B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail (1971)

Folkers, folkers, folkers.  What's up folkers?  Jeff the Intern here, back after a brief holiday hiatus, when the internet shuts down and people go back to doing whatever the hell it is that they did before the internet was a thing.  

I know most of you have probably been pretty bummed, dare I say blue, over the lack of meaningful content posted here recently.  But never fear, B.B. King and his old girl Lucille are here to demonstrate just how blue you can get.

Recorded live in Cook County jail, during the halcyon days of 1971, this is an incredibly soulful set.  Like Johnny Cash's Live at Folsom Prison, there is something pretty stirring about a mainstream artist performing in front of a bunch of prisoners.  It really brings out the best in both groups.  B.B. King holds Lucille high on his chest, and coaxes out some really heart-rendering wails.  But I was even more impressed with King as a vocalist.  He belts these tunes.  The prisoners are a game audience, they serve almost as a set of background vocalists, their cheers and applause seem to season the down and out jams.

Highlights include the stop-time interlude three quarters of the way through "How Blue Can You Get?", the "3 O'Clock Blues" medley, and extended jam on "Worry, Worry."  Get this one while it's hot folks, who knows how long it will last.  

Magic Sam - West Side Soul (1967)

John Belushi, a.k.a. Jake Blues, dedicates the Blues Brothers performance of "Sweet Home Chicago" to the "late, great Magic Sam".  The dedication is earned.

Samuel Gene Maghett came to the city of Chicago in the late 1950's from his native Mississippi. When he arrived he was known as "Good Rockin' Sam", a talented guitarist who learned to play by listening to the Chess Records recordings of Muddy Waters and Little Walter.  At only 19 years old, he was invited to record for Cobra Records.  The subsequent sessions gave birth to the 1957 single "All Your Love" as well as a new stage name, Magic Sam.

This record, released by Delmark in 1967, is pretty much pitch-perfect Chicago blues.  Born of a decades worth of dues paid, both on the road and in the studio.  Technically sound, impeccably produced, with a healthy dose of hard-earned, dance-ready pop licks, it's tough not to gush about this incredibly talented bluesman.

But enough from me, check out Magic Sam starting with the incredible opener "That's All I Need".  Other highlights include "Every Day and Every Night" and "Mama Talk To Your Daughter"

Harlem Hamfats - Harlem Hamfats, Vol. 1 (1936)

Covered by Count Basie, The Ink Spots, Blind Willie McTell, Howlin' Wolf, and even Jessica Rabbit, these guys were no Hamfats (second rate jazz players) - nor were they from Harlem.  Some of the backing musicians for Memphis Minnie got together and formed this Chicago classic.  A mix of blues, swing-jazz, and dixieland that  you just may recognize.  Give the Weed Smokers Dream a spin...