Show 41: Alphabet Blues, Pt. 1: Aladdin / Alligator / Arhoolie

For tonight's multi-episode blues odyssey, that for all intents and purposes we'll call the Alphabet Blues, I will cover, A through Z, the greatest blues record labels that recorded and distributed the greatest blues records of the previous century. Tonight, of course, we'll be starting with the A labels: Aladdin, Alligator, and Arhoolie Records. The first song we'll hear is the 1945 hit "Driftin' Blues," written and sung by the mellifluous Charles Brown. This song, originally released by Aladdin Records under its early name, Philo Records, became a national sensation, diverging starkly from the Nat King Cole style of rhythm and blues but with a deep, soulful style that had many young singers trying to imitate him to create that iconic West Coast club blues sound. Now here's Mr. Brown with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers.