WeenieCampbell.com
Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => Topic started by: Johnm on January 28, 2011, 09:15:21 PM
-
Hi all,
I had occasion to figure out Barefoot Bill's "Snigglin' Blues" the other day and realized that it had never registered before that it is a one-chord number, and an exceptionally interesting one at that. That got me to thinking about other great one-chord songs in the Country Blues and I thought of a couple: Bobby Grant's "Nappy Head Blues" and Henry Townsend's "She's Got A Mean Disposition". Does any of you have any favorite one-chord numbers?
All best,
Johnm
-
Julius Daniels' 99 year Blues is a favourite of mine, especially for playing.
-
Mance Lipscomb's "Freddie" never fails to lay me flat.
Do 7ths count as second chords? I think of "Spike Driver's" as a one-chorder, but it has a 7th or two. Same with MJH's "Shaking That Thing."
Lindy
ps I've always thought this would be a great theme for a class session at a place like PT or EBA, with "Two-Chord Wonders" a close runner-up. One could pack in a lot of thumping-and-pounding-on-a-bass-string tunes into a 90-minute session.
-
I just came across Jim Jackson's "Old Dog Blue", a song apparently dedicated to his dog(!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVrtTzYQF94
Cheers
Pan
-
Buster Brown's version of John Henry is as I recall a 1 chord song. Really grooves. Not country blues though, electric blues. Brown is the originator of the great song Fannie Mae. I can't find a complete recording online to reference, and my copy is on vinyl still. Too late tonight to check the song.
D.
-
Charley Patton's "Mississippi Boll Weavil" would qualify, one of my favorite tunes.
-
Hi all,
It's great to see the tunes that folks are coming up with in this category. I just thought of one of my all-time favorites, not only in this category, but in the Country Blues in the larger sense: Walter Davis's version of "Sloppy Drunk Again" with Henry Townsend and Big Joe Williams backing him. It's an incredibly exciting cut, and I'm sure it's on the Juke if you've never had a chance to hear it before.
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
Robert Petway's version of "Catfish" is a one-chorder and is certainly great.
All best,
Johnm
-
Going post war (still CB in my opinion) - Floyd Jones' "Dark Road" does Tommy Johnson all on one chord.
-
I was mesmerized the first time I heard John Lee Hooker play Wednesday Evening Blues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAV80Dh-qxg
Cheers
Pan
-
Wow, Pan, I'm with you--that "Wednesday Evening Blues" is sensational! It's so cool the way John Lee gets stuck in that lyric break over the I chord with that little vamp between his vocal phrases, and when he finally breaks out of it, he's in a . . . I chord! It was until I heard it that I realized how much you're conditioned to expect a IV chord coming out of a lyric break like that. It must be said, too, that he was prodigally gifted as a vocalist, in a class with Lightnin' Hopkins, just something so strong and charismatic in the way he delivered a song.
All best,
Johnm
-
My current favorite is John Lee Ziegler's "Who's Gonna Be Your Man" from the George Mitchell Collection. This version inspired me to try it out for myself (though my version sounds much more like a generic "John Henry" kind-o-thing...).
Numerous BWJ slide masterpieces also come to mind.
-
Hi all,
It's great to see the tunes that folks are coming up with in this category. I just thought of one of my all-time favorites, not only in this category, but in the Country Blues in the larger sense: Walter Davis's version of "Sloppy Drunk Again" with Henry Townsend and Big Joe Williams backing him. It's an incredibly exciting cut, and I'm sure it's on the Juke if you've never had a chance to hear it before.
Couldn't agree more -- that's one of the best numbers ever. And how many one-chord piano numbers are there?
Chris
-
My favorite one chorder and one of the eeriest in CB in Robert Willkins "Rolling Stone".
Alex
-
Hi all,
You're right, Alex, about Robert Wilkins' "Rolling Stone"--that's a big one, a huge statement. And I'm with you on John Lee Ziegler, Mike. I haven't heard anything by him that I didn't think was sensational--a beautiful singer and player.
All best,
Johnm
-
Jimmy Bell by the great William 'Cat Iron' Carradine. Actually, Carradine flirts with one-chord territory on a numbers of his tunes. Fix Me Right is another I believe. And depending on how you hear The Blood Done Signed My Name, another cool one-chorder there.
-
John Wesley "Short Stuff" Macon's "My Jack Don't Drink No Water". Perfect example of less is more IMO.
-
John Wesley "Short Stuff" Macon's "My Jack Don't Drink No Water". Perfect example of less is more IMO.
Not familiar with this one, Mike, where can I get a listen? Is it on the LP he did with Big Joe Williams?
