Tag Archives: blues

Walking Like a Man: Robert Johnson, “Preaching Blues” (1939)

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Steve Smith

Blues walking like a man, you say?  Sounds like a ghost story.  The song would go slow, with lots of reverb. That’s the line that starts Robert Johnson’s “Preaching Blues,” but forget about haunting reverb and creepy contemplation—the blues goes … Continue reading →

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The Greatest Rock Phrasing: Aretha Franklin, “Respect” (1967)

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Steve Smith

Phrasing is the most essential part of rock and roll.  Seriously. —Morgan Jones Starbucks was playing Tony Bennett the other day—“I Left My Heart In San Francisco”—and after I let myself be engrossed and impressed, I got to remembering how … Continue reading →

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Non-Mature: Jerry Lee Lewis, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (1957)

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Steve Smith

For David Moore In Allan Bloom’s notorious Closing of the American Mind [1] there’s a discussion of rock music which many (dare I say) of us would have quickly dismissed because of Bloom’s lack of discrimination between better and worse … Continue reading →

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