On December 17, 1975 I was that evening listening to the radio on headphones as was my custom at the time. The disc jockey, wish I could remember his name, in his low as all fuck disc jockey voice had some somber news to share. Hound Dog Taylor had died.
I had never heard of Taylor before, disc jockeys were forever turning me on to new shit in those days. I already knew I loved the blues however. Muddy Waters’ 2 lp greatest hits set took a very early place tucked into the confines of the family console stereo hi-fi. So I laid back on the shag carpet, closed my eyes and listened to Taylor’s 2 albums (a third was later fashioned from the brilliant outtakes of his long play studio efforts).
Been my favourite blues fucker all this time since and I do not see that changing in the few years I have left. I will not here retell his life story except to say if you go to the trouble of reading up on Taylor and his band you will be entertained.
Taylor’s first two albums have been recently re-issued. There’s a good chance your local record store have a copy. GA-20 put out their own recording of Taylor’s first album a few years ago. It may not be as essential as Taylor’s own record but it is pretty fucking wicked.
Long live Hound Dog Taylor! Long live rock ‘n’ roll!
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