Στο ερώτημα “ποιος τελικά …είναι τα blues, o Otis Spann η ο Willie Dixon;” (αμφότεροι έχουν κυκλοφορήσει άλμπουμ με τίτλους που διεκδικούν την “πατρότητα”) η απάντηση είναι …πιο κοντά στο δεύτερο. Αυτό φυσικά δεν έχει σημασία όταν αναφερόμαστε στον μεγαλύτερο πιανίστα των Chicago blues, “αδελφό” του Muddy Waters και συνεργάτη πέραν αυτού μιας πλειάδας “θρύλων” των blues και όχι μόνο. Ακούμε ένα τραγούδι του Otis Spann από το άλμπουμ του, Otis Spann Is The Blues του 1960. 📀 📀 To the question “who ultimately … is the blues, Otis Spann or Willie Dixon?” (both have released albums with titles claiming “fatherhood”), the answer is … closer to the latter. This, of course, doesn’t matter when we’re talking about the greatest Chicago blues pianist, the “brother” of Muddy Waters and a collaborator, beyond him, with a host of blues “legends” and more. We’re listening to a song by Otis Spann from his 1960 album, Otis Spann Is The Blues.

I came up the hard way, I just about raised myself
You know I came up the hard way, I just about raised myself
I been in and out of trouble, but I never begged no one for help
I don’t speak educated because, peoples, I have not none
Yes, I don’t speak educated ’cause, my people, that I have none
But I’m done just about good else peoples, people who have some
They said 26 letters in the alphabet, peoples, I can’t spell my name
They said 26 letters in the alphabet, peoples, I can’t even spell my name
But you know I can go long so smoothly, people don’t bother me just the same
After a few years passed, I soon learned how to sign my name
Yes, after a few years passed, I learned how to sign my name
Still each letter in the alphabet, they to me, seem the same
Some people call me the dumb boy, but that don’t pay me no mind
Yeah, some people call me the dumb boy, but please don’t pay them no mind
‘Cause every number in the alphabet look the same
Maybe I don’t revel rest to know mine