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Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => SOTM - Song Of The Month => Topic started by: Johnm on February 21, 2021, 09:10:57 AM
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Hi all,
I've been thinking about a set of songs that share a beautiful major pentatonic melody. The earliest recorded version of this melody that I can think of occurred in Henry Thomas's "Shanty Blues", the only song in his recorded repertoire for which he played slide, in Vestapol tuning. Here is "Shanty Blues":
https://youtu.be/Ex8-3d7vdSA
Another song recorded using the same melody, and very close to some of the same lyrics is the Mississippi Sheiks' "Bootlegger's Blues". Here is "Bootlegger's Blues":
https://youtu.be/oADsyFEz7aU
Yet another song using the same melody, and once again, some similar lyrics, is Mississippi John Hurt's "Payday", the title cut of his first Vanguard album. Here is "Payday", which he played in Vestapol tuning:
https://youtu.be/K-p214l5QLI
Most recently, Alabaman Lonzie Thomas was recorded by George Mitchell playing "Rabbit On A Log" in Vestapol, once again using the shared melody. Here is "Rabbit On A Log":
https://youtu.be/VQgrLWAyD8E
All of these songs share at least some verses, and I suppose you could make a case for them being one song with each version contributing some verses that the other versions lacked. Can anyone think of other recorded versions of this melody? I keep thinking there must be songs in the Old-Time tradition that use this melody, but nothing is coming to mind for me. I'd be very interested in any other recordings that used this melody, and I hope that if and when folks think of any they'll post them here.
All best,
Johnm
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Hi, John,
I can't fine a YouTube video of it, but Willie Ford recorded a version of Pay Day for the Library of Congress in 1940.
In fact, you transcribed the lyrics here: https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11272.0 (https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11272.0)
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Hi dj,
Thanks for the reminder. I quite like that version, and for whatever reason, the youtube video of it was removed. I know a Weenie member, Larry, (frailer24) recorded a nice version of it which you can listen to at: https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11642.msg103325#msg103325.
All best,
Johnm
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https://youtu.be/AJBhAwLdjyA
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https://youtu.be/4bkLnWN9WSA
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Hi btasoundsradio,
I don't hear "Sugar Baby" as being the same melody at all. It doesn't sit in the same place in the scale. And it's not a major pentatonic melody. "Skillet Good And Greasy" for sure, thanks Lightnin', and like all the first ones cited it even shares some of the lyrics.
All best,
Johnm
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J.W. Warren's Rabbit On A Log is in this song family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EhR8crChM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EhR8crChM)
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Here's a North Carolina version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UacXL8SifI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UacXL8SifI)
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Hi dj,
Thanks for the reminder. I quite like that version, and for whatever reason, the youtube video of it was removed. I know a Weenie member, Larry, (frailer24) recorded a nice version of it which you can listen to at: https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11642.msg103325#msg103325.
All best,
Johnm
John, I did my best with a guitar fighting me every which-way! Rather saddened that the original was pulled, as I think it best to check the original when possible.