Eddie Taylor
Eddie Taylor (1923-1985) - is most famous for having played behind Jimmy Reed as one of the most unsung of the great Chicago blues guitarists. Taylor also recorded his own songs for VeeJay during the 1950s and 1960s. His single string fills and runs helped to make Jimmy Reed's sound an appealing and influential force - one that has become a signature of the Chicago blues style. Eddie played using a thumbpick and fingerpick on his index finger - in the country blues style. Also. when he played in the key of A, he used many of the same licks and positions heard in the playing of country bluesmen like Mance Lipscomb -- based on the "long-A" chord.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Reed in 1984 - shortly before his death. He was playing with a Chicago based pianist named Peter Dames at a South Bend, IN club called "Ribs and Blues."
He was a very nice guy.
My Favorite Eddie Taylor/Jimmy Reed Tunes:
(1) Big Town Playboy (solo)
(2) Bad Boy
(3) Ride Em' On Down
(4) Leave This Neighborhood
(5) E.T. Blues (Instrumental)
(6) Stop Breaking Down
(7) I'm Looking for Trouble
*Every single Jimmy Reed recording!!!!!!
As a special bonus, here's a rare clip showing Eddie Taylor playing with Jimmy Reed - the only one I've ever seen. Sadly, the hippies operating the camera chose to show only Reed while leaving that "psychedelic" throbbing thing going in the background. Oh well.