Black tornado/that's what love is all about.

This week's BSB demonstrates its bifurcated nature with a dual title. Looking back both to the revelry of Mardi Gras but also the coming of Lent yesterday on Ash Wednesday and forward for the next month but also next week's pagan-cum-Christian-cum floral greeting card commercial on the 14th. We also wish to remember all the victims of the tornadoes of 2008 which appeared on the cusp of a cold front hitting hot air just as Mardi Gras revelry was turning to Ashy piousness, ironically.

February was traditionally a month devoted to Fertility rituals including the Roman Lupercalia celebrated from the 13th through the 15th of the month. Then 2 or 3 Roman martyrs named Valentine were linked to the month and the 14th specifically as it became St. Valentine's Day. The first direct linking between Valentine's Day and romantic love appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's
Parlement of Foules (1382):

"Ye knowe wel how, Seynt Valentynes day,
By my staut and thorgh my governaunce,
Ye come for to chese—and fle youre wey—
Your makes, as I prike yow with plesaunce;"

The Riverside Shakespeare (Benson ed.) ll. 386–89.

The Playlist

BSB Intro

Mic Break

Lenten Blues
Charlie Musselwhite, "Christo Redemptor" Stand Back!
Charley Patton, "I Shall Not Be Moved" Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton [Disc 2]
Charley Patton, "Devil Sent The Rain Blues" Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton [Disc 2]

Mic Break

Elmore James, "Standing At The Crossroads" Best of Elmore James
The Fairfield Four, "Lonesome Valley" O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Charles Sheffield, "I Would Be A Sinner" The Best Of Excello Records

Mic Break

Mahalia Jackson, "How I Got Over" [Mono Version] [Live] The Essential Mahalia Jackson [Disc 1]
Mahalia Jackson, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" [Mono Version] The Essential Mahalia Jackson [Disc 1]
Mahalia Jackson, "Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho" The Essential Mahalia Jackson [Disc 1]

Mic Break

Magic Slim & The Teardrops, "Black Tornado" The Essential Magic Slim
Little Brother Montgomery, "Vicksburg Blues" Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways
Leadbelly, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Lead Belly Sings for Children

Mic Break

Fred McDowell with James Shorty, "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me" The First Recordings
Junior Wells, "Lord Lord" (Alternate) Blues Hit Big Town
John Lee Williams, "I Been Dealing With The Devil" Broken Heart Blues
Jimbo Mathus, "Old Rugged Cross" old scool hot wings
Jimmie Rodgers, "Memphis Yodel" The Essential Jimmie Rodgers

Mic Break

Guitar Slim, "Reap What You Sow" Sufferin' Mind
Mississippi John Hurt, "Here I Am Lord Send Me" Newport Folk Festival Best Of The Blues 1
Preservation Hall Jazz Band, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" Best Of Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Mic Break

VD Blues

Albert Collins & The Icebreakers, "If You Love Me (Like You Say)" Live 1992-1993
Albert King, "The Very Thought Of You" King Of The Blues Guitar
Aretha Franklin, "Only The Lonely" Aretha Sings The Blues
Arthur Alexander, "Anna (Go To Him)" Night Train to Nashville

Mic Break

Arthur Gunter, "Baby Let's Play House" The Best of Excello Records
The Avons, "Since I Met You Baby" Night Train to Nashville
B.B. King, "You're Still My Woman" Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Big Bill Broonzy, "Careless Love" Black, Brown & White

Mic Break

Muddy Waters, "Meanest Woman" (Monaural Studios) Muddy Waters At Newport 1960
Big Walter Horton, "Hard Hearted Woman" Mouth Harp Maestro
Blind Joe Williams, "Cold Woman Blues" Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton [Disc 6]

Mic Break

Big Mama Thornton, "Let Your Tears Fall Baby" Duke-Peacock Blues: Best Of
Sonny Parker, "She Set My Soul On Fire" Duke-Peacock Blues: Best Of
Buddy Guy w/Junior Wells, "In The Wee Hours" Can't Quit The Blues (Disc 1)

Mic Break

Edith North Johnson, "Honey Dripper Blues No. 2" Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton [Disc 2]
Ma Rainey, "Booze & Blues" Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton [Disc 6]
Mable John, "Ain't Giving It Up" Stax" We'll Play The Blues For You
Louis Jordan, "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma Baby)" No Moe! - The Greatest Hits

Mic Break

Little Walter, "You're So Fine" His Best

Here's Hopin' You Avoided The Storms' Fury and that you have a fine Valentine's with Your Sweetheart (if you have one . . .) Otherwise stay safe and remember February and Lent will be over soon enough.