November 5, 2007
Blues, my brothers
 

Blues, my brothers...

I feel so good right now... energized in a way that is difficult to describe. And it didn't take much to accomplish it, either. I merely sat down on my couch and tuned the TV to AMC. I caught the last 30 minutes of The Blues Brothers, and came in during the scene where Cab Calloway and The Cotton Club Orchestra are performing "Minnie the Moocher". Immediately, convulsively, inextricably, I felt my foot begin to tap and my hands start to drum on the sofa... the blues inside me demanded to come out! Cab in his white tuxedo, slow-handing around the stage with his trademark "Hidey, Hidey, Hidey, Hi... Hodey, Hodey, Hodey, ho...skiddley, skiddley, skiddley, skee...", the crowd going wild and whatever soul I possess suddenly yearning to stand and dance along with him.

Then, on cue, Jake and Elwood goofy-foot their way onto the stage with, "Everybody loves somebody", Wilson Pickett's masterpiece zephyring non-stop across my consciousness, culminating in Sam Cooke's immortal, "Sweet Home Chicago" before I was able to realize that I'm really neither black nor standing alongside a thousand other revelers in Calumet City, Illinois… and I didn’t care. Sweet Jesus, does it get any better than this?

I don't need Masterpiece Theater right now... it'll wait. For now, I think I'll just go put on a little early Jimi Hendrix or Howlin' Wolf and pretend it's 1964, when we still had a conscience and time to feel our music's soul.

posted by Bob Church at 08:05 AM | in:
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Comments:
What's that Purple Haze?
Yes! Jimi Hendrix...I have that album stashed somewhere myself. I just don't have a 'record player' anymore...but I could look at the cover and that might satisfy my back to the 60's urge!
Posted by HouseMouse at 08:24 AM, November 5, 2007 | Link | |
Far out!
Yea, the 60's are a state of mind. (Note** For any of you who weren't fortunate enough to experience the Full Monty of the 60's... I'll pray for you.)

For me, the decade offered such an incredible conflagration of music and crossover of cultures that every 'meal' was a banquet of new flavors, each more delicious than the last... consciousness expanded (even without the aid of hallucinogenic drugs) and I honestly felt that I had re-discovered myself.

Just amazing...
Posted by Bubba at 08:37 AM, November 5, 2007 | Link | |
Untitled Comment
That was a time when you could hear any type of music coming from a radio. When you could whistle blues, R&B, rock, folk, big band, etc. Before pop tarts, before disco, before... Ah youth... It's a good thing that I've never grown up. And that I can still mentally dance to the tunes. I feel very lucky indeed that I can understand what you write.
Posted by hfurness at 09:56 AM, November 5, 2007 | Link | |
Untitled Comment
JO
Oh, yeah. I had a Hendrix album. Not only that, but my older brother still has an original 45 of Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher. I can remember hearing it play before I was even school age. He still has that record today. What a classic!
Posted by JO at 06:57 PM, November 5, 2007 | Link | |


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