Topic: "You Don't Know My Mind", Song of When the Spirit Moves You

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I was thinking yesterday about how the song "You Don't Know My Mind" has achieved the status of a Blues Standard down through the years. Here are few versions I was able to find on youtube, and I hope other folks will post some, as well. If you limit yourself to one or two versions, more people will be able to participate.

Here's one from pianist/singer Judson Brown, about whom I know nothing, recorded in 1930:



Here's a version from Herman E. Johnson



Here's one from Joe Callicott's Fat Possum CD, recorded as "Laughing To Keep From Crying":



Here's Brownie McGhee from his solo album on Folkways:



Any other favorite versions out there?

All best,
Johnm

[Rivers]

Great song. Here's Lead Belly, from the King of the 12 string Guitar (Lomax 1935 recordings, Larry Cohn production)

[banjochris]

The always reliable Barbecue Bob:

[Blueshome]

The very first recording, 1923.

[Thomas8]

From Tampa Red:

[banjochris]

Bo Carter puts his own stamp on this standard:

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I don't know where or when this was recorded but it is pretty neat: Mance Lipscomb, joined by Lightnin' Hopkins on piano!



All best,
Johnm

[RobBob]

Here's where I learned it as a kid.

[Johnm]

Thank, banjochris, for maintaining and updating the complete list of Songs of the Month and Songs of When the Spirit Moves You. It makes finding the particular song or version of a song you're looking for a hell of a lot easier. Thanks!

[banjochris]

You're welcome, John!

[Thomas8]

Maggie Jones and a banjitar wielding Sam Clark from 1924, I think this may be the first version after Virginia Liston and interestingly she starts with the verse rather than singing the chorus like Liston. Sounds as if they were aiming for a Sara Martin/Sylvester Weaver formula. It seems like the song comes from the extensive pool of songs that the Vaudeville gals recorded and performed at the time like "Graveyard Dream Blues" "Chirpin' The Blues" "Bleeding Hearted Blues" "Uncle Sam Blues" etc.

What a pleasant sound the two of them produce!

[dj]

Georgia White, recording for Decca on January 28 1937 in Chicago.  Richard M. Jones on piano, Ikey Robinson on guitar, and John Lindsay on bass.  (Robinson per the discography accompanying the Document CD.  GD&R 4 implies that it may be Les Paul on guitar.)

[Thomas8]

I'd agree with GD&R the guitarist sounds very les pauly

[Thomas8]

I keep finding versions of this song in my daily listening. Here's another version this time from Viola McCoy recorded early May 1924. The regular Henderson Banjoist Charlie Dixon is on guitar and is credited as the only accompanist but there's definitely a piano in the background, I assume it's Fletcher Henderson on piano. I think she does an excellent job of it, some different lyrics in the verse as well. 

[Rivers]

For the completists among us, I just stumbled on a 2007 thread about this song. It mentions a couple of versions not listed here:

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3234.msg25196#msg25196