"Chicago, September 19th 1974,
Thursday. ... I rang Bob Koester, got the El over there to North Lincoln -
he was editing his Junior Wells LP (On
Tap) recorded on Labor Day. Bob is 42, very bright, started record shop (--->
producing) in 1952; said I could stay at his place to save a few bucks (30!).
Gave me "10 c. tour of Delmark" warehouse, then to his other shop on
W. Grand.
We 3 to
"Wise Fools" to watch Mighty Joe Young, who was good; "Stormy
Monday Blues" - enjoyed him. I spoke to Mighty Joe. At 3-ish Bob Koester,
Joe Segal and little Erwin Helfer, a white blues pianist, and I went for drinks,
then spent night at Koester's flat above warehouse.
Chicago, September 20th. Rick and I drove in his VW to the
"Peanut Barrel" - large sign outside announcing the band - my dearly
loved Otis Rush! Only a dollar cover charge to see him; he does not earn much,
for he has to pay his band out of that, and there were less than 150 folk there
in the club - oval bar in centre, the band on one long side. In time for second
set, we seated ourselves - I drank orange and ate the provided monkey nuts for
my supper.
Otis
produced a couple of brilliant instrumentals - he has such rapid flurries of
beautiful notes. Had a black drummer who also later sang a bit, and white
saxophone & bass. Stood there on-stage, leather jacket. I had already
introduced myself, so he often glanced over and smiled at me! Did "I Can't
Quit You Baby". I went & stood right under him, as people dancing were
obstructing my view - Otis got down off platform, just stood a foot from me,
rocking the house with his Fender Jaguar. Did a couple of soul numbers too.
Got his
autograph in next interval - "From Otis Rush to a Friend" - it's so
marvelous to see this legendary performer who I'd believed dead! He was not in the form he'd been when he did his Cobra & Parrot sides
(1956-61) - his voice was rougher, but great, and his band not original. Later,
when I spoke to Bob Koester he said Otis was rather uppity about recording. He plays
some soul, and little classic Rush - and is not anxious to pursue or make a
real go of his career. But he's such a talent, is a "better" singer
guitarist than BB King - he only needs a musically clever and honest producer
& promoter to really launch him. He is a reserved, gifted musician who
possibly sees himself at times as a has-been - no one comes along with the
right deal.
He played
"Hideaway", and a long and emotional "Worry, Worry, Worry",
only lessened in effect by poor microphone equipment - his voice, his inspired
guitar reach brilliant heights of love & poignant beauty. He told me he's
going to record soon perhaps for Pete Welding in London - hell, I hope!
After his
drummer had sung a couple you couldn't hear, Otis did "All Your Love"
for me! Then a great song saying that "Love is a Gamble". I said
good-bye & thanks, we shook hands again. Rick drove me back to Bob K's.
Cold wind tonight. I helped Bob look for their dog before retiring."
 |
| Otis Rush at the Peanut Barrel |
 |
| Mighty Joe Young at Wise Fools |
No comments:
Post a Comment