Topic: Favorite Signature Licks

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I thought it might be fun for people to list their favorite blues signature licks, the recurring instrumental responses to the vocals that various players incorporated into their songs.  The strongest of these licks are so memorable, and carry the identity of their songs around with them in the listener's memory.  No need to explain or justify choices, just looking for those that particularly speak to you.  Here are ones that occur to me at this time:
   * "Have You Ever Seen Peaches?"--Jimmy Lee Williams
   * "Right of Way Blues"--Blind Lemon Jefferson
   * "Cypress Grove Blues"--Skip James
Anybody have any other favorites?

All best,
Johnm

[harriet]

Two of my favorites that may fit into this category are in Spanish Tuning:
-Write Me a Few Lines - Fred Mcdowell
-Gravel Road Blues - Fred Mcdowell

[lindy]

Truth be told, I never met a signature lick that I didn't like. But three came immediately to mind:

Joe Callicott, Rollin' and Tumblin'
Skip James, Special Rider
Robert Curtis Smith, I'm Going Away.

Lindy

[Norfolk Slim]

Its simple and its almost crude, but not much can touch Son House's main Death Letter hook.

[ScottN]

I'll add a couple of my favorites:

Big Bill Broonzy's Stump Blues
Blind Lemon Jefferson's Easy Rider Blues

Thanks,
           Scott

[Blues Vintage]

Arrangement For Me Blues - Bo Carter

[Longsands]

Fred McDowell had some great riffs, but I particularly like the one he used for You Gonna Be Sorry / What?s the Matter Now / many other titles, especially when he played it nice and slow.

John Lee Hooker ? Tupelo

RL Burnside - Peaches

[Lignite]

Alberta and DeKalb Blues by Leadbelly

[waxwing]

Couple I've been playing a long time:

Tommy Johnson's "Canned Heat"
William Brown's "Mississippi Blues"

Wax

[Stuart]

Old Country Rock / One Way Gal - William Moore

Future Blues - Willie Brown

[oddenda]

According to what Alan Lomax said back when I worked with him, Wiliam Brown was tall, and left-handed. I didn't think to ask him if he re-strung his guitar or was it a standard "right handed" tuning! Can't think of them all!! And there is no mention of Mississippi anywhere in "Mississippi Blues", but is an absolute gem and reason enough to honor Lomax, but then there was... .

pbl

[Blind Arthur]

Blues Without A Dime - Clifford Gibson

[Old Man Ned]

Cairo Blues - Henry Townsend

[Johnm]

Ha!  You get the cigar, Old Man Ned,  "Cairo" is a tough act to follow!
All best,
Johnm

[Forgetful Jones]

Fun thread. I had a great time going through your choices. Stuart's William Moore selection "One Way Gal" is a song I had never heard before. Love it. Thanks for that!!!

Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Robert Wilkins: Rollin' Stone
Sleepy John Estes: Special Agent Blues
Kokomo Arnold: The Twelves
Robert Pete Williams: I'm Blue as a Man Can Be