I originally posted what follows on Facebook on 2 July, 2022. After posting my normal weekly album "sermon," I felt I should revisit this one. The music was better than what I had to say about it...
During the time I've been writing these, I've written ad nauseum about my late father's influence on my taste in music, particularly the wide variety--in fact, I'm sure most of you are probably sick of it. But aside from Dad, and reading liner notes, and watching and reading interviews with my favourite artists to find out what they listened to, and watching films that feature songs I like that make me explore more of an artist's catalogue, there is one other person who influenced my taste in music. My Uncle Frantz also had a profound effect on my listening habits. He introduced me to artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and Eric Clapton. I've often said that crazy old coot may even turn me into an Eagles fan yet... actually, I'm pretty sure he already has. He was always tinkering with his stereo trying to get the best sound possible. Anytime he bought a new car, the first thing he did was replace the stereo because he knew that whatever was factory installed was probably substandard. I remember when I was given my first boom box, he connected his CD player (something no one else in my family had at the time) to the single most impressive boom box I think I've ever seen and showed me how to make my own mix tapes to play at home. I may even still have a few of them.
During one visit late in my high school career, he told me about some trip he had made, presumably on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States (his virtually lifelong employer). As I recall, on the plane he was seated next to a representative of Alligator Records, an independent record label based in Chicago that distributes blues music. He seemed genuinely excited to tell me about how the representative gave him all these free CDs. He also seemed equally excited to introduce me to artists like Sonny Boy Williamson, Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop, Lonnie Mack, Lonnie Brooks, and Saffire the Uppity Blues Women. I'm sure I would have discovered the blues eventually. Dad was a fan and between the Rolling Stones and the Blues Brothers I have no doubt it would have seeped into my musical consciousness at some point. But Uncle Frantz pushed me in that direction and helped me discover it a little faster than I probably would have on my own. I feel bad that I never got to thank him for that in his lifetime, so hopefully this week's album will make up for that.
I was first introduced to said album as it was part of that stash that Uncle Frantz got from the Alligator representative. "The Chicago Sun-Times" described this week's artist as, "the hottest purveyors of bottleneck boogie to come out of Chicago since Hound Dog Taylor." It's still among my favourite blues albums. From 1989, please enjoy Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials with their second album, "Chicken, Gravy & Biscuits."
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock and roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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