I don't know if he's classed by folk hereabout as "country blues" but it was mentioned to me that Red celebrated his 74th birthday last week which got me to thinking about the first thing I ever read about Red (oops, sorry). It was written for Jazz Beat (April 1964) when Red was a mere 32 years old and totally unknown in Britain, apart for the cognoscenti that is.
After reading the piece that follows was it any wonder that an impressionable South London youngster rushed out to purchase the LP the moment it was released in May 1964:
JAZZBEAT R&B SUPPLEMENT
LOUISIANA RED
BACK PORCH BLUES
JULIEN SOREL
THE blues field in America has for some time been dominated by a handful of artists such as Muddy Waters Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker. These, all with their own compellingly individual approach to the blues, sell records consistently well all through America. There are, however, several young blues musicians and singers who are carrying on in the blues tradition and becoming increasingly popular as well, among them Buddy Guy Otis Rush and Lousiana [sic, BH] Red. The latter artist, virtually unknown until a very short time ago, is now being rated alongside the greatest of the blues singers on the strength of his recent record releases.
Lousiana [sic] Red was born in Bessemer, Alabama, and like John Lee Hooker, took the road at an early age. He is still only in his late twenties, and believes only in his guitar, writes and sings Red has worked at any odd job he could find, factory worker, railroad brakeman, dishwasher and often as not, night club performer. He is extremely well-built, reaching the height of well over six feet, and actually seems to be of Red Indian descent.
His music has an utter directness and simplicity, reaching the very roots of the blues, yet combining the rhythmic approach of the very latest artists in this field.
He also plays both harmonica and guitar on most of his records. He is an itinerant story-teller, a blues singer in the true sense of the word, travelling from town to town earning his living playing and singing. In a blues field which has been dominated by the same artists for a long time, he strikes a note of originality and freshness, which one is liable to underestimate on first hearing.
Lousiana [sic] Red's most interesting recording so far has been an LP for Roulette titled 'The Lowdown Backporch Blues', produced by blues lover Henry Glover for that label. Highlight of the album is 'Red's Dream'. which was released as a single prior to the album, and sold extremely well. In it, Red dreams that he's at the United Nations, and sets the whole nation right. First of all he deals with Castro, and tells him he'll have to go. Next he reprimands Khruschev in no uncertain terms for putting bases in Cuba, before being called to Washington to be the guest of the President.
He tells the President that he can run the country, but he wants to run the Senate and put a few soul brothers in, such as Ray Charles, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley and Big Maybelle. The song also has a pounding beat, and must rate as one of the best rhythm and blues records produced in 1963.
The other side of the single, 'Ride On, Red, Ride On' is almost as good, with Red fighting with the freedom riders in the South for integration Both these sides are included in the album, which is consistently good, with 'I'm Louisiana Red' and 'Sad News' standing out as exceptional tracks. The LP is scheduled for release in this country during May; no discerning collector of blues or rhythm and blues records should be without this one and watch out for the name of Louisiana Red in the future.
After reading the piece that follows was it any wonder that an impressionable South London youngster rushed out to purchase the LP the moment it was released in May 1964:
JAZZBEAT R&B SUPPLEMENT
LOUISIANA RED
BACK PORCH BLUES
JULIEN SOREL
THE blues field in America has for some time been dominated by a handful of artists such as Muddy Waters Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker. These, all with their own compellingly individual approach to the blues, sell records consistently well all through America. There are, however, several young blues musicians and singers who are carrying on in the blues tradition and becoming increasingly popular as well, among them Buddy Guy Otis Rush and Lousiana [sic, BH] Red. The latter artist, virtually unknown until a very short time ago, is now being rated alongside the greatest of the blues singers on the strength of his recent record releases.
Lousiana [sic] Red was born in Bessemer, Alabama, and like John Lee Hooker, took the road at an early age. He is still only in his late twenties, and believes only in his guitar, writes and sings Red has worked at any odd job he could find, factory worker, railroad brakeman, dishwasher and often as not, night club performer. He is extremely well-built, reaching the height of well over six feet, and actually seems to be of Red Indian descent.
His music has an utter directness and simplicity, reaching the very roots of the blues, yet combining the rhythmic approach of the very latest artists in this field.
He also plays both harmonica and guitar on most of his records. He is an itinerant story-teller, a blues singer in the true sense of the word, travelling from town to town earning his living playing and singing. In a blues field which has been dominated by the same artists for a long time, he strikes a note of originality and freshness, which one is liable to underestimate on first hearing.
Lousiana [sic] Red's most interesting recording so far has been an LP for Roulette titled 'The Lowdown Backporch Blues', produced by blues lover Henry Glover for that label. Highlight of the album is 'Red's Dream'. which was released as a single prior to the album, and sold extremely well. In it, Red dreams that he's at the United Nations, and sets the whole nation right. First of all he deals with Castro, and tells him he'll have to go. Next he reprimands Khruschev in no uncertain terms for putting bases in Cuba, before being called to Washington to be the guest of the President.
He tells the President that he can run the country, but he wants to run the Senate and put a few soul brothers in, such as Ray Charles, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Bo Diddley and Big Maybelle. The song also has a pounding beat, and must rate as one of the best rhythm and blues records produced in 1963.
The other side of the single, 'Ride On, Red, Ride On' is almost as good, with Red fighting with the freedom riders in the South for integration Both these sides are included in the album, which is consistently good, with 'I'm Louisiana Red' and 'Sad News' standing out as exceptional tracks. The LP is scheduled for release in this country during May; no discerning collector of blues or rhythm and blues records should be without this one and watch out for the name of Louisiana Red in the future.