FORTIFICATION

Hanging out with some good friends last night, in the music portion of our conversation (because there always is one) there was a mention of rhythm and blues, before moving onto jazz, early blues and other types of music. (Damn, I forgot Cesaria Evora!) That brief mention of rhythm and blues had me jonesing all day. The songs below hit the spot.

One thing that may hit you when you listen to these is how prevalent sax and piano were in the days just prior to rock 'n' roll proper. They were all but essential. In less than twenty years, the lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass and drums instrumentation would bust down the door, turn it up and basically act like assholes. (What? Sax and piano not flash enough?) Dare I say it, the first rock 'n' roll band to exclude both sax and piano may have been the very first rock 'n' roll sellouts.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Pete Johnson - Death Ray Boogie mp3 at Hearsay
Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson - Roll 'em Pete mp3 at Beware of the Blog
Louis Brooks and His Hi-Toppers - Baby, Baby, What's Wrong With You? mp3 at Boogie Woogie Flu
Dave Bartholomew - Carnival Time mp3 at Home of the Groove
Robbin Ray – Love My Baby mp3 at Hearsay This one is just nuts.