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Country Blues => Country Blues Licks and Lessons => Topic started by: Ale_Buster_Ponti on August 22, 2014, 02:15:16 AM

Title: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Ale_Buster_Ponti on August 22, 2014, 02:15:16 AM

Hello I'm a newbie here! Does anyone know how to play Henry Townsend's "Sloppy Drunk Again"? There are two guitars playing together, I think one in standard tuning and the other in some open tuning (D, G?) but I'm not sure. Can someone help me? Something about lyrics too?

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Johnm on August 22, 2014, 07:08:14 AM

Hello Ale_Buster_Ponti,
Welcome to Weenie Campbell!  The version you're asking about of "Sloppy Drunk Again" is by Walter Davis, with Henry Townsend and Big Joe Williams backing his piano playing and singing on guitars.  Big Joe, at least, is in Spanish tuning, and Henry Townsend could be in Spanish or cross-note tuning. As for how to play it, I would say to put on the record and listen to it--they're just freaking out.  Walter Davis is consistently phrasing short.  The structure of the song is discussed in the thread, "Vocal Phrasing--The Long and the Short of It", at http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=951.msg7166#msg7166 (http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=951.msg7166#msg7166) and the lyrics are transcribed in the "Walter Davis Lyrics" thread, at http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6739.msg77490#msg77490. (http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6739.msg77490#msg77490.)
All best,
Johnm

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Ale_Buster_Ponti on August 24, 2014, 03:44:34 AM

Thank you Johnm! I can't hear the piano playing, are you sure about the piano?
p.s.: your forum is like a glass water in the desert for anyone playing old country blues songs!!

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Johnm on August 24, 2014, 07:07:46 AM

I'm glad you enjoy the forum, Ale_Buster_Ponti, but it sure isn't mine.  I just hang out here.  It occurs to me that Henry Townsend may have re-recorded "Sloppy Drunk Again".  What CD do you have it on?  If it is the original recording, it is not hard at all to hear Walter Davis.
All best,
Johnm

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: banjochris on August 25, 2014, 08:48:36 AM

I know Townsend recorded it on his "Cairo Blues" album in the '70s(?). Pretty sure he's in Spanish on it, but I've never sat and figured out what the second guitar is doing (I think the 2nd guitar is Mike Stewart/Backwards Sam Firk).

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Johnm on August 25, 2014, 09:15:47 AM

Thanks for that information, Chris.  Was that album on Adelphi or Gene's?  In any event, I've never heard it.
All best,
Johnm

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: banjochris on August 25, 2014, 01:34:54 PM

According to Stefan's discography, LP was on Adelphi called Henry T. Music Man, CD on Adelphi/Genes as Cairo Blues. It's a really excellent album. I can't remember if I have a physical copy of it or not, I think not. I need to rectify that!
Chris

Title: Re: Henry Townsend Sloppy Drunk again
Post by: Ale_Buster_Ponti on August 30, 2014, 01:52:51 AM

Here I am again :). Yes the song I'm talking about is on "Cairo Blues" (on the cover is written "The blues Vault Series"), two guitars and Henry singing (and playing). It's a beautiful version, I love it.
Sorry for my English I'm from Italy