Roll and Tumble is a beloved blues classic that has endured for over 85 years. With your indulgence this thread presents some points of note in the song's journey as it "rolled and tumbled" along over the years through various re-incarnations.
Perhaps the earliest recording was done as Minglewood Blues by the Cannon Jog Stompers recorded in March 14, 1928.
Don't you never let one woman worry your mind
Don't you never let one woman worry your mind
Well she will keep you worried, troubled all the time
Don't you think your faro was little and cute like mine
Don't you wish your faro was little and cute like mine
She's a married, she's a married woman but she comes to see me sometime
Don't you never let no woman worry your mind
Don't you never let no woman worry your mind
She'll keep you troubled, worried all the time
Well I got a letter, mama, you oughta heard it read
Well I got a letter, darlin', you oughta heard it read
Said you're comin' back, baby, now be on your way
However, Roll and Tumble is usually associated and credited to Hambone Willie Newbern's open spanish tuning version recorded a year later in 1929:
Often covered under different names through the decades by such luminaries as Sleepy John Estes, Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis and Fred McDowell, there is also the very famous "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" by Robert Johnson in 1936 and "Dough Roller Blues" by Garfield Akers was recorded in 1930:
Next stop jumps ahead to the 1950 Parkway version, (which to my ear has rhythms reminiscent of Indian War Chants.) Recorded for Leonard Chess, featuring Little Walter and Baby Face Leroy Foster the Parkway label credits the Baby Face Leroy Trio, with vocals by Leroy, and Muddy Waters as the songwriter.
Further down the road,recorded by Alan Lomax in Como, Mississippi, September 25, 1959 is the magnificent and minimalist Rosa Lee Hill version.
Rolling along to the the sixties 1961, Howlin' Wolf recorded "Down in the Bottom", which employed a new set of lyrics and is credited to Willie Dixon. L. Burnside recorded what he titled "Rollin' Tumblin'" on several occasions, first on August 1967 for George Mitchell as well...
Concurrent in Chicago 1969 Sunnyland Slim recorded a version with Johnny Shines and Backwards Sam Firk and also as a stunning piano blues:
On a different note there's Eddie One String Jones minimalist driving and savage version recorded on the streets of Los Angeles accompanying himself on a home-made instrument akin to a diddley bow, which first appeared on vinyl in 1964 and then in 1993 on the Sam Charters Label
The final thought from me on this subject will "roll and tumble" off with Joe Callicott's haunting version from Ain't Gonna Lie to You reportedly recorded in 1967 by George MItchell and released May 6, 2003 by Fat Possum Records
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried all night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried all night long
I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong
It may be two, three days, may be a mont' or more
It may be two, three days, may be a mont' or more
Oh well the Good Book, said it teach, you got to, oh, reap just what you sow
Well I called my baby, called her to the door
Well I called my baby, I called her to the door
Said if you want, I tell you, woman, I don't, don't need you no more
Well I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Says, I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong
Perhaps the earliest recording was done as Minglewood Blues by the Cannon Jog Stompers recorded in March 14, 1928.
Don't you never let one woman worry your mind
Don't you never let one woman worry your mind
Well she will keep you worried, troubled all the time
Don't you think your faro was little and cute like mine
Don't you wish your faro was little and cute like mine
She's a married, she's a married woman but she comes to see me sometime
Don't you never let no woman worry your mind
Don't you never let no woman worry your mind
She'll keep you troubled, worried all the time
Well I got a letter, mama, you oughta heard it read
Well I got a letter, darlin', you oughta heard it read
Said you're comin' back, baby, now be on your way
However, Roll and Tumble is usually associated and credited to Hambone Willie Newbern's open spanish tuning version recorded a year later in 1929:
Often covered under different names through the decades by such luminaries as Sleepy John Estes, Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis and Fred McDowell, there is also the very famous "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" by Robert Johnson in 1936 and "Dough Roller Blues" by Garfield Akers was recorded in 1930:
Next stop jumps ahead to the 1950 Parkway version, (which to my ear has rhythms reminiscent of Indian War Chants.) Recorded for Leonard Chess, featuring Little Walter and Baby Face Leroy Foster the Parkway label credits the Baby Face Leroy Trio, with vocals by Leroy, and Muddy Waters as the songwriter.
Further down the road,recorded by Alan Lomax in Como, Mississippi, September 25, 1959 is the magnificent and minimalist Rosa Lee Hill version.
Rolling along to the the sixties 1961, Howlin' Wolf recorded "Down in the Bottom", which employed a new set of lyrics and is credited to Willie Dixon. L. Burnside recorded what he titled "Rollin' Tumblin'" on several occasions, first on August 1967 for George Mitchell as well...
Concurrent in Chicago 1969 Sunnyland Slim recorded a version with Johnny Shines and Backwards Sam Firk and also as a stunning piano blues:
On a different note there's Eddie One String Jones minimalist driving and savage version recorded on the streets of Los Angeles accompanying himself on a home-made instrument akin to a diddley bow, which first appeared on vinyl in 1964 and then in 1993 on the Sam Charters Label
The final thought from me on this subject will "roll and tumble" off with Joe Callicott's haunting version from Ain't Gonna Lie to You reportedly recorded in 1967 by George MItchell and released May 6, 2003 by Fat Possum Records
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried all night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried all night long
I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong
It may be two, three days, may be a mont' or more
It may be two, three days, may be a mont' or more
Oh well the Good Book, said it teach, you got to, oh, reap just what you sow
Well I called my baby, called her to the door
Well I called my baby, I called her to the door
Said if you want, I tell you, woman, I don't, don't need you no more
Well I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Says, I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong