He came to my college around 69 or 70, and I was assigned to take him around for the day. We spent an hour with two guitars where he tried to show me how to play that chugging riff. I was inches from him and I still couldn't get it! Amazing! very nice guy though.
This guy is so underrated it's unbelievable. They don't rank him in the top 100 guitarists or the top 30 blues guitarists. I'm put him near the top of each list.
I think so, too, it's the second Arhoolie album with a black and white cover, Fred in a suit wearing a ribbon tie, it has a Civil War era look, it is so swampy and hypnotic, I think his acoustic playing is much better than the electric he picked up, it was an arch top f-hole but I'm not sure the brand, it was ancient.
Between the complex plucking and the sliding, he's not only the melody, but his own friggin' rhythm section. No drums or bass needed folks, just ol' Fred. It's awesome.
Saw Fred in 1965 at the American Folk Blues Festival along with J B Lenoir, Buddy Guy, Shaky Horton, Dr Ross & Big Mama Thornton. An experience that always will live in my memory as one of the greatest concerts of all time. Up there with the Band, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters & Sister Rosetta Tharpe. These guys didn't need autotune or any hype - they just played from the heart to touch the heart. Feel so priveleged to have been there & seen so many incredible musicians...
Fred was a magician, playing rhythm & lead simultaneously & making it work so well, & sounding like he was playing in a duo or trio with another guitarist or two instead of solo!
Mississippi Fred slide guitar is great they don't rank them high because he didn't sell a lot of records it's all about the almighty buck this guy is fantastic
Just finished watching 'Reacher' on Amazon Prime. The Jack Reacher character was a big fan of Mississippi Fred McDowell. Brought back memories from my days at Mankato State. He came through town in 1971. Very memorable music. He had a gift. TH-cam allows us to see and hear him 50 years later. Thank you.
Just started watching season 1 today and when this song came on in the first episode I paused it and came right here. What an amazing musician. I'm glad I found my way to his music.
Just heard of this Cat, holy jumping Moses, can't help but to move to this one, those strings look mighty thick and that double picking, what a player!
Fair enough.Not into much folk myself except Dylan and The Corries but I can understand why you like it.Rock and blues will always be my thing though.Real music for real people I say.
Fred is one of the best,man. He has done this mainly out of letting his soul free! Wow! Fred There are no words. I was introduced to the style of Bo Diddly but man. Man I wasted my life on playing people that took a who band to play what you do from the spirit . I am self taught. I leaned punk Rock first because all they had was that disco. The music like al Green was mainly vocales it had feeling . Then I was told listen to the Beatles because they were "so, musically inclined. I head them as a kind. Than I found out they learned from us. Then Led Zeppelin. It was Bluesy, however Robbed from American Rhythm & blues,man. Hendrix he had it all . Then after listening to you. I believe all them devils that rule the music recording labels need to give you guys wealth and repay your ken folks with their soul. I can not find an old bottle neck that I can make into a slide like the old Coke bottle that fit my size 13 ring, finger. .You guys are True innovators! I thought Chuck Berry, and Robert Johnson & Bodidly started it. You are my Guitar Herror.
Grinning from ear to ear because I've heard this song a thousand times from a thousand different musicians, but never THIS. Went down a hole that started with Foghat and got here.
A lotta guys have their idols. Some say John Hurt, some says Blind Willie (Johnson or McTell, whichever), or Son House, or Leadbelly. For me? It's Mississippi Fred McDowell. And the worst part? I can't even get close to being able to play like the man. Love him until the end, though!
PURE CLASS, HOOKER’S BLUES AND RY’S PHRASING IS A NOVEL… IF YOU LISTEN IT SPEAKS…. THEYRE LETTING YOU STAY IN THEYRE HEADS A LITTLE WHILE… ON THAT TRAIN… IN SEARCH AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT!!!
For me when i am listening he is real a legend who did knew what he was doing.I should put him above the list with other great legends.But now he get of us only blesses because we are blessed with his blues.,Thank you for uploading Scott Grant.
Discovered Mr. McDowell while searching for Robert Johnson on TH-cam. One of my favorites now. I am a hack at guitar and picked one up to try and run it through my brain how to play this. Was like a dump truck through a fish bowl. Amazed at the talent.
Locks you in. Hypnotizes you. Takes you for a ride down the tracks. All the way home to the smell of supper on the table. Worth more than any rich mans gold could ever be. Your place is with the gods. Among the stars.
