Hi all,
I have a new puzzler for those of you who are interested.  It is "Been In The Army Since 1941" by Lawyer "Soldier Boy" Houston.  Here it is:



The questions on "Been In The Army Since 1941" are:
   * What playing position/tuning did Lawyer Houston use to play the song?
   * As Lawyer Houston begins the piece, what note of the scale is he playing in the bass with his thumb, and on what string and what fret is he playing it?
   * For Lawyer Houston's guitar interlude from 1:50--1:55, he opens up playing what note in the bass?  Where on the neck is he playing it?
   * True or False:  Lawyer Houston never plays a IV or V chord in the course of the song.

INTRO

Says, I been in the Army, since nineteen and forty-one
Well, I've been in the Army, since nineteen and forty-one
When the Japanese got Pearl Harbor, they issued me a Thompson sub-caliber machine gun

Well, I was in love with a woman, and her name is Ernestine
Well, I was in love with a woman, and her name is Ernestine
She is the most loveliest woman, that I have ever seen

She lives out in California, but Ft. Worth, Texas is her home
She lives out in California, but Ft. Worth, Texas is her home
Said, I still love that woman, that's why I composed this song

GUITAR INTERLUDE

She once have been my wife, but now she's married to another man
Yes, she once have been my wife, but now she's married to another man
She dealt me an ace-high straight, but I did not play my hand

Nineteen and forty-three I went to the Philippines, came back in nineteen and forty-five
Nineteen and forty-three I went to the Philippines, came back in nineteen and forty-five
I only live for that woman, that's why I'm still alive

Please use only your ears and your guitars to arrive at your answers and