Hey, blues fans: want a good laugh?

[NightTrain]

Just found this message posted to rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1950s. The writer is all of 40 years old:

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I like the blues as background music when there's nothing else on the
radio. I even like it more than r&b.

But Howlin' Wolf's version of the blues represents the genre at its
worst. The man's voice is abrasive as all hell, and his music is too
twangy (in a tasteless fashion) to properly capture the blues
atmosphere. It reminds me of any of a dozen blues bands I've seen
live at various bars in Hoboken and the Village -- all of whom I much
prefer over Mr. Wolf.

Now, granted, I prefer the big band blues of Woody Herman over this
homegrown washboard & harmonica stuff, so the purists here (cough) can
claim I don't get it -- but my favorite blues album is BALLAD OF THE
BLUES, by Jo Stafford. Backed by Paul Weston, it's actually a 1/2
hour nonstop medley of blues songs strung together with short choral
bridges by The Starlighters. It's a high-gloss, polished version of
the blues to be sure -- but blues doesn't have to be low-tech to
affect me as "real." Jo Stafford's perfect voice is not only far more
beautiful than Mr. Wolf's, it's more expressive as well -- and the
album, presenting an all-encompassing story of the blues, is an
experience not to be missed.

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"Howlin' Wolf represents the blues at its worst."

That's like saying Wilson Pickett represents soul music at its worst. Or that the Johnny Burnette Trio represents rockabilly at its worst. Or that the "5" Royales represent R&B vocal groups at their worst.

Incredible....

[mistertrickster]

1. The whole idea of the blues is that it is an honest expression of

emotion instead of some polished performance.

I don't know that I've ever heard "The Starlighters," but judging from their name, they don't sound like a blues band.

I wonder what the post-er thinks of Muddy Waters (best voice) and BB King (best lead guitar)?

[Bluzmann57]

2. Well everybody has an opinion

Of course, it's not always a correct opinion. Mr. Burnett(Howlin' Wolf) may have had a gruff voice, but he was a genuine article. And Wolfman Jack was, imo, a direct ripoff of The Wolf. Only Wolfman Jack made a ton of money with a little talent, whereas Chester Burnett made little money with more musical talent. Hopefully Burnett's estate is getting royalty payments from all of his tunes that are still being performed to this day.

[Bob3]

3. Ah the bliss of the ignorant...

well this clown doesn't want the blues - he wants faux blues aural wall paper that desn't make any demands on him - but allows him to be smug and superior while sipping a mixed drink. (Washbords and Harmonicas Indeed)

Wolf's muisc is a primal force - Sam Philips said when he heard Wolf sing "THis is it - this is where the soul of Man never dies". Wolf is as real as it gets - if you can't handle that go listen to Kenny G.

[Bonobo]

4. Yeah, I prefer blues singers who sound less...well, black.

Sarcasm suit on and sealed!

[BlueJazz]

5. Actually ......I agree with 90% of what he says.

If you really want to "get down to it" everybody who came after the
Black Folks singing in the cotton fields are just copy-cats and should be graded on an equal basis. As for BB King, There's a thousand Guitarists that would smoke him off the stage nowadays....
just as they're tons of singers that are better than hollin' Wolf.

Just because you are lucky enough to start a trend does not mean that you own it or are the best at doing it.....

[bobthedrummer]

6. We lived in a housing project for several years, I got an African-American

acculteration from living in Westlawn in Milwaukee. I remember hearing Howlin' Wolf's voice for the first time at a friend's house-it scared me in a good way!

I was about ten then. I'm 54 now, a boomer.
Howlin' Wolf was truly a bluesman of extraordinary talent, plus he had Willie Dixon songs for the most part.

I love his work. The Wolf.

[ben_thayer]

7. Whitebread cluelessness

at its worst. Scary to think that such dinosaurs still walk among us.

:scared:

[mr blur]

8. you got that right!

If it's not "sanitised for your protection" then it must be dangerous - best stay away from it, eh?

[Kat45]

9. I heard some good Howlin' Wolf this morning on the radio.

"Sunday Morning Blues" is the show on a classic rock station here in Boston (WZLX). Man, I have a real hard time getting myself up out of bed when I'm listening to all that great music.

It sounds like that guy likes blues lite, and perhaps faux blues too. LOL

[tigereye]

10. he ought to learn some history

sheesh

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. Could it be one of those trolls that are going around?

I mean, come on:

"I like the blues as background music when there's nothing else on the
radio."

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. What a maroon.

Get a life.

[SaintLouisBlues]

19. Ultra-Maroon

It is to laugh

(two Bugs Bunny lines)

[Whitacre D_WI]

13. I bet he likes BLUESHAMMER!

I wonder what he'd think were he exposed to Mississippi John Hurt. Or Blind Willie McTell. Or Skip James, or Brownie McGhee, or "the Masked Marvel" Mr. Charley Patton hisself?

Some people.

[NightTrain]

14. Know who that guy reminded me of?

Fans of today's so-called "country music" who claim to love the genre, "but I can't the old stuff." Well, excuse the fuck out of me, but "the old stuff" was REAL country!

Any "country music fan" who can't stand Hank Williams ain't really a country music fan, IMHO!

[bobthedrummer]

15. Or George Jones

too...

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. Or the Bearwallow Mountain Boys....

now that was country.

[LWolf]

17. <shudder>

I just hopped over to my music file and put Muddy Waters & Howlin Wolf on to remind me of why I listen to the blues. Currently playing:

Red Rooster.

[Doc_Technical]

18. Robert Johnson

eom