Originally posted on facebook - late November 2010
10 – Mr E’s Beautiful Blues – The Eels.
This is the only Eels song I know, as it appeared on one of the compilation CD’s from the Panel. I don’t really know what its about, and maybe I am taking it out of context, but it just seems to put me in a good mood when I hear it, I think it’s the line “goddam right it’s a beautiful day” that features in the chorus.
9 – Goldfields Blues – Tim Rogers.
Tim is back, this time with an entry from his album "Spit Polish". I find this song very catchy, as Mr Rogers sings about heading across to WA on a plane, with a bar tab running. Great stuff.
8 – Singing in Vietnam Talking Blues – Johnny Cash.
If you aren’t familiar with this song, then the title of it pretty much sums up what it is. It is an incredibly simple song, but I find it quite moving. During the Vietnam War, Cash and his wife June went across to perform for the troops, and delivered in spoken word, Cash talks about the experience, and how scared they were, and how they would spend their days at the hospital talking to the injured, then perform at night. For some reason, it just really gets under my skin, a very powerful track. And for those of you that like Johnny Cash, you may not have seen the last of him on this list!!
7 - This Is Not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues –
Rodriguez.
I have already talked about Rodriguez (see number 16), but this song is a cracker, probably accurately described as an outburst. Check out the opening lines to get the general drift of the song:
“The mayor hides the crime rate, council woman hesitates , Public gets irate but forget the vote date , Weatherman complaining, predicted sun, it's raining, Everyone's protesting, boyfriend keeps suggesting, you're not like all of the rest.”
6 – Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran.
What a song!! What a great guitar hook!! What else can I say? This song just sums up the frustrations of being young perfectly. I love the part where he turns to his congressman for help, but is refused because he is too young to vote. Great, great stuff.
I know, the suspense is probably killing you, so here it is, the top five blues songs:
5 – Cocaine Blues – Johnny Cash.
I can’t really put my finger on what it is I like about this song, given the lyrics discuss some irresponsible behaviour, including a very poor attitude to woman (and ultimately shooting a woman!). But I think its Cash’s vocal delivery that does it for me, it really makes you get into the mind and understand the character that he is singing in, great stuff, with the Tennessee Three’s trademark rhythm keeping time.
4 – Yer Blues – The Beatles.
Who would have thought a song with such morbid lyrics (eg. “I’m lonely, wanna die”, “feel so suicidal, even hate my rock n roll”) would sound so good? But that’s what you get when you talk about the Beatles. A great blues song, that suits the “anything goes” vibe of the White Album perfectly!
3- Roadhouse Blues – The Doors.
Another great blues rock song, with Jim Morrison’s great vocals being showcased. One of the Doors best.
2- Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash.
Johnny’s third entry in this list is his best. Despite borrowing heavily (in melody and even some lyrics) from a little known Gordon Jenkins song “Crescent City Blues”, “Folsom Prison Blues” is a gem of a song, written in such a way that it elicits sympathy for an inmate who “shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die”. The song perfectly describes the frustrations of prison life, juxtaposed with the train the prisoner can hear. Although the prisoner hypothesizes about what the train passengers are doing (“they’re probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars”), it’s the freedom they have that he really yearns, demonstrated by the fact that the train moves along, whilst the prisoner must stay still, behind the walls. This perfectly sums up the loss of freedom that comes with being in prison
1- Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan.
The lead track on “Bringing It All Back Home” gets my vote as the best “blues” track. From its innovative film clip, to Bob’s frantic rambling of lyrics (including the brilliant line “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”), to the great tune that it is set to, its just an amazingly enjoyable listen.
So there it is, my first musical list. I hope you enjoyed it. Next list will be coming up soon....
Go Blues!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment