Hi everyone! So first, I should probably explain this week’s title. You see, I’ve been on a bit of a Robert Johnson kick lately. For those of you who don’t know about Robert Johnston, you should head on over to YouTube right now to take a listen. He was a great Delta blues singer and guitarist from the 1930s, and his finger prints are all over the greatest rock ‘n roll stars of all time: the Stones, Dylan, Cream, ZZ Top, the list goes on. There are only 41 known recorded songs from Johnson (12 of which are alternate takes), so you can listen to his complete works in less than two hours. I bought a box set of his complete works at the library for just five bucks, and I have greatly enjoyed listening to it. I was blown away by how it sounds like Johnson is right there in the room with you. Just him and his guitar. No fancy studio sweetening. No overdubs. No bass. No drums. Just a man and his guitar. There are haunting stories that claim Johnson wasn’t much of a guitar player until one day at a crossroad he cut an unholy deal with the Devil, a recurring character in many of Johnson’s songs. According to legend, Johnson developed his incredible skill almost overnight. Sadly, Johnson, like many other music legends, lived a very short life — he died at just 27 — and left us wondering what else he could have accomplished had he lived longer. His recordings from 1936 and 1937 are the only ones that exist, and they are magical. One of his songs is called “Malted Milk” and the opening line of the song is “I keep drinkin’ malted milk tryin’ to drive my blues away,” which inspired this week’s title.

Where am I going with this? Well, in researching material for my next book, I came across a story of how referee Dave Newell was once clunked on the head with a frozen chocolate malt during a Seals-Leafs game. I don’t hear the word “malt” used very often except on the famous candy bar, and in the Robert Johnson song. You might even say that Johnson and the Seals met at some sort of bizarre Delta blues-NHL crossroad. This week, I’ve posted a San Francisco Examiner article about that infamous game from February 19, 1975. The Seals had every opportunity to take down their division rivals from up North, but failed, and you can read all about it here.

Until next time, check out Robert Johnson on YouTube, or better yet, pick up one of the compilation albums on which he appears, and sit back and enjoy! Stay gold!