Blues Progressions

Blues Progressions: Where every note tells a story 🎵 Welcome to Blues Progressions, the podcast that delves deep into the heart and soul of one of the most influential genres in music history: the blues. I’m your host, Karl Sorochinski and together, we’ll embark on a rhythmic journey through time. So, whether you’re a seasoned blues aficionado or a curious listener, join us on Blues Progressions. Let’s groove, reflect, and celebrate the heartbeat of American music. 🎶🔵 Remember to subscribe, rate, and share the blues love!

Listen on:

Latest Update

Season 2 is live Sept 25th! - Season 2 is in progress and you can expect some changes: More Voices - we are actively working on some individuals to interview - artists, supporters, fans, anyone who has an interesting Blues story. We have some new equiptment and will be spending some more time on broadcast quality to make the experience better for all. We are working on a more consisten timing so you can always know when it is time for that next dose of Blues information. As always - Thank you for listening. There is nothing better than having a tiny part in the great Blues community!

*** Don't Forget to sign up for the mailing list in the menu above ***

Episodes

5 days ago

Special Announcement - Coming July 17

5 days ago

30 sec

Fresh on the heels of my series on Southern Rock, I am launching the next series on Blues Rock starting July 17!

5 days ago

Episode 6 - Modern Sourthern Rock

5 days ago

25 min

A band like Blackberry Smoke or the Marcus King Band walks out to a sold-out room tonight — and you can’t quite name what it is. Southern Rock? Blues-rock? Country? Americana? All of it? The finale brings the whole story home: who carries it now, how it evolved, and how a porch sound went global.

Jul 3, 2026

Episode 5 - Decline and Revival

Jul 3, 2026

25 min

1980: Capricorn Records goes bankrupt and the press writes the obituary — Southern Rock is dead. They got it completely wrong. It didn’t die; it went underground, and the faithful kept the fire lit in the small rooms. The host was one of them — behind the board for a Jersey cover band.

Jun 26, 2026

Episode 4 - Flags and Myths

Jun 26, 2026

24 min

The same five Southern Rock songs play on every classic rock station, forever — but somebody chose them, and somebody froze this music inplace. What got frozen along with it — the flags, the myths, the arguments — is the hardest, most honest episode in the series. And the hostdoesn’t dodge any of it, including his own history with the flag.

Jun 19, 2026

Episode 3 - The 70s Explosion

Jun 19, 2026

25 min

Everybody knows “Free Bird” — it’s a punchline now, the thing people yell as a joke. But that song, and a dozen like it, came out of one white-hotfive-year explosion of Southern music. This is the peak: Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels — and the fire that took some of the best ofthem.

Jun 12, 2026

Episode 2 - Macon RIsing

Jun 12, 2026

25 min

A grieving manager who’d just buried Otis Redding bets a whole record label on a band with two lead guitarists and two drummers. The town isMacon. The label is Capricorn. This is the room where Southern Rock got its name.

Jun 5, 2026

Episode 1 - The Roots of Southern Rock

Jun 5, 2026

25 min

Welcome back! After a long absence, I would like to welcome you back to Blues Progressions. With the help of AI, I am now able to keep up with work and my side projects. This is the first of a six parts series of the Sub-Genre: Southern Rock. As a long time fan I am thrilled to have it's histroy presented to you. Look for a weekly episode throughout this series!

Feb 11, 2025

Episode 4 - It's Jazzy!

Feb 11, 2025

34 min

The Blues are the roots of a tall musical tree. One of those branches is Jazz. In this episode we take a short journey through the influence of the Blues on the creation and evolution of Jazz.

