Hi anyone know these few missing lines in the last two verses. I am having trouble with them. See the question marks for the two lines I am missing. Thanks...LB
====================================== Sundown Blues ? Alec Johnson Atlanta Ga 1920/30s
I hate to see the evening sun go down That?s the time by baby left this down I get the blues when the evening sun goes down
She was the meanest gal for miles around She made me love her then she called me down I get the blues when the evening sun goes down
Hmmm Hmmm
Now everybody scorns me with a frown Since my baby left me broke in town I sigh and cry when the evening son goes down
Instrumental break
My friends are skating they cannot be found Cause my gal she quit and left this town Oh how I grieve when the evening sun goes down
<<<-------------------- BEGIN MP3 SAMPLE BELOW They aching bout the gal who left this town How I despair when the evening sun go down
Hmm hmm
When shadow spread that dreary dew around From a far I hear a sound My soul just weep when the evening sun go down
« Last Edit: June 13, 2016, 11:34:17 AM by Johnm »
Hi Little Brother, Here's what I hear on "Sundown Blues".
I hate to see the evening sun go down That's the time my baby left this town I get the blues when the evening sun goes down
She was the meanest gal for miles around Made me love her then she called me down I feel so sad when the evening sun goes down
Mmmmmmm
Now everybody's scorned me, with a frown Since my baby left me broke in town I sigh and cry when the evening sun goes down
My friends are scarce and they can not be found 'Cause my gal she quit and left this town Oh, how I grieve when the evening sun goes down
Straight for the madhouse I'm surely bound Thinkin' 'bout the gal who left this town How I despair when the evening sun goes down
Mmmmmmmmmm
When shadows spread that dreary hue around From afar I hear a doleful sound My soul just weeps when the evening sun goes down
It's nice the way he varies the tag line at the end of each verse. These lyrics are very unusual; the last verse sounds like Alec Johnson had been reading Victorian poetry. I never noticed before how unusual the phrasing is on this song. It works out like so--measures are four beats unless otherwise indicated:
When shadows spread that dreary hue around, | I | I | From afar I hear a doleful sound, my soul just | I | I-4 + 2 beats | Weeps when the evening sun goes down | IV-4 +I-2 beats | I | I |
I suppose you could say the song has the same number of beats as a conventional 8-bar blues, but he doesn't phrase it that way. He's very consistent, 7 bars with the fourth and fifth bars each long by two beats. He never hits a V chord either. This song is a real one-of-a-kind one. The melody to the first two lines is an awful lot like Charlie Lincoln's "Jealous Hearted Blues". I wonder what the flip side to this song was like?
Edited, 12/30/10 to pick up correction from uncle bud All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: December 30, 2010, 10:18:41 PM by Johnm »
The flip side to Sundown Blues is Miss Meal Cramp. In my opinion, EVERY Alec Johnson recording is one-of-a-kind. The guitarist here, and on all his recordings, is Joe McCoy, and on most of them (including Miss Meal Cramp) he's joined by Charlie McCoy on mandolin and Bo Carter on violin! (and an unidentified pianist) Truly a blues supergroup with a bizarre twist, these country blues masters playing very comfortably behind this vaudevillian singer who trills his R's and over-enunciates. I don't think I've ever heard recordings like these. I particularly like Joe McCoy's playing on "Next Week Sometime" and the full band's creepy accompaniment to "Mysterious Coon." Beautiful stuff.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2006, 08:33:02 AM by Montgomery »
I will second Little Brother's thanks, Montgomery. I actually have that set, but it hadn't registered that the singer was the same Alec Johnson who did "Sundown Blues", and I didn't know any of that information about the personnel on his recordings. From his singing style, I thought he might be a college professor or something like that. Vaudeville makes more sense. Thanks! All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: April 07, 2006, 02:36:41 PM by Johnm »
Okay, here's "Next Week Sometime," the other Alec Johnson with just Joe McCoy as accompaniment. As usual, McCoy is incredibly inventive with a relatively simple progression.
Fantastic stuff. Reminds me of Bo Carter's "Shes your cook but she burns my bread sometimes". I never ever get tired of this stuff. Glad I'm not alone.
Not strange that Bo Carter backed Alec Johnson on record -- Alec Johnson is Carter's brother Ferdinand. Also Joe and Charlie McCoy were brothers, who played often with the Chatmons (all are from the same area). And the McCoys may have been cousins to the Chatmons. The Alec Johnson recordings were very much a family affair!
« Last Edit: September 28, 2010, 06:09:33 PM by Chezztone »