July 18, 2019

Modcast #432: Blues in the Beginning

Everyone knows that jazz and soul played a big part in the early mod scene, and so of course did the blues. Mostly white British youth became enamored of delta blues belted out by black American musicians in the mid to late '50s. The sounds of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Lightning Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and Sonny Boy Williamson swamped London music clubs. A first wave of older players latched on to the music like Alexis Korner, Zoot Money, George Fame, Cyril Davies and Graham Bond. These early blues adopters took other younger musicians under the collective wings and mentored the future stars of the British invasion in rhythm & blues such as Long John Baldry, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Manfred Mann, Eric Burdon, Rod Stewart and more. It was these stars that the early mods embraced and turned into the icons of their burgeoning teen music scene. This then is the blues in the beginning of the mod era.

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Cyril Davies & His R&B All Stars -- Country Line Special (1962)
Davie Jones & The King Bees -- Liza Jane (1964)
George Fame & The Blue Flames -- Do The Dog (1963)
The Steampacket -- Baby Baby (1965)
The Artwoods -- If I Ever Get My Hands On You (1964)
Spencer Davis Group -- Midnight Train (1964)
Them -- Don't Start Crying Now (1964)
The Rolling Stones -- I'm A King Bee (1964)
The Kinks -- Bald Headed Woman (1964)
The Who -- Daddy Rolling Stone (1965)
The Yardbirds -- A Certain Girl (1964)
The Birds -- Next In Line (1965)
The Pretty Things -- Big City (1965)
Downliners Sect -- Tiger In Your Tank (1966)

The Birds - That's All I Need You For (cameo in The Deadly Bees 1966)


Mick Jagger talks about Cyril Davies


Eric Burdon, Stevie Winwood, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and Rod Stewart (Steampacket) - I Feel Alright


Them - Here Comes The Night clip