Topic: Sam Collins Lyrics

[banjochris]

The appropriation of songs for the purpose of getting the publishing rights that you spoke of, Chris, happened in contexts other than commercial recordings, too. Think of all the songs that John Lomax "co-wrote" with Leadbelly.

Absolutely! I'm also not sure that it was always a bad thing – Peer did OK by many of his artists, for instance, certainly better than the way artists like Buddy Moss and Blind Boy Fuller were paid.

[waxwing]

Anyhow, I find this feature of D,G& R fascinating, and wonder if anyone else does, too.

I imagine every one of us who owns a copy feels the same way.  You can exercise your imagination even more by looking for gaps in the master number sequence for a given session - there are 9 untraced masters in the Paramount sequence for May 28, 1930, when Son House, Willie Brown, and Louise Johnson were recording (though 2 of these are probably Grandma Blues and Sorry Blues).  You can let your imagination run wild picturing who may have recorded what in that blank spot.

That book was last revised 23 years ago, and new information has continued to be uncovered.  I know the economics of publishing aren't what they used to be, but I sure would spring for an updated book.

Being a jug band freak a section that interests me is the Index to Accompanists, which comes all the way at the end. A while back I used it to compile a list of jug and "imitation bass" players, as well as, in the following post, a discography of Alfred Elkins's career on the imb (imitation bass, or generally, washtub bass):

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11300.msg99742#msg99742

If you are interested in seeing the list of every artist that Lonnie Johnson accompanied, say, or Charley McCoy, just check their entry in this Index. If you then follow back to the discographies you can follow throuh their career, as I did with Elkins, and you get a real sense of the other musicians that they played with regularly, what companies and cities they recorded in, etc. I think it gives a richer understanding of the scene.

I remember Alan B talking about the unlikelyhood of a hard copy 5th edition being published as the obvious direction is for it to be digital and online. Who knows if someone will come forward to take up this task but it would sure make it easier to work with. I visually scanned every entry (30 pages worth) looking for a "j" or an "imb" to make the jug & washtub bass player list.

I turn to B&GR almost anytime there is a discussion on WC about the players in a specific recording.

Enjoy, Johnm!

BTW, which is the approved abbreviation: B&GR or DG&R?

Moderators: There seem to be two Tags for Alfred Elkins.

Wax

[Blues Vintage]

I'm working on this song and want to suggest some changes in the Sam Collins version,


verse 3
   Went to the Nations, lived town to town and the territor'

verse 4
   You brushed pressed my jumper, my overhalls

last verse
   The day you left me, goin' almost blind  doesn't sound right, could it be  gon'/won't wear no black? 

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
I'm pretty sure you're right about "territor'" in the first line of the third verse, though I'm just hearing, "the territor"", with no "and" preceding it. I think you're also right about "pressed" rather than "brushed" in the first line of verse four. In the final verse I'm now hearing:
   The day you left me, GOIN' ON THOSE BLINDS
   I write you a letter, COME SNEAKING BACK
All best,
Johnm

[Tonybluesboy]

Sam Collins - Signifyin Blues
'Tis a tiny thing, but I hear an extra word
She looked down the street and seen me comin'
She put that low-down DIRTY rascal out
Cheers
Tony

[Johnm]

Hi Tonybluesboy,
That's a good catch on "Signifyin' Blues". I have made the change, thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Hi Harry,
I'm pretty sure you're right about "territor'" in the first line of the third verse, though I'm just hearing, "the territor"", with no "and" preceding it. I think you're also right about "pressed" rather than "brushed" in the first line of verse four. In the final verse I'm now hearing:
   The day you left me, GOIN' ON THOSE BLINDS
   I write you a letter, COME SNEAKING BACK
All best,
Johnm

"come sneaking back" is correct for sure. That first line, second part, really difficult to hear what Collins is singing.

[Blues Vintage]

Another great bluesman we're gonna re-examine. All help is welcome.


Porkchop Blues
https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg26970#msg26970



4th verse

When a man gets sick (and) -is- about to die
Pop in (my) -a- swell cafe and eat his chocolate pie

SOLO after the cornfield verse

8th verse

When a man gets sick and (is) about to die
Pop in (the) -a- swell cafe and get his chocolate pie

SOLO or INTERLUDE

OUTRO SOLO


Lonesome Road Blues
https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg27024#msg27024



2.1 Could it be      -and I fear- the deep blue sea

8.1 I got (me) no money and they call me no honey

14.1 Her head was (ground) -found- in that driver wheel

[Johnm]

Hi,
In "Porkchop Blues" I'm hearing the following, all of which are really minor changes, nothing that changes meaning.

   1.1 I taken sick and I like to die

   4.1 When a man gets sick, and 'bout to die
   4.2 Pop in my swell cafe, get your chocolate pie
   4.4 In your stomach, three times a day

   5.2 I caught two in a-my cornfield (no "And" at the beginning of the line)

   SOLO

   7.1 When a man gets sick, and 'bout to die
   7.3 You needs a pork chop poultice, stewin' beans

   SOLO

   Verse 8

   SOLO X 2

In "Lonesome Road Blues", I'm hearing:

   1.1 I walking down that lonesome lane
   
   2.2 And I fear the deep blue sea (agree with Blues Vintage)

   9.1 In eighteen hundred and that ninety-nine

   14.1 Her head was found in that driver wheel ( agree with Blues Vintage)
 
   

[Johnm]

Any opinions on the suggested changes for the lyrics of "Pork Chop Blues" and "Lonesome Road Blues"?

[Blues Vintage]

I don't have suggestions for "My Road Is Rough And Rocky".

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg27025#msg27025

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg43074#msg43074

[Blues Vintage]

Riverside Blues

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg32139#msg32139


Verse 1

I went down to the river, spent thirty-one days and night(s)

It could be "sat" instead of "spent"

[Blues Vintage]

It Won't Be Long

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg42673#msg42673


1.2 I give her some clothes, she bought a diamond ring, but she can beat me, now,

I don't hear the first "she" there. Could be "and".

[Blues Vintage]

Midnight Special Blues

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=331.msg42727#msg42727


5.3 If y' say anything about it, (you) have trouble with the man