Cuff Cut Blues
You can’t play cocaine on a good guitar, but you sure can play cocaine blues. The blues is one of the most recognizable and popular songs in the history of Western music. It’s also one of the most enduring. Even today, when disco is no longer the dominant style in rock and roll, the blues remains, with all its beguiling harmonies and powerful melodies.
So, what is cocaine blues? A great question! If you’re trying to recreate this classic song, you’ll definitely want to use a nice guitar recording that doesn’t have a whole lot of synthesizer sound. This is called a “clean” recording and will give you a great place to start if you don’t have a lot of experience with recording these types of songs.
For a very basic “blues” version, start by listening to “Missile Blues.” This is actually a recording from Davis’ album “Look at the Stars,” recorded while he was in jail serving time for his murder trial. Inmates were allowed to play this recorded in their cells, which was a common occurrence at the time. One of the things I like about this song is Davis’ smooth, mellow voice, which is much deeper and more mellow than his normal delivery. The lyrics are also much more positive than they are in some of his other recorded works.
A Hints and Tips
“I’m a smoker I haven’t taken a rest since” is another famous cocaine rendition that has been recorded and given a number one hit by many listeners over the years. Originally, this recording was part of the original “I’ve a cigarette pack in my hand” series. It is often known as the most popular single, the band has ever done, even though it didn’t go to #1. The reason this song is so well known is because it is an excellent rendition of the traditional “Habit Blues.”
Luke Jordan, another member of the C cocaine line, has produced a number one hit, “Mystery Train.” This song was featured on the soundtrack for the film, “The Replacements.” It’s a classic blue-eyed soul tune, which was frequently covered by artists such as Aretha Franklin and the Blue Moon Dynasty. During the mid ’80s, many artists who were popular in the African-American community, such as Aretha Franklin, took a liking to this style of music and included it in their own recordings.
Many times during the early days of the C cocaine line, there was a harmony of sounds that went along with the feel of the blues. These were often referred to as “hits.” If you listen to the C cocaine samples that are available on the internet, you will hear a smooth” Hitch” and a “HO” in addition to the more familiar “Cocaine Blues.” The most well-known hit, however, is likely “I’ve a feel like…” which remains a favorite even today. Many listeners know the lyrics but are not familiar with the instrumental. That’s where the genius comes in!