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GOODNIGHT BOOGIE

A TALE OF GUNS, WOLVES & THE BLUES OF

HOUND DOG TAYLOR

By Matt Rogers

Theodore Roosevelt Taylor passed away on 17th December
1975, and I have to admit, I couldn’t remember when he
died. I do however remember his music, having purchased
the very first Alligator album - Hound Dog Taylor & The
Houserockers.

The Houserockers were Brewer Phillips (guitar) and Ted
Harvey (drums). With Hound Dog Taylor (guitar and
vocals) - no bass player. Like many of the early bands
from Chicago and Detroit, a second guitarist would play
the bass line, sometimes alternating with the lead
player.

Hound Dog famously said “When I die, they’ll say “He
couldn’t play shit, but he sure made it sound good.”

He played mostly slide, although he was a more than
capable guitarist without the slide.

The music was as rough as the musicians playing it.
Threats of being shot or cut were apparently
commonplace between Taylor and Phillips - and in
fact, were actually carried out on a few occasions.

When arguments occurred, which was often,
someone would leave or be sacked and
replacements were required. Lefty Dizz was the
musician who best suited the job and he was with The
Houserockers for some time, although it was never the same as the original
line up.

Once the story reaches Chicago, the author appears to have a fascination with the number of
murders in that city. Interesting though, because it goes some way to describing the kind of
environment Hound Dog Taylor, and indeed, most of the citizens on the South Side had to endure.

Bob Pearce

Publisher : MG Books (28 Jun. 2022)

Paperback: 176 pages: £14:50 Kindle £9:99

ISBN-10: 1947026976

ISBN-13: 978-1947026971