Goin' Away Baby | Early Electric Blues on the Seal Beach Pier | Jimmy Rogers

An early morning on the Seal Beach Pier, starting around 8:30 AM, with a stripped-down duo performance of "Goin' Away Baby." For this session, I'm playing my Gretsch Gin Rickey through a Pignose Hog20, with vocals through a Turner 22D into the same amplifier. Logan is playing harmonica and vocals through his own Pignose Hog20. Our goal is to recreate the intimate, low-volume feel of the small clubs, street corners, and informal gatherings where this music originally lived—allowing dynamics, touch, space, and ensemble playing to take center stage. "Goin' Away Baby" was recorded by Jimmy Rogers for Chess Records in 1951 and is one of the finest examples of the early Chicago blues ensemble sound. Featuring Little Walter on harmonica, the recording showcases the relaxed groove, tasteful accompaniment, and conversational interplay that defined the Chess recordings of the early 1950s. Rather than relying on flashy solos, every instrument serves the song, creating a performance built on time, dynamics, and restraint. Rather than recreating a single recording note for note, we draw from the broader musical language of the era—combining rhythm guitar, bass movement, accompaniment, phrasing, and dynamics into a performance that reflects the spirit of Early Electric Blues. This performance is part of my ongoing exploration and documentation of Early Electric Blues (1937–1953). If you'd like to learn this style from the ground up, the complete Early Electric Blues Lessons 1–8 are available free on YouTube, with over 4½ hours of step-by-step instruction covering rhythm guitar, lead playing, accompaniment, tone, dynamics, and the musical language behind this incredible music. #EarlyElectricBlues #JimmyRogers #GoinAwayBaby #LittleWalter #ChicagoBlues #ChessRecords #BluesGuitar #BluesHarmonica #GretschGinRickey #Pignose #Turner22D #SealBeachPier #TraditionalBlues #VintageBlues #FingerstyleBlues #LearnBluesGuitar #MarkMumea #1937to1953