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I am taking a Blues dancing class from Campbell and Bill this month. I am doing it because I want to improve my basics and because I want to support more Blues dance classes in Austin. There are three classes down and one to go. Next week we will be focusing on Call and Response. As part of it, Bill asked me to come up with some good songs that really exemplify Call and Response.

The first song that comes to mind is Rent man Blues by Anson Funderburgh with Carol Fran Myers. The back and forth between the male and female vocals has always motivated some Call and Response playfulness in my dancing. However, once I stopped to think about it, I could not easily come up with other songs that have that back and forth energy. I decided it was time to learn and explore.

I knew that Call and Response was not just about vocals, but that is the most pronounced version of it. Thinking more and trying to understand Call and Response, I began to picture different ways it can be done. Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddie Waters (and performed by lots and lots of people) came to mind as another good example. His lyrics and the harmonica play off each other:
- Call: vocals: The gypsy woman told my mother
- Response: Harmonica (with rhythm section)
- Call: vocals: Before I was born
- Response: Harmonica (with rhythm section)

I began thinking more and realized that there are numerous songs that have Call and Response, though many much less dramatic than Hoochie Coochie Man or Rent Man Blues. Some of my favorites from my collection:

    - Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
As mentioned before; lyrics and the harmonica play off each other.
    - Rent Man Blues - Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets
The male and female lyrics.
    - Full Moon On Main Street - Freddie & The Screamers
Vocals and guitar, sometimes they are together, but through parts, the contrast is realy played with.
    - My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More - Alberta Hunter
Lyrics and horn.
    - I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues - Barbara Morrison
Lyrics and piano.
    - Minnie the moocher - Cab Calloway
Through parts the chorus contrast nicely with the main lyrics. Always a favorite of mine even if most people consider it slow swing instead of Blues.
    - Tobacco Road - Junior Wells
Lyrics and harmonica.
    - Makin' Whoopie - Ray Charles
Ray brings out a lot of piano between lyrics, providing good contrast and play.

I know there are many more out there. I just did not want to spend hours and hours finding all of them and some were not my favorites. There are also several others that have Call and Response, but do not necessarily motivate me to dance in that style. Many artists seem to play with Call and Response just for a few moments or the response part is too short to allow for much playing in dance.

As usual, most of the songs can be previewed through Amazon or iTunes if you want to check them out.