In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi maps the cross from hoodoo ritual to the mystical crossroads of the blues.
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Celebrating how Aretha Franklin’s vocals, King and Goffin’s songwriting, and the song’s timeless emotion make “A Natural Woman” a ’60s love classic this Valentine’s week.
As part of our Valentine’s week focus on ’60s love songs, Bill Graham examines how Dusty Springfield’s poise and sensual delivery, Burt Bacharach’s melody, Hal David’s lyrics, and Herb Alpert’s trumpet turn “The Look of Love” into an intimate portrait of desire lived in the moment.
In the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, a look at Chad & Jeremy’s “A Summer Song” and the sweet ache of love already slipping into memory.
A look at Paul McCartney’s overlooked Beatles gem and the emotional depth that gives ’60s love songs their staying power.
In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi follows the story of the cooling board, from home porches in the South to the verses of Blind Willie McTell and Son House, where death, ritual, and music converge.
In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi follows the deep blue current of “cool” from African philosophy into the blues, where character, composure, silence, and generosity become the language of soul.
In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi decodes the conjure bag, or mojo hand, exploring how root doctors use flannel colors, ingredients, and ritual feeding to cast spells, protect love, bring money, bless babies, and shape fortune in blues-rooted folk magic.
In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi decodes the “comb,” from its origins as a homemade kazoo to its role in harmonica history and blues slang.
In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi looks at the blues’ favorite word for a fool in love.