Jan 29, 2025

Second Announcement

Jan 29, 2025

1 min

Another quick update prior to relaunch

Dec 27, 2024

Announcement - Sorry for the Delay

Dec 27, 2024

41 sec

Quick note on the delay of new episodes

Season 2 - Playlists

Episode 2 - Let's Talk About the Kids Spotify Apple Music

Episode 3 - Go West Young Man. Spotify Apple Music

How to listen to / Add Playlists on Phone

Apple Music

Open Music App

Tap search in the lower right corner

Type Blues Progressions in search box (make sure Apple Music is selected under search bar - not Library)

Hit Search lower right

Select playlists in options under search box

Select the playlist you would like to listen to

If you want to add to your library, select the three dots on upper right and in menu select add to library

Spotify

Open Spotify App

Tap search in the lower center left

Type Blues Progressions in search box

In the results look foe Blues Progressions - There will be 2 one is the podcast (subtitle will say podcast and author name)

The music playlist will have a rubber duck profile picture and have the subtitle of profile - select this one

You will be given a list of playlists (you can hit “see all playlists” to see all of them

Select the one you like to listen (if you have a premium account yo can download as well)

Season 2 - Episode 1 Links

The Blues Foundation – This includes the International Blues Challenge and Hall of Fame

The Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi

The Library of Congress

Archive.org

Spotify Playlist

uDiscover

How to load Blues Progressions Episode Playlists

Just for Fun

The Rules of the Blues

"Rules Of The Blues"

1. Most Blues begin, "Woke up this morning..."

2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you stick something nasty in the next line like, "I got a good woman, with the meanest face in town."

3. The Blues is simple. After you get the first line right, repeat it. Then find something that rhymes... sort of: "Got a good woman with the meanest face in town. Yes, I got a good woman with the meanest face in town. Got teeth like Margaret Thatcher, and she weigh 500 pound."

4. The Blues is not about choice. You stuck in a ditch, you stuck in a ditch--ain't no way out.

5. Blues cars: Chevys, Fords, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Blues don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or Sport Utility Vehicles. Most Blues transportation is a Greyhound bus or a southbound train. Jet aircraft and company motor pools ain't even in the running. Walkin' plays a major part in the blues lifestyle. So does fixin' to die.

6. Teenagers can't sing the Blues. They ain't fixin' to die yet. Adults sing the Blues. In Blues, "adulthood" means being old enough to get the electric chair if you shoot a man in Memphis.

7. Blues can take place in New York City but not in Hawaii or any place in Canada. Hard times in Minneapolis or Seattle is probably just clinical depression. Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City are still the best places to have the Blues. You cannot have the blues in any place that don't get rain.

8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the blues. A woman with male pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg cause you were skiing is not the blues. Breaking your leg 'cause a alligator be chompin' on it is.

9. You can't have no Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The lighting is wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.

10. Good places for the Blues:

a. Highway

b. Jailhouse

c. An empty bed

d. Bottom of a whiskey glass

11. Bad places for the Blues: a. Nordstrom's b. Gallery openings c. Ivy league institutions d. Golf courses

12. No one will believe it's the Blues if you wear a suit, 'less you happen to be an old ethnic person, and you slept in it.

13. You have the right to sing the Blues if: a. You older than dirt b. You blind c. You shot a man in Memphis d. You can't be satisfied

14. You don't have the right to sing the Blues if: a. You have all your teeth b. You were once blind but now can see c. The man in Memphis lived d. You have a pension fund

15. Blues is not a matter of color. It's a matter of bad luck. Tiger Woods cannot sing the blues. Sonny Liston could. Ugly white people also got a leg up on the blues.

16. If you ask for water and your darlin' give you gasoline, it's the Blues

17. Other acceptable Blues beverages are: a. Cheap wine b. Whiskey or bourbon c. Muddy water d. Nasty black coffee

18. The following are NOT Blues beverages: a. Perrier b. Chardonnay c. Snapple d. Slim Fast

19. If death occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it's a Blues death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is another Blues way to die. So is the electric chair, substance abuse and dying lonely on a broke-down cot. You can't have a Blues death if you die during a tennis match or while getting liposuction.

20. Some Blues names for women: a. Sadie b. Big Mama c. Bessie d. Fat River Dumpling

21. Some Blues names for men: a. Joe b. Willie c. Little Willie d. Big Willie

22. Persons with names like Michelle, Amber, Debbie, and Heather can't sing the Blues no matter how many men they shoot in Memphis.

23. Make your own Blues name Starter Kit: a. name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, etc.) b. first name (see above) plus name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Melon, Kiwi, etc.) c. last name of President (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.) For example: Blind Lime Jefferson, Jackleg Lemon Johnson or Cripple Kiwi Fillmore, etc. (Well, maybe not "Kiwi.")

