Living With The Blues

They sing about it a million times over. Some musicians sound like it and some may look like it. But it takes a real blues musician to actually live the blues. They are far and between but they can be found in the back woods or in the deep alleys. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee are living the blues. They are probably the greatest blues duo to ever grace the stage. Here you can hear Sonny with his deafening holler in between blowing on the harmonica while Brownie explains how blue it can be. Sonny and Brownie were not only big in the blues world but they also took the folk world by storm while influencing Bob Dylan, Pete Seegar, Dave Van Ronk, Fred Neil and many more after performing all over New York City. Listen to them sing of the blues and you can just close your eyes and feel it. It sends chills up and down your spine.

A Pentagle Of Music

Pentangle are a British band formed in the late 60's who floored spectators with their brand of folk jazz. Headed by guitar virtuoso Bert Jansch they had a huge commercial success over in Europe and most of the US. Jansch's strong voice paired well with Jacqui McShee's angelic soft voice. Pentangle used a plethora of different instruments in traditional folk songs to change the sound but still hold true to the richness of folk. House Carpenter is an old traditional folk song that has been sung by Dave Van Ronk, Doc Watson, and Joan Beaz just to name a few. Here Pentangle switched it up by throwing in a indian sitar and it sounded beautiful under McShees and Janschs voices. Beautiful job from one of Britian's national treasure.

If You Wanna Be A Hero Follow Van Ronk

This song has got to be one of the most raw patriotic war songs I've ever heard. Dave Van Ronk was the leader of the New York folk scene in the 60's. Residing in Greenwich Village where clubs like the Cafe Wha?, Folk City, The Bitter End and the Gaslight Cafe were just a few that sparked the careers of Bob Dylan, Joan Beaz, Pete Seeger, Weavers, The Kingston Trio, Phil Ochs and many many more. But with all the big names to come out Van Ronk was always considered the king of the Village. His rough and scratchy voice fits perfectly with this bitter song. A song about a veteran coming back with battle scars and nothing left, still getting left in the dirt with no respect for what he has done. The song is as raw as it gets and I love it, its one of my favorite Van Ronk songs to date.