Hitting Highway 61 in search of the blues
The Mississippi delta, the melting pot, a hot and humid brew of African, country and European sounds and rhythms. The south. The home. Where it all started.
I’m in New Orleans, Louisiana to start my blues heritage tour. Not quite an odyssey, but something akin to it.
New Orleans lies at the bottom end of Highway 61 — the Blues Highway — the popular route for blues performers travelling north from the Mississippi delta to seek fame and fortune in the northern Chicago metropolis.
The junction between Highway 61 and Highway 49 in Clarksdale, Mississipi is a famous crossroads. This is the place where, according to legend, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for mastery over the guitar. Meeting at the crossroads at midnight, the Devil tuned Johnson’s guitar so that Johnson could play any song he wanted.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll drive north up Highway 61, stopping along the way to take in some sounds and interview characters from the local blues scene.
- What was it like to hear Jimmy ‘Snooks’ Allen in a tiny bar in 1965?
- Is there really a secret chord etched on the back of Elmore Jenson’s tombstone in Clarencetown?
- Is it true that Thomas ‘Blind Boy’ Austin drove Eddie Fitch for over a year before Eddie’s manager discovered Austin couldn’t see?
- I’m not a big drinker — can I still join the ‘12 bar blues’ club?
- How do you eat a burger while pulling off a mean blues harp solo?
These are just some of the questions I’m hoping to find the answers to on this blues heritage tour.
How will I ride up Highway 61? In a chuffing fine car, that’s what: a red 1966 Ford Mustang.
Listen to interviews and music from the road trip each week on The Big Paws show from 6th March or subscribe to the podcast:
Related links
Gavin’s Blues Heritage Tour
A new regular feature starts next week for The Big Paws as our blues and soul expert travels up Highway 61 in a big fat red car — searching for the roots of blues.
You can hear the first episode right now (the full tracks from the blues legends are only available on The Big Paws, they’re restricted to clips on the podcast):
Another chance to hear the Brum Music Special on Saturday at 8am
One of our best shows was June’s Birmingham Music Month show with the lovely Jez Collins from the Birmingham Music Archive, and we’re broadcasting it again instead of a live show this Saturday (6/3) from 8am to 10am.
The show notes are here — and the tracklisting is here — so you can see what you’re in for.
We’re back live as usual next Saturday 13/3 — see you then.
The Big Paws 20/02/10 – Listen Again
In which we drill without drills, screw without a screwdriver — with Michael Grimes:
The Big Paws 20/02/10 – Tracklisting
“Nom nom nom song” – ParryGrip
“It’s Tricky” by Run DMC
“Apply Pie Bed” by Lawrence Arabia (it’s a free download)
“Letter From The Queen” by Strange News From Another Star
“Natural Selection” (ft. The Black Angels) by UNKLE (it’s a free download)
“Away Frm You” by Oberhofer
Dick in a Box
“The Passenger” by Iggy Pop
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (Soulwax remix) by Rolling Stones”Probububbly” by Emit Bloch
“Seduced And Abandoned” by The Magnetic Fields
“Figures” by Absolute Body Control (it’s a free download)
“Cooler Couleur” (ft. Yelle) by Crookers
“I Met Up With The King” by First Aid Kit
Brass Section: “Why Don’t You” by Gramophonedzie
“Love Is A Wave” by Crystal Stilts (it’s a free download)
“Tidal Wave” by Thee Oh Sees (it’s a free download)
“Overjoyed” by Circulatory System
“Was It Worth It” by Summer Camp
Songs to Vacuum to: “Afterglow” by The Small Faces
“Please Don’t Put Me On A Slow Boat To Trowbridge” by Hugh Cornwell
“Paradise Circus” by The Lilac Time
