On 9/22/2014 9:32 AM, Tom Fine wrote:
> Let's be honest and say that many of the older blues guys played in a
> "primative" manner to say the least, probably because they were more
> interested in their next drink or their next bedmate than their next
> hours-long practice session. That's not to say the end result, at least
> in their recordings, isn't entertaining and compelling, but Johnson
> stands out for his musical skill (which is probably what caught the ear
> of other musically-skilled/aware people like John Hammond and Eric
> Clapton).
It's also worth remembering that this was *dance* music. That
"primitive" style may well have been a consequence of the need to
provide a strong beat for dancers in a noisy roadhouse with no
amplification.
Peace,
Paul
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