Eddie taught Jimmy how to play, including that “lump-de-lump shuffle” that Jimmy Reed is known for, one of the things that makes his music so very likeable (got that name for the beat from Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin’s Chicago blues rhythm guitar book/DVD, I’d recommend the book to anyone; he does another one dedicated entirely to the music of Muddy Waters, should be good but I don’t know it).
Many of the drummers on Eddie Taylor’s recordings were phenomenal, Sam Lay, Fred Below, Earl Phillips (“the most recorded drummer in rock ’n’ roll”), Vernel Fournier (whose deft touch with pianist Ahmad Jamal elevated his “Poinciana” to one of the most astounding pieces of music, time-wise, that you’ll ever hear).
Eddie Taylor had two regional hits; he recorded both of those, “Big Town Playboy” and “Bad Boy,” several times. I’m not sure which versions were the hits or if they’re included here.
Floyd Jones was among the first blues musicians to use an amplified guitar; he’s mostly known for “Stockyard Blues,” “Hard Times” and “Keep What You Got.” If you check out his discography below, you’ll find he wasn’t recorded often enough.
I’m going to add some additional songs to the playlist, but not at the very end, just before Eddie Taylor’s 1974 album, Ready for Eddie.
I can’t keep track of or verify much of the complementary and contradictory information I’ve found, but DAMN, just listen… this… stuff… is dynamite!!!!
* * * * * R E F E R E N C E S * * * * *
Eddie Taylor discography on Discogs.com
Floyd Jones discography on Discogs.com
Stefan Wirz’s American Music discography (divided by names and labels)
Don D.
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