I never thought of it before but maybe we should give Muddy credit for choosing to stay with Chess Records because that may have been where he really wanted to be. It may have given him the life he consciously chose: one over which he (Muddy) had control to a satisfactory extent. I can certainly relate to that. I never even wanted to be the hottest stuff around -- too much effort, too much staging. I had rather be happy. So maybe Muddy felt that way too.
I think Muddy's crossroads might have been this kind of decision -- to stay where he was comfortable with his life rather than elsewhere where he might have not been comfortable. Or maybe he didn't really have that choice; i don't know. But I think a typical crossroad for me certainly could be when I turned down going to U of Michigan and went instead to U of D because they had welcomed me and valued me so much more. I have wondered at the wisdom of that decision many times (when getting paychecks, etc.) but I am happy and if anybody ever writes about what a swell person I am, they should include that I am happy. And I do pretty much believe that a happy life means carrying the crossroads with you. You choose a lot.
Perhaps, the Great Robert Johnson, said he sold his soul to get “country cred” and for self marketing in order to get gigs in Southern juke joints. In the same vein Rapper’s today attempt to gain “street cred” and sell records by claiming doing a prison sentence, selling drugs or being in a gang. (what a historical site)
This is the location where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the Devil and became the greatest Delta blues player that ever lived
I never thought of it before but maybe we should give Muddy credit for choosing to stay with Chess Records because that may have been where he really wanted to be. It may have given him the life he consciously chose: one over which he (Muddy) had control to a satisfactory extent. I can certainly relate to that. I never even wanted to be the hottest stuff around -- too much effort, too much staging. I had rather be happy. So maybe Muddy felt that way too.
ReplyDeleteI think Muddy's crossroads might have been this kind of decision -- to stay where he was comfortable with his life rather than elsewhere where he might have not been comfortable. Or maybe he didn't really have that choice; i don't know. But I think a typical crossroad for me certainly could be when I turned down going to U of Michigan and went instead to U of D because they had welcomed me and valued me so much more. I have wondered at the wisdom of that decision many times (when getting paychecks, etc.) but I am happy and if anybody ever writes about what a swell person I am, they should include that I am happy. And I do pretty much believe that a happy life means carrying the crossroads with you. You choose a lot.
diane wilkinson
Perhaps, the Great Robert Johnson, said he sold his soul to get “country cred” and for self marketing in order to get gigs in Southern juke joints. In the same vein Rapper’s today attempt to gain “street cred” and sell records by claiming doing a prison sentence, selling drugs or being in a gang. (what a historical site)
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