Cobra Records and Otis Rush

From 1956 through 58, Cobra recorded many outstanding artists, including West Side band leader Harold Burrage, Big Walter “Shakey” Horton, Little Willie Foster, Sunnyland Slim, Ike Turner and the Calvaes. The label boosted the fortunes of three strong guitarists: Otis Rush, Magic Sam, and Buddy Guy.

Otis Rush, a native of Philadelphia, MS, played and sang in a tortured, dramatic style that can send shivers up your spine. He performed songs including the beautiful minor blues ballad “My Love Will Never Die,” written by the bass player Willie Dixon, the man behind the careers of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and other stars of Chess Records, But Rush also wrote some outstanding songs himself, including “Double Trouble” [see video above] which could just as well be a comment on today’s economy:

“I lay wake at nights, just so troubled,

It’s hard to keep a job, laid off, having double trouble

Hey hey, they say you can make it if you try,

Some of this generation is millionairees,

It’s hard for me to keep decent clothes to wear.”

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