Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14,
2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American singer-songwriter,
guitarist, and record producer. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloingbased on fluid string
bending, shimmering vibratoand staccatopickingthat influenced many later blueselectric guitarplayers. AllMusicrecognized King as "the single most important electric
guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famein 1987, and is
one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname"The King of the
Blues", and is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues
Guitar" (along with Albert
Kingand Freddie King,
none of whom are blood related). King performed tirelessly throughout his
musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts per year into
his 70s. In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.
King was born on a cotton plantation in Itta
Bena, Mississippi,
and later worked at a cotton ginin Indianola,
Mississippi. He was attracted to music and
the guitar in church, and began his career in juke jointsand local radio. He later lived in Memphis,
Tennessee, and Chicago,
and as his fame grew, toured the world extensively. King died at the age of 89
in Las Vegas,
Nevada, on May
14, 2015.
"The Thrill Is Gone" is a slow
minor-key bluessong
written by West Coast bluesmusician Roy
Hawkinsand Rick Darnell in 1951. Hawkins'
recording of the song reached number six in the Billboard
R&B chartin 1951. In 1970, "The Thrill
Is Gone" became a major hit for B.B. King.
His rendition helped
make the song a blues standard.
The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone, baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong, baby
And you'll be sorry someday
The thrill is gone
It's gone away from me
The thrill is gone, baby
The thrill is gone away from me
Although, I'll still live on
But so lonely I'll be
The thrill is gone
It's gone away for good
The thrill is gone, baby
It's gone away for good
Someday, I know I'll be open armed baby
Just like I know a good man should
You know I'm free,
free now, baby
I'm free from your spell
Oh, I'm free, free, free now
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's all over
All I can do is wish you well.
WALKING BLUES
Robert Johnson
SONGWRITER: SON HOUSE
COUNTRY: U. S. A.
ALBUM: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS
LABEL: PARAMOUNT RECORDS
GENRE: BLUES
YEAR: 1930
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16,
1938) was an American bluesguitarist, singer, and songwriter.
His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing,
guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of
musicians. He is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly the Delta
bluesstyle.
As a traveling performer who played mostly on
street corners, in juke
joints, and at Saturday night dances, Johnson had little commercial success or
public recognition in his lifetime. He participated in only two recording
sessions, one in San
Antonioin 1936, and one in Dallasin 1937, that produced 29
distinct songs (with 13 surviving alternate takes) recorded by famed Country
Music Hall of Fame producer
Don Law. These songs, recorded at low
fidelityin improvised studios, were the totality of his
recorded output. Most were released as 10-inch, 78
rpmsinglesfrom 1937–1938, with a few
released after his death. Other than these recordings, very little was known of
him during his life outside of the small musical circuit in the Mississippi Deltawhere he spent most of his
life; much of his story has been reconstructed after his death by researchers.
Johnson's poorly documented life and death have given rise to much legend. The
one most closely associated with his life is that he sold his soul to the devilat a local crossroadsto achieve musical success.
His music had a small, but influential,
following during his life and in the two decades after his death. In late 1938 John Hammondsought him out for a
concert at Carnegie
Hall, From Spirituals to Swing, only to discover that
Johnson had died. Brunswick
Records, which owned the original recordings, was bought by Columbia Records, where Hammond was
employed. MusicologistAlan
Lomaxwent to Mississippi in 1941 to record Johnson, also
not knowing of his death.
Law, who by then worked for Columbia Records, assembled a collection of Johnson's
recordings titled King of the Delta Blues
Singersthat was released by Columbia in 1961. It is widely
credited with finally bringing Johnson's work to a wider audience. The album
would become influential, especially on the nascent British bluesmovement; Eric
Claptonhas called Johnson "the most important blues
singer that ever lived." Musicians such as Bob
Dylan, Keith
Richards, and Robert
Planthave cited both Johnson's lyrics and musicianship as
key influences on their own work. Many of Johnson's songs have been covered
over the years, becoming hits for other artists, and his guitar
licksand lyrics have been borrowed by many later musicians.
Renewed interest in Johnson's work and life
led to a burst of scholarship starting in the 1960s. Much of what is known
about him was reconstructed by researchers such as Gayle Dean Wardlowand Bruce Conforth, especially in their 2019 award-winning biographyof Johnson: Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson (Chicago
Review Press). Two films, the 1991 documentary The Search for Robert Johnsonby John Hammond Jr., and a 1997 documentary, Can't You
Hear the Wind Howl, the Life and Music of Robert Johnson, which included
reconstructed scenes with Keb'
Mo'as Johnson, were attempts to document his life, and
demonstrated the difficulties arising from the scant historical record and
conflicting oral accounts. Over the years, the significance of Johnson and his
music has been recognized by numerous organizations and publications, including
the Rock and Roll, Grammy, and BluesHalls of Fame; and the National
Recording Preservation Board.
