Happy Mother's Day • Long John Baldry & Rod Stewart

Long John Baldry had some hits going on in the 1960s in the UK, most notably 1967's "Let The Heartache Begin". Baldry was almost everything the record executives were looking for: tall (6'7"), blond, handsome and talented. What they didn't like was that he was a gay man, and even in the 60s, he didn't want to play the games. In fact, the laws were so repressive for gay men and lesbians, Baldry decided to leave the country and head for North America. No, not the United States, who were even more repressive. He went to Canada, the most socially progressive country around. When he was still flying high though, he worked with two young men who appreciated all he did for them. One was young rocker Rod Stewart, and the other was keyboardist Reginald Dwight, later known as Elton John. His buddies helped him out later, producing the 1972 album 'Everything Stops For Tea'. Each took ownership of one side of the album, hoping to help their friend revive his career. One of the songs not only featured Baldry, but also Stewart, as both took on the traditional Blues song "Mother Ain't Dead". I hope you enjoy it.

The album did not return Long John to the top of the charts, but is did bring him closer and closer to the music he loved, the Blues. In fact, he was one of the artists I enjoyed listening to, even before I discovered he was gay. I still enjoy listening to his music, but I am sad that he has been gone for almost 10 years now. 'Everything Stops For Tea' can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.

Bonnie Raitt • Runaway

Bonnie Raitt covers "Runaway", the big hit for Del Shannon in 1961. Raitt is performing on the legendary 'The Midnight Special' in 1977. The song was included on Bonnie's album 'Sweet Forgiveness'. That was the first Raitt album I purchased for my collection. There were more to come... When released as a single, the cover made it to #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is Bonnie Raitt singing "Runaway" live.

While I loved this song and album, it wasn't until 12 years later than Raitt found great mainstream success. In 1989, she released 'Nick of Time', which took the world by storm. It was a brilliant album! You can purchase 'Sweet Forgiveness' from iTunes and Amazon. For more about Bonnie Raitt, visit her official website. You can also 'follow' her on Twitter, and 'like' her on Facebook.

Blues in the Night...

Clockwise: Bessie Smith, Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey, Memphis Minnie, and Mamie Smith.

Normally, Saturday night is Torch night here at Soundtrack to my Day. But this weekend, I thought I would change things up just a little bit. I thought I would reach back to the same time I often do, but come out with a slightly different sound. Instead of the Jazz standards I often look to post, I went back to the 1920s and 30s, and went to the Blues. During that time, women were just starting to sing Blues, up until then reserved for men, at least according to the record companies. And I will start with a favorite of mine, the amazing Bessie Smith. I decided to share with you a sexy little number written by Clarence Williams, Dally Small, and Tim Brymn, and recorded by Bessie in 1931. I just find it too much fun, yet so delicious, in all the right ways. This is Bessie Smith singing "I Need A Little Sugar in My Bowl".

Next up, I am so happy to share with you the talents of one Gertrude Rainey. Early in her career, Rainey was billed as a 'Coon Shouter', referring to her style of Blues singing. She started recording in the mid-1920s, and quickly became a popular artist. But by the end of the decade, styles had changed, and Rainy was dropped by her record company. And while married, some of her songs had lesbian messages, and it was generally accepted she was a lesbian herself. She continued to tour the country, retiring in 1934 to her hometown. There, she ran two theaters. In 1939, she died of a heart attack. In 1923, Rainey began her recording career, her first single being "Bad Luck Blues". In 1924, Ma Rainey recorded "Honey, Where You Been So Long", released that same year.

Up third, we have a remarkable woman to be sure. Mamie Smith performed in vaudeville, using her talents as a singer, dancer, actor, and pianist to full advantage. But in 1920, Mamie did something no other African American woman had done to date. She made a Blues record, recording "Crazy Blues", and if being first weren't significant enough, the record went on to sell over a million copies in less than a year. This made it possible for other ladies, including the two above, to enter the recording studios. This is Mamie Smith with her impressive recording of "Crazy Blues".

Finally, the last entry is a woman I discovered for this post, Memphis Minnie. Born in 1897, Minne started playing guitar at the age of 8. She loved it, and when she turned 13, she ran away from home to play for money on Beale Street in Memphis. Soon she was touring with the Ringling Brothers Circus. When she returned to Beale Street, she tried to make it work as a musician, but as most woman knew, she wasn't being paid as much as the men, and needed to supplement her income with prostitution. Later in the 1920s, she recoded with her then husband, Kansas Joe McCoy. Together, they were quite successful, recording with several different record labels. They divorced in 1935, and the following year, Minnie released a new single, one she apparently related to all too well. This is Memphis Minnie singing "I'm A Bad Luck Woman".

Enjoy your weekend!

The Yardbirds • For Your Love

The 1965 hit, "For You Love". The song was written by Graham Gouldman, who later on was a founding member of the great band 10cc, along with Kevin Godley & Lol Creme. The song was sung by a recently formed British Blues band, The Yardbirds. The band was made up by Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, and a young guitarist named Eric Clapton. The Blues boom in the UK was strong at the time, with bands like Cyril Davies All-Stars and Rolling Stones, as well as Long John Baldry. The musicians were all looking to the music of American musicians Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, as well as Americans Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. The Yardbirds were an early example of the movement, combining Blues, Rock, and Rhythm 'N Blues to a great new sound. You can hear it in the song that went to #3 on the British Pop chart, and #6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Here are The Yardbirds singing "For Your Love".

Shortly after this song was released, Eric Clapton left the band, feeling they were headed away from the blues. He recommended a young man named Jimmy Page, who recommended an even younger guitarist, Jeff Beck. Clapton went on to join John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, before eventually joining the band Cream. Beck joined The Yardbirds, but was later fired after some erratic behavior the band didn't want to encourage. He went on to do some solo work before forming The Jeff Beck Group, which also featured Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. After Jimmy Page had a short stint in The Yardbirds, he went to do a bunch of studio work, and playing with his then-girlfriend, Jackie DeShannon. Eventually, he met up with Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, and they formed the iconic band Led Zeppelin.

Humble Pie • Hallelujah, I Love Her So

Left to right: Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Greg Ridley, and Jerry Shirley.

It is easy to forget that at it's heart, Rock 'N Roll has the Blues. It might never be more evident than when you look at some of the Classic Rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s, like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stone, Cream, and so many others. They all loved to do covers from the Jazz greats, like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and artists like them. They grew up listening to the music, and took it to a new level, utilizing the modern technology, like the electric guitar, to add something new. When done right, they could deliver the goods. In 1971, Humble Pie, a British band with a heavy sound, recorded a concert at the iconic Fillmore East, Rock promoter Bill Graham's club on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The album was a great double-album set, and remarkably consisted mostly of cover songs. But before I go on much longer, for those who might not know, Humble Pie featured guitarist and vocalist Steve Marriott from the Small Faces, vocalist and guitarist Peter Frampton from The Herd, former Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley and seventeen-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley. One of the great tracks on the album was the bands cover of a great song written by Soul legend Ray Charles, "Hallelujah, I Love Her So". Steve Marriott took on the lead vocals, with Frampton joining in the background vocals.

Before the live album could be released, friction in the band between Marriott and Frampton drove Frampton from the band. He embarked on a solo career, leaving Marriott and humble Pie to move more toward the Blues side of their music. A few years later, Peter Frampton became a household name with his own live recording, 'Frampton Comes Alive'. While it might be tough to find the double-album version of the concert, it still can be found for those interested. You can purchase 'Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore' on iTunes and on Amazon.