Had money in the bank, I got busted, people ain't that bad. You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had - Muddy Waters, You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had
Frank “Springback” James – Vocals, Piano Willie Bee James – Guitar
Chicago, Illinois December 21, 1936
Piano in G
A poor coal loader and in the mine Slave for my woman 'til I must goes blind Now I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
I work so hard from dawn to dusk Can't find a woman that I can trust Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
I work so from six to six Kidman waitin’ to get his business fixed Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
I work every day in the mine Come home at night you got my best friend cryin’ Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
The food you cook a hound dog sick Woman I swear you's a no good chick Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
« Last Edit: February 10, 2021, 06:30:35 AM by Harry »
Frank “Springback” James – Vocals, Piano Willie Bee James – Guitar
Chicago, Illinois May 15, 1935
Piano in C
Mama you don’t do nothin’ but lay ‘round on your rusty can Mama you don’t do nothin’ but lay ‘round on your rusty can But you’ve got to get up here if you want me for your man
Now you told me easter wanted a nice long evening gown Now you told me easter wanted a nice long evening gown Why that’s anymore I do for you all you want to clown around
Just one or two drinks of whiskey and you just can’t keep it still Just one or two drinks of whiskey and you just can’t keep it still Cause your love comes down and you goes up ‘gainst my will
Now I told you woman so many times before Now I told you woman so many times before ‘Bout the no good men that is hangin’ ‘round your door
You wanna show your D.B. ring I’m a poor hard workin’ man You wanna show your D.B. ring I’m a poor hard workin’ man The next time I catch you wrong gon' get on your rusty can
« Last Edit: February 11, 2021, 06:14:55 AM by Harry »
Agreed on that one, John, I was just listening to it myself.
I have never heard this performer; he's good and I like Willie B. James' guitar. Springback has an interesting habit of changing chords early, which seems a little odd to do under his singing – doesn't sound bad, just different. Chris
I agree with you, Chris, I quite like James' singing and playing, and I'm always impressed when an accompanist, like Willie Bee James in this instance, is not thrown by the fact that the singer being accompanied likes to phrase short and hit chord changes early, as you noted. In such an instance, if the accompanist goes ahead and phrases "normally", they have the power to make the singer sound really amateurish. Willie Bee James doesn't do that here--he listens well and sticks with Frank James all the way, helping get really nice takes. All best, Johnm