- This topic has 8 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 5 months, 3 weeks ago by .
-
Topic
-
This one started out about Fenton Robinson and his song, “Somebody Loan Me a Dime”; there’s a section down there about him, but while his music’s great, I didn’t find a lot to say. He was a musician’s musician, lots of people showed up when he played. His career was interrupted by a car wreck that changed his life in a lot of ways, and from what I can tell, in spite of his incredible talent, he wasn’t happy.
So I decided to do a recap of the songs I’d created playlists for, thinking a lot of people probably hadn’t seen the corresponding Blues Roots. That’s the bulk of this one, but there are a few other little things for your consideration.
About a month ago my workplace seating shifted around and I went from a quiet spot alone on one floor to the middle of a busy floor. I haven’t quite gotten used to it yet. I felt funny putting on headphones, typing away while tapping my feet, grunting and shouting (I’ve cut way back on the grunting). I’m getting more comfortable here and should be back in the groove before long. You should have seen this a week ago.
Thanks for checking this out. The next Blues Roots will appear on Thursday, September 20.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::B:::O:::Y:::D:::::::G:::I:::L:::M:::O:::R:::E::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This Boyd Gilmore song (vocals), with Ike Turner’s band (Ike on piano), James Scott Jr (guitar), Jesse Knight Jr. (bass) and Jessie “Cleanhead” Love or Henry Harris (drums) was recorded on January 23, 1952. In one of the first instances of creative overdubbing, it features a guitar intro and solo from Elmore James’ “Please Find My Baby,” which was grafted on during the mastering on April 13, 1952. The Bihari brothers were the producers’ behind this innovation. If you want a quick slice of blues history, skip down to the “Pseudonyms and royalties” section of the article in their name.
Elmore James’ “Please Find My Baby” was recorded January 25, 1952, also with Ike Turner on piano.
The flip of “All In My Dreams” was a cover of Robert Lockwood’s variant of his stepfather’s Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Boyd Gilmore (vocal and guitar) with Earl Hooker (guitar), Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins (piano), unknown bass, Willie Nix (drums), Memphis, July 15, 1953 (listing on video must be for other songs at same session, no harmonica or saxophone on here, none needed)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::E:::L:::M:::O:::R:::E::::::J:::A:::M:::E:::S::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
………………………………………J…a…n…u…a…r…y………2…5.,……1…9…6…3………………………………………
Other songs Elmore James recorded on the same date as “Please Find My Baby” were “Hawaiian Boogie (Part 1),” “Lost Woman Blues” (another version of “Please Find My Baby”), “Hand In Hand” (the one released as Flair 1031 below, it is killer), “Long Tall Woman Blues” (compare with EP183; there are two versions of this song but this is the one that’s recorded with the Broomdusters, so I think I’ve got the right one for this date), “Rock My Baby Right,” “My Baby’s Gone” and two versions of “One More Drink.”
This is the version of “Long Tall Woman” that reminds me of EP183.
We hear him use the words “hand in hand” in this song. I notice the guitar intro was pretty similar too. There are quite a few little overlaps on this date, showing us a little of his thought processes.
……………M…a…k…e………M…y………D…r…e…a…m…s………C…o…m…e………T…r…u…e……………
Boyd Atkins and J.T. Brown (saxophones), Johnny Jones (piano), Ransom Knowling (bass), Odie Payne (drums), Chicago, August 1953
Johnny Big Moose Walker (piano) unknown bass and drums, New York City, February 21, 1963
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::S::::O::::N::::G::::S::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
These songs are ones that caught my ear. They were either ones I played and wanted to hear variations of, like “44 Blues” and “Work Song,” ones I want to learn like “One Room Country Shack” or “Catfish Blues” (I’ve since learned it), or just songs of general interest to me.I try to place the original or most well-known one first, followed by influential and well-known covers, then chronologically or in some other sensible order. The list of playlists below is alphabetical, ignoring “The” when it’s the first word. Complaints and criticisms are welcomed.
Where there’s a related Blues Roots, it’s in the link that follows the title
“Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby” Our Blues Roots, “Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby,” June 27, 2017. There’s a link right at the beginning of part 1 of this 2-part Blues Roots (neither one was my favorite, notwithstanding the great Jimmy Reed song at the heart of it—that was great.
“Back at the Chicken Shack” Our Blues Roots: “Back at the Chicken Shack,” August 3, 2017
“Catfish Blues” Our Blues Roots: “Catfish Blues,” June 8, 2017
“I Just Want to Make Love to You” All the best versions are found at this Blues Roots from March 30, 2017.
“One Room Country Shack” Our Blues Roots: “One Room Country Shack,” August 31, 2017
“Shake Your Money Maker” Our Blues Roots, “Shake Your Money Maker,” July 6, 2017
“Sitting On Top of the World” Our Blues Roots “Sitting On Top of the World,” May 25, 2017
“Trouble In Mind” (there’s an explanation about the changes this list goes through in the playlist description), I filmed Jontavious Willis’s version when he was in New York about a year ago (number 39).
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::F:::E:::N:::T:::O:::N::::::::R:::O:::B:::I:::N:::S:::O:::N:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fenton Robinson wrote “Somebody Loan Me a Dime ” and first recorded it in 1967. You’ll find many versions of it, starting with a live one, and a lot of other songs, at this playlist dedicated to his music. The 10th video on this list features the 1967, 1972 and 1974 studio versions. There’s a link in the playlist description that leads to the Fenton Robinson YouTube topic where many of his albums, including the brilliant Somebody Loan Me a Dime from 1974 (link takes you to album). Fenton Robinson was the guitarist on Larry Davis’ 1958 “Texas Flood” (song number 35 on the playlist below).
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::S::::O::::N::::G::::S:::::::A:::B:::O:::U:::T:::::::T:::R:::A:::I:::N:::S:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Trains are present in so many songs, I made a list covering all genres except metal and things like that. It’s heavily weighted toward blues, country, R&B, genres that were popular during the railroads’ heyday. If you think your favorite train song isn’t on here, let me know—I’ll either find it in the list or add it if I can find it. YouTube’s most recent updates make it harder to search other people’s playlists.
:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::E:::T:::C:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
…………………………………………L…u…c…y………M…a…e………B…l…u…e…s…………………………………………
See if this Frankie Lee Sims album doesn’t grab you—“Lucy Mae” is a must-hear classic.
………………………………C…h…a…m…p…i…o…n………J…a…c…k………D…u…p…r…e…e………………………………
In case you missed this last time, Blues From The Gutter, with Larry Dale on guitar (then going by his birth name Ennis Lowery), New York City, February 4, 1958.
………………………………………………K….C.………D…o…u…g…l…a…s…………………………………………………
Strong, basic, classic, raw album
………………………………………………P…o…w…e…r………T…o…o…l…s………………………………………………
Lots more versions atOur Blues Roots: “Crosscut Saw,” May 4, 2017, but I wasn’t aware of this one.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Playlists on my channel, I think the order you see them in is determined by the last one edited rising to the top. In a year or two, I plan to set the order by not editing them (except to prune deleted ones on a semiregular basis).Don D.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.