24. I don't care how tragic your life: if you own even one computer, you cannot sing the blues.

Season 1 - Playlists

Episode 1 - Robert Johnson Spotify Apple Music

Episode 2 - 12 Bar Blues Spotify Apple Music

Episode 3 - The Road to Chicago Spotify Apple Music

Episode 4 - Oh, Yes She Did! Pt 1 Spotify Apple Music

Episode 5 - Oh, Yes She Did! Pt 2 Spotify Apple Music

Episode 6 - "Reeling" In The Years Spotify Apple Music

Tribute to John Mayall Spotify Apple Music

Episode 7 - Cover Me! Spotify Apple Music

Episode 8 - On A Mission From God Spotify Apple Music

Episode 9 - It's Electric. Spotify Apple Music

Episode 10 - Spoonful of Blues Spotify Apple Music

How to listen to / Add Playlists on Phone

Apple Music

Open Music App

Tap search in the lower right corner

Type Blues Progressions in search box (make sure Apple Music is selected under search bar - not Library)

Hit Search lower right

Select playlists in options under search box

Select the playlist you would like to listen to

If you want to add to your library, select the three dots on upper right and in menu select add to library

Spotify

Open Spotify App

Tap search in the lower center left

Type Blues Progressions in search box

In the results look foe Blues Progressions - There will be 2 one is the podcast (subtitle will say podcast and author name)

The music playlist will have a rubber duck profile picture and have the subtitle of profile - select this one

You will be given a list of playlists (you can hit “see all playlists” to see all of them

Select the one you like to listen (if you have a premium account yo can download as well)

On the Web

The following is a list of websites that ca help the Biue enthusiasts leanr more abiout the genre:

Modern Female Blues Artists:

Samantha Fish: Known for her soulful voice and guitar skills, Samantha Fish has been captivating audiences worldwide. You can find more about her on her Official Website

Anna Popović: A talented guitarist and vocalist, Anna Popović infuses blues with rock and funk. Check out her music and tour dates on her Official Website

Ruthie Foster: Ruthie Foster’s powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics resonate with blues enthusiasts. Explore her work and upcoming shows on her Official Website

Susan Tedeschi: Susan Tedeschi’s soulful voice and blues-rock sound have earned her a devoted fan base. Learn more about her music and performances on her Official Website

Remember to support these talented artists by following them on social media and signing up for their email lists!

Blues Travel

There are a lot of places one caan visit to truely experience the roots of the blues.

1. Mississippi Delta

Clarksdale - Mississippi: The Crossroads of Blues Legends are located here as are many other interesting landmarks:

The Crossroads - The intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 49. Look for a trio of electric guitars hoisted into the air on a metal pole marking this historic spot.

Cat Head record store –

Dreamboat BBQ & Tamales

Delta Blues Museum, housed in an old freight depot downtown.

One Unique Experience is to stay at the Shack Up Inn, a collection of sharecropper cabins turned into comfortable rustic guest rooms

Enjoy Live Music at:

Red’s Lounge

The New Roxy Theater

Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club

Dockery Farms: Often considered the birthplace of the blues, Dockery Farms is where early blues musicians like Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf made music history. It’s a must-visit for any blues enthusiast.

BB King Museum (Indianola): Explore the life and legacy of the legendary B.B. King at this museum dedicated to the “King of the Blues.”

Blue Front Café (Bentonia): This historic juke joint has been serving up blues music for decades. It’s a true gem for blues aficionados.

GRAMMY Museum: Located in Cleveland, Mississippi, the GRAMMY Museum celebrates music and artists across genres, including the blues.

Mississippi Blues Trail Markers: This is a set of markers for famous Blues sites. More information here: Mississippi Blues Trail Homepage

See the "Reels"

An Interview with Jelly Roll Morton

The Land Where the Blues Began

The Alan Lomax Archive on You Tube

Deep Blues (requires account or participating Library card

Martin Scorsese - The Blues

Kenny Wayne Shepherd talks about 10 Days Out

Proud Blues Partner of the Blues Foundation

Blues Progressions is a proud Partner Level Member of the Blues Foundation. Please visit and support the foundation.

Blues Foundation Website