Elmore James...?!
Question: With the recent passing of Ike Turner, the obits listed many blues ax-men Ike Turner played for... but left out Elmore James a man who should have some credit for helping Ike get his chops. Does it seem that Elmore James is given the short shrift in the USA? Most of my Elmo discs (LPs only) are British releases. I wonder why...
Answers: With the recent passing of Ike Turner, the obits listed many blues ax-men Ike Turner played for... but left out Elmore James a man who should have some credit for helping Ike get his chops. Does it seem that Elmore James is given the short shrift in the USA? Most of my Elmo discs (LPs only) are British releases. I wonder why...
Elmore James was the most important slide guitarist in the years following World War II. He influenced numerous blues-rock guitarists including Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Duane Allman. He recorded "Dust My Broom" for Trumpet Records in the early 1950s and for a couple of years he recorded for several small companies.
One of the major reasons he may not get the credit he deserves is because he was not able to secure a long term contract with a major label (such as Chess). Also, Muddy Waters was extremely popular during the same period.
"Let's Cut It" (Ace CDCH 192) is a classic.
elmore james definitely does not get the credit he deserves and i have never understood why...i mean, 'dust my broom' alone should be enough to get him mentioned in the same breath as other greats of blues music...george thorogood (back in the day when he was good) was probably the only american musician who would give elmore props, especially in concert...
and, yeppers, all my elmore james vinyl discs are imports...it's high time someone do the man justice and issue some domestic cds...and it's high time elmore james be inducted in the rock and roll hall of bullsh---er, 'fame' as an early influence...
A fantastic slide guitarist.
He basically is the first player to make the transition from acoustic to electric forms of Mississippi Delta blues. I guess about the same time as Muddy.
We are lucky to even be able to get his recordings on CD.
Although I have been a huge Elmore fan for more than thirty years, and have about everything he ever cut, I am unaware of any connection between him and Ike, or of any particular influence he had on Ike's music. On the other hand, Ike definitely was influenced by Robert Nighthawk (aka Robert Lee McCoy) and started out carrying Robert's equipment. Robert was also a huge influence on Elmore's slide style. Apart from a handful of names like Muddy, B.B., Robert Johnson, etc., MOST blues players are un/under appreciated by all but a few. Foir those that have passed, it is too late, but many of the greats are still with us. I try to mention names like Hubert Sumlin and others on here any chance I get. I see them when they come to town, buy their NEW releases, etc. as my small way of paying my dues for the incredible music these people have left to us all.