Blues Eye

"Chicago, September 24th, Tuesday. ....To the "Attic" - blues band of Bob Reidy fronted tonight by Johnny Littlejohn - he was great, like his record - I spoke to him for 30/40 minutes afterwards - a good man, appreciated my wanting to talk to him - saw eye to eye on topical matters... Eddie Clearwater on-stage then.

Chicago, September 25th.... Got the El to Bruce Iglauer's - Fenton Robinson with Bruce discussing order of tracks on his Alligator LP - got very boring.....Bruce took me to club "Quiet Knight". After crappy harp & piano player, the Muddy Waters Blues Band got on….these guys impressed me much: Pinetop Perkins on piano, a fine bassman who resembles Johnny Littlejohn, (two) guitarists, drummer and harp player. They played & sang some tasteful music. Especially I enjoyed (Little Walter's) "Juke" - great accurate Lockwood/Myers-type guitar.

Then Muddy Waters was announced, he came up from behind us (where we who'd spied him had been glancing) - much cheering by this audience. With his guitar on, he went into "Can't Get No Grinding" with famous strong voice & confident, unhurried phrasing. Beautiful "Blow Wind, Blow Wind", ageless "Hoochie Coochie Man". Then he took out his metal slide and rendered a controlled yet brilliant "Sail On, Honey Bee" - ah! We loved the solo he did!

Majestic Muddy, sitting with his large body on the stool, looking & sounding sophisticated, his raised-eyebrow expression on face - yes, an event!

Next he sang Reed's "You Don't Have To Go" and his own classic "Baby, Please Don't Go". Turn your lamp down low....! Then the climax, my favourite Morganfield song perhaps - "Howling Wolf" - such a sound - and with his lead guitar slide used again here - ah, what a memory! Last of the set was a melodiously sung "Corrina, Corrina, Where'd You Stay Last Night?"

Against Steve's advice I went to speak to Muddy, he gave me his autograph - a brief & friendly chat - I said how I loved his "Howling Wolf" - he thanked me & said he was pleased I enjoyed him!

Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin

Wes'd arrived with Hound Dog; Steve rang Pepper's Lounge & confirmed that the Wolf was in town! We took the notion to leave, paid, pooled our dimes to discover we had enough for the $2.50 entrance cover charge plus could share one cold beer!! After some trouble finding Pepper's on the South Side, we walked in around 12:15.

And Chester Burnett was standing tall at the bar! Talking to Little Milton! Steve & I sat down near the stage and began to sip half a bottle of Champale each. Silly DJ, and resident band with Scotty somebody, okay.

Saw Hubert Sumlin - I went and introduced myself - he's about 5'8", really friendly, young looking - I said he must've been really youthful when he played in 1950's Wolf sides - he jokingly said he was 12 years old! Said I loved his playing, and his record "American Blues" (Berlin 1964) - he told me excitedly he's got a new one out next month! Put his autograph under Muddy's, we shook hands again, and I went to get Burnett's. Wolf was rather austere, but signed his name, said his health was okay now, and told Little Milton Campbell that I was from Scotland, and he too gave me his autograph!

Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton

A little later Wes Race breezed in, with Hound Dog Taylor in high spirits, greeting everyone, laughing & chatting with them and me, shaking hands - so funny, he was wearing a WIG he seldom uses! His crucifix swinging, he excitedly leaned over & stretched to talk to folk - true Hound Dog!

Wes was very friendly, he kept saying what an incredible week I've experienced, must tell Blues Unlimited why blues is not dead. Rick Kreher and another friend came over to our table too. The sax player stopped singing, and Howlin' Wolf got on stage!

He sat, relaxed, on his chair in front of Hubert, the sax player, bass & drums. After the first number his excellent Wolf vocal rasped in a deep throated way, accompanied by his low-down harp. He, the Big Bad Daddy in spectacles & blue short-sleeved shirt, rocked in that chair, laying down mean blues, smiling on occasion, totally in control (he stopped the band on his last number "44" so he could do harmonica intro.!). He joked a little too. Did excellent numbers, so ably assisted by Sumlin, including a Sunday Morning Blues, "Spoonful", and by request ended with "Forty Four".

But Hubert was the man I looked at most - he played so inventively, in his unique professional manner. He smiled at the band (and me) often, he stepped to the beat, pursed his lips with concentration on his boyish face. "Woowop" effect of sliding (no slide!) up & down strings on occasion - Hound Dog loved it too! He made passionate love to his black and white Rickenbacker guitar. I shook his hand again after show. Steve & I left at 2:15 - so much in one night!"