My favourite blues record of the month is Hoodoo Man Blues from 1965 by Junior Wells with Buddy Guy on guitar. My favourite track on it is “Ships on the Ocean”. I think it’s such an atmospheric song. The title track is also cool. The only song I’ve been playing live from the album for years is “Snatch It Back”. Junior plays with his voice and blues harp in beautiful harmony with Buddy Guy. I met Junior Wells in 1995 when Mc Anthony’s blues gang from Roosendaal was the support act at the Roode Leeuw on 9 May. It was a really cool and energetic performance and Junior Wells was super relaxed, friendly and good fun. He signed my old grandad Janus’s shirt with “Junior Wells 9-5” in huge letters and the drummer Willy Hayes signed the back. I also kept his empty packet of Kool Menthol cigarettes. Junior Wells said that he had smoked a joint once in his life but immediately fell down the stairs. That was enough for him, so he stayed away from them after that. Junior Wells also played with Buddy Guy as band members in the Muddy Waters Blues Band. These men always push me in the right direction musically and emotionally with their beautiful, powerful, cheerful and energetic blues.
