Entries by AlanPaul
Best blues albums ever: Joe Bonamassa and the Black Crowes pick their 30 Vital Titles
Originally published in Guitar World, February 2010 As Guitar World’s 30th anniversary celebration continues, Joe Bonamassa and Black Crowes guitarists Rich Robinson and Luther Dickinson pick their 10 essential blues rock albums. Joe Bonamassa Jeff Beck Truth “This album is the road atlas that mapped out the future for English blues and rock. It also […]
Occupy Beijing?
There’s a really interesting Chinese take on the Occupy Wall Street movement posted in translation on the China Geeks blog. In sharp contrast to the official Beijing view, which is that the Occupy protests show the decadence and crumbling of American society, writer Wu Yun sees the street protests as the signs of a healthy […]
Freddie King and Tom Dowd are finally in the R & R Hall of Fame
I don’t really give rats-ass about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I’m happy that blues titan Freddie King has finally been admitted, along with the great producer Tom Dowd. This item from the Dallas Observer captures the Freddie thing pretty well. To know more about Dowd, I recommend my piece with him […]
RIP Hubert Sumlin, video edition
I have spent some fruitless time searching for the audio tape of my interview with Hubert and wishing that I had some photos or, even better, video of the night. Finding this on YouTube made me feel better. The interview really captures Hubert’s sweet, gentle, exuberant nature as well as his fantastic playing. Enjoy and, […]
Joe Gilliam: What Could Have Been But Never Was
I’m not endorsing this whole premise and there are things even in this short segment that I don’t agree with, but Joe Gilliam is a fascinating character deserving of being better and I’m happy about this movie. Have a look. You have to love Howard Cosell’s subtle question: “Do you feel an almost overwhelming pressure?”
World B. Free – Greatest Interview Ever?
In 2000 I went down to Philly and interviewed World B. Free, then the Sixers community Relations man, for a Slam Old School. Slam recently posted it and I really enjoyed re-reading. This is a contendor to be my favorite story ever. It ran in SLAM 60 (June ’00). World Famous Whatever the reason, everyone […]
Greatest Blues albums ever, as chosen by Haynes, Perry and other guitar greats
I collected these lists of everyone’s five favorite blues albums of all time for a Guitar World story in approx. 1997. As you can see, some people took the request for 5 seriously…some just couldn’t limit themselves…and some just ignored it. I think it’s a fun list, and I’m especially proud to have included the […]