Dark n dirty blues.

[funkymonk]

Hi guys, i've been listenin to loads of tom waits and I was wondering if anyone know any dark and dirty blues bands, with some really gritty saxophone.

 

[Jules]

Actually a surprisingly rare commodity. In my quest for the same thing I've tended to look to the older R&B players- Big Jay McNeely, Bullmoose Jackson and their ilk. For moderrn stuff, I'm not sure if Morphine counts, their 'Cure For Pain' album vaguely fits the bill, there used to be an American outfit called Impala, who were superbly sleazy... (I've got the feeling I'm missing someone obvious here!?)

 

[funkymonk]

Thanks for the info Nachoman. I'm checking out the bands and people you've mentioned. I've just found Morphine on myspace, I'm really digging their stuff, they're a bluesy, grundgy, jazzy bunch!!! U You can listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/morphinejazz

 

[Jules]

If you're a Tom Waits fan Morphine should hit the spot nicely. Like I said- Cure For Pain is superb throughout, the rest of their output is worth a looksee too. There was a series of CDs called Las Vegas Grind which, well- pretty much did what it says on the tin- classic strip joint tunes. A big series and a lot of filler, but I seem to remember pilfering a few tracks from their Volume 2 for my own band.
Other winners- Sam Butera's version of Boulevard of Broken Dreams & Earl Bostic's take on Harlem Nocturne.

 

[funkymonk]

Yeh thanks nachoman, It really has hit the spot, I'm listening to them constantly on myspace, and readin up on them!!! Such a shame he died (esp as I'm only now appreciating them!!) I'm definatley buying cure for pain, and I was wondering what other album you would recommend (I've got enuff money for one more) . Could you advise me or give a sypnosis on the other albums they have.

matt

 

[Jules]

'Yes' & 'Good' are both decent albums, there are great tracks on both (Cure for Pain just had rather more consistent songwriting). 'Yes', in particular gets very Tom Waits with a fair bit of freeform beat poetry over a few tracks- plus the most extreme ever sound/production i've heard applied to a sax (the solo in Free Love). And there's their one (nearly) hit single- Honey White. 'Like Swimming' is the weakest, I reckon- they're going a bit funky and it doesn't seem to suit them too well.
'The Night', released after Mark Sandman's death, is superb but somewhat different in feel to the others- a lot of it reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen and there are a few great Led Zep with sax instead of guitar tracks, plus there's an Arabic influence creeping in too. there's also that certain creepiness of know that you're listening to him after he died- giving the whole thing more of air air of gravity.
If you're really going for full exploration the 'B sides and Always' CC has some good stuff on, film soundtracks, tracks from a Jack Kerouac tribute album etc etc.....
There's loads of live footage on youTube too.. and they were a superb live act. Sandman himself was incredibly charismatic.....

 

[sandeha_lynch]

For Gritty Blues Sax ... I'd recommend Dick Heckstall-Smith (and friends) Blues and Beyond.

The friends include Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Paul Jones, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Clem Clempson, etc ...

This is not old Blues, though - this is a Pete Brown production.

 

[Jules]

Good one, though I personally found this album extremely frustrating in that theres not nearly enough sax on it, waht there is is great but the ratio of vox and guitars to honkage is a bit too low for my liking...

Sandeha Lynch wrote:
For Gritty Blues Sax ... I'd recommend Dick Heckstall-Smith (and friends) Blues and Beyond.

The friends include Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Paul Jones, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Clem Clempson, etc ...

This is not old Blues, though - this is a Pete Brown production.

 

[sandeha_lynch]

nachoman wrote:
Good one, though I personally found this album extremely frustrating in that theres not nearly enough sax on it, waht there is is great but the ratio of vox and guitars to honkage is a bit too low for my liking...

Frustrating to have quality over quantity? 😛

But yes, you're right enough, though it's a blues gem and a classic-in-waiting.

 

[philthd]

yes is a stunner - imho

i was 14, it was spring, me and my mate were in virgin megastores and yes was on one of the listening points - it blew us away so much that we pooled our money for it, ran home and listened to it on repeat until late into the night.

i still cant put it on without dancing round like a loon (and gone for good has made me cry more than once)

nachoman wrote:
'Yes' & 'Good' are both decent albums, there are great tracks on both (Cure for Pain just had rather more consistent songwriting). 'Yes', in particular gets very Tom Waits with a fair bit of freeform beat poetry over a few tracks- plus the most extreme ever sound/production i've heard applied to a sax (the solo in Free Love). And there's their one (nearly) hit single- Honey White. 'Like Swimming' is the weakest, I reckon- they're going a bit funky and it doesn't seem to suit them too well.

 

[Jules]

It's a great tragedy that DHS didn't record more....

Sandeha Lynch wrote:

nachoman wrote:
Good one, though I personally found this album extremely frustrating in that theres not nearly enough sax on it, waht there is is great but the ratio of vox and guitars to honkage is a bit too low for my liking...

Frustrating to have quality over quantity? 😛

But yes, you're right enough, though it's a blues gem and a classic-in-waiting.