That's f 'ing impossible. I know...he's not only doing it...he's making it look easy. It's impossible...that's all I'm saying. We do NOT have talent like this today. How do you even play that riff????
He came to my college around 69 or 70, and I was assigned to take him around for the day. We spent an hour with two guitars where he tried to show me how to play that chugging riff. I was inches from him and I still couldn't get it! Amazing! very nice guy though.
Omg!!!! So jealous!!!!
I know that was a great experience....
so lucky...
Nice story, he's a legend now. Love his music.
What kinda guitar is that?
This guy is so underrated it's unbelievable. They don't rank him in the top 100 guitarists or the top 30 blues guitarists. I'm put him near the top of each list.
couldn't agree more mate. lots of the old bluesmen get overlooked. skip James was amazing too. fucked around with weird tunnings.
Who doesn't rank him in the top?
Brett Douglas He is my favourite blues artist, mate. I can't believe how underrated he is. Best bluesman of all time!
Exactly
He was the real deal mang
His playing is infectious. Makes that guitar sound like a freight train
That's where blues guitar comes from, trains.
Horse trotting and scratching
repetitive, but never boring
i hope you'll reply because i wanted to know about your profile picture, something about that is just so cool.
im convinced that this is one of the best mississippi blues recordings ever made.
you know it is!
At least one of "em.😂
yes sir!
I think so, too, it's the second Arhoolie album with a black and white cover, Fred in a suit wearing a ribbon tie, it has a Civil War era look, it is so swampy and hypnotic, I think his acoustic playing is much better than the electric he picked up, it was an arch top f-hole but I'm not sure the brand, it was ancient.
what would be your top 3 ?
Between the complex plucking and the sliding, he's not only the melody, but his own friggin' rhythm section. No drums or bass needed folks, just ol' Fred. It's awesome.
Saw Fred in 1965 at the American Folk Blues Festival along with J B Lenoir, Buddy Guy, Shaky Horton, Dr Ross & Big Mama Thornton. An experience that always will live in my memory as one of the greatest concerts of all time. Up there with the Band, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters & Sister Rosetta Tharpe. These guys didn't need autotune or any hype - they just played from the heart to touch the heart. Feel so priveleged to have been there & seen so many incredible musicians...
Only wish
I would give my left nut to have seen that. I would be even more jealous if they included “My Heavy Load” in the set.
Steve Fanger I would pay an obscene amount of money to of been there.
Show off!
OMG That's so WAY great !!! I saw EVH in July 1981 than a month later I saw Randy Rhodes. I had my mind blown away in just a few weeks !
Fred was a magician, playing rhythm & lead simultaneously & making it work so well, & sounding like he was playing in a duo or trio with another guitarist or two instead of solo!
Yeah Mick Green and Wilko Johnson got the same trick but Fred was the original...whew like 3 players there
what he's doing is technically amazing,playing rhythm and lead at the same time!!!
who ever was the camera man thank you.
HWDFL12 must of been familiar with playing eh?
They also seemed to know Fred didn't like the camera in his face very much. Around the 2 minute mark he gets annoyed.
Alan Lomax is the man who film all this stuff in 50s n 60s
Alan lomax
Perfect camera job!👍
Yes. Just a single man. Him. Driving the blues sound I love.
"If you pay attention - What I sing, the guitar sings too, and what the guitar says, I say."
Spoken like the true legend he is...
This guy should have been in the hall of fame so long ago. Best guitarist to have walked earth if you ask me.
Hard to argue against that, I hear the roots of Rock and Roll right there
He's amazing.
I don't even know why these Hall of fame's exist in anything... Completely irrelevant to the music
Great guitar
his right hand is rock solid. that strum pattern is so intricate. amazing...
This man could seriously play that guitar like it was a part of him. Good stuff!
If this doesn't Get you Moving, You are Dead, Call the Undertaker
randy beard - 52👎people are dead and didn’t realize it yet😉
🥀💀🥀
Mississippi Fred slide guitar is great they don't rank them high because he didn't sell a lot of records it's all about the almighty buck this guy is fantastic
t'inquiète les vrais le reconnaisse
I'm so glad to see these Godfathers to see performing live, and hapily on a electric guitar
I just got an old Gibson LG-0 today. Been picking blues. Can’t even imagine playing like this cat. Super cool and unique
That riff has got an hypnotic quality you don't often get outside of Africa.
Or John Lee Hooker.
