Knowledge Hoover

I wrote this one too.

pressrewindmusic:

Keb’ Mo’ - ‘Perpetual Blues Machine’

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Taken from Keb’ Mo’s second album, Just Like You, in 1996, ‘Perpetual Blues Machine’ is today’s pick not only because it’s an awesome song, but also because any song title that hints at violating the First and / or Second Law of Thermodynamics in the name of blues is alright by me.

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My first introduction to Keb’ Mo’s music came when I started blues dancing last year—His music lends itself pretty nicely to being danced to. In fact, here’s some dancers at Emerald City Blues Festival 2008 dancing to another Keb’ Mo’ song - ‘Dirty Low Down And Bad’

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Dancing aside, here’s the history bit:

Keb’ Mo’ was signed to Okeh records — one of the oldest labels in the world (est. 1918) and one with a very significant and rich history in blues and jazz recordings by African-American artists — and Keb’ was one of the first artists to be signed to the label upon its reactivation in 1994.

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Though Mr Mo’ stepped away from the more traditional Delta Blues stylings of his debut album, with Just Like You, to explore arguably more forgettable, altogether softer and less bluesy songs, the album still won the 1997 Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. To be honest, to me, that feels like a slightly debatable accolade to give to at least a third of the songs on the album, but ‘Perpetual Blues Machine’ is one of the few tracks in a much more traditional vein. 

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He went on to win a second Grammy award for 1998 album, Slow Down and a third for the 2004 album, Keep It Simple. Just to add to his blues credentials, he’s appeared on albums by Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton, and in 1998 he even played Robert Johnson in a documentary called Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl. But, my favourite thing - he pops up in the final episode of The West Wing singing at the inauguration of the new president (perhaps don’t watch if you’re not into spoilers).

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An honour indeed.

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KS