Tit-Deep in the Blues

While I was at work a couple of days ago, I was cleaning my disaster area of a desk and uncovered a playlist that I started working on months ago. It really wasn't very good, but I notice that two of the songs where "Blues"-titled songs, AC/DC's "Down Payment Blues" and ZZ Top's "Blue Jean Blues." That set my mental cogs a-turnin'. Surely there were tons of songs released by non-blues bands that had "Blues" in the title. So I set to making a list. I came up with 8 pretty quickly, and then set Alan on the trail. Of course he came to work the next day with a very nice list of his own. That night I went home, search through my iTunes and came up with 10 or so more.

In whittling this list down, I tried to stay away from blues artists, even rock artists like the Allman Brothers Band who lean heavily toward the blues. Now, realize that rock is blues-based, so the line is fairly hazy on this. In other words, don't be too critical of my selections on this basis. I understand that some of these bands do border on a "blues-rock" band. Nevertheless... I also tried to incorporate a number of different eras and styles. So this stretches from Pink Floyd's trippy little "Jugband Blues" from Saucer Full of Secrets, to Babyshambles recent "French Dog Blues" from Shotter's Nation. I also tried to stay away from the standards that would fill this category. So there's no "Subterranean Homesick Blues," no "Bell Bottom Blues," no "Roadhouse Blues." So here is a very, very eclectic take on the blues. Hope you like.

1. Social Distortion, "Ghost Town Blues," Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
2. Bob Dylan, "Outlaw Blues," Bringing It All Back Home
3. Merle Haggard, "California Blues," Same Train, A Different Time
4. Ryan Adams, "Rescue Blues," Gold
5. Townes Van Zandt, "Sanitarium Blues," A Far Cry From Dead
6. The Eels, "Electro-Shock Blues," Electro-Shock Blues
7. The Black Crowes, "Struttin' Blues," Shake Your Money Maker
8. Babyshambles, "French Dog Blues," Shotter's Nation
9. The Big Boys, "Same Old Blues," The Fat Elvis
10. Tom Waits, "Tom Traubert's Blues," Small Change
11. Blondie, "Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)," Plastic Letters
12. AC/DC, "Down Payment Blues," Powerage
13. Rick Danko, "Java Blues," Rick Danko
14. Dennis Wilson, "Pacific Ocean Blues," Pacific Ocean Blue
15. Steve Earle, "John Walker Blues," Jerusalem
16. The Kinks, "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoid Blues," Muswell Hillbillies
17. T. Rex, "Lean Woman Blues," Electric Warrior
18. Pink Floyd, "Jugband Blues," Saucerful of Secrets
19. The Black Keys, "Aeroplane Blues," Rubber Factory
20. Neil Young, "Vampire Blues," On the Beach

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In looking at this playlist though, I feel I've been neglectful of the ladies of the blues. So for my full album post, I will rectify this travesty. I can think of no better way to do that than with Etta James' first album, At Last! (1961). While this album may be more "soulish" than "bluesy," I think we can overlook this for the Matriarch of the Blues. Besides, this album has my two favorite Etta James songs..."At Last" and "Sunday Kind of Love."

Album Cover is the Link.