Lindy
-
I got it from some compilation long ago... Searching "Short Stuff Macon Jack Water" produced a Russian video of the track in question. I chose not to link that vid here cuz there was a picture of an almost nekked lady linked along side it. Plus I really have no idea what the words on that page meant (being Russian and all...). :D
-
I got it from some compilation long ago... Searching "Short Stuff Macon Jack Water" produced a Russian video of the track in question. I chose not to link that vid here cuz there was a picture of an almost nekked lady linked along side it. Plus I really have no idea what the words on that page meant (being Russian and all...). :D
The Russian site kept timing out on me, so I found this instead:
http://new.music.yahoo.com/shortstuff-macon/tracks/my-jack-dont-drink-water-no-more--39948629
Wow, Short Stuff's stuff ain't short at all, at least musically speaking. It strikes me as one of those songs that could really drive you nuts if you fall into the trap of "I want to make mine sound exactly like his." But worthwhile finding your own sound.
L
-
Hi all,
Otis Harris's "You'll Like My Loving" certainly qualifies as a great one-chord number and moreover, as a formal one-off. There's not another like it.
All best,
Johnm
-
"Shanty Blues" by Henry Thomas.His only recorded slide number and it`s fantastic.
-
Also by Henry Thomas.. "Railroadin' Some"
This one might not actually count as a true one-chorder I suppose because the last few seconds of the song he breaks into another song. I get goose bumps every time I listen to it.
~Devin
-
Seems to me that Spike Driver Blues by John Hurt is only one chord (G). I play that one every day so I guess you could say it is a favorite of mine.
Mike
-
Agree with the Petway 'Catfish,' couldn't be better music than that. And agree with Buster Brown and 'Fannie Mae,' as a rollicking smart song, I've liked it for fifty years.
-
I like Dr. Ross' "Cat Squirrel." Something sounds a little off-kilter about the main riff, but I tried to count out the beats once and couldn't find anything unconventional about it. Maybe just starting on the second beat?
"Boogie Chillen" is really just one chord -- the only changes you might do would be part of the riff. I also like John Lee's "Send Me Your Pillow." His guitar intro does the chords (skipping a couple of beats), but then of course he gets down in the groove and stays with just one chord. I try to do it both ways -- use the chords from the intro behind the lyrics, then groove on one chord for a "Hey, hey" vocal interlude.
-
Another Mance Lipscomb one-chorder I've always liked is "Which Way Do Red River Run?" Hardly anything to it but kind of hypnotic and cool, too.
-
Hi all,
Willie Lofton's "Poor Boy Blues" and "Rainy Day Blues", which share the same accompaniment in G, both qualify as pretty great one-chord songs.
All best,
Johnm
-
Also, Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would" as done by John Hammond. With that one and "Cat Squirrel," I wasn't really thinking "one chord" when I started listening to them. They both have great harp riffs as a hook ... maybe that's the key to making it work (or guitar riffs of course).
-
Oh Death by Charley Patton and Bertha Lee
-
Hi all,
I was listening to Dock Boggs' "Country Blues" today and realized that it certainly qualifies for this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
There aren`t many Blues songs that get in the `Pop` charts here (in the UK) but I think `Smoke Stack lightning` did (I only use 1 chord if I play it ) and a couple of years later Canned Heat with `On the Road Again` ( the format is a 12bar but stays on 1 chord )
These may be too new to get onto Weenie but this was the sort of stuff that turned many young British kids onto Blues.
I also always think of Come on in My Kitchen as a single chord song but other chords are implyed
-
Hi all,
I think Washington Phillips' "I've Got the Key to the Kingdom" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
Mance Lipscomb's "Tall Angel At The Bar."
I had one of those experiences just a week ago where I woke up and the first thought I had was this song and that I had to learn it. Didn't even know the name of it when I awoke, had to go listen through all my Mance CDs to find it -- a tough job, but I was up to it.
Weeniepedia has it as "E (maybe Vestapol)", sure is easier in Vestapol.
L
-
Hi all,
I think John Hurt's version of "Shake That Thing" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
http://youtu.be/G9dEKiOjqO4 (http://youtu.be/G9dEKiOjqO4)
There's two places that ALMOST sound like a change but they're more implied than actualized
-
Hi all,
I was just working on Blind Willie Reynolds' "Third Street Woman Blues", and it certainly qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
I was just working on Blind Willie Reynolds' "Third Street Woman Blues", and it certainly qualifies in this category.
Not many one-chorders in C!
