...in a just-concluded television series here in the US called "The Blues".
This was a seven-part series, consisting of 1-1/2 hour films by seven different
directors (including Wim Wenders and Clint Eastwood). There was no "overview"
or "survey" film (which I would have liked to have had, just as a way to cover
the blues in a unified way in its 100th year of formal existence) - but
instead, saw several directors focusing on different aspects of the genre (such
as Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, and the like). Martin Scorsese was the executive
producer (directing the first film and providing commentary at the beginning of
each of them).

In one of the films, directed by a native Englishman (Mike Figgis, whose
credits include the film "Leaving Las Vegas" and who at a young age played in a
band fronted by Bryan Ferry ) the theme was the British Blues - how young men
in the UK were influenced by this music and re-imported it back to the US. I
can certainly confirm that my introduction as a young American coming of age in
the late 60's-early 70's to the music of Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson and
came from this phenomenon.

On-screen interviews included trad jazz men (like Humphrey Lyttleton, Chris
Barber and George Melly) to R&B (Georgie Fame, Tom Jones) to several
conversations with John Mayall (about whom B.B. King said on-screen how pivotal
his work was), a film of Alexis Korner and some mention of Graham Bond - and
finally, numerous blues-influenced rock musicians (Beck, Clapton, Winwood, Van
Morrison, etc.) It concluded with a fabulous version of Lulu singing "Cry Me A
River" - not having heard her in over ten years, it was a welcome
re-introduction.

And included on this film was.......none other than Chris Farlowe, who sang
some duets with guitarist Albert Lee. Not surprising, one of them was "Stormy
Monday Blues", which he explained as the "touchstone" of the genre, to him. He
sang quite strong, but not over-the-top (as he, alas, tends to do sometimes).
Quite a surprise to see him, and quite a pleasant surprise at that.

- Ed Tracey
New Hampshire, USA