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Anybody singing the blues is in a deep pit yelling for help - Mahalia Jackson

Author Topic: Versions of "Stackerlee"  (Read 4680 times)

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Offline bnemerov

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #30 on: July 13, 2014, 07:39:16 PM »
Hi Pan,
Rich-R-Tone was an east Tennessee post-WW II company that released hillbilly music on 78s and (later) vinyl. Their most famous issues were by the very early Stanley Bros. bluegrass band.
Moon Mullins later became a very well-known disc jockey, promoter and bluegrass performer (fiddler, if I recall correctly) in the upper mid-west; Ohio, primarily.
Sounds like he listened to John Hurt's records which is surprising from a white hard-core hillbilly artist. Curious to know if that's Mrs. Moon playing the guitar.
Goes to show you never can tell.
best,
Bruce

Offline Stuart

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #31 on: July 13, 2014, 11:19:35 PM »
Thanks Pan and Bruce. I did a little searching, but there was some uncertainty given that "Moon" Mullins was a popular nickname owing to the comic strip by the same name. Anyway, I guess that it was by Paul "Moon" Mullins. Here are a couple of links:

http://myclassiccountry.com/about-us/paul-moon-mullins/

Click on the " Enjoy Our Favorite ?Moonisms? " link for a PDF compiled by Fred Bartenstein, et al. Good reading

http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-415-where_the_holler_meets_the_hardtop.html

Offline Pan

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #32 on: July 14, 2014, 05:11:08 AM »
Thank you Bruce and Stuart.

Cheers

Pan

Offline Stuart

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #33 on: July 14, 2014, 09:30:03 AM »
...Sounds like he listened to John Hurt's records which is surprising from a white hard-core hillbilly artist...

It would be interesting to know the background of the recording and when it was made. Mississippi John Hurt performed at Oberlin after he was rediscovered (the Vanguard "Best Of" double LP), so as a DJ and musician who was quite active, Paul Mullins might have been familiar with MJH. Perhaps his son would know.

Offline Pan

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2014, 09:55:55 AM »
Hi again guys.

On closer listening I think I'm hearing two guitars (one electric?) and a (string?) bass on the  Moon Mullins recording. Which makes labeling the artists as "Moon Mullins with Mrs Moon Mullins" even stanger. I too would like to know who are the musicians.

Cheers

Pan

Offline bnemerov

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #35 on: July 14, 2014, 11:09:08 AM »
Hi Pan & Stuart,
I've had a little more time to dig--something I enjoy and used to get paid to do at the Archive--and it now appears that this Moon Mullins is a different guy than the fiddle-playing DJ.

This guy, Dallas "Moon" Mullins, and Mrs. Moon were guitar players (I suspect it's Dallas playing the Kentucky-style lead) who recorded Rich-R-Tone #1042 in 1952 with an unknown string bassist. The flip side of this 78 single is "I'm Beggin' Back."

Moon, also a DJ, but in High Point North Carolina rather than Ohio, went on to play in minor rockabilly groups led by pianist/singer Mickey Hawks, a poor man's Gene Vincent. They cut a number of singles on the Profile label, several of which were guitar instrumentals by Mullins (who also played saxophone).

Probably more than any of us wants to know, but there remains the aptness of a white North Carolina guitar picker listening to John Hurt's Okeh 78s....not too improbable.

best,
bruce
« Last Edit: July 14, 2014, 11:17:53 AM by bnemerov »

Offline Pan

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #36 on: July 14, 2014, 11:55:38 AM »
Thanks again, Bruce! I'll see if I can find his I'm Beggin' Back. I wonder if it's the tune lemon did?

Cheers

Pan

Offline Stuart

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #37 on: July 14, 2014, 01:56:24 PM »
Hi Bruce:

Thanks for the correction and clarification. The dates for Paul Mullins seemed a little off to me, but what do I know? Blame the ambiguity on the funny  papers! In any event, learning about Paul Mullins was worth the cyber excursion. He sounds like an interesting guy who hosted an entertaining show and has more than a few quotes worthy of the Weenie Quote Generator.

Thanks again,

Stuart

Offline Rambler

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #38 on: July 29, 2014, 03:20:48 PM »
Is it outre to consider contemporary versions?  Mr Steve James has a good one telling the tale from Stack's side.  Its here (Steve jumps in about 1:56)

Offline Johnm

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #39 on: April 06, 2021, 01:39:07 PM »
Hi all,
It's fun to add another version of "Stackerlee" almost seven years after the last previous post in this thread. This one, "That Bad Man Stacklee", is from David Miller, a hillbilly artist who was sometimes billed as "The Blind Soldier". He accompanied himself out of C position in standard tuning for his version of the song. Here is "That Bad Man Staklee":



Stackolee was bully, Billy Lyons was, too
Billy Lyons stole Stackolee's hat, he shot him through and through
All over his John B. Stetson hat

Billy Lyons and Stackolee had a fallin' out
People all in the town wondered what it was about
All about, that John B. Stetson hat

Billy Lyons went down to the barroom, he ordered up a glass of beer
Said to the bartender, "Has Stackerlee been here?"
"He's a bad man, and he's looking for his hat."

Billy Lyons went over the counter, talking to his friends
Just then old Stagolee, come a-staggering in
That bad man, that bad man Stackolee

Billy Lyons he raised up, and he turned a-right around slow
There stood old Stackolee with a great big .44
Said, "I'm looking for that John B. Stetson hat."

"Oh Stackolee, Stackolee, please don't take my life--
I've got a lot of little children, darling little loving wife
All over, that John b. Stetson hat."

High sheriff come riding up, he come a-riding slow
Says to the bartender, "Which way did Stackolee go?
I'm a-looking for that bad man, Stackolee."

He rode down the road, he catched him fast to sleep
Touched old Stackolee on the arm, he jumped about ten feet
That bad man, that bad man Stackolee

He took him over to the jailhouse, no one to go his bail
High sheriff took him by the arm, throwed old Stackolee in jail
Said, "You're a bad man, and you got to stay in jail."

The boys was making up money, to get old Stackolee out
I always liked old Stackolee, seemed to be a good old scout
But he's a bad man, let him stay in jail

Mrs. Lyons, she hollered, Mrs. Lyons, she squalled
Said, "All the hollerin' and squallin' don't do no good at all,
'Cause Billy's gone, oh yes, he's dead and gone."

Edited 4/6 to pick up corrections from Harry

All best,
Johnm











« Last Edit: April 06, 2021, 10:31:47 PM by Johnm »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #40 on: April 06, 2021, 05:22:34 PM »
Some suggestions,

Stackolee was a bully, Billy Lyons was, too
Billy Lyons stole Stackolee's hat, he shot him through and through
All over his John B. Stetson hat

"Oh Stackolee, Stackolee, please don't take my life--
I've got a lot of little children, darling little loving wife
All over, that John b. Stetson hat."

He rode down the road, he catches him fast to sleep
He touched old Stackolee on the arm, he jumped about ten feet
That bad man, that bad man Stackolee


This is a true classic in american roots music. I learned it on piano recently.
Dr. John once claimed he knows about 5000 verses and could play the song for 5 years non-stop.


Dr. John, Chicago Blues Festival - Stagger Lee



« Last Edit: April 06, 2021, 09:49:37 PM by Johnm »

Offline Stuart

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #41 on: April 06, 2021, 05:56:25 PM »
The link you posted didn't work stateside, Harry--maybe this one will (--It starts at about 14:59):



Knowing Dr. John, 5000 verses was probably an understatement.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2021, 05:58:58 PM by Stuart »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #42 on: April 06, 2021, 10:32:38 PM »
Thanks very much for the catches, Harry. I've made all of the corrections you suggested.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2021, 06:16:39 AM by Johnm »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #43 on: April 07, 2021, 10:41:24 AM »
Thanks for posting the entire concert, Stuart. It really shows his complete mastery and deep knowledge of the blues piano.

My favorite verse is probably,

Old Satan was celebratin', on his throne made of skin and bone
He said now, I'm so glad my son Stagger Lee, done come home

Offline Johnm

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Re: Versions of "Stackerlee"
« Reply #44 on: April 16, 2021, 09:52:58 AM »
Hi all,
Here is a version I don't believe has been posted previously in this thread, "Stag O'Lee" as played and sung by Professor Longhair.



All best,
Johnm

 


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