Topic: Charley Hicks Covers Every Patton Song on Youtube

[CF]

This young fella recorded a version of every single Charlie Patton song & posted em all to YouTube. He had to, he has a Patton tattoo on his wrist 

[poymando]

Good stuff.
Too bad there is so much reverb in there. The performance is strong enough to have been recorded dry.

[EddieD]

I have listened/watched several of his Charlie Patton covers and they are all very well done. I do however find sometimes the vocals sound a bit forced to have that rough raspy tone but overall enjoyable!

[Blind Arthur]

I like such projects and he is good. A wonderful fan project.
Reminds me a little of the huge CD Box where a British jazz band played, note by note, all pre mid-fifties studio recordings by Louis Armstrong under his name on the latter half of these CDs.

[StoogeKebab]

Huge CD Box where a British jazz band played, note by note, all pre mid-fifties studio recordings by Louis Armstrong under his name on the latter half of these CDs.

Not wanting to diverge from the main topic too much, but that sounds interesting, have you any more information on that?

[harriet]

Its funny I saw him awhile back and debated posting here.

The several things I saw I thought were technically excellent and it does provide clear visual reference, and is quite an accomplishment but I found it off putting and far less engaging and credible  than if he had put up just a few.  To me he crossed a line  by the way he posted en mass in essentially the same designer outfit,tattoo of Patton on the hand,pose and song treatment, and the redundancy IMHO lessens his cover performances. The cookie cutter approach kind of turned me off and I dare say if Patton had seen these clips of his work being impersonated - there might have been some trouble for Mr. Hicks. YMMV

[Lastfirstface]

I know what you mean, Harriet. It kind of veers into the deep hero worship territory that people get into around Robert Johnson and applies it to Patton. He does a good job with the material but there's something offputting about the way it's all built into social media posturing and plugging of pricy boutique resonator guitars.

[Rivers]

I just watched Pony Blues so far. Pretty damn good I'd say. The reverb sounds natural to me, biggish room, hard surfaces, but I could well be wrong. Drier would be good though I agree. Maybe place a bowl of rice krispies close to the mic for that authentic Paramount 78 snap, crackle and pop.

He does need to whomp on the guitar a bit. Vocals, well, I wish I keep that up for a whole song without the aid of single malt scotch. There were some little melodic end-of-phrase vocal inflections missing that are well within his range that would take it up another notch.

[Blind Arthur]

Huge CD Box where a British jazz band played, note by note, all pre mid-fifties studio recordings by Louis Armstrong under his name on the latter half of these CDs.

... have you any more information on that?

Kenny Baker and his band did that Louis Armstrong song-after-song project - IIRC around 1990, on "Louis Armstrong ‎(15xCD, Comp + Box)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Baker_%28trumpeter%29

[waxwing]

Having sussed out a few Patton songs myself, it doesn't seem to me that Mr Hicks is making an attempt to replicate Patton's arrangements. More sorta strumming through the basic chords. His strumming technique does come close to Charley's non-opposing style, but never seems to get as nuanced rhythmically, at least in the few I watched. The same could be said for the vocals, kinda the general sound, but lacking character and, well, humor.

I'm aware Mister Hicks could be reading these remarks, and I actually say these things as encouragement. I was once involved in a discussion about Charley's playing on the Blindman's forum and, responding to someone who was putting Patton on the "no one could ever touch him" pedestal, I made the comment that he was certainly human and that his music was playable, given enough practice and desire, by some other humans, not really meaning myself. Well I got pasted, along with another poster (that guy from Montreal who used to post here, UB probably remembers), with comments such as "Waxwing, you don't have the right hand to even approach Patton." Well, rather than get all riled, I thought, "well, of course I don't." For starters I was about 60 at the time and arthritis was already taking speed and accuracy away. But it made me really examine my playing and dang if I didn't come up with a way to make sense of a lot of what I heard Charley doing with his right hand. I don't know if it's exactly what Charley did, but I do think it is a technique that has been used by a lot of other players as well, and pretty much covered up by the modern school of pinching style of picking. So, from that extremely critical comment I found a rather joyous way to play guitar.

So keep at it, Mr Hicks. I guess you've accomplished something that you wanted to achieve, but the road goes ever on. Wish I'd been on the guitar road when I was your age.

And isn't it cool the way reverb makes your vocals sound way more on pitch? Heh, heh. Old recording engineer's trick.

Wax

[Rivers]

I think you're on the good track so keep it up. Obviously there's only one Charley Patton but getting anywhere close, particularly in the vocals, tells me you have talent beyond my meagre skills, and possibly beyond what you currently realise yourself. Who knows what lies ahead? Not me, not you, not anyone. Just keep doing it. No need to follow Patton anyway, follow your muse.

[Rivers]

Actually I would modify that statement, follow your muse and keep it agricultural. I really enjoyed all the vids I've watched to date, captured the magic.

[Blues Vintage]

I really enjoyed the videos you posted on YouTube and I appreciate your efforts Charley.  We got to keep the blues alive in this hideous FM Radio era. I saw your EP will be released august 5. Samples sounded excellent.

I guess you're familiar with the Tom Feldmann lesson on Patton? I learned a lot from it. I recorded Pony Blues myself a while back.
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10628.0

[Stuart]

Hi Charley:

Welcome to Weenie Campbell.

I enjoyed your videos.

Remember the old saying, "He who tries to please everybody labors in vain." Don't confuse critical evaluation with negative personal criticism. Our toughest critics are our best friends. Oftentimes, they see things that we miss and in doing so help us improve.

Keep playing the music you love and following your muse. The future is wide open.

[harriet]

Hi Charley,

Thank you for taking the time to post and include comments on some of the things I questioned in my earlier post - it certainly has made me see you in a new light and regret that I did not include in my earlier post also how highly I think of your musicianship, both your voice and playing ability, not only on your Patton project but also on the several other videos I saw of you. The money you saved for the mule resonator was well spent, and a great choice.

I wish you the best with your future offerings and look forward to your new works...

Harriet