Catfish Blues

Continuing this series about a great blue song in its various incarnations. The first example was an unreleased 1968 Rolling Stones jam on “Still a Fool.” Today’s effort is a take on the “Catfish Blues” variation of the tune by the very Taoist Jimi Hendrix, from the Olympia Theater in Paris, 1968.

Many people don’t realize how rooted Hendrix was in the blues and rhythm and blues music scenes, long before he basically created hard rock with his band The Experience. The first video we have of him is this hilarious version of “Shotgun” by Buddy and Stacey from 1965. Hendrix is the left-handed guitar player next to the saxophonist. Youtube also has this version of Howling Wolf’s classic “Killing Floor” from December 26, 2965, and a version of Muddy Water’s “Mannish Boy” (called “I’m a Man” here, also 1965.)