Hi all,
I thought "Shake 'Em On Down" would make an interesting Song of the Month for October, 2017. Evidently, the earliest recording of this song was Booker White's, from a session in Chicago on September 2, 1937, on which he was seconded by an un-named guitarist, with both musicians playing out of E position in standard tuning. Booker's version utilized a melody previously recorded by Johnnie Temple, and is structurally a chorus blues, with each verse strung out over the first four bars of the form and the chorus arriving with the IV chord, in the fifth bar of the form. One of the interesting things about the chorus is the non-explicit pronoun reference as to what exactly it is that needs to be shaken on down. The reference could be sexual, relate to gambling, or in an explanation Booker himself evidently once gave, it could refer to strong-arming hobos for their money. I like the way the chorus, however it is sung, sets up two possible courses of action, one of which is shaking 'em on down. The conclusion reached? I've got to shake 'em on down! The lyrics to Booker's earliest recording of the song can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=2438.msg57342#msg57342 .
Here is Booker's first recording of the song:
Bo Carter recorded a stellar version of the song, working out of DGDGBE tuning. Here it is:
In Bo's version, he actually sings,
Must I keep dealin', or must I shove 'em on down
Bo's version of the song, apart from sharing the chorus blues structure of Booker's, has little else in common with Booker's version, lyrically or melodically.
Tommy McClennan recorded the song as "New Shake 'Em On Down, playing it out of D position in standard tuning at a session in Chicago on November 22, 1939. His recording has the kind of super-charged energy that he had at that time--he burned brightly, but not so long. His lyrics can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?Itemid=128&topic=3070.msg65425#msg65425 . Here is his version:
Furry Lewis recorded a wonderful version, playing in his EAEGBE tuning (though tuned low, at C#) at his Sam Charters-produced session in Memphis in 1961, for Prestige-Bluesville. His time here is so infectious, and he's earned his choice of tempos over a lifetime of music-making. Here is his performance:
Furry's lyrics can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=167.msg91604#msg91604 .
Dr. Ross recorded a rocking version, which has, I believe, my all-time favorite tone for a harmonica played off of a rack, while he simultaneously plays his guitar in Spanish and keeps his one-man-band drum kit going. It's not a full-on one-man performance, for he is joined by a pianist, too. Here is Dr. Ross's version:
Detroit-based musician Bobo Jenkins had a pretty cool, funky electric ensemble version. Here it is:
Present-day musician Thomasina Winslow has a strong version in dropped-D tuning. I sure like her singing and "taking care of business" demeanor. Nice and original guitar part, too. Here is her version:
This listing of versions of "Shake 'Em On Down" is by no means exhaustive--there are plenty of other strong versions on youtube I've left for you all to put up here. I should say, too, that there is a terrific version on Mr. OMuck's new CD, but I didn't want to post it without his permission. Bring 'em on, and if you limit yourself to one or two new versions, more folks will be able to participate.
All best,
Johnm
I thought "Shake 'Em On Down" would make an interesting Song of the Month for October, 2017. Evidently, the earliest recording of this song was Booker White's, from a session in Chicago on September 2, 1937, on which he was seconded by an un-named guitarist, with both musicians playing out of E position in standard tuning. Booker's version utilized a melody previously recorded by Johnnie Temple, and is structurally a chorus blues, with each verse strung out over the first four bars of the form and the chorus arriving with the IV chord, in the fifth bar of the form. One of the interesting things about the chorus is the non-explicit pronoun reference as to what exactly it is that needs to be shaken on down. The reference could be sexual, relate to gambling, or in an explanation Booker himself evidently once gave, it could refer to strong-arming hobos for their money. I like the way the chorus, however it is sung, sets up two possible courses of action, one of which is shaking 'em on down. The conclusion reached? I've got to shake 'em on down! The lyrics to Booker's earliest recording of the song can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=2438.msg57342#msg57342 .
Here is Booker's first recording of the song:
Bo Carter recorded a stellar version of the song, working out of DGDGBE tuning. Here it is:
In Bo's version, he actually sings,
Must I keep dealin', or must I shove 'em on down
Bo's version of the song, apart from sharing the chorus blues structure of Booker's, has little else in common with Booker's version, lyrically or melodically.
Tommy McClennan recorded the song as "New Shake 'Em On Down, playing it out of D position in standard tuning at a session in Chicago on November 22, 1939. His recording has the kind of super-charged energy that he had at that time--he burned brightly, but not so long. His lyrics can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?Itemid=128&topic=3070.msg65425#msg65425 . Here is his version:
Furry Lewis recorded a wonderful version, playing in his EAEGBE tuning (though tuned low, at C#) at his Sam Charters-produced session in Memphis in 1961, for Prestige-Bluesville. His time here is so infectious, and he's earned his choice of tempos over a lifetime of music-making. Here is his performance:
Furry's lyrics can be found at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=167.msg91604#msg91604 .
Dr. Ross recorded a rocking version, which has, I believe, my all-time favorite tone for a harmonica played off of a rack, while he simultaneously plays his guitar in Spanish and keeps his one-man-band drum kit going. It's not a full-on one-man performance, for he is joined by a pianist, too. Here is Dr. Ross's version:
Detroit-based musician Bobo Jenkins had a pretty cool, funky electric ensemble version. Here it is:
Present-day musician Thomasina Winslow has a strong version in dropped-D tuning. I sure like her singing and "taking care of business" demeanor. Nice and original guitar part, too. Here is her version:
This listing of versions of "Shake 'Em On Down" is by no means exhaustive--there are plenty of other strong versions on youtube I've left for you all to put up here. I should say, too, that there is a terrific version on Mr. OMuck's new CD, but I didn't want to post it without his permission. Bring 'em on, and if you limit yourself to one or two new versions, more folks will be able to participate.
All best,
Johnm