Topic: Dr. Hepcat--"Hattie Green"

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sometimes the coolest stuff just comes up on your youtube feed. Here is one of those. I had never heard of Albert Lavada "Dr. Hepcat" Durst, but his cut of "Hattie Green" just appeared on youtube and I gave it a listen. He was great! Evidently, he recorded the song in 1949, accompanying himself out of C. He didn't sing, but he sure spoke musically. He made me realize, too, how rare it is to hear an up-tempo 8-bar blues--sure sounds good! Here is Dr. Hepcat's version of "Hattie Green":



(Track is spoken)

Hattie, oh Hattie, don't you hear your daddy callin', calling you name?

Now she can break it, or she can shake it. Yes, that gal can hang it up on the wall
She can throw it out the window and I'll be there, 'fore it fall

Now if you ever, go to East Texas, boys, you oughta stop by Palestine
Then you see my baby, my darlin', Hattie Green

Because I love her, yes, I love her, and I don't care what my baby do
Fellas, if you knew my sugar, I declare you would love her, too

(DURING SOLO) Now, let's pick it up a little bit, Well, well! all the time! So cool. Now let's get on the solid side. Be a solid enough state. Now, talk to me, daddy. Now pick up on it.

Now it's three places, in Texas, my baby sure wants to go
Houston, Dallas and San Antonio

Well it's Houston, let me go, Houston, I know that Galveston is a seaport town
I'm gon' take my baby down and stomp that seaport on down

Now if your baby, ever go to Dallas, don't let her go down on Central Track
The cats down there put down so much trash you'll never get her back

Now if she don't stay out of San Antone, off of East Commerce
You can bet your bottom dollar the Hepcat'll have her ridin' in a hearse

There's so many evil women, I'm gonna change my baby's name
I'm gonna set out in West Texas, look for a cowgirl on the range

(DURING SOLO) Ow, pick it a once more. Sure is easy if you know what it's about.

Now Hattie, Hattie! Oh Hattie, Hattie Green!
Don't you hear the Hepcat callin' my darlin', Hattie Green?

Edited 12/14 to pick up changes from Harry and Johnm

All best,
Johnm



 

[Blues Vintage]

A spoken fast 8 bar boogie is rare indeed.

Suggestions

5.1 Now there's it's three places

6.1 I know the gals in every this a seaport town
6.2 stomp that seaport all on down

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
Thanks for the suggestions. You're right about the line "it's three places". I realized that what he's singing in the second half of 6.1 is "I know that Galveston is a seaport town", and in 6.2 I don't think he says "all", but rather just turns "on" into a two-syllable word. I'll make the changes. Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Unbelievable, I just watched a movie last night where they had a scene with someone calling from Galveston.