Chris
-
Mississippi John Hurt - Blind Man Sit In The Way And Cried
http://youtu.be/Pgdtv_ZBHdk (http://youtu.be/Pgdtv_ZBHdk)
-
Lightnin' Hopkin's brother, Joel, has some songs on Document's Rural Blues vol. 2 compilation that fit the bill: "Good Times Here, Better Down the Road," and "I Ain't Gonna Roll For the Big Hat Man No More," are both versions of a pretty free-form tune hanging on one chord for the duration-very cool stuff.
-
Hi all,
John Hurt's "You've Got To Die" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
dunno if its in the spirit of the thread, but Narmour & Smith's Sweet Milk and Peaches Breakdown is pretty dynamic for a single chord and not too many phrases, either,but it cooks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOxuQrA8fx8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOxuQrA8fx8)
-
Hi all,
Rube Lacy's "Mississippi Jail House Groan" definitely qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
-
I may get attacked on this but I've never been a big fan of one-chord songs. There often repetitive and seem to drag a little. Especially J L Hookers boogies.
-
Pretty much anything by Junior Kimbrough, especially with all that reverb he has going on, both in his vocals and the guitar. "You Better Run" may be the most disturbing blues song ever written, both for the lyrics and the atmospheric groove, not to mention Junior's matter-of-fact delivery of just plain psychopathic material.
-
The late great Willie King fits the bill with his great Terrorized here in an acoustic version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfkEK0W6KJk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfkEK0W6KJk)
-
I may get attacked on this but I've never been a big fan of one-chord songs. There often repetitive and seem to drag a little. Especially J L Hookers boogies.
A four-word rebuttal: Robert Petway, Catfish Blues
-
Jesus On The Mainline by Fred McDowell is a great one chord song. I don't know if we're counting slide songs in open tuning because there sure are a tone that are one chorders haha or only hint at other chords. I was just playing Jesus On The Mainline today and thought of this thread.
Edit: I went back and read Johnm's first post again and he mentioned Nappy Head Blues by Bobby Grant which is a one chord slide song so I guess slide tunes are fair game.
-
Jesus On The Mainline by Fred McDowell is a great one chord song.
Don't most of McDowell's songs fall into the "one chord" bucket? Except the ones with TWO chords, I mean... the one he plays over and the one he sings over... :)
-
Lattie Murrell - I Got A Gal 'cross The Bottom (it's titled "When A Gal Cross The Bottom" on the record I have, though):
http://youtu.be/u_nCJ30dJUc (http://youtu.be/u_nCJ30dJUc)
-
Don't most of McDowell's songs fall into the "one chord" bucket? Except the ones with TWO chords, I mean... the one he plays over and the one he sings over... :)
hahaha Thats why I wasnt sure If I should bother with a one chord slide tune. Fred McDowell and many others entire discography could be listed for the most part. ;)
-
Hi all,
Uncle Dave Macon's "I've Got the Mourning Blues" falls in this category, with a really nice guitar part in Vestapol by Sam McGee.
All best,
Johnm
-
I was revisiting Elvie/L.V. Thomas and Geeshie Wiley's "Come Over To My House" this evening, and it sounds like it fits this category. It's got that one descending line that keeps the E in the bass throughout.
Lindy
-
Hi all,
Rev. Edward Clayborn never played any chord changes in his recorded performances, nor did Sister O. M. Terrell in hers.
All best,
Johnm
-
Clayborn didn't play the changes, but he sang 'em, and his top-string playing implied them. He just didn't bother about the other five strings.
-
John Hurt's "Payday," and probably other versions, too.
-
If I remember correctly, I Henry Thomas's rendition of "John Henry" is one chord (along with other of his songs, I'm sure). The guitar is likely a simple strum on a D chord with a capo on the 7th fret to make it in A -- while of course accompanying the simple guitar part with his serene vocals and quills!
-
Hi all,
Mattie Delaney played her "Down The Big Road Blues" as a one-chord number.
All best,
Johnm
-
I believe that Mance Liscomb's rendition of "Run, Sinner, Run" belongs on this list.
Lindy
-
And Charlie Patton's "Mean Black Cat" as well, don't think we've mentioned that one.
-
Hi all,
Here is a really unusual one-chord number, Larry Johnson's "Lordy Good Lord", from his "Fast and Funky" album on Blue Goose. This is really original guitar playing, I think. Here it is:
https://youtu.be/y0Pz9ZN10jY
All best,
Johnm
-
Open D?
-
Hi Al,
Larry played it in D in standard tuning.
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
Rube Lacy's "Mississippi Jail House Groan" definitely qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm
I was searching this thread simply to see if this recording was mentioned. I'm glad it is. I have loved this track for a long time. One I'll never grow tired of.