In 2005, I took a trip to the Ozarks. On the way there, I decided to drive through the Mississippi delta and visit the crossroads in Clarksdale. After staying a night in Jackson at my buddy's place, I get back on the road and stop at a photo shop to get some equipment. I tell the guy there where I'm going. He tells me that that's not the real crossroads. The one in Clarksdale is a tourist trap. The real one is by an old plantation called Dockery Farms. He's visited it before with his friend, who's a professor at Delta State, which was shown in the movie "Crossroads," with Ralph Macchio (now one of my fave movies). So, my friendly photoguy calls his prof buddy and gets the directions to it. You go north on 49, go west on 8 at Ruleville (sp?) and keep going till you see Dockery Farms. Turn left from there. Remember the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where they were in the room where they had to find the holy grail? Remember the logic they used to find the real one? That's what it was like when I went to the real crossroads. It made perfect sense. For those that don't know, the crossroads is a legendary site where the old bluesmen went there at midnight with his guitar, had the devil tune his guitar and took his soul in exchange for the ability to play. It's featured in movies like "Oh Brother Where art thou?" and "Crossroads" (not the Britney Spears version). The old timers, Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson, et al, were all from Dockery Farms. It'd make sense if the crossroads were nearby and not a half hour drive (by today's standards) in Clarksdale. Well, what's a born-again christian guy doing at a place of satanic incantation? I decided to go over there and pray over it. Part of me thought it was silly, but it was in my mind to do it. Couldn't help but think of the desperation and the tragedy that produced such music. Hell, after that drive up 49 in the June heat, I got a taste of what they went through, albeit in a highly controlled dose. When I got to Clarksdale, I was shocked by the blight. It was about 9pm. I planned on going to a blues club, but was way way too wore out. Here's some pics: http://markcab.multiply.com/photos/album/1 http://markcab.multiply.com/photos/album/2
Badfinger performing a song written by Paul McCartney: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jWFSHwJnWo[/MEDIA]
Paul McCartney - "Maybe I'm Amazed" One of my favorite guitar riffs begins @ 1:07 [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0UxsK-f6Z8[/MEDIA] Unplugged 1991 "We Can Work It Out" [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeAlhEmUDFk[/MEDIA] She's A Woman [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqcZbFaS1sg[/MEDIA]
RINGO - IT DON'T COME EASY [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7-2Etc6c_0[/MEDIA] Here's the first version of Ringo's 1971 hit single as performed by George Harrison. If it sounds almost exactly like Ringo's that's because it was recorded about a half hour before Ringo's version and features the same musicians. NOTE: This information is from Youtube. No idea if it is accurate but the songs do sound very alike. [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slds8zy8oOU[/MEDIA]
