One for the Road: Junior Wells

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 1, 2010 9:30PM

One of my favorite things about Halloween is tuning in to Steve Cushing's long-running radio program on blues, jazz and blues heritage, Blues Before Sunrise. Cushing's annual Halloween program, spanning an incredible five hours from midnight to 5 a.m., is a marathon that I rarely miss, even though he plays the same songs every year. It runs a close second to Cushing's annual Christmas program in keeping my attention.

Junior Wells's "Hoodoo Man Blues" played during the fourth hour Sunday morning, when it's darkest before the dawn. Wells always gave me chills — there's a touch of menace in this performance. I wanted to share those chills with you this afternoon.