"Walkin' Blues" or "Walking
Blues" is a blues standardwritten and recorded by American Delta bluesmusician Son Housein 1930. Although unissued at the time, it was part of House's
repertoire and other musicians, including Robert Johnsonand Muddy Waters,
adapted the song and recorded their own versions.
Besides "Walking Blues", Johnson's
1936 rendition incorporates melodic and rhythmic elements from House's "My
Black Mama" (which House also used for his "Death Letter")
and slide guitartechniques Johnson learned from House. In 1941, Waters recorded the
song with some different lyrics as "Country Blues" in his first field
recording session for Alan Lomax.
It served as the basis for his first charting song, "(I Feel Like) Going
Home", for Chess Recordsin 1948. He later recorded "Walkin' Blues" with lyrics closer to
House's and Johnson's for his first single, released by Chess in 1950. Various
musicians have recorded the song over the years, usually as an electric
ensemble piece.
Woke up this mornin Feelin round for my shoes Know bout at i got these Old walkin blues Woke up this mornin Feelin round oh for my shoes But you know bout at i got these Old walkin blues Lord i feel like blowin my Woh-old lonesome home Got up this mornin, my little Bernice was gone , lord I feel like blowoon my Lonesome home Well, i got up this mornin Woh-all i had was gone Well-ah leave this mornin if i have to Woh ride the blind ah I've feel mistreated and i Don't mind dyin Levin this mornin ah I have to ride a blind Babe, i been mistreated Baby, i don't mind dyin Well, some people tell em that the worried Blues ain't bad Worst old feelin i most Ever had Some people tell me that these Old worried, old blues ain't bad Its the worst old feelin, I most ever had She got a Elgin movement from her head down To her toes Break in on a dollar most any- Where she goes, ooo oooooooooo To her head down to her toes Spoken: oh honey Lord, she break in on a dollar Most anywhere she goes.
OCEAN
DEEP
CLIFF
RICHARD
SONGWRITERS:
JON SWEET & ROD TROTT
COUNTRY:
U. K.
ALBUM: SILVER
LABEL: EMI RECORDS
GENRE: ROCK
YEAR: 1983
Sir Cliff Richard OBE(born Harry
Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an English singer, musician, actor, and
philanthropist who holds both Britishand Barbadian
citizenship. He has sold more than 250
million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
He has total sales of over 21 million singles in the United Kingdom and is
the third-top-selling artist in UK
Singles Charthistory, behind the Beatlesand Elvis Presley.
Richard was originally marketed as a
rebellious rock and rollsinger in the style of Presley and Little Richard.
With his backing group, the Shadows,
he dominated the British popular music scene in the pre-Beatles period of the
late 1950s to early 1960s. His 1958 hit single "Move It" is
often described as Britain's first authentic rock and rollsong; John Lennononce said that "before Cliff and the Shadows, there had been
nothing worth listening to in British music". In the early 1960s, he had a
prosperous film career with films including The Young Onesand Summer Holiday. Increased focus on his
Christianity and subsequent softening of his music led to a more middle-of-the-roadimage, and he
sometimes ventured into contemporary Christian music.
Over a career spanning 60 years, Richard has
amassed several gold and platinum discs and awards, including two Ivor NovelloAwards and three Brit
Awards. More than 130 of his singles, albums, and EPshave reached the UK Top 20, more than any other artist. Richard has
had 67 UK top ten singles, the second highest total for an artist behind
Presley. He holds the record, with Presley, as the only act to make the UK
singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s). He has achieved
14 UK No. 1 singles, and is the only singer to have had a No. 1 single in the
UK in each of five consecutive decades. He also had four UK Christmas Nº. 1 singles,
two of which were as a solo artist; "Mistletoe
and Wine" and "Saviour's
Day".
Richard
has never achieved the same popularity in the United States despite eight US
Top 40 singles, including the million-selling "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore".
In Canada, he had a successful period in the early
1960s, the late 1970s and early 1980s, with some releases certified gold and
platinum. He has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Europe and Asia, and retains a
following in other countries. When not touring, he divides his time between
Barbados and Portugal. In 2019, he relocated to the United States.
Silver is a 1983 studio albumby Cliff Richard,
marking his 25th anniversary in music. The North American version was titled Give
a Little Bit More and had a revised track list.
A
limited edition 2-LP box set of Silver was also released in the UK. The
second LP, entitled Rock 'n' Roll Silver contained 9 new recordings of rock and rollclassics, including Richard's debut single "Move It",
and one new song "Makin' History".
The album reached number 7 in the UK Albums Chartand earned Gold certification.
