Thanks very much for the help, Chris. I re-listened and everything you suggested checked out in terms of sound and sense. I have made the changes, thanks! I will keep listening to that bent bracketed phrase and see if I can make any headway on it.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2018, 08:04:23 AM by Johnm »
After re-listening many times, I agree with you, Rivers--thanks! The sound is good, and the syntax is less awkward than it was with "we" in there. I have made the change. All best, Johnm
Hi all, Big Joe Williams' version of "Worry You Off My Mind" is taken from his Testament CD, "Big Joe Williams-Back To the Country". He is joined on the track by fiddler Jimmy Brown, and Joe accompanied himself out of Spanish tuning, as he he customarily did. The song bears a resemblance to Furry Lewis's first recorded version of "I Will Turn Your Money Green" but is even closer to Ishmon Bracey's "Suitcase Full Of Blues", especially in the way it is quick to the IV chord. I sure like the way that Big Joe worked with fiddlers. Here is "Worry You Off My Mind":
INTRO SOLO
Well, I'm goin' away, babe, to worry you off my mind Well, I'm goin' away, babe, worry you off my mind You know you keep me worried, bothered all the time
Said, the woman I'm lovin', she's so far away Aw, the woman I'm lovin', she's so far away You know I wish I was at home, with her this old very day
SOLO
If you may go, babe, leave a dollar here If you may go, woman, leave a dollar here But I know you don't love me, you don't feel your daddy's care
SOLO
Edited 10/8 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: October 08, 2023, 03:47:32 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Big Joe Williams' performance of "Mean Backstabber" also comes from his Testament CD, "Big Joe Williams-Back To The Country", and it's one of his few solo features on that album. He played it in Spanish tuning and hearing the freedom of his phrasing and the various places he goes on the guitar over the course of his rendition serve as reminders, were such necessary, of how many sounds in Spanish tuning he had, and continues to have, all to himself. His combination of an imitable picking hand and a huge imagination for his fretting hand was formidable. I'm not sure I have the end of the tagline of the second verse correct and would appreciate some help with it. I took "iron" to mean a gun, like a shooting iron, thinking he might have to put his lead mule down. Here is "Mean Backstabber":
INTRO
It's a mean backstabber, woh, have stole my babe and gone It's a mean blackstopper, Lord, stole my babe and gone Aw, you can tell by that, man, I ain't gon' be here long
Well, my lead mule got cripple, woh, and my off mule died Well, my lead mule crippled, wohohoh, and my off mule died Well, you know I don't need nothin', buddy, woh, bring me a loaded iron
Mmm-ooo, he won't eat water (Spoken: won't drink water) woh, my old mule won't eat corn Well, my old mule won't drink water, woh, boys, he won't eat corn Lord, can I drive 'im, well, boys, and he won't go 'long?
SOLO
One of these old mornings, Lord, I'm gon' try and make it back down home One of these old mornings, boys, I'm gon' try and make it back down home I'm gon' leave Chicago, somebody here keep Big Joe wrong
CODA
Edited 10/10 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: October 10, 2023, 03:55:36 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, For "Shake Your Boogie", Big Joe Williams was joined by Jimmy Brown on fiddle and Willie Lee Harris on harmonica. The band really hits the ground running--this would be a great dance number. Big Joe really kicks out the jams here, his solos after the second and third verses run wild. Here is "Shake Your Boogie":
INTRO SOLO
Well, I got a gal, she's long and slim, but when she start to boogie, too bad, Jim, come on and REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and Shake your boogie, 'cause your boogie's all right with me
SOLO
Well, mama, mama, mama, just look at sis, she's standin' in the back yard, tryin' to get it fixed, come on and REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and Shake your boogie, your boogie's all right with me
SOLO
Well, I got a gal, she's long and tall, when she start to boogie, man, she holler "Hot dog!", come on and REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and Shake your boogie, your boogie's all right with me
SOLO
I wanna buy me a bulldog, and my wife didn't know, I killed a man 'bout my sweet jellyroll REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and Shake a little boogie, your boogie's all right with me
CODA
Edited 11/9 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 09, 2023, 12:52:34 PM by Johnm »