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Ridin' on the L&N








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Mick writes:

The first time I heard this song was when John Mayall recorded a version with Paul Butterfield, back in the 1960s. We had no idea where it had come from - it wasn't from the Muddy / Wolf / Chess catalogue.. and such a great song. Turns out that "L&N" was written and recorded by jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, back in the late forties.

Well done to John Mayall for finding and rearranging it. He did it in a kind of hard rocking way, which has been imitated many times by other artists and bands. I've tried to go back to Lionel's version, which was more of a "Beat me Daddy Eight To The Bar" kind of feel, but it's ended up as a sort of rockin' skiffle!

So it's based on acoustic guitar with a faux washboard rhythm going on - slide guitar on my old Rosetti. Pretty much all of Lionel's original lyric. Anyway it seemed like a nice release for a hot Summer - blast it out next time you're having a BBQ, washed down with a beer or two. More blues and boogie to come..





Mick Clarke - Ridin' on the L&N