“Going Down” by Moloch

​Guitarist and vocalist Joseph Lee Baker was born in Arkansas and as a teen played with the likes of Bukka White, Mississippi Fred MacDowell, and Charlie Rich. In the mid 60’s he found his way to Memphis and formed Moloch. Their only album was produced by Don Nix, an also obscure but key figure in the Memphis music scene and Southern rock and soul. Moloch was released on Stax subsidiary, Enterprise Records, and although it was well received, it didn’t sell many copies.

 “Going Down” is the fifth song from the record and an exciting acid blues track that showcases Baker’s abilities as a guitarist. Written by Don Nix, “Going Down” would be re-recorded and made famous a couple of years later by legendary bluesman Freddie King.
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After Moloch broke up, Baker went on to play concerts with MC5 and Iggy Pop. He also appeared on Big Star and Alex Chilton albums. As his musical career slowed down, he taught English at a rural high school outside of Memphis. In 1996 he was murdered by one of his former students in an apparent robbery gone wrong.