@@davisworth5114 John Lee Hooker was one of best as well you tripping
It’s about nature and honest primal energy. Every culture in touch with the earth and the essential human connection to it has this energy.
The more I listen to the real bluesmen the less I bother with the rockers who copied them, and I grew up with the rock.
Right on! Went through that same transition when first getting into the blues many years ago.
What a pretentious comment.
The best rock musicians are great too. They took the idea and went in their own directions with it.
Incredible.....deep
@@bornwithawoodenleg A pretentious comment on a pretentious comment.
Respect from Ukraine! Awesome!!!
this guy is amazing!!!! cant believe i havnt heard him until now! he really deserves far more recognition👍🎸🎶🎤
Some things just can't be taught. Talent is truly a gift ❤
If only the world listened to more Mississippi Fred
Thank you for focusing on his fingers, it's like watching a miracle
Holy Crap!! His eyes look humble and his hands are magic!!
He iss just trying to not look at the camera but his hands ARE magic
Seaventeares he's not looking away from the camera he's singing into the Mic clipped on his jacket
Great to hear an original.
Just finished watching 'Reacher' on Amazon Prime. The Jack Reacher character was a big fan of Mississippi Fred McDowell. Brought back memories from my days at Mankato State. He came through town in 1971. Very memorable music. He had a gift. TH-cam allows us to see and hear him 50 years later. Thank you.
Just started watching season 1 today and when this song came on in the first episode I paused it and came right here. What an amazing musician. I'm glad I found my way to his music.
This is some of the most fluid slide I've ever heard
This man is not human...Honestly..just perfect.
😲😍reacher brought me here!
Just heard of this Cat, holy jumping Moses, can't help but to move to this one, those strings look mighty thick and that double picking, what a player!
Those are some of the heaviest gauge strings I've ever seen! Great playing!
Those strings are like baling wire!
Stevie Ray did too
This reminds me of a train. That sound keeps chugging along in perfect time.
Hand and head down, this man is the best guitar picker. This where it started, with these tunes
Outstanding, and just plain f**king hypnotic....You're either nodding your head or tapping your feet or doing both while listening to this.
This is the birth of rock and roll. The Blues
One of the nicest, most brilliant performers I ever saw
Incredible. I'm blown away. That's talent.
Vigo Vigomand non scus my
man they don't make em like that anymore.. absolutely incredible
Fair enough.Not into much folk myself except Dylan and The Corries but I can understand why you like it.Rock and blues will always be my thing though.Real music for real people I say.
He's Amazing!
one beautiful guitar, one beautiful song, one beautiful soul!
Man.. this is solid.
This is why I love youtube. Thanks for posting this.
This guy, RL Burnside, Magic Sam all loved ta boogie.
Where has this music been all my life? Soul-wrenching is not the word . . .
that is some killer rhythm guitar playing right there.
Fred is one of the best,man. He has done this mainly out of letting his soul free! Wow! Fred There are no words. I was introduced to the style of Bo Diddly but man. Man I wasted my life on playing people that took a who band to play what you do from the spirit . I am self taught. I leaned punk Rock first because all they had was that disco. The music like al Green was mainly vocales it had feeling . Then I was told listen to the Beatles because they were "so, musically inclined. I head them as a kind. Than I found out they learned from us. Then Led Zeppelin. It was Bluesy, however Robbed from American Rhythm & blues,man. Hendrix he had it all . Then after listening to you. I believe all them devils that rule the music recording labels need to give you guys wealth and repay your ken folks with their soul. I can not find an old bottle neck that I can make into a slide like the old Coke bottle that fit my size 13 ring, finger. .You guys are True innovators! I thought Chuck Berry, and Robert Johnson & Bodidly started it. You are my Guitar Herror.
I love the blues...
Hot hot
*Nothing But Tha Blues* 💙
Grinning from ear to ear because I've heard this song a thousand times from a thousand different musicians, but never THIS. Went down a hole that started with Foghat and got here.
Man, he just locks you into the groove. 1 man & 1 guitar @ that too.
not a real blues fan, but this man was a player as good as any I've ever heard.
How could you not be a little bit blues brother I’m sure you had some blues in your life ❤😊
This guy blows the rest away! SICK!
Amazingly underrated I’m glad we all know the truth top 10 guitarists ever
I cannot sit still in my chair while listening to this!
absolutely fabulous man
😢 O
That rhythm !! Fred McDowell is a powerhouse alone with his guitar, he dont need nothing else !
This blows my mind.
