Folk and Blues Greats whose praise is long overdue

The first entry for this weekend is the underrepresented Karen Dalton - It Hurts Me Too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-BIKjypNsE

I had never heard of this lady until a friend said that I should grab the most recent Light in the Attic Records sampler. LiTA records gets a nod of gratitude from me this week. They have apparently made it their mission to bring to modern ears great music from decades ago. The first time I heard Karen Dalton's voice, I didn't know what to make of it. It is still hard to describe even after purchasing two of her scant few records. The tone of her voice seems to say "I've seen a lot, not all of it good". That is a sign of one who has lived life friends. The second thing Karen's voice says is "There is lots of beauty in this world too." That is also a sign of a life lived in actions rather than in years. I don't know much about the woman behind the music, only that she was making folk as a contemporary of one Robert Allen Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan. There is a picture in one of my album inserts of Karen Dalton and Bob Dylan singing alongside a third person I didn't recognize. I also can't say why she isn't better known, on par with Dylan if she was his contemporary and in my opinion as talented a songwriter/musician with a more pleasent though equally untrained voice. Listen to her and you'll like it.

Elmore James - The Sky is Crying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKEdlSTHjtU

Known as the King of the slide guitar, the passion for his subject matter is evident in his voice. Rumor has it that this song was written by James in a few minutes on a rainy day. The man's voice could be listed in the dictionary here http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the+blues Jimi Hendrix paid homage to James and his skill on more than on occasion. The lyrics for James's version of The Sky is Crying" are striking similar to those for Red House by Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix's first real musical love was in fact Blues. Hendrix also played an intensely psychadelic cover of the song with another person (rumored to be Buddy Miles) on vocals. Elmore James paved the way for Hendrix to become the otherworldly musician that he was. I am also confidant that Jimi Hendrix would agree with the previous sentence, see A Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix for proof.

Litmus test of the week

Huddie Leadbelly Ledbetter - Goodnight Irene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCf60f_sAA0

Leadbelly was the first person I know of to record this song circa 1927, though I am not a musicologist. He was born around the year 1885 and died in 1949 according to dictionary.com You can hear the pain in his voice, it's depth is matched only by one other voice I've ever heard. The song has been covered by half a dozen famous bands and singers, for proof just enter Goodnight Irene into youtube. Leadbelly was an earnest singer if ever one has existed. The world and it's music is better off having had him around. Only recently has his work been given it's full credit. A year after his death the all-white Weavers scored a number 1 hit on the charts with a kid-gloves (omitting the lyrics about the singer's suicide because he can't marry the woman of his dreams) cover of Goodnight Irene. Leadbelly was not credited by the Weavers as far as I know http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Number-One-Songs-50s.html. When you listen to this or any other Leadbelly track, give a nod to him in whatever comes after, I'm willing to bet he'd appreciate it. They don't have to enjoy it; if your significant other can appreciate Leadbelly's arduous musical journey, it's a good indicator that you chose well.