Bonnie Raitt 14 - Blender Blues

[Ellen99]

saw her live in St Pete some time in the 80's - a local station (wqsr/wqsa/wmnf)had been playing it and she was horrified that we called for her to sing this song. She kept asking how we had heard it..

[voidmstr]

I produced this concert and broadcast live from Sigma from WMMR back in 1972.

Other notable radio concerts from my WMMR days: Billy Joel at Sigma, Jackson Browne live from the Main Point.

Bonnie hates any mention of this song, to this day. ;-)

[tonbroos]

Of course we can't stand in her shadow, but we tried. At You Tube look for: fingerpain blender blues

Hope you like it.

[ralphsims]

I wonder why she stopped doing this in concert? Embarrassed? As far as I can tell, it's never been re-released and folks say that when asked she won't perform the song.

[ATrifleNippyout]

This was recorded live at Sigma Sound in Philly with an audience in the studio. The Rainbow Room reference Bonnie made at the beginning of the show was just a NYC joke. I was the engineer for the session and Dennis Wilen was the producer. - Jay Mark

[shakeymo]

@ralphsims I heard her once say this song reminded her of a very bad time in her life.

She also said she could tell she was in New Haven when she got requests for it.

[IAMPOPS58]

I was fortunate enough to see her live in the early 70's and this became 1 of my all time favorite songs by any artist of the times.

[h4fungi]

OK, I didn't know all that. I knew she had performed at the Main Point and WMMR had used songs from there. I didn't realize 60 people could cram into a studio. I think "Blender Blues" was probably Bonnie's counterpoint to James Taylor's "Steamroller Blues". The lyrics are delightfully nasty in the best blues tradition and it's a shame she won't do it.

[h4fungi]

Right, but at the Main Point, not in studio.

[ralphsims]

@h4fungi

Interesting. On the "Radio Promo Jingle" cut, she refers to the location as a studio. On the first cut "Mighty Tight Woman", they refer to being at "Sigma Sound", but not a specific room or studio. Now the album has the show on Feb. 22, 1972 and notes this being performed in the "Rainbow Room". I'd have to go back through the playlist, but I thought I remembered someone saying there were about 60 folks there during the set (plus her dog whose tail kept time with the songs).

[h4fungi]

Actually I believe this was recorded at The Main Point for WMMR. Notice the audience clapping at the end, which wouldn't have occurred in a studio.

[ralphsims]

@h4fungi

It's a live show from WMMR.

[TfromPhilly]

As an 18 year old in Philadelphia I always listened to WMMR. I can confidently state that this is in my top ten of all time favorite songs. Thanks for the upload

[mendiolacristian]

some one have the tabs for this song? it's so blu... oh please share!

[kathsbiz2]

oh, yeah this is worth a post too...thanks, Greg...I have been a fan for so long, that I don't ever remember not being a fan...but, I hadn't heard this one...great song, (as usual) and being a cook I just might have to make this my theme song...lol... & Tommy;you know what they say about music being the universal language.. :-)

[missinglowell]

i, too, heard this on late night FM radio (ha ha - we thought that was da bomb!) in the early 70's and then never could find it again. think Ronstadt covered it too, but Bonnie owns it! thanks soooo much for posting.

[exxonerated]

hey Eddiesix...me too!! Back in the days when you actually made sure you tuned in to the radio to hear the latest best stuff. My senior year in high school - WMMR was what was playing!!

[tomgoespop]

Anyone still searching for great new music in a similar vein should check Freebo (bonnies bassplayer) recent albums, just great folk music and he does amazingly intimate live shows around the country all the time. Check his website freebomusic

[ralphsims]

@tomgoespop

I really apologize for this being flagged as spam. I accidentally clicked the button and there you weren't. I'm trying desperately to un-flag it. Ralph

[jelwNdan]

Saw her preform this live in the 70's at Stockton NJ. Awesome then and like wine wine, she only gets better with age.

[Suspiciousbaglady]

Took my 1st husband to see her for his Bday way back when... He almost walked out when she said she wouldn't sing this!

Now he's long gone & I've got almost everybootleg ever made of this...love that karma!!

[Eddiesix]

I heard this song on the radio..twice...it was in the mid 70's...it quickly became my favorite Raitt tune...this was waayyy before the days of the net and youtube... I found this song on Napster and had a heart attack...so it is now on my ipod...and it's on Youtube too!!! Ahhh..ya gotta love the technology!

[guiher24]

@Eddiesix

I have an old bootleg of her performing at syracuse just playing her acoustic. i would love to trade mine with your old bonnie rait.