His tone is amazing.
That tone on his slide riffs sound so bad ass
the closeup of him playing is a master class. ive been watching these particular recordings and theyre unique
These Blues guitarists are in an entirely different genre than rock and roll but in the Blues world he has to be the best.
"He don't play no rock and roll"
@@1blastman yeah ..;hahahaha
it s just the rock at his base
A lotta guys have their idols. Some say John Hurt, some says Blind Willie (Johnson or McTell, whichever), or Son House, or Leadbelly. For me? It's Mississippi Fred McDowell.
And the worst part? I can't even get close to being able to play like the man. Love him until the end, though!
Born poor, died poor, yet he had more talent in his little finger than most of the crap we're forced to listen to today!!
J English truer words were N E V E R spoken.......
Justin Kalman "I don't play no rock and roll." (Mississippi Fred McDowell)
John Osman I just play the straight, natural blue.
This sends shivers up my spine every single time.
Just a talented man and his guitar. This is real music.
I understand why Bonnie Raitt loves Fred. Bonnie a great student of the Blues.
I was gonna say that. She never shut up about Fred. For good reason.
@jeffclement2468 Thanks for writing .
AWEsome! Genius!
This is so goodddddddddddd i do really love it ,respect for this music and legends
fred's lp "i do not play no rock'n'roll" is one of my fave blues lps of all time & it ROCKS!!!!!!! ENUFF SAID!
Mississippi Fred McDowell in my opinion is like the god of slide guitar. Like seriously I'm in awe!
Just that drone style, damn! Something to learn for all guitarists.
Never get tired of watching the conception of the blues, not to mention a hundred billion dollar rock and roll industry.
Man I was born in the wrong time. I would've loved being alive and experiencing this in real life. I'm a sucker for blues but a millennial 😂
Damm right 👴🏻
He makes me cry.
Such a raw sound much better than the mess of music we hear today God bless this man such a talented soul
I vote this the best video on youtube.
PURE CLASS, HOOKER’S BLUES AND RY’S PHRASING IS A NOVEL… IF YOU LISTEN IT SPEAKS…. THEYRE LETTING YOU STAY IN THEYRE HEADS A LITTLE WHILE… ON THAT TRAIN… IN SEARCH AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT!!!
what a legend
I'm speechless. One of my all-time favorite performances.
For me when i am listening he is real a legend who did knew what he was doing.I should put him above the list with other great legends.But now he get of us only blesses because we are blessed with his blues.,Thank you for uploading Scott Grant.
Just put on the music...let others put these Legends above or below wherever they want
Discovered Mr. McDowell while searching for Robert Johnson on TH-cam. One of my favorites now. I am a hack at guitar and picked one up to try and run it through my brain how to play this. Was like a dump truck through a fish bowl. Amazed at the talent.
Locks you in. Hypnotizes you. Takes you for a ride down the tracks. All the way home to the smell of supper on the table. Worth more than any rich mans gold could ever be.
Your place is with the gods. Among the stars.
Gorgeous!
roots of all music today :)
Fantastic! His slide speaks right to my soul!
The Great Great Great Mississippi Fred McDowell...one of the greatest Blues artist that has blessed the Blues.
What a top notch fella.superb.
14k likes???
Goes to show how musical talent has become irrelevant.
This man is a legend and a genius.... deserves at least 5M plus likes. 🎸
Original Blues on slide guitar...Light & Love...
100% skills style class soul - perfection
Absolutely Fantastic. Clips like this give YT the real value.
Yea he’s at the top of my list.... he was wicked on that slide... and his voice... pain in a bucket man! Great Bluesman
As elemental, raw and enthralling as popular music can be.
Welcome to Margrave, reacher.
The best riff man.
Love Fred McDowell's music .
That's f 'ing impossible. I know...he's not only doing it...he's making it look easy. It's impossible...that's all I'm saying.
We do NOT have talent like this today. How do you even play that riff????
Simple! Practice four hours a day for 40 years...
Well, open turnings make slide playing much easier.
Listen to a train.
that's not a hard rhythm to get down. i did it in DADFAD
gymrat22able could you imagine auto tune on something like this it'd probably ruin it
This exraordinary man is the real deal.
Absolument fabuleux , quel guitariste extraordinaire 👏👏👏 😊
I feel like I am living in the age of this song while I listen to it.... or I am just super baked
Fred does that to you, get baked and listen to his second Arhoolie album on my stereo, sounds like he's in the room!