Leo Reisman: Happy Days Are Here Again (1929)

It’s ironic that “Happy Days Are Here Again” was recorded one month after the 1929 stock market crash. The song appeared in the 1930 film, Chasing Rainbows, but is best known as Franklin Roosevelt’s 1932 campaign theme song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqrb0Zsm4T8

Bessie Smith: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

Her life in links.

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/bessie-smith/bio/

Bessie Smith was the greatest singer of her period and extremely influential in jazz circles. She began recording in 1923 and became the highest paid black performer of her time.

Cemetery Blues (1923):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecH8deDHKJE

Downhearted Blues (1923):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA

St Louis Blues (1925):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA

Empty Bed Blues (1928):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BsIntS_Io4

The Great Depression nearly ended her career. Motion pictures with sound further hampered her career as Vaudeville disappeared in its wake. She continued to perform into the 1930s.

Bessie Smith died in a car accident in 1937.

The Doors: Back Door Man (1967)

A "back door man" is someone having an affair with a married woman. When the husband leaves, the other guy comes in the back door. The term dates to the 1920s. In the 60s, people began using to term to refer to "anal intercourse." Howlin' Wolf recorded the original in 1960. The Doors covered it seven years later and became a song that defined Jim Morrison, but also the sexual revolution.

Howlin' Wolf:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBd4PPZV6QI

The Doors (studio):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jChqf7syif0

The Doors (live):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EIi7ToTkA

Bruce Springsteen: The Ballad of Jesse James (2006)

"The Ballad of Jesse James" dates to at least 1924 when Bascom Lamar Lunsford recorded the folk song. It has been covered several times since then. Bruce Springsteen recorded his version in 2006. The piece transforms Jesse James into a family man and Robin Hood figure cut down in his prime by a coward. Interesting that a cold blooded killer should be transformed by the culture into a tragic hero.

The Ramblin' Riversiders version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKSFl6h0VU

Bruce Springsteen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX0xOgygfS4&feature=related

914. Spoonful by Howlin Wolf (1960)

"Spoonful" is based on two songs from the twenties. Charlie Patton recorded "A Spoonful Blues" in 1929. Patton's work was based on Papa Charlie Jackson's "All I Want is a Spoonful" from 1925. Willie Dixon took those influences and created "Spoonful" which Wolf recorded. It's one chord and Howlin Wolf. No one has ever sounded as bad ass as Howlin' Wolf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyfgb9sDT1I

959. Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin (1959)

Despite the smooth, cool cat stylings of Bobby Darin, "Mack the Knife" is edgier than anything from the Gangsta rap crowd. Listen to the lyrics about life oozing out as Darin tells the story about a murderer. Mack is a murderer, rapist, and arsonist. He'd probably cut up 50 cent before old 50 knew what hit him.

Despite being associated with Darin, the song is a cover of a 1956 song from Louis Armstrong. The original version stems from a 1928 play. The 1928 play has its origins in the Middle Ages. Simon Cowell calls "Mack the Knife" the greatest song ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qrjtr_uFac

978. Midnight Special by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Midnight Special was written in the twenties and popularized by Lead Belly in the thirties. It's been covered by artists ranging from Buckwheat Zydeco to ABBA. The most famous modern version comes from Creedence. I remember singing this at a Buckwheat Zydeco show in Mt. Pleasant one fine winter.

Best Line: You better not gamble, there, you better not fight, at all
Or the sheriff will grab ya and the boys will bring you down.
The next thing you know, boy, Oh! You're prison bound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrj5Kxdzouc