For this month?s Song of the Month, I?ve chosen ?Sloppy Drunk Blues.? It?s a favorite tune of mine and it?s a bit unusual in that it seems to work well both at a slow tempo and as an intense, fast number. The lyrics have a directness and simplicity that make them easy to remember and the lyrics don?t vary tremendously in most versions of the song.
The song has been recorded quite a few times (of course drinking is a popular subject) and I?m including here all the ones I know of ? I?ve only transcribed the lyrics of the versions I really like!
The first recorded version, and to me one of the two definitive versions, was recorded by
Lucille Bogan (as Bessie Jackson) in March 1930 in Chicago, with Charles Avery on piano. It was issued on Brunswick, Banner, Melotone, Oriole, Perfect and Romeo (the flip side was the equally great ?Alley Boogie"). The other two records from this session were only released on Brunswick so the company must have thought this was a good one.
Composer credit on the Perfect issue says ?James? ? there?s no copyright on the tune by anyone of that name (at least not on Harry Fox), so I see no reason to think that Ms. Bogan didn?t come up with this one on her own.
This is a slow number with a matter-of-fact delivery from Bogan and beautifully understated piano accompaniment by Avery. The melody is not unlike ?Goin? to Brownsville? and seems like it would be well-suited for guitar.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know,
And another half a pint, will see me go.
I love my moonshine whiskey, better than I do my man,
I love my moonshine whiskey, better than I do my man,
You can have your beer in your bottle, give me my cool kind can.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, sittin? in the can.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, sittin? in the can,
Than to be at home, rollin? with my man.
Mmmmm, mmmmm, bring me another two-bit pint,
Mmmmm, mmmmm, bring me another two-bit pint,
?Cause I got my habits on, I?m going to wreck this joint.
I been on this sloppy drunk, for a solid year,
I been on this sloppy drunk, for a solid year,
And when I can?t get my whiskey, bring me my cool can beer.
My good man?s quit me, for somebody else,
My good man?s quit me, for somebody else,
And now I?m sloppy drunk, drinkin? by myself.
Six months later, on Sept. 9, 1930,
Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell recorded the song, also in Chicago. It was a natural subject for Carr, of course, and lyrically it?s almost a word-for-word cover, adjusting for gender. There?s some nice bass work by Blackwell in the solo; it?s a nice uptempo version, but the best was yet to come.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know,
And another half a pint, mama will see me go.
I love my moonshine whiskey, better than a tootie loves a man,
I love my moonshine whiskey, better than a tootie loves a man,
You can take your beer in a bottle, give me my cool kind can.
SOLO
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, sitting in the can.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, sitting in the can,
Than to be out in the street, runnin? from the man.
Mmmmm, mmmmm, bring me another two-bit pint,
Mmmmm, mmmmm, bring me another two-bit pint,
?Cause I got my habits on, and I?m going to wreck this joint.
My gal?s done quit me, for somebody else,
My gal?s done quit me, for somebody else,
Now I?m sloppy drunk mama, sleepin? all by myself.
The next cover version is more of an ?answer song? - ?I?m Still Sloppy Drunk,? sung by
Ruth Willis with two of Curley Weaver, Buddy Moss and Fred McMullen playing guitar. My guess is McMullen and Moss. (PS John, this number might make a good puzzler!)
This is a great, great version, taken at a similar tempo to Bogan?s. Recorded New York, Jan. 17, 1933 and released on the same labels as Bogan?s, except for Brunswick.
I?m still sloppy drunk, never to be sober no more,
I?m still sloppy drunk, never to be sober no more,
?Cause I want my man to work me, like a baker do his dough.
Gonna get sloppy drunk, let everybody I see,
Gonna get sloppy drunk, let everybody I see,
And stop my man, from jivin? every woman he meet.
Come on daddy-ee, let?s get sloppy drunk again,
Come on daddy-ee, let?s get sloppy drunk again,
When I gets a evil mind, I won?t see another man.
Gonna get drunk again, buy me a six-bit quart
Gonna get drunk again, buy me a six-bit quart,
You get the brew, and I?ll get the malt.
I got drunk last night, and the night before,
I got drunk last night, and the night before,
If I gets over this, I won?t get drunk no more.
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than feelin? like I do,
I?d rather be sloppy drunk, than feelin? like I do,
The man treats me so bad, I feel like a darned old fool.
Walter Davis recorded the song as ?Sloppy Drunk Again? in February 1935 with Joe Williams and Henry Townsend on guitars. This is, to me, the second definitive version, and also one of the greatest ever blues records. It was Walter Davis? first appearance on piano (his previous records had him singing with Roosevelt Sykes playing). No doubt Davis would have said he got the number from Leroy Carr but, as with everything, he makes it all his own. The lyrics are here:
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6739.msg77490#msg77490Bumble Bee Slim recorded the song in July 1935 with piano and guitar very much in the Carr mold. Meh.
And a final pre-war recording in 1941 by
the real Sonny Boy with Blind John Davis and Ransom Knowling. This version is also modeled after Carr?s and nothing particularly special but I have to admit I have a big soft spot for Sonny Boy I.
I?m going to put the couple of post-war performances I want to share in a separate post. Any help with the bracketed lyrics much appreciated!
Chris
Edited 3/25 with lyrics corrections from JohnM
