Topic: Miller's Breakdown

[One-Eyed Ross]

"Now those Quincy women, they sure feel good, they sure do treat you fine"

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I have some new puzzlers for you.  The first is "I Been Down In the Circle Before" by Sampson Pittman, whom I believe was a transplanted Mississippian living in Detroit at the time he was recorded in 1938.  He was an musical associate of Calvin Frazier, who also moved from Mississippi to Detroit.  I sure like his singing, and especially his confidential way of delivering his lyrics.  Here is the song, which despite the length of the video is really only 3:47 long:



SPOKEN: Boy, there ain't no need of tryin' to tell me nothin'!  You can't tell me nothin' 'bout the circle because, not Laconia Circle, 'cause I worked for every contractor, up and down the line.  And I know just exactly what they'll do, and how they is, see, that's why, that's why you hear me say it:  I ain't no stranger, you can't tell me nothin'.  I been down there lots of times.

I worked on the levee, long time ago
And ain't nothin' 'bout the levee camp, boys, that I don't know
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, been down in the circle before

Now, there ain't but the one contractor in the area that I fear
He'll pull into Yard's Mill, and they don't 'low him back here
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, there's Mr. Forrest Jones, ain't so long and tall
He killed a merchant man and he'd like to kill us all
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before

SOLO (Spoken before solo:  Play it one time, play it!)

Now, Mr. Charley Lauren, is the mercy man
The best contractor, partner, that's up and down the line
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Well, I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, when you leave out take Helena, out highway 44
The first camp you get to, it is called Rainy Mole
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, been down in the circle before

I ain't gonna kill a saw, I ain't gonna break down
Breakin' down wheel'll get a man all down in his back
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before

Now, I have a friend in Arkansas tell me what to do
I told him to come to Arkansas, I told him, "No, no, no."
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, I been down Arkansas before (spoken: Good-bye)

The questions on "I Been Down In the Circle Before" are:
   * What playing position/tuning did Sampson Pittman use to play the song?
   * Where did he fret what he plays from :22--:27?

The second song is Sylvester Cotton's "Brown Skin Woman".  Cotton was another Detroit-based player we've previously looked at in this thread.  Here is "Brown Skin Woman":



My brown-skin woman, she as evil as she can be
My brown-skin woman, she evil as she can be
I don't why she gone and left me, Lord, she left me, I'm feelin' blue

I want you to tell me, woman, what you want me to do (yes)
I want you tell me, woman, what you want poor me to do (Lord have mercy over)
Says, now you left me 'round here, pretty mama, 'way down here with the brown-skin blues

I got a brown-skin woman, boy, you know she lives up on a hill (Lord have mercy)
I got a brown-skin woman, lives up on a hill
Says, I'm gon' find me a pretty woman, Lord, that know how to keep her [record?] still

SOLO (Spoken, during solo: Listen.  Yes.)

Then it's soon, old woman, guess I had better go
Well, it's soon, old woman, guess I had better go (Lord have)
Now, what would I want with stayin' 'round, woman, Lord, you don't want me here no more

Say, my brown-skin woman, Lord, she got me where I don't know what to do
Say, my brown-skin woman, Lord, she got me where I don't know what to do
I'm gon' find me another lazy brown, don't do work 'round here with you

The questions on "Brown Skin Woman" are"
   * What playing position/tuning did Sylvester Cotton use to play the song?
   * Where does he fret the bass run he plays from :27--:29?
   * Where does he fret what he plays from 2:28--2:29?

As always, please use only your ears and your instruments to arrive at your answers.  Please don't post any answers  before 8:00 AM your own time on Thursday, April 30th, so that plenty of people get to listen to the tunes before answers start being posted.  Thanks for your participation.

All best,
Johnm

[jpeters609]

Hi John,
Just a quick biographical note: Sampson Pittman did indeed move to Detroit from the Delta, but he was from the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River (as was Calvin Frazier).
-Jeff

[Prof Scratchy]

On the Quincey Women lyrics, could the missing word in the first line of the first verse be 'produces'. That's what it sounds like to me and would indicate they come up with the goods in some kind of way. As far as the first line of the second verse is concerned, I think he just fluffs the line and sings nonsense, meaning to actually sing what he sings in the second line. Tough lyrics to decipher though, for sure.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the biographical catch on Sampson Pittman and Calvin Frazier, Jeff.  And thanks to EddieD, One-Eyed Ross and Prof Scratchy for the help with the lyrics of "Quincey Wimmens".  I do think that "produces" is the best match of the sound of the missing part of the first line of the first verse, and fits well with the sense of the second half of the line, so I will go with that.  Thanks to all for your contributions.
All best,
Johnm

[EddieD]

Do you know if there is only one recording of Quincy Wimmers by Tallahassee Tight? I can't find much information on Tallahassee Tight but seems like he didn't record a whole lot. Is the video you posted for Quincy Wimmers the same as the Quincy Wimmers on the Document Records split album with Spark Plug Smith? For some reason I still can get that video to play. Maybe it's blocked in Canada.

[Johnm]

Hi Eddie,
Yes, it is the same track as on the Document CD he shares with Spark Plug Smith.  One of the other Weenies who is not from the U.S. also said he could not play this particular kind of video which seems to be generated by youtube itself--evidently there are copyright issues with play outside of the U.S., which is a bummer.  I think Tallahassee Tight is obscure enough that for most of his recorded repertoire, the youtube-generated videos are all that is available.  I know there are a couple of his tunes that are more conventional videos that would probably play anywhere, but I thought "Quincey Wimmens" was more interesting than those songs.
All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

I have to give Slack credit for coming up with that idea of the linking list, Laurence.  I really like it, too.  It makes it so easy to find whatever song you'd like to hear or study again.
All best,
Johnm

You came up with the list Johnm, I just cleaned up the format.

Maybe there is a better way to remind folks of the index -- I'll look on the forum site and see if there is something appropriate to use.  It really is a Super Topic.

[frankie]

Maybe there is a better way to remind folks of the index -- I'll look on the forum site and see if there is something appropriate to use. 

Maybe something like the Quick Menu widget on the left hand of the forum?

It really is a Super Topic.

Sure is!

[Slack]

Maybe something like the Quick Menu widget on the left hand of the forum?

Hmmm, not a bad idea and at least a good fall back.  suggestions for a menu item name?  It needs to be fairly short.

[harriet]

Here's some thoughts I have:

Miller's List
Miller's Topic
Miller's Index
Miller's Puzzler
Challenge List

[frankie]

CB Ear-ups

[Gumbo]

The Listening Masterclass
How DID they do that?
John Miller Opens Your Ears

[EddieD]

Hi Eddie,
Yes, it is the same track as on the Document CD he shares with Spark Plug Smith.  One of the other Weenies who is not from the U.S. also said he could not play this particular kind of video which seems to be generated by youtube itself--evidently there are copyright issues with play outside of the U.S., which is a bummer.  I think Tallahassee Tight is obscure enough that for most of his recorded repertoire, the youtube-generated videos are all that is available.  I know there are a couple of his tunes that are more conventional videos that would probably play anywhere, but I thought "Quincey Wimmens" was more interesting than those songs.
All best,
Johnm

Thanks for the reply Johnm. I agree Quincey Wimmers was a great choice and I enjoyed spending time listening to it and working it out. 

[David Kaatz]

Maybe something like the Quick Menu widget on the left hand of the forum?

Hmmm, not a bad idea and at least a good fall back.  suggestions for a menu item name?  It needs to be fairly short.

JM's Listening Challenge