I had to sell my soul to the devil in order to learn to play like [Tommy Johnson]. Only the fellow who called himself the devil offered to teach me guitar in ten easy lessons, fifty dollars down and ten dollars per lesson. And he wasn't a man, exactly, but a transvestite who called himself "Peetie Wheatstraw's mother-in-law."
-- Steve Calt, attributed to Shirley Griffith
« Last Edit: January 05, 2008, 09:25:20 AM by Bricktown Bob »
Hi Bob, I'd say that first quote was Steve Calt putting words in Shirley's mouth, to satirical ends, of course. The chain being yanked there is that of credulous blues fans who buy the "selling the soul to the devil" stories. The "interview" in that album's notes is a work of fiction. It is a funny quote, though, it's just that Steven should get the credit for it. all best, Johnm
Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.
Dale Carnegie
Logged
My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
"Well they kidnapped my baby, and she was all I had (2) And they held her for a ten thousand dollar ransom, ooh well well, you know that made me feel so bad." - Peetie Wheatstraw, "Kidnapper's Blues"
I hesitate to bring this up, as it's such a minor, nitpicky thing, but it's just driving me crazy. The Magic Quote Machine keeps throwing things up in this form:
Quote
I never saw him drunk, just feelin' good all the time, the better he felt the better he played - Blind Arthur Blake, remembered by Bill Williams
implying that Blake said it, when it's really about Blake. Seems to me the more nitpickily proper way to ascribe this would be "Bill Williams, remembering Blind Arthur Blake."
Again, sorry; I love the quotes, and I suppose a bit of cognitive dissonance every now and then won't do me much harm. Now where's my shotgun?