I've been playing around with a handful of tunes in spanish tuning lately... it all started with Kansas Joe's Joliet Bound - what a funky tune! Then there was Furry's Turn Your Money Green. Then I was listening to Black Gypsy Blues - a totally different approach - almost no regular bass to speak of. After that I got to thinking about Clifford Gibson: another completely different approach - his sense of touch and tone is really a departure. One could almost say delicate - sounds like he might be picking over the neck (just in front of the soundhole). I've been playing his Levee Camp Moan. Capoed up high, it's alternately archaic and progressive sounding - very nice.
Ed Bell's Sniggling Blues is probably next - kinda similar to Clifford Gibson but has a different overall touch. Any suggestions out there in Weenie-land? I'm trying to stay away from slide pieces and from Mississippi heavyweights - just looking for another sound...
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« Last Edit: August 06, 2017, 12:19:13 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, You've named several of my favorite players/tunes in Spanish, Frank. To your list I might add Marshall Owens' two cuts, "Try Me One More Time" and "Wild Ox Moan"--they're both beauties and really good songs to sing. Mance Lipscomb had a neat one called "Willy, Poor Boy". There's the great Buddy Boy Hawkins songs, too. Re Clifford Gibson, I have long had a theory, the kind of dopey thing that can never be proven, that in his playing in Spanish he was trying to sound like Lonnie Johnson. Whether that was the case or not, Clifford Gibson was tremendous in Spanish. I've long intended to figure out one of his tunes he recorded as Sluefoot Joe. It's stellar even by his standards. All best, John
Thanks for reminding me of Kansas Joe/Minnie's stellar Joliet Bound, I almost had a version of it down then forgot about it til now. As you say it's a very cool and funky recording that I learned off Memphis Jamboree, just about wore out the CD.
It's got to be a close relative of Viola Lee Blues doncha think?
Maybe this is a silly idea, but how about a running list:
Furry Lewis:
Good Looking Girl Blues Furry's Blues Black Gipsy Blues I Will Turn Your Money Green Kassie Jones parts 1 & 2 Rock Island Blues
Clifford Gibson:
Bad Luck Dice Levee Camp Moan Hard Headed Blues Society Blues Tired of Being Mistreated parts 1 & 2 Brooklyn Blues Beat You Doing It Stop Your Rambling
Ed Bell:
Snigglin' Blues (Barefoot Bill) Barefoot Bill's Hard Luck Blues (Barefoot Bill)
Marshall Owens:
Try Me One More Time Wild Ox Moan
Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy:
Joilet Bound What's the Matter with the Mill
Jack Kelly and Will Batts:
61 Highway Blues Country Woman
Mississippi John Hurt:
Frankie
Buddy Boy Hawkins:
Awful Fix A Rag Jailhouse Fire Blues Voice Throwin' Blues Snatch It Back
Teddy Darby:
Built Down On The Ground
Mance Lipscomb:
Willy, Poor Boy
Peg Leg Howell:
Rolling Mill Blues Coal Man Blues Tishimingo Blues
Smokey Babe:
Boogie Woogie Rag
Skip James:
Special Rider Blues
R.L. Burnside:
Long Haired Doney
Etta Baker:
Lost John
Elizabeth Cotten:
The Wreck Of The Old 97 Til We Meet Again Jesus Is Tenderly Calling
Joe Callicott:
France Chance Roll And Tumble
Note: edited, 3/17/08, by Johnm to remove Lil' Son Jackson tunes
« Last Edit: March 17, 2008, 11:47:06 AM by Johnm »
I'll add "What's the Matter with the Mill" by Memphis Minnie, "Jailhouse Fire Blues" by Buddy Boy Hawkins, and my favorite spanish tune, "I Want You to Know" by Bo Carter.
John Miller did a similar chart for Papa Charlie Jackson that I've formatted but haven't gotten around to posting, as it became part of an ill-fated website re-design that wound up stalling due to "real life".? I'll have to dig that out...
« Last Edit: April 05, 2005, 01:41:04 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Actually, I think "I Want You To Know" is in Bo's own version of G tuning--DGDGBE. He used this a ton--also in it are "Arrangement For Me", "My Baby" "Shake 'Em On Down", "I Get The Blues", and many others. All best, John
Barbecue Bob, Yo Yo Blues, Ease It To Me Blues, Mississippi Heavy Water Blues, others Blind Willie McTell, Mama T'ain't Long Before Day, others Muddy Waters, Write Me A Few Of Your Lines, I's Be Troubled Robert Johnson, Travelin' Riverside Blues, others
I'm in open G a lot at present teaching myself bluegrass & roots dobro, big shortage of & demand for dobro players down here so I aim to take up some of the slack.
Hi all, Just pondering some more tunes in this category. Teddy Darby--Built Down On The Ground Peg Leg Howell--Rolling Mill Blues (good one for you and Kim, Frank) and Coal Man Blues Charley Lincoln--My Wife Drove Me From The Door (a little slide, but not essential to the song's sound) Li'l Son Jackson--Roberta, Gamblers Blues, et al
Note: 3/17/08, the Lil' Son Jackson tunes are mis-identified as being played in Spanish. They were played in G6 tuning. All best, JohnM
« Last Edit: March 17, 2008, 11:49:07 AM by Johnm »
Teddy Darby--Built Down On The Ground Peg Leg Howell--Rolling Mill Blues and Coal Man Blues Charley Lincoln--My Wife Drove Me From The Door (a little slide, but not essential to the song's sound) Li'l Son Jackson--Roberta, Gamblers Blues, et al
Wow - Rolling Mill Blues is an inspired suggestion... that's a brilliant song. I hadn't thought of Peg Leg Howell at all! I don't know Coal Man Blues and don't have any Li'l Son Jackson at all - now I'm intrigued.
Hi Alex - Rethinking is good - about 4 or 5 years ago I basically undid all my guitar playing and re-assessed it all as thumb+index (two-finger).? I still play three-finger now and then, but the core is really t+i.? It made a big difference for me and took a lot of the meaningless BS out of my playing (made me identify it anyway, excising it is a lifelong process).
I did the same thing with clawhammer banjo over the last year.? I've been playing for about six or seven years but decided that I didn't like the way I sounded (too "Round Peak", essentially) and started all over from scratch, focusing on a strong, clear brush stroke.? I'm still a long way from what I'd like to sound like, but I think I'm at least on the right path...
Anyway - re-thinking is usually pretty fruitful, if a little on the inconvenient side!
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 10:16:23 AM by Johnm »