Country Blues > Country Blues Licks and Lessons
Memphis Minnie & Joe McCoy's Playing: Queries and Tips
funguy:
Anyone know anything about Rory Block's powerful arrangement of "Joliet Bound"?
uncle bud:
I haven't listened to Rory Block's version but the original is in Spanish tuning (open G) I believe. I think waxwing was working up a version of the original, so maybe he'll chime in.
waxwing:
Yup, the original Joe McCoy tune has both Joe, on the front guitar (I believe), and Minnie, seconding with bass runs, playing in Spanish (at A). Chord-wise they pretty much hang in the I chord but go to the V for a measure at the beginning of the third vocal line.
I just gave a listen and Rory does follow the 11 bar format (3 bars for the 1st vocal line and 4 each for the following two) but she kinda standardizes the chord progression, goinng to the IV for two bars at the beginning of the second vocal line and then again for a measure after the one measure of V at the beginning of the 3rd line. So that would be:
| I | I | I | IV | IV | I | I | V | IV | I | I |
I'm not positive, but I think she's playing in Spanish at B. At least I get a lot of the same tonalities when I strum along. While Joe and Minnie really hang a lot on the bent minor 3rd, in both the I and V, for a pretty dark sound, Rory's harmonies seem a lot brighter with a strong Major feel from the IV chord. She really goes for the train feeling-gha more than anything-gha, if you know what I mean.
Hope that helps. I would definitely give a listen to the original on the Juke.
All for now.
John C.
funguy:
Wow!
Thanks John.
btw the way I really enjoyed your saturday afternoon performance at PT (couldn't make the workshop...) and am wearing out Homemade.
respectfully,
waxwing:
Uh...wrong John C.
I haven't yet known John Cephas to post on forums. Heck, we can't even get Phil to post. He at least has a computer.
Stop by the Weenie House next year and meet the real waxwing. See Pic -G-
All for now.
John C. (Cowan)
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