Mean Old World

Over the holidays I was listening to anything but seasonal music when the shuffle brought up Little Walter, "Mean Old World." I'm sure there are a ton of covers, from Eric Clapton to Ian McLagen, but there are three I prefer over some others. Down the road...who knows? Another rendition will be suggested and I'll have to re-arrange the list. Suggestions are welcome.

From Wikipedia: Mean Old World" is a blues song recorded by American blues electric guitar pioneer T-Bone Walker in 1942. It has been described (along with the single's B-side) as "the first important blues recordings on the electric guitar".

While T-Bone might have wrote it, Little Walter does it justice. It's the harp that gives it that Chicago sound:

To show some flexibility to the song, Stan Webb, the leader of the British Blues Band, Chicken Shack had the band record the song for their second LP, "OK, Ken". He put a twist on the standard by having band member, Christine Perfect, sing the vocal. Yes, it is Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac.

Finally a version by the man who, IMHO, brought Rock'n'Roll to the suburbs, Chuck Berry. We don't get to see Berry play as the bluesman he was. We paid too much attention to the duck walk. This is from a BBC TV special broadcast with a local back up, backed by Rockin' Horse. The band consisted of Mike Snow on piano, Jimmy Campbell on guitar, Billy Kinsley on bass and Dave Harrison on drums. Chuck is completely into this one. Watch him trying to get drummer Harrison to get more animated.

Thanks to the artists and thanks to T-Bone.