Robben Ford Discussion

roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:44 am Post subject: No Rolling Blues

I recently bought a Blues compilation box set that has a couple songs by Jimmy Witherspoon -- one live and one studio track -- and a bunch of other great recordings by other artists. There's no info on the liner notes when any of the music was recorded, or the original source of the music. One great live track, titled "No Rolling Blues", features a saxophone player.

I've read that Robben played sax while touring with Charlie Musselwhite and Jimmy Witherspoon, and that he played out into the mid 70s. I know there is one track "Softly Rolling" on the Anthology set that credits Robben on sax, and some liner notes from The Blues Collection cd mentions that Robben played sax with Charlie Musselwhite's band on Ray Charles' "Hard Times" and his own "Blue Stu."

There's been lots of Blues compilations released in the last few years. Does anyone know how to identify who plays on compilation tracks when the performers are not listed on the liner notes?

Does anyone know if "No Rolling Blues" was a song that Robben performed while touring with Jimmy Witherspoon in the 70s?
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telefunk1 · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:40 am Post subject:

Hi Road:

Yes, this song is on the Live: Jimmy Witherspoon and Robbben Ford LP/CD. 9.98 on Amazon. This is a great CD for early RF, much better I think than the Charles Ford or Musselwhite stuff from the same era. Lots of folk here look to the Inside Story as the seminal early RF, but for my money his work with Spoon tops the list. Great guitar work, and one of the best blues singers ever - what is there not to like?! Robben just cuts loose throughout.

Spoon basically sang his same songbook with whomever happened to be backing him up. You can get his earlier stuff with some of the great jazz players of the 50s backing him up, with tenor sax and piano taking the leads. Fast forward and you have RF taking over the solo spots.

frank0936 · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:44 am Post subject: RF &JW

I agree, Telefunk. I've got that CD and one or two more of Robben with Jimmy Witherspoon. Robben just smokes on everything. A couple of times you can hear 'Spoon laugh out loud in amazement at Robben's phrasing. Great stuff.

edpesco · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject:

yes tele, it's great throughout, the best blues singer together with the best blues player, what could one want more?