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KPLU All Blues host John Kessler has expanded "The Blues Time Machine," which has been a popular segment on his weekend blues shows. The weekly series tracks one great blues song through history - from its earliest recording to its latest and sometimes, with some surprising interpretations. "The Blues Time Machine" airs on KPLU on Fridays at 12:10 p.m. during the "Blue Plate Special," and on All Blues Saturdays and Sundays at 8 and 11 p.m.

Little Walter's 'Mellow Down Easy' rips through time

Little Walter
Little Walter

Little Walter made a harmonica sound like nothing that had been heard before – somewhere between a saxophone and an electric guitar. By the early 1950’s he not only used amplification, he used the amp to creatively alter his sound with distortion and sonic effects.

You might say he was the Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica. One song in particular has rolled through history: 'Mellow Down Easy.'

Here’s a clip from his 2008 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1-Eg6F6leY

John Hammond has spent his career keeping alive the blues of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, usually performing as a one-man band with guitar, harmonica and foot stomping. On albums, he’s worked with a wide range of artists including Dr. John, Duane Allman, and Tom Waits. On his 1982 version of “Mellow Down Easy”, it’s just Hammond joined by “Washboard” Chaz.

When The Black Crowes became popular in the 1990’s they were playing a bluesy form of rock and roll that appealed to fans of hard rock as well as blues-rock. They recorded “Mellow Down Easy” in 1996, and also recorded the song with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.

Here’s a clip of The Black Crowes and Page performing it live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hlqAZGFKcg&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL7BFAF675F0F0EBB9

Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch are successful Nashville songwriters, and with instrumentalist Fats Kaplin recorded “Mellow Down Easy” in 2006. It certainly has a country flavor, and they create a hypnotic groove using guitars and dobros.

Here are the complete versions of "Mellow Down Easy:"

Little Walter “Mellow Down Easy” 1954

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-999148.mp3

John Hammond “Mellow Down Easy” 1982

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-999150.mp3

Black Crowes   “Mellow Down Easy” 1996

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-999153.mp3

Kieran Kane  “Mellow Down Easy” 2006

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-999152.mp3

John has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KNKX “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle.