...traditional musicians, too, often try to "get it down just like" an admired player picks a particular tune. This is not slavish imitation for its own sake but rather a passionate desire to get at the very sinews of the style, based on the realization that the impact of traditional music depends on detail and an evocative context... - Art Rosenbaum, Old-Time Mountain Banjo
Hi all, Leola B. Wilson recorded "Down The Country" at a session in Chicago in November of 1926, accompanied by Blind Blake, playing in Vestapol tuning. Blake's playing is wonderful here, certainly similar to his playing on "Police Dog Blues", but perhaps a little looser. Leola Wilson sounds a thorough professional. I'd very much appreciate help with the first two lines of the third verse--what I have approximates the sound, but doesn't make enough sense to make me think it's right. Here is "Down The Country":
INTRO
'D'you ever wake up, just 'bout the break of day 'D'you ever wake up, just 'bout the break of day, With your arms around the pillow where Mr. So-And-So used to lay?
I'm goin' away, baby, won't be back until Fall I'm goin' away, baby, won't be back until Fall If I don't win no money, I won't be back at all
I heard this crackin', early this morn I heard this crackin', early this morn If you don't think I'm leavin', count the days that I'll be gone
If the river was liquor, and I was a duck Mmm-mmm-mm, and I was a duck I would go to the bottom, and I would never come up
I'm leavin' this town, got on my last pair of shoes I'm leavin' this town, got on my last pair of shoes Walkin' away from here with those down the country blues
CODA
Edited 5/30 to pick up corrections from MarkC, Stuart and Blues Vintage
Worth mentioning here that Leola B. Wilson is also Coot Grant of Grant and Wilson, who recorded a bunch of titles including the classing "Lollypop" – she lived until 1970! I love her records with Blake, "Down the Country" most of all.
Right you are, Blues Vintage, thanks for the catch. I will make the change. Apropos of banjochris's biographical note on Leola Wilson I found earlier when I googled her it took me to the Coot Grant page.
Hi all, Leola Wilson recorded "Wilson Dam" at the same session at which she recorded "Down The Country" and was once again accompanied by Blind Blake, this time playing in G position in standard tuning. Blake's rhythmic imagination and execution are on full display here; the surety of what he played in what was almost certainly at least a semi-improvised context is amazing. I'm not at all sure of the end of the opening lines of the first verse and would appreciate help with that if any of you hear it better than I do. Here is "Wilson Dam":
INTRO
Come, seven-eleven, I hear my daddy cry Come, seven-eleven, I hear my daddy cry I need some money to buy some shoes for that baby of mine
Way down South, where I were a babe Way down South, where I were a babe Where them Saturday night payrolls always waited for me
House is on fire, blaze is getting thick House is on fire, blaze is getting thick Women on the dam, holl'in', "Daddy, save my wig!"
I'm moanin' and groanin', just like a morning dove Mmmm, just like a morning dove I ain't moanin' for money, just for that man I love
Train blowin' from Memphis, don't stop at Birmingham Train blowin' from Memphis, don't stop at Birmingham Keeps goin' straight through, down to Wilson Dam
Edited 5/30 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage Edited 5/31 to pick up corrections from banjochris
Couple suggestions on Wilson Dam, another one of my all-time favorite Blake accompaniments.
I hear a few lines this way:
Way down South, where I were a babe, Way down South, where I were a babe, Where them Saturday night payrolls, always waited for me.
House is on fire, flames is getting thick, House is on fire, flames is getting thick, (I hear 3.3 same as you have – "flames" to me is lot clearer on the repeat)
Hard to hear as she trails off at the end of lines quite a bit.
Thanks for the help, Chris. Re-listening, I took your hearing of the second verse intact. In verse three, I'm still hearing "blaze" rather than "flames". I'm finding Leola Wilson really tough to hear--don't know if it's the recording or her enunciation. If anyone else wants to take on "Backbiting Bee Blues", be my guest.