Song of the Day: Son House, “Walking Blues”

Blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Son House was born on this day in 1902. Originally a preacher and opposed to playing secular music, he started playing the blues when he was 25 and learned to blend the intensity and vocal cadences of preaching with his singing. Muddy Waters emulated his style when he started out. "Walking Blues" was written by House and is a blues standard.

Song Lyric Sunday: Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, “Salty Dog Blues”

Jim wants bluegrass today, so I found this one. "Salty Dog Blues" was written by Wiley and Zeke Morris, and here we have Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys’ cover of it. Take it away, guys…

Standin’ on the corner with the lowdown blues
A great big hole in the bottom of my shoes
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Let me be your salty dog
Or I won’t be your man at all
Honey let me be your salty dog

Listen here Sal, well I know you
Rundown stockin’ and a worn out shoe
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Let me be your salty dog
Or I won’t be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Down in the wildwood sittin’ on a log
Finger on the trigger and eye on the hog
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Let me be your salty dog
Or I won’t be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Pulled the trigger and they said go
Shot fell over in Mexico
Honey, let me be you salty dog

Let me be your salty dog
Or I won’t be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Let me be your salty dog
Or I won’t be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog

Source: Lyrics.com

And that’s Song Lyric Sunday (and Song of the Day) for March 19, 2023.

Song of the Day: Big Daddy Kinsey & The Kinsey Report, “Bad Situation”

Blues singer, guitarist and harmonicist Lester "Big Daddy" Kinsey was born on this day in 1927. He moved from Mississippi to Gary, Indiana and worked in the steel mills. He and his sons formed The Kinsey Report in the early ’70’s. Big Daddy died in 2001, but the sons have kept the band going. "Bad Situation" is the title track from their 1985 album.

Song of the Day: Bing Crosby, “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s An Irish Lullaby)”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! How about a little Bing Crosby to set the mood? "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (Thats An Irish Lullaby)" was written by James Royce Shannon in 1913 for the Tin Pan Alley musical Shameen Dhu. Chauncey Olcott was the first singer to record it, and it was a #1 hit for him. The song was revived for the 1944 movie Going My Way, which starred Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald.