Topic: Great One-Chord Songs

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I was listening to Dock Boggs' "Country Blues" today and realized that it certainly qualifies for this category.
All best,
Johnm

[pete1951]

There aren`t many Blues songs that get in the `Pop` charts here (in the UK) but I think `Smoke Stack lightning` did (I only use 1 chord if I play it ) and a couple of years later Canned Heat with `On the Road Again` ( the format is a 12bar but stays on 1 chord )
These may be too new to get onto Weenie but this was the sort of stuff that turned many young British kids onto Blues.
I also always think of Come on in My Kitchen as a single chord song but other chords are implyed

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I think Washington Phillips' "I've Got the Key to the Kingdom" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm

[lindy]

Mance Lipscomb's "Tall Angel At The Bar."

I had one of those experiences just a week ago where I woke up and the first thought I had was this song and that I had to learn it. Didn't even know the name of it when I awoke, had to go listen through all my Mance CDs to find it -- a tough job, but I was up to it.

Weeniepedia has it as "E (maybe Vestapol)", sure is easier in Vestapol.

L

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I think John Hurt's version of "Shake That Thing" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm

[Mr.OMuck]

There's two places that ALMOST sound like a change but they're more implied than actualized

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I was just working on Blind Willie Reynolds' "Third Street Woman Blues", and it certainly qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Hi all,
I was just working on Blind Willie Reynolds' "Third Street Woman Blues", and it certainly qualifies in this category.

Not many one-chorders in C!
Chris

[-]

Mississippi John Hurt - Blind Man Sit In The Way And Cried

[east]

Lightnin' Hopkin's brother, Joel, has some songs on Document's Rural Blues vol. 2 compilation that fit the bill: "Good Times Here, Better Down the Road," and "I Ain't Gonna Roll For the Big Hat Man No More," are both versions of a pretty free-form tune hanging on one chord for the duration-very cool stuff.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt's "You've Got To Die" qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm

[Shovel]

dunno if its in the spirit of the thread, but Narmour & Smith's Sweet Milk and Peaches Breakdown is pretty dynamic for a single chord and not too many phrases, either,but it cooks!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Rube Lacy's "Mississippi Jail House Groan" definitely qualifies in this category.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

I may get attacked on this but I've never been a big fan of one-chord songs. There often repetitive and seem to drag a little. Especially J L Hookers boogies.

[iwbiek]

Pretty much anything by Junior Kimbrough, especially with all that reverb he has going on, both in his vocals and the guitar.  "You Better Run" may be the most disturbing blues song ever written, both for the lyrics and the atmospheric groove, not to mention Junior's matter-of-fact delivery of just plain psychopathic material.