WeenieCampbell.com
The Unwound Third => Jam Session => Topic started by: ryan on December 02, 2004, 11:15:37 PM
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hey everyone. I thought some of you might enjoy this pic I came across awhile back of Sam Chatmon. When I see frozen moments of history like these I can't help but ponder what they did that day or what were they thinking at that particular moment in time. What a great picture!! By the way what kind of guitar is that? I love it!! It reminds me of a gibson recording king.
take care,
Ryan
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So in further research this picture was from the following album: Sam Chatmon: The Mississippi Sheik
(since I wasn't alive then the only Sam chatmon I've been able to get my hands on is the cd 1970-74):
Here is the tracklisting from that record (if any of you have it I would like to buy it, puweeeesssse)
- Go Back Old Devil
- B & O Blues
- Love Come Falling Down
- Make Me A Pallet On The Floor
- Vacation Blues
- Last Chance Shaking In The Bed With Me
- Blues In E
- Streching Them Things
- Brownskin Woman Blues
- Fool About My Loving
- Turnup Greens
- Cold Blooded Murder Blues
- Sam's Rag
- Cross Cut Saw Blues
- Kansas City Blues
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Hi Ryan, the guitar is a Gibson L-4, an acoustic archtop.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson2.html
Nice pic!
slack
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I just got a dvd from Stefan Grossman which features Sam Chatmon playing guitar and I am captivated! Since then I've been searching and researching on the net and trying to listen to everything that I can. I have some questions though:
1. On this site http://www.shs.starkville.k12.ms.us/mswm/MSWritersAndMusicians/musicians/ChatmonSam.html they say "Sam was one of the few white bluesman to perform with Fingers Taylor on the Blues Caravan in the 1970's Is this true?
2. Has anyone heard an album with Colin Linden called Sam Chatmon and his BBQ Boys
Thanks.
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That biography is a bit strange in the reference to Sam as white - I don't think anyone has ever considered the Chatmon family as white. Definately mixed race, some indian probably.
John Miller knew Sam Chatmon personally, spendt time with him when JOhnm was in College I beleive - John must be on the road or something, but when he gets back he may be able to answer your questions.
Cheers,
slack
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1.? On this site http://www.shs.starkville.k12.ms.us/mswm/MSWritersAndMusicians/musicians/ChatmonSam.html they say "Sam was one of the few white bluesman to perform with Fingers Taylor on the Blues Caravan in the 1970's? Is this true?
I have no idea whether Sam played on the Blues Caravan in the 1970's, but it's certainly not true that Sam was white.
2.? Has anyone heard an album with Colin Linden called Sam Chatmon and his BBQ Boys
I haven't, no. ?Sam's a very fine singer & player, though. ?His tracks on I Have To Paint My Face (Arhoolie) really stand out among the other recordings on that CD.
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Hi all,
Nice to see Sam mentioned.? He was a great musician and was a big influence on me, just seeing the way he conducted himself and lived his life.? As John D and Frank have said, Sam was definitely not white, at least not as we think of such things in the States.? His own description of his ethnic heritage was that his father was "half Irishman and half nigger", and his mother was "half white and half Choctaw".? So in a genetic make-up sense (a stupid concept), I suppose Sam was more white than anything else.? That having been said, Sam and his family were definitely perceived and treated as being black in Bolton, Mississippi where he grew up.? He did a couple of songs, "I Have to Paint My Face", that Frank alluded to, and "The Yellow Coon Has No Race", that spoke to his own complicated sense of ethnic identity.
I think Sam's music is very under-rated.? I prefer his singing to Bo's, and I'm a big fan of Bo.? Sam had a big, bright voice, just like a bell, and if you have not heard his early recording of "If You Don't Want Me Please Don't Dog Me 'Round", with his brother Lonnie on fiddle in a Sheiks-like line-up, you are in for a real treat.? He was also a nifty guitar player with some moves in dropped-D and A standard that I have not seen anyone else do (who did not cop them from him).
I have never heard the recording of Sam with Colin Linden that Iplayamartin0016 asks about, but Ari Eisinger has always spoken very highly of Colin's musicianship, so it may be really good.
All best,
Johnm? ?
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Thanks for clearing that up John. I'm on the lookout for that album as it has been out of print for a long time. If I find it I'll pass along a copy t o you.
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I just got this email from Colin Linden:
Thanks Randall. I'm trying to convince True North Records (my new
label) to re-release it on CD. Hopefully, it'll work. Currently, it's
only available on vinyl- as a remainder on Flying Fish Records.
I'll be the first one to buy it if it comes out!!!
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John:
Ohmygod, If you aren't familiar with (Canadian) Colin Linden, you've really missed a treat. One of the best acoustic blues players alive today. Fantastic slide player, super recording producer, unbelievable all round musician.
Alex
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Thanks for the offer of a copy of the album if you come across it, Randall, I really appreciate it. And your assessment of Colin Linden's work pretty much matches what I have heard elsewhere, Alex. I will have to keep an eye out for his work.
All best,
Johnm
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I'm on the lookout for that album as it has been out of print for a long time.
It's an excellent record. I have it in my possession.
(https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.discogs.com%2Fs8lTzH4f-EaWivNfDDs1pwsgUaQ%3D%2Ffit-in%2F300x300%2Ffilters%3Astrip_icc%28%29%3Aformat%28jpeg%29%3Amode_rgb%28%29%2Fdiscogs-images%2FR-3150098-1318257320.jpeg.jpg&hash=e1af622c5d1000ba68f82bc477448c0fde568657)
If any member of Weenie Campbell wants to hear this album send me a pm and I'll help you further.....
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Hi Ryan, the guitar is a Gibson L-4, an acoustic archtop.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson2.html (http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson2.html)
Nice pic!
slack
The guitar that Sam Chatmon played was either an L-50 or an L-37 round hole. They're both kind of rare transitional models.
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Not sure about the L-50 (did they make a round hole L-50?) but I agree - an L-30 or an L-37 is much more likely than an L-4
edit: Yup, they did.
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It's a Gibson L-50
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Here's a nearly-identical 1935 round hole L-37 for comparison:
https://reverb.com/item/12701-gibson-l-37-1935
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If you got 4k laying around you buy the (model) guitar Sam Chatmon played.
Gibson L50 Round Hole
https://www.tfoa.eu/en/gibson-l50-round-hole-small-burst-1934.html (https://www.tfoa.eu/en/gibson-l50-round-hole-small-burst-1934.html)