Love can't you see
I'm alone
Can't you give this fool a chance
A little love is all I ask - a little kindness
In the night
Please don't leave me behind
No - don't tell me love is blind
A little love is all I ask and that is all
oh Love i've been
searching so long
I've been searching high'n'low
A little love is all I ask - a little sadness
When you're gone
Maybe you need a friend
Only please don't let's pretend
A little love is all I ask and that is all
I wanna spread my
wings - but I just can't fly
As a string of pearls and pretty girls go sailing by
Ocean Deep - I'm so
afraid to show my feelings
I have sailed a million ceilings - in my –
Solitary Room
Ocean Deep - will I ever find a lover
Maybe she has found another
And as I cry myself to sleep
I know this love of mine I'll keep - Ocean Deep
Love can't you hear
when I call
Can't you hear a word I say
A little love is all I ask
a little feeling When we touch
Why am I still alone?
I've got a heart without a home
A little love is all I ask - and that is all
I wanna spread my
wings - but I just can't fly
As a string of pearls and pretty girls go sailing by
Ocean Deep - I'm so
afraid to show my feelings
I have sailed a million ceilings - in my –
Solitary Room
Ocean Deep - will I ever find a lover
Maybe she has found another
And as I cry myself to sleep
I know this love of mine I'll keep - Ocean Deep
I'm so lonely lonely
lonely...
maybe…
THE NIGHT HAS TURNED COLD
CHRIS NORMAN
SONGWRITERS: PETER
DAVID SPENCER & CHRISTOPHER WARD NORMAN
COUNTRY: U. K.
ALBUM: HEARTS ON FIRE
LABEL: KARUSSELL
GENRE: POP ROCK
YEAR: 1989
Christopher Ward Norman (born 25 October
1950) is an English soft rocksinger. Norman was the lead singer of Smokie,
an English soft rock band which found success in Europe in the 1970s. "Stumblin' In",
a 1978 duet with Suzi Quatro,
was a big US hit.
With the advent of rock and roll,
Norman acquired his first guitar at the age of seven. His early musical
influences were Elvis Presley,
Little Richard,
and Lonnie Donegan.
In these early years, Norman's parents moved
around the country a lot, which resulted in him going to nine different
schools, and living in various locations around England, such as Redcar, Luton, Kimpton,
and Nottingham.
By 1962, however, the family had moved back to Norman's mother's home city of Bradford.
Approaching his twelfth birthday, Norman started at St. Bede's Grammar School,
where he was to meet Alan Silsonand Terry Uttley, future members of Smokie.
As teenagers, influenced by the new era of
groups such as The Beatlesand The
Rolling Stonesand then folksinger, Bob Dylan,
Norman and Silson began meeting up and spent nearly all their spare time
learning new songs on their guitars. They managed to persuade Uttley to join them and, along
with a drummer friend called Ron Kelly, they formed their first band. The Yen,
Essence, and Long Side Down were just some of a variety of names they called
themselves before settling on "The Elizabethans". When Ron Kelly left
the group in 1973, an old friend called Pete Spencer was asked to take over on
the drums, and the group, which was to become Smokie, was complete.
Between
1974 and the early 1980s, Smokie enjoyed success touring all over the world,
but the strain and pressure of constantly being away from home and family was
beginning to tell on Norman. By the early 1980s he decided to spend more time
writing and working in the studio. Norman and Spencer now
worked together on songs for other artists including hits for Kevin Keegan("Head Over Heels in Love",
a No. 31 UK hit), and the England
football teamsong "This Time (We'll Get It
Right)". He also worked with Agnetha
Fältskog(on her solo album), Racey(co-writer
of "Baby It's You"), Donovan(backing vocals on Donovan),
and Heavy Metal Kids.
In 1978, Norman recorded a duet with Suzi Quatro,
"Stumblin' In",
which made No. 4 on the US Billboard
Hot 100and sold over one million copies.
Norman's solo career took off in 1986 with
the song, "Midnight Lady",
which was a hit throughout Europe holding the number one spot in Germany for
six weeks (where it sold 900,000 copies). Further success followed by the songs
"Some Hearts Are Diamonds",
"No Arms Can Ever Hold You",
"Broken Heroes",
"Fearless Hearts", "Sarah" and "Baby I Miss You".
In 1994, Norman was honoured by CMT Europeas their 'International Video Star of the Year'.
In 2004, he took part in the Comeback Show on
the German TV station ProSiebenand he performed "Stumblin' In" as a duet with C. C. Catch.
In the final episode
of the show, he was joined by Smokie for the final song.
On 2 June 2007, Norman performed at the Peel
Bay Festival, Isle of Man.
Norman
continues to this day to record and to perform gigs throughout Europe and
beyond.
Oh, here we are Like total strangers now I never thought that we would ever change somehow I look at you You played the losing game Or something in your eyes tells me it's not the same And the night has turned cold And the feeling is freezing me The nightingale has sung its last farewell And now there's no-one left who I can tell We used to talk About the things we'd do But now I feel alone whenever I'm with you You never know You never want to see The way you make my broken heart keep hurting me And the night has turned cold And the feeling is freezing me Oh, the nightingale has sung its last farewell Now there's no-one left who I can tell.