Leroy Carr sang this first, with Scrapper Blackwell playing guitar behind his piano, recorded in 1935. As ever, people took notice and it was a big success.
I first heard it sung by Big Bill Broonzy - or at least first consciously listened and paid attention. As another moderately successful singer put it, this was one of those moments when I realised there was something happening here, and I didn't know what it was... but I wanted to find out. It's on the Folkways collection, "Trouble In Mind", a recording from 1956.
Another big moment was hearing Buddy Moss play it in his later recordings, for George Mitchell in 1963. It's a record I keep coming back to.
Pink Anderson recorded it in 1961 with Samuel Charters, the last song on the third of his records for Prestige/Bluesville. Can't beat Blue Note record sleeve designs, but that series was pretty sharp too.
Same year, Arthur Rosenbaum recorded J.T. Adams and Shirley Griffith, with Shirley doing some moves that remind me of Scrapper Blackwell on guitar and singing the heck out of the song.
More musicians on board for this version from Memphis Minnie in 1935, accompanied by Casey Bill Weldon playing lap-style slide and Black Bob on piano, taking it uptown again.
Elijah Wald has a great project on his website that he calls his "Songobiography", all about songs he's played over the years. His enthusiasm for music and the people behind the songs makes it a real pleasure. Here's his take on 'In The Evening'.
Here's one more, Josh White recording as Pinewood Tom, giving it his inimitable swing in 1935 with some of those knockout 'hoo-whee' in his vocals. Nice.
I first heard it sung by Big Bill Broonzy - or at least first consciously listened and paid attention. As another moderately successful singer put it, this was one of those moments when I realised there was something happening here, and I didn't know what it was... but I wanted to find out. It's on the Folkways collection, "Trouble In Mind", a recording from 1956.
Another big moment was hearing Buddy Moss play it in his later recordings, for George Mitchell in 1963. It's a record I keep coming back to.
Pink Anderson recorded it in 1961 with Samuel Charters, the last song on the third of his records for Prestige/Bluesville. Can't beat Blue Note record sleeve designs, but that series was pretty sharp too.
Same year, Arthur Rosenbaum recorded J.T. Adams and Shirley Griffith, with Shirley doing some moves that remind me of Scrapper Blackwell on guitar and singing the heck out of the song.
More musicians on board for this version from Memphis Minnie in 1935, accompanied by Casey Bill Weldon playing lap-style slide and Black Bob on piano, taking it uptown again.
Elijah Wald has a great project on his website that he calls his "Songobiography", all about songs he's played over the years. His enthusiasm for music and the people behind the songs makes it a real pleasure. Here's his take on 'In The Evening'.
Here's one more, Josh White recording as Pinewood Tom, giving it his inimitable swing in 1935 with some of those knockout 'hoo-whee' in his vocals. Nice.