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 ›
Blues
Rory Gallagher’s Music Lives On: Michael Katon’s New Tribute
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.
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
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)”
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
…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
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 ›
B.B. King, Hells Angels and the Naked Hippie Girl
In a used record shop in Nottingham in January I find a 1970 B.B. King LP with a picture of a guitar made from a watermelon on the cover. It’s £8, and called “Indianola Mississippi Seeds”. Inside the beautiful gatefold… Read More ›
An Alternative best of Stevie Ray Vaughan
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
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:
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…
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
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 ›
Five Reasons Why The Rolling Stones’ “Out Of Our Heads” Rocks…
Here’s The Best Rolling Stones Song You Have Never Heard.. Or, part four of a quest to discover whether it’s worth buying those early Stones albums on vinyl… (Here’s Part one, which should explain what’s going on…) Out of Our… Read More ›
Which is Best? The Cover or Original? Going Down by Freddie King…
Ever hear a great tune by one of your favourite musicians without realising they are covering someone else’s song? It happens to me all the time. And rather than feeling disappointed, as I imagine a One Direction fan might feel… Read More ›
