She was really an ugly woman... but when she opened her mouth - that was it! You forgot everything. She knew how to sing those blues, and she got right into your heart. What a personality she had. One of the greatest of all singers - Champion Jack Dupree quoted in Ma Rainey and The Classic Blues Singers, Derrick Stewart-Baxter
Hi all, I was just listening to "Seminole Blues", the lyrics for which Harry posted several songs back in this thread, and was somewhat shocked to hear Tampa Red playing slide out of Spanish tuning. Does anyone know of any other pieces he played slide on out of Spanish? I thought he was strictly a Vestapol guy when it came to playing slide. All best, Johnm
Ace Records has far superior sound quality than Document Records on this song in their catalog.
When you’re dealing with the devil everything you do is wrong You’ll drive away you’re lover and keep all of your things in pawn Don’t deal with the devil don’t deal with the devil Don’t deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win
The devil he is a liar a thief and a jiver too He’ll cheat you out of your love and put bad luck on you Don’t deal with the devil don’t deal with the devil Don’t deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win
My gal have went and left me but I don’t even care She’s dealing with the devil you know that little gal just can’t play fair But let her deal with the devil let her deal with the devil She’s dealing with the devil but it ain’t no way to win
She’s been dealing with the devil ever since 1933 She thought that I was a dummy but that gal won’t jiving me She’s dealing with the devil let her deal with the devil Let her deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win
« Last Edit: January 10, 2020, 12:22:53 PM by harry »
With Bill O'Bryant on piano (possibly Eddie Miller)
Now my black hearted woman she don’t mean no good Now my black hearted woman she don’t mean no good Now she don’t do nothing but raise hell in my neighborhood
Baby you cause me to give up every friend that I had Baby you cause me to give up every friend that I had I give up my mama I even give up dear old dad
My black hearted woman got something like a stingeree Now my black hearted woman she got something like a stingeree And I believe to my soul she have put that thing on me
I love my black hearted woman I’m a liar if I said I don’t I love my black hearted woman I’m a liar if I said I don’t Well I will kill her or quit her I’m a liar if I said I won’t
Woman I wished that I had your black heart in my hand Woman I wished that I had your black heart in my hand I would learn you a lesson how to treat your good man
« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 01:20:31 PM by harry »
A cover of The Mississippi Sheiks song. Same melody as "Sitting On Top Of The World". Also "Come On In My Kitchen" (Robert Johnson).
Lost all my money Ain't got a dime Givin' up this whole world Leavin' it behind But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
When I was sick Down on my bed My friends forgot me Thought I was dead But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
Boys ain't it hard When you ain't got a friend Just keep on travelin' They'll need your help again But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
I'm always pleased I'm never mad Thinking 'bout the bad luck I once have had But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
Now take me baby Just as I am Ain't got no money I'm in a jam But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
She told my neighbors And all my friends That I was a mistreater She didn't want me back again But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 01:30:08 PM by harry »
Hi all, I was just listening to "Seminole Blues", the lyrics for which Harry posted several songs back in this thread, and was somewhat shocked to hear Tampa Red playing slide out of Spanish tuning. Does anyone know of any other pieces he played slide on out of Spanish? I thought he was strictly a Vestapol guy when it came to playing slide. All best, Johnm
A bit late I know. John, Seminole plays easily out of vasterpol, and in your own notes to the Yazoo Tampa Red album you mention this ad include the comment that’s he unusullay hits the top string at the 12t fret.
Hi Phil, It may play easily out of Vestapol, but he played it out of Spanish, where it is dirt simple, and puts him in the same key as his backing guitarist. He never hits a high I note on the first string in his I chord in his main lick, and Spanish puts the V note on top, on the first string. He just goes to the twelfth fret for his I chord, the fifth fret for his IV chord and the seventh fret for his V chord. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the first thing he ever learned to play slide on. All best, Johnm
Hate still disagree but Seminole is pitched at F on all the recording I have, and played out of vasterpol.
Both the Walking bass runs behind the vocal and the little fills fall straight under the hand. The 1st solo hits the 1st string 12th fret at the start..
I agree it may well have been the 1st tune he learned, possibly lap style. (There is speculation that it Is Willie B James playing the lead, not to my mind.)
You're right, Phil. The solo is the give-away. When he goes up to that high I note to the bVII note at the beginning of the solo, he drags quiet notes a fourth lower on the second string. If he was in Spanish, the note on the second string would be a third lower. My mistake. Incidentally, all of the bass runs under the singing are played by the seconding guitarist--you can hear Tampa Red lightly chording there every once in a while. All best, Johnm
Tampa Red - Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo Black Bob - Piano
Now I work all day and I cry all night Woman you know you ain't treating me right You've got to do better you've got to do better You've got to do better or let another mama come in
Now I give you everything I could beg or steal But can't come home and get a decent meal You've got to do better yes you've got to do better Oh you've got to do better or let another mama come in
You come home every night drunk and out your head I even have to bathe you and put you to bed You've got to do better yeah you've got to do better You've got to do better or let another mama come in
Now my food ain't fitting and my house ain't clean You're the dirtiest old woman I've ever seen Now you've got to do better yes you've got to do better You've got to do better or let another mama come in
Now the food you cook will make a hound dog sick Woman I'd like to call you an old no good well You've got to do better you've got to do better You've got to do better or let another mama come in
Juicy Lemon Blues, January 9th, 1929 Vasterpol sounding at G
One his nicest solos I think
Intro 4 bars
2. Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song The woman I love done packed her trunk and gone
3. She left me this morning,she wouldn’t even tell me why She left me this morning didn’t even tell my why I got the blues so bad I could lie right down and die
4. I done everything a poor sweet man could do I done everything poor sweet man could do Mama you done me dirty, it’s coming back home to you
5. I can’t walk for talking, and I just can’t sleep for crying Can’t walk for talking, just can’t sleep for crying I just don’t know, feel like lying right down and dying
6. 12bars instr.
7. Look here people, my love done been refused Look here people, my love have been refused That’s why I’ve got them lowdown juicy lemon blues
« Last Edit: August 28, 2020, 04:52:39 AM by blueshome »
2. Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song The woman I love done packed her trunk and gone
3.3 I got the blues so bad I could lie down and die lie or lay ?
5. I can’t walk for talking, and I just can’t sleep for crying Can’t walk for talking, just can’t sleep for crying I just don’t know, feel like lying right down and dying lying or laying ?