Hi all,
Booker T. Sapps, Roger Matthews and Willie Flowers were recorded for the Library of Congress in Belle Glade, Florida in June of 1935. It seems likely that all of the recording they did was done on one day. They recorded eleven tracks of nine different songs (two of the songs had two takes). Sapps and Matthews both played harmonica and sang, and Matthews in addition incorporated vocalization, whoops and cries, while playing harmonica. Willie Flowers accompanied them on guitar in Vestapol tuning, using a slide expertly but also playing conventionally fretted chords and runs. All three players were masters of their instruments, and both Sapps and Matthews excelled at playing time on their harmonicas, a skill that often goes overlooked. Their recording of "Alabama Blues, Part 1" has a wonderfully exciting frenetic energy, and it's great to hear how completely un-self-conscious the trio was about being recorded. Roger Matthews does some of his vocalization on the harmonica, a la "Fox Chase", behind verses two and three. The take ends with a fade, and it makes one wonder how long they kept it up after the recording stopped. The spoken comments and vocals are kind of hard to hear, so I'd very much appreciate corrections or filling in gaps. Here is "Alabama Blues-Part 1":
INTRO GROUP SOLO X 2 (Spoken: Play that thing, boy!) (Spoken: Ain't no time to worry now, I'm gon' play it, too!)
Would you look here, baby, ain't gwonna spoil me
Would you looky-here, baby, ain't gonna spoil me
'Cause I'm sad and I'm lonesome, I am blue as I could be
GROUP SOLO
Lord, I woke up this morning, 'bout half past four
Says I woke up this morning, 'bout half past four
And the woman that I love, she was knockin' on my door
GROUP SOLO (Spoken: Let 'er go, Charlie!)
Well, look-a here, mama, let me roll your dough
Lord, looky-here, mama, let me roll your dough
When you get through rollin' I said, "Please, baby, roll some more."
GROUP SOLO X 2 (Spoken: Play that thing, boy!)
FADE
Edited 2/20 to pick up corrections from Old Man Ned and Johnm
Edited 2/20 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best,
Johnm
Booker T. Sapps, Roger Matthews and Willie Flowers were recorded for the Library of Congress in Belle Glade, Florida in June of 1935. It seems likely that all of the recording they did was done on one day. They recorded eleven tracks of nine different songs (two of the songs had two takes). Sapps and Matthews both played harmonica and sang, and Matthews in addition incorporated vocalization, whoops and cries, while playing harmonica. Willie Flowers accompanied them on guitar in Vestapol tuning, using a slide expertly but also playing conventionally fretted chords and runs. All three players were masters of their instruments, and both Sapps and Matthews excelled at playing time on their harmonicas, a skill that often goes overlooked. Their recording of "Alabama Blues, Part 1" has a wonderfully exciting frenetic energy, and it's great to hear how completely un-self-conscious the trio was about being recorded. Roger Matthews does some of his vocalization on the harmonica, a la "Fox Chase", behind verses two and three. The take ends with a fade, and it makes one wonder how long they kept it up after the recording stopped. The spoken comments and vocals are kind of hard to hear, so I'd very much appreciate corrections or filling in gaps. Here is "Alabama Blues-Part 1":
INTRO GROUP SOLO X 2 (Spoken: Play that thing, boy!) (Spoken: Ain't no time to worry now, I'm gon' play it, too!)
Would you look here, baby, ain't gwonna spoil me
Would you looky-here, baby, ain't gonna spoil me
'Cause I'm sad and I'm lonesome, I am blue as I could be
GROUP SOLO
Lord, I woke up this morning, 'bout half past four
Says I woke up this morning, 'bout half past four
And the woman that I love, she was knockin' on my door
GROUP SOLO (Spoken: Let 'er go, Charlie!)
Well, look-a here, mama, let me roll your dough
Lord, looky-here, mama, let me roll your dough
When you get through rollin' I said, "Please, baby, roll some more."
GROUP SOLO X 2 (Spoken: Play that thing, boy!)
FADE
Edited 2/20 to pick up corrections from Old Man Ned and Johnm
Edited 2/20 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best,
Johnm