Pat Blythe – The Women of Blues Revisited, Part I….

I am swamped with another project that is sucking up all my time during the waking hours. I have less than two weeks to complete it and it’s seems to be growing arms and legs I wasn’t expecting. So…..just to rehash a bit of blues history, specifically the ladies, I thought I’d have my editor post this again as many of you have probably not seen it. I wrote three series, Women of Rock, Women of Blues and Women in Song. The Women of Blues was actually inspired by a contemporary whom I saw for the first time a couple of years ago. She had dedicated her latest album to a female blues artist I had never heard of. Read all about her and the women who contributed so, so much to the genre we call the blues. The famous and not so famous. They were tough, talented, single-minded, sexually liberated, passionate and most of them had more balls than the men. Read on, you might even learn something.

Pat Blythe – St. Valentine…A Little History

 

Valentine’s Day and it’s all over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter….every nook and cranny of social media, peeking quietly out of the shadows or screaming in your face. The stores began leading up to it the second Christmas was over. For many the day is the perfect time for a celebration of each other, a reconnection and strengthening of the bonds of togetherness. A special day set aside so they can canoodle to their hearts content. For others it’s a painful reminder they are alone whether by choice or happenstance…and there are many others who simply don’t care….it’s just another “Hallmark” day.

Pat Blythe – Fabulous Fall

Well “hello”….back again after a three-week hiatus. I’ve missed you. Today’s mind dump is going to be short and sweet. Playing catch-up to all sorts of “busy-ness” that just doesn’t seem to slow down or quiet down. Summer went by in a flash (and as fast as him too) and we are now halfway through September, heat waves and all. ….and no more whinging about the heat either….snow and ice coming soon enough.

Pat Blythe – Give Me One More Time….

 

 

Yesterday (Monday) was a “Chris Day”. A day when his death hits me like a ton of bricks. All the memories come rushing back and the gut-wrenching anguish just takes over and I can barely breathe. The emotion rolls over me like a tidal wave, literally bringing me to my knees. It’s unexpected and absolute. I’m ironing one minute and on the floor the next. I had been listening to a new song by Julian Taylor called “One Time”. The lyric running inside my head….”give me one (more) time to feel your light”….and that was the proverbial piece of straw.

Pat Blythe: The Women of Blues

Prologue….

Anyone heard of Memphis Minnie? How about Ida Cox, Victoria Spivey, Lucille Hegamin, Julia Lee or Maxine Sullivan? Me neither. How about Bessie Smith, Etta James, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Big Momma Thornton, Dinah Washington or even Janis Joplin. The latter are a smattering of the ladies most frequently thought of or mentioned when we think of great female blues singers….the former, not so much.

Pat Blythe: CMW — Over and Out Part 2 – Until We Meet Again

I was overwhelmed with what CMW had to offer. So much to see and do, so many contacts to make, so much to learn and waaaay too many clubs to hit. Impossible in ten days but we all do our very best.

Pat Blythe: The Women of Rock – Part 3

March 2 was the 10th anniversary of Hunter S. Thompson’s death and a picture of one of his quotes was making the rounds in Facebook. I found the subject matter rather timely! Many of us will find both the truth and the irony in what he had to say.

Pat Blythe: Women of Rock – Part Two

Ch-ch-ch-cha-changes

I have been slowly getting to know my fellow writers, conversing with them through Facebook, email and over the phone. A what! Yep, a real live telephone. You know, those devices that allow you to actually hear what the other person sounds like while enjoying honest-to-goodness dialogue. Fingers seem to do more walking and mouths less talking these days. We are no longer an oral society. The world of banter, tete-a-tetes and nattering have gone the way of such foods as pineapple upside down cake. (remember those) Mmmmmm……

Pat Blythe: Women of Rock – Part 1

The impetus, for what has now become a series, was my discovery of an old vinyl record by Maggie Bell. I came across it going through one of my many purge cycles. Suicide Sal, released in 1975, was my introduction to the blues….I just didn’t know it then. I wasn’t in the habit of labeling types of music in my younger years, I just knew what I liked. Greg Simpson, who happened to be managing the now defunct Records on Wheels in London, Ontario, recommended the album, thinking I might like it. I loved it and still do. Thank you Greg!

Pat Blythe: Women & Songs — Part One

Editor’s Note – Please join us in welcoming our new writer, Pat Blythe to the DBAWIS Bullpen and Home for Chatty Pop Culturalists. Pat takes over Wednesdays for our much missed Nadia Elkharadly and joins Roxanne in bringing some badly needed Estrogen-fueled verbiage to our Hallowed Halls…and to help Roxanne keep us male hooligans from spilling beer on the carpet and hiding popcorn in the couch, and making sure we take the garbage out once in a while and occasionally bathe.

This is Pat’s first article for us. Her regular column starts next Wednesday with the 2nd part of today’s offering, and continues every Wednesday thereafter.

For more information on Pat, please check the short Bio at the bottom of this column.