Jimmy Liggins

Roll the buggy!

Jimmy Liggins and his drops of joy there with Cadillac Boogie.

And that gets our automobile themed segment underway.

So cars were much more romantic back then, weren't they? And nobody has ever written a blue song about a Skoda Kodiaq.

If you're listening and you haven't given that song a fair consideration...

If you do one thing from this episode, if you take one thing, forget Archie Shibley, forget Charlie Lincoln, forget Jimmy Liggins, just go and listen to No-Go Showboat.

Yeah, it's great.

Now, this is a little bit of a test.

Okay.

So I think the first one I wanna show you is, let's go with "Cadillac Boogie" by Jimmy Liggins.

[laughs]

[laughs]

That's a very Spinal Tap name.

Yeah.

Well, of course, Jimmy Liggins was an excellent guitarist with us for one album.

Um, [laughs] so all right, this is Jimmy Liggins, "Cadillac Boogie".

Its remarkable sound quality and intimate atmosphere have made it one of the most admired acoustic blues recordings ever produced.

Jimmy Liggins became one of the leading figures in post-war jump blues, blending energetic guitar, playing with driving rhythms that helped bridge blues and early rock and roll.

Born in Newby, Oklahoma on October 14, 1918, he moved to California as a teenager, briefly boxed professionally as Kid Zulu, then launched a successful career leading his band, The Drops of Joy.

Jimmy Liggins died on July 27, 1983.

Victoria Spivey became one of the most influential women in blues through her songwriting, expressive vocals, and instrumental talents.

Born in Houston, Texas on October 15, 1906, she accompanied herself on piano, organ, and occasionally ukulele while building a remarkable career.