As someone mentioned, Sam Mitchell recorded a lovely (though much toned down) version of "Paddlin' Madeline Blues." I have not heard Roger Hubbard's "Busy Bootin'" (for my money, some of Arnold's most accessible playing if one is interested in trying ones hand--pun intended, sorry), but would like to if it's available. I can't think of anyone else who has recorded any of Arnold's songs or in his style. [/quote]
I STILL am blown away by what J.B. Long said, that BBF's recording of "Step It Up & Go" sold over 500,000 copies and was a true cross-over. Not bad for a Black artist in 1940-41, I'd say! Orange County's Jamie Alston did not get the song from Fuller who lived close by in Durham, but picked it up from a White string band cover! Doc Watson got it from therecord, though.
pbl
No doubt it was a good seller, but half a million must have been a huge exaggeration.
Nope. J. B. Long was a solid and honest business man all his life and did not exaggerate - he was amazed, too! Long was also receiving royalties as co-composer on many Fuller records. And don't jump to the usual knee-jerk conclusions - he actually wrote or re-wrote many of BBF's tunes, and he came up with the idea for "Step..." as a similar piece to "Bottle Up & Go" that might be a hit. It was a major cross-over one and a remarkable sales figure for a Black artist in 1940. Read Bruce Bastin's excellent book RED RIVER BLUES, or CRYING FOR THE CAROLINES for discussion of this number. EVERY musician of a certain age that I met in the SE in the 70s knew that song... it was as impossible to avoid as "John Henry"!
pbl
« Last Edit: January 25, 2015, 08:08:20 PM by oddenda »
You left out Blind Boy Fuller as one denigrated by us White folks back in more recent times and who was a cross-over seller back in his day! He sold "too many" records and was therefor considered suspect by the collectors who valued the rare over the successful! A warped state of affairs that still haunts us,
Peter B.
Only an idiot would denigrate Blind Boy Fuller in my opinion. There is a lot of great stuff from very rare artists like Gene Campbell, King Solomon Hill etc. but Fuller recorded many songs I would call great. I still remember the first time I heard an album of his tunes and my thoughts at the time was....... Hallelujah how have I missed out on this guy for so long. In fact the first time I even heard the name was in the Ralph Macchio move, "Crossroads" ( a movie I loved with a passion btw ). He is one of my all time favourites.
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I met a woman she was a pigmeat some Big fat mouth, I followed her home She pulled a gun and broke my jaw Didnt leave me hard on, I didnt get sore