Mid-Week MP3

In observance of the recent passing of an American blues legend, this week’s MP3 is from none other than the late R.L. Burnside. The life of Robert Lee Burnside follows a similar pattern to the lives of other Mississippi bluesmen -- he was born poor, spent much of his life performing manual labor, spent time in prison, and focused much of his energy on women, booze, and music.

Burnside was inspired to play by John Lee Hooker, and took to the juke joint circuit to build his talent. Though he recorded in the 1960s under the Arhoolie Records label, it wasn’t until the 1990s that R.L. began to garner a true following. Much of Burnside’s later material, including his groundbreaking collaboration with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, is available from Fat Possum Records.

Please enjoy the following track, a personal favorite from his Wish I Were in Heaven Sitting Down album, called “Miss Maybelle.”

And R.L., I hope you’re sitting down up there.

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R.L. Burnside – Miss Maybelle