Author Topic: Bo Carter. (Read 6785 times)

LoneWolf · « **on:** February 08, 2007, 07:01:19 AM »

God, I love this man... Whenever I'm feeling bad, all I need to do is to put a Bo Carter record, and I'm ok. Bless you Bo!!

chipmonk doug · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2007, 07:47:32 AM »

What LoneWolf said.

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2007, 11:25:13 AM »

And lest we forget here's how Paul Oliver reminded folk of Bo's existence in 1960:

"Sharing a corner in the bare, shot-gun building on South 4th Street where Will Shade lived, was an ailing, blind, light-skinned man whom the occupants knew only as Old Man. By a lucky hunch I guessed he might be Bo Carter and the sick man brightened to hear his name. At first he could hardly hold down the strings of his heavy steel guitar with its worn fingerboard. But he slowly mastered it and in a broken voice, that mocked the clear and lively singing on his scores of recordings under his own name and with the Mississippi Sheiks, he recalled incidents from his varied life and some of the songs that had made him one of the most famous of blues singers. Baby When You Marry he had recorded nearly thirty years before (OK 8888) in 1931 and in the years since he had worked on medicine shows, farmed and begged." (Conversation With The Blues p. 85)

Paul's iconic photo of Bo seated holding his guitar upright on his left leg was taken at that location. Much used, rarely credited.

uncle bud · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2007, 11:50:32 AM »

Quote from: Bunker Hill on February 08, 2007, 11:25:13 AM

Paul's iconic photo of Bo seated holding his guitar upright on his left leg was taken at that location. Much used, rarely credited.

Yes, an astonishing photo. Was the photo on the Document Bo Carter vol 5 taken at the same time? It looks to be. (Attached)

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2007, 11:59:25 AM »

Yes and I believe there are others that remain unpublished. Taken July 20th 1960.

dj · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2007, 11:59:47 AM »

I sometimes think of starting a thread titled "What I've Learned From Weenie Campbell", and the top item on the list is that I've finally learned to appreciate Bo Carter. When I was in high school, a friend had a homemade reel-to-reel tape of country blues, and one song on it was Bo singing "Banana In Your Fruit Basket". For some reason, I hated that song, and for 35 years or so I avoided Bo Carter. When I found Weenie Campbell, there was Bo on the Juke, and I was amazed to find that he was a fine singer and player. I regret all those years when I'd do anything to avoid listening to him.

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2007, 12:16:25 PM »

I think Yazoo and their two albums were instrumental in the "rejuvination" of Bo Carter in the eyes (and ears) of country blues fans.

That first LP was rarely off my turntable, the selection of tracks were a perfect cross section of the talents of the man. The number of sceptical folk I would play the record to who then experienced a "Road to Damascus" (he's not samey or boring at all) and purchased the LP themselves was gratifying.

blueshome · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2007, 01:58:58 PM »

Paul Oliver played excerpts from his recordings of Bo in 1960 at an EBA event several years ago. Whilst they were only a shadow of his 30's recordings, they were recognisably Bo, especially the playing - however, I think his decision not to release them is correct as they would have nothing more than a curiosity value and add nothing to Bo's reputation.

Richard · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2007, 11:59:54 PM »

I would agree with that, quit while you are ahead. Some time ago I heard a recording of Ellingtons great drummer Sonny Greer, when it should have been well past the end of his career - really very sad and better not released.

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2007, 11:54:09 AM »

Quote from: blueshome on February 08, 2007, 01:58:58 PM

Paul Oliver played excerpts from his recordings of Bo in 1960 at an EBA event several years ago.

Somewhere I have an inventory of Oliver's 70 reel-to-reel tapes of songs, interviews etc he recorded on that trip. It's mind blowing, there's even one that he recorded of a radio broadcast that was coming out of his his car radio from the Fort Worth & Dallas Network - Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and Bo Diddley including all the commercials and such like. Being perverse those I'd really like to hear are the two reels of interview with Sterling Brown.

I guess these tapes no longer reside in the basement of Exeter University Library but have been housed in the new Blues Archive in Gloucester.

Michael Kuehn · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2007, 07:25:29 AM »

I was listening to Bo Carter's "I Get the Blues" (1935) this morning and it really made me smile. What a gem of a song. It seems so out of place with the rest of his music from the same period -- very sophisticated. And a killer melody. Just had to mention that.

Mike

CF · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2007, 07:39:38 AM »

I found this add on the Old Hat page I believe . . . is this well known? I've never seen it before . . .
& is it just me or does Bo look a little like Charlie Patton here?

Johnm · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2007, 07:50:02 AM »

Hi all,
Apropos of your observation, cheapfeet, Sam Chatmon claimed that his father, Henderson Chatmon, was also the father of Charlie Patton. If that was the case, it would go a long ways toward explaining why Bo and Charlie looked like each other!
All best,
Johnm

CF · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2007, 08:08:46 AM »

Yeah John I knew there was supposed to be a family connection, I just never noticed the resemblance until I saw this picture . . . & I forgot that it was such a close paternal tie. I'd have to believe Sam was right based on the similarities in this Bo photo & the sole Patton photo. Man, that was one helluva talented family! Jackson 5 eat your heart out!

dj · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2007, 08:33:37 AM »

To be fair, it's also possible that Sam was wrong and Charley's father had indulged in some "extracurricular activity". But it sure looks like Bo's ears and Charley's share some DNA.

Johnm · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2007, 10:51:24 AM »

I agree with you, dj. I've never considered it certain that Sam and Charley Patton had the same father. It may be, too, that at that time and place, the "look" that Bo and Charley shared was not all that uncommon, with a fair amount of intermingling of white, black and native Americans.
All best,
Johnm

Cooljack · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2007, 02:15:10 PM »

Wow I've never seen that photo before, I thought the only Mississippi Sheiks one available was the one with the three of them stood together.

I managed to find all of Bo Carters recordings through Document + Emusic, I would say that he is my favorate solo artist of the 1930's by far.

Rambler · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2007, 05:52:21 PM »

I was not familiar with Bo until this year, but that was corrected thanks to exposue at shows from Paul Rishell and Frank Fotusky. His stuff is fun to play-- all those nice partial chords up the neck.

rjtwangs · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2008, 02:38:43 PM »

I have the double cd set (36 tracks) on Classic Blues, called Bo Carter the Essential. Are there any opinions on this set? I love the music and playing. How does it sound compared to the Documents? Any insights would be greatly apprpeciated.

RJ

Cooljack · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2008, 02:52:53 PM »

If Im not mistaken you have this cd set?

It's a document release so all the songs in theory should sound the same, though i would recommend getting the full document five volumes as then you can make your own assertion on his music, most other CD compilations are too inadequate in my opinion when concerning Bo Carter. The worst one was one in my opinion was released on Itunes which had some poor remastering called "Pussy Cat Blues" (which funnily enough had the title censored to "P***Y Cat Blues")

rjtwangs · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2008, 11:08:11 AM »

Yes, Cooljack, thats the one I have. I think it sounds really great. I will check out the other Documents as you suggest. Thanks a lot for your insight.

RJ

Eldergreene · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2008, 08:04:31 AM »

Not too long ago, I emailed JSP records asking if they had any plans for a BC issue, but they said no - I'm kinda surprised, since I figure he's up there with the McTells, Fullers, etc, & easily warrants a boxset,IMO; maybe if a few others pestered them?..

CF · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2008, 08:17:08 AM »

Yeah I'd buy a JSP Bo Carter complete set in a New York minute . . .

Cooljack · « **Reply #23 on:** January 23, 2008, 10:34:59 AM »

Yeah I'd also love to see a JSP Bo Carter Box set, and a mississippi sheiks one as a matter of fact

outfidel · « **Reply #24 on:** January 23, 2008, 11:38:14 AM »

Bo Carter & Robert Wilkins are two guys that I got into specifically because John Miller had done lessons on them. I figured, if they're good enough for John, they're good enough for me.

jopoke · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2012, 08:11:14 AM »

It's almost here:

http://www.amazon.com/Bo-Carter-Mississippi-Sheiks/dp/B006CLHARW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326038317&sr=8-1

Thanks, Joe

blueshome · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2012, 10:43:14 AM »

I've never seen the photo of Bo with his guitar on the cover of that set. Bunker???

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2012, 11:06:26 AM »

Quote from: blueshome on January 08, 2012, 10:43:14 AM

I've never seen the photo of Bo with his guitar on the cover of that set. Bunker???

New to me too. I note that Neil Slaven compiled and annotated it so I'll ask him if he knows the provenance.

Johnm · « **Reply #28 on:** January 08, 2012, 11:16:52 AM »

It's new to me, too, but it's obvious that it has been in circulation long enough to have served as the basis of the cover to the "Essential Bo Carter" CD shown earlier in this thread.
All best,
Johnm

Lyndvs · « **Reply #29 on:** January 09, 2012, 02:24:40 AM »

The photo of Bo standing with his guitar featured on the front of the new JSP boxset has been published before,if my mind serves me correctly.I think it was in the book"Nothing but the Blues" Edited by Lawrence Cohn.

CF · « **Reply #30 on:** January 09, 2012, 05:19:37 AM »

Having read Cohn's 'Nothing But the Blues' about 100 times I can't remember seeing that pic of Bo being featured in it.

Bo's complete recordings come to 5 discs on Document so this JSP set must be a selection, too bad.

banjochris · « **Reply #31 on:** January 09, 2012, 10:38:29 AM »

I agree, that pic's not in the Cohn book. Looking at the track list this is a compilation of mostly Sheiks/associated bands with a little more than one CD worth of solo Bo.

Cleoma · « **Reply #32 on:** January 09, 2012, 10:40:15 AM »

In other words, NOT the complete Bo Carter. By my reckoning, that would be something like 8 CDs worth!

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #33 on:** February 22, 2012, 12:27:47 PM »

Is there alot of information about Carter in the Cohn book? I wanna read more about him.
According to the Yazoo liner notes Bo was a moody individual who, in contrast to his pornographic songs, had no interest whatsoever in skirt-chasing, or even partying.

Johnm · « **Reply #34 on:** February 22, 2012, 01:46:22 PM »

Hi all,
One of the interesting things about finding more about musicians in the biographic sense is that it almost never sheds any light on why their music sounds the way it does. Which is to say that a musician's/artist's life story doesn't come anywhere near explaining his/her artistic style. It's one reason I'm never in a rush to read biographies of musicians I admire--they never tell me the things I would most like to know.
All best,
Johnm

jostber · « **Reply #35 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:53:33 PM »

Quote from: cheapfeet on January 09, 2012, 05:19:37 AM

Having read Cohn's 'Nothing But the Blues' about 100 times I can't remember seeing that pic of Bo being featured in it.

Bo's complete recordings come to 5 discs on Document so this JSP set must be a selection, too bad.

Do you like this book?

Shovel · « **Reply #36 on:** March 19, 2012, 08:53:34 AM »

Quote from: Johnm on February 22, 2012, 01:46:22 PM

Hi all,
One of the interesting things about finding more about musicians in the biographic sense is that it almost never sheds any light on why their music sounds the way it does. Which is to say that a musician's/artist's life story doesn't come anywhere near explaining his/her artistic style. It's one reason I'm never in a rush to read biographies of musicians I admire--they never tell me the things I would most like to know.
All best,
Johnm

In some instances the music isnt the reflection of a life, but instead can sometimes be what fills in the blanks of that person's life, if that makes sense.

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Author Topic: Bo Carter. (Read 6785 times)

LoneWolf

chipmonk doug

Cooljack

Cooljack

Cooljack