Blues Abound

Boppin' The Blues

The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock 'n' Roll, is the simplified version of modern music history. Certainly the Blues played a big part in the development of many of the big names credited with the Rock 'n' Roll explosion. Bill Haley was a struggling Western Swing artist till he heard Big Joe Turner sing the Blues. Elvis Presley, the spark that caused the explosion, was himself a young, white, sellable version of any number of Beale Street Bluesmen.

This obvious link with early 1950's Rock 'n' Roll has helped the Blues to reach a new audience over the past two decades as fans drawn to music of the 1950's have gone in search of their musical roots. By trying to put themselves in the musical shoes of young Memphis Cats such as Elvis, these fans have unearthed a treasure trove of Rockin' Blues sounds and made heroes of long forgotten Bluesmen. At Record Hops up and down the land Hep Cats can be seen stompin' to great Blues recordings from the likes of Sonny Terry, Dr. Ross and Slim Harpo. Whilst 'Blues Boppers' from giants such as Sonny Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters can be guaranteed to fill dance floors as hordes of die hard Rockabillys pay tribute to the Blues with their feet.

'Blues Boppers', as the name implies, are Blues recordings with a solid danceable beat and rhythm, not unlike Rockabilly, and usually with Harmonica well to the fore. Whilst the majority of these recordings come from the early to mid1950's some pre-date Rock 'n' Roll by more than ten years.

For anyone interested in finding out more about 'Blues Boppers' the best place to start is with Memphis Recording Services. It was no coincidence that Sam Phillips was the man to launch Elvis to stardom, he knew that there was a market for the 'Rocking Blues', he had been recording them since 1950 and knew that they would sell if he could package them for a white audience. Sam Phillips though was first and last a Blues fan. The roster of Bluesmen that recorded for Phillips only serves to prove the point and is impressive; B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, James Cotton, Little Milton, Sleepy John Estes, Pinetop Perkins, Walter Horton, and Rufus Thomas to name but a few. After experiencing the Sun Blues just follow your ears and check out some of the recommended tracks listed below. Most importantly dig the beat, get on your feet and Bop away your Blues!

Recommended listening :-