One of the last words of advice we got from Jim Dickinson was "Get less accurate tuners" - Jimbo Mathus, South Memphis String Band, at Music in the Hall
Big Maceo - Vocals Johnny Jones - Piano Tampa Red - Guitar Ransom Knowling - Bass Odie Payne - Drums
April 14, 1949 Chicago, Illinois
Piano in G Guitar in standard tuning
INTRO
Just tell me baby, why you so mean to me Just tell me baby, why you so mean to me You’s a mean mistreater, as evil as you can be
You told me that you loved me, and I believed in you You told me that you loved me, and I believed in you Now, you have left me, baby, what am I goin’ to do
GUITAR/PIANO SOLO (Spoken: Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I was your friend, it been many years ago I was your friend, it been many years ago If you didn’t want me, baby, you should have told me so
« Last Edit: January 10, 2022, 09:23:06 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, I recently found Big Maceo's recording of "Poor Kelly Blues", from 1941, on youtube and was surprised to discover that R. L. Burnside's "See What My Buddy Done" was a cover of it. For Big Maceo's recording, he was joined by Tampa Red, and hearing those two musicians work together, I find myself thinking that they are the equal of any piano/guitar blues duet that ever recorded. The song has a striking set of lyrics and a pretty unusual phrasing scheme. For most verses, the flow is: A for the first four bars, the first half of A for the second four bars and the second half of A for the final four bars. It's an indication of the seriousness with which the duo took that song and the story it tells that they chose not to interrupt the flow of the song with a solo. Here is "Poor Kelly Blues":
INTRO
I went up on the mountain, to see what poor Kelly done, he killed his woman, and didn't even 'tempt to run Up on the mountain, just to see what poor Kelly done Well, he killed his woman, and he didn't even 'tempt to run
When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door, with a .32-20, and a .44 When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door With a .32-20 and a hard-hitting .44
I asked him, was he sorry, he said, "No, buddy, no, just can't stand the way she was treatin' me anymore. Just couldn't stand the way she was doin' me, anymore. She's a dirty mistreater. She won't jive me no more."
He said, "I know I love her, better than I did myself. She misused me for somebody else. She know I loved her better than I did myself. Still, she tried to misuse me for somebody else."
"I know they gonna get me,", he said, "but I know I don't care. They may even send me to the electric chair. I know they gonna get me, but, baby, I don't care. There's one consolation, they won't leave my woman here."
All best, Johnm
I'm playing this song but one thing bugs me.
In the 4th verse 4.1 he's singing I know I love her In the 4th verse 4.2 he's singing She know I loved her
Both make sense but did Maceo really meant to sing this or did he mess up I and she by accident?
Hi Blues Vintage, The way he sings the entire verse makes me think he sang it exactly the way that he intended to sing it. He starts out testifying to his own love, and in the second line indicates she was aware of that love, too. He has no hesitation or stuttering or attempting to right a mistake. That's just how it strikes me, anyway.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2022, 06:08:52 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Big Maceo recorded "Why Should I Hang Around?" at a session in Chicago on December 19, 1941 for which he was joined by Tampa Red on guitar and Alfred Elkins on imitation bass. Big Maceo accompanied himself in Bb and Tampa Red sounds as though he was accompanying him out of G position in standard tuning, capoed up. As usual, Big Maceo's singing is just great. Here is "Why Should I Hang Around?":
INTRO
I just don't know, what's this all about? (Spoken: What is it all about, boys?) I just don't know, what's this all, all about? The woman I love, is trying to put me out
She says she didn't want me, why should I hang around? Hey-ey, why should I hang around? And that if I hang around, I would be jailhouse bound
I love that woman, more than she will ever know (Spoken: Yes, I love her!) Hey-ey baby, more than you will ever know But if you drive me away, I won't be back no more
I stole that woman, stole her from my best friend Yeah-eah, see-ee from my best friend But that old fool's so darn lucky, he's 'bout to get her back again
Hi all, Big Maceo recorded "My Last Go Round" at a session in Chicago on July 28, 1942, accompanied by Tampa Red playing slide (sparingly) in Vestapol and Clifford Jones on drums. Maceo played the piano in G. For some reason, the record was not originally issued by Bluebird and was first released in the re-issue era. Maybe it was because Maceo sang different endings to a couple of the second lines of his verses--there are no obvious glitches apart from that. Here is "My Last Go Round":
INTRO
Babe, I'm on my last go-round, and I hate to say goodbye Babe, I'm on my last go-round, but it's time to say goodbye Since you did what you wanta do, baby, and I guess you satisfied
Since you got me grievin', babe, and I'm scared to say goodbye You got me grievin', baby, and I'm scared to say goodbye Well I got to leave you, baby, and it ain't no use to cry
You started me to drinkin', baby, drinkin' both night and day And you started me to drinkin', baby, and runnin' from town to town You know I had a good woman, but you made her throw me down
SOLO
Hey, you made me drunk on Sunday, just to play me for your clown Baby, you make me drunk on Sunday, just to play me for your clown Ba', you know I meant you all the good, but you tryin' to tear me down
CODA
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: March 25, 2024, 10:07:29 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Big Maceo recorded "Bye, Bye, Baby" in Chicago on December 14, 1941, backed by Tampa Red and an almost inaudible Alfred Elkins on imitation bass, accompanying himself on piano in B flat. Here is "Bye, Bye, Baby":
INTRO
My baby treat me so mean, I don't know right from wrong My baby treat me so mean, I don't know right from wrong I'm here today, but tomorrow I may be gone
I have so much trouble, until I don't know what to do I have so much trouble, until I don't know what to do The way you treat me, baby, is coming home to you
Because I'm dogged around, baby, and driven from door to door Yea-eah, baby, and driven from door to door But I raise my hand, I won't be dogged no more (Spoken: Now boy, let's get that thing!)
SOLO
So goodbye, baby, yes, I'm leavin' now So bye-bye, baby, babe, I am leavin' now Because you don't mean, me no good nohow
CODA
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: March 27, 2024, 12:07:30 PM by Johnm »