Notice that Howlin’ Wolf’s harmonica solos are full of E7 chords. It’s not! I know that main riff is all E minor pentatonic, but if you play everything as minor, it sounds wrong. The main mistake that white people make when they play this song (aside from playing it too fast, too loud and too dense) is thinking of the key as E minor. I do appreciate Creedence Clearwater Revival quoting the riff in “Suzie Q”. Pig Pen isn’t quite up to the challenge of the vocal and the Dead are sloppy as always, but at least they don’t rush. The first version I heard was the one by the Grateful Dead. I won’t link to any white covers of “Smokestack Lightning”, because I have yet to hear a good one. It is pretty clear that Patton was an influence on Howlin’ Wolf’s singing style generally, though. I’m not hearing the connection between the two songs at all. Once again, I’m not hearing much similarity here with “Smokestack Lightning” aside from the phrase “Hear me talking.” Howlin’ Wolf did learn “ Sitting On Top of the World” from these guys though.įinally, Wikipedia cites “Moon Going Down” by Charley Patton. It’s a blues group with a fiddle player, which I always love. Next, Wikipedia lists “The New Stop and Listen Blues” by the Mississippi Sheiks. Wikipedia lists three predecessors and possible inspirations for “Smokestack Lighting.” First is Tommy Johnson’s “Big Road Blues.” I don’t hear much similarity beyond sharing the phrase “Don’t you hear me talking.” It’s a great tune though. In the live version, Howlin’ Wolf’s vocal melody is also more free, and he plays longer harmonica solos. It was common for Delta blues singers to just improvise lyrics from a body of tropes. Here’s a live version of the song from 1964. Wild! The harmonica solo is three two-bar phrases, like the “a-woooo” refrain.
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