Blues

He Wrote For Elvis And Performed The Greatest Ever Beatles Cover Version: The Story of Junior Parker

By Every Record Tells A Story on March 8, 2017 • ( 10 )

The first thing you should know about Little Junior Parker is that he wrote the song “Mystery Train”, which Elvis Presley covered and made famous. The funny thing is, as a songwriter Junior Parker wasn’t prolific. You could say he… Read More ›

Rory Gallagher’s Music Lives On: Michael Katon’s New Tribute

By Every Record Tells A Story on February 2, 2017 • ( 5 )

It has been nearly 22 years since Irish bluesman Rory Gallagher last plugged a Stratocaster into a Fender amp and made it sing. But this week, an American bluesman with Irish roots will release a tribute to Rory Gallagher. Michael… Read More ›

Is it cheaper to buy vinyl online or in record shops? The Verdict.

By Every Record Tells A Story on October 16, 2016 • ( 7 )

The day came for us to finally resolve the question. Is it cheaper to buy vinyl online or in record shops and fairs? We had a couple of minor rules – we would try to buy a) Aretha Franklin’s Atlantic… Read More ›

How To Buy Aretha Franklin on Vinyl

By Every Record Tells A Story on October 15, 2016 • ( 3 )

Previously, we saw how “I Never Loved A Man” became a smash hit for Aretha Franklin. But what about those other LPs on Atlantic? Between 1967 and 1972 Aretha Franklin released eight studio albums, two live albums and a Greatest… Read More ›

The Making of Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”

By Every Record Tells A Story on October 7, 2016 • ( 8 )

Wilson Pickett moved towards Percy Sledge, ready to punch him, hard. Sledge had popped in during one of Pickett’s recording sessions at the Muscle Shoals Fame Studios, and as his name would suggest, began to sledge Pickett, telling him first… Read More ›

Aretha Franklin’s Emotional First Performance

By Every Record Tells A Story on September 29, 2016 • ( 2 )

…and Why It Took Nine Albums To Score Aretha’s First Hit Aretha Franklin sat at a piano in her father’s church, just days after her mother’s death. She was just ten years old and about to make her first ever… Read More ›

Hidden Gems and Criminal Records: Forgiving Roberta Flack For That Peabo Bryson Duet

By Every Record Tells A Story on March 7, 2016 • ( 4 )

In five minutes, by the end of reading this, you will have discovered, or possibly rediscovered, an absolute belter of a song, so bear with me… I’m going to ask you to listen to a relatively obscure forty five year… Read More ›

An Alternative best of Stevie Ray Vaughan

By Every Record Tells A Story on September 7, 2015 • ( 12 )

Has it really been twenty five years since Stevie Ray Vaughan died? Sadly yes. One of the greatest guitar players of any generation died on 27 August 1990 after the helicopter that was carrying him went down in fog, killing… Read More ›

Chess Records’ Forgotten Duo: Maurice & Mac

By Every Record Tells A Story on June 18, 2015 • ( 4 )

As we have seen over the last couple of weeks, “You Left The Water Running” is a damn fine tune. Versions by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Fire Dept all sound fab and groovy – and other artists that have covered… Read More ›

You Left The Water Running: Another Side of The Wicked Pickett:

By Every Record Tells A Story on June 7, 2015 • ( 0 )

Part 2 of a look at various artists who have recorded the song “You Left The Water Running”. Part 1 is here… I am the wicked….I am named the wicked, I got to be the wicked.” “I’d describe my sound… Read More ›

You Left The Water Running: Why This Otis Redding Track Went Unheard For A Decade…

By Every Record Tells A Story on May 31, 2015 • ( 1 )

A “vertical tasting” of R&B classic “You Left The Water Running” “You Left The Water Running” is a song with some great mythology around it. It appears in Nick Hornby’s classic tale of record collecting (oh, well, I suppose there… Read More ›

Fifty Years Ago Today: The Moment The Rolling Stones introduced Howlin’ Wolf To America

By Every Record Tells A Story on May 20, 2015 • ( 3 )

Regular readers know we like to celebrate a good anniversary here at ERTAS. Yesterday was the fiftieth anniversary of The Kinks’ most legendary fight, not to mention Pete Townsend’s 70th birthday. Today, 20th May 2015 is the fiftieth anniversary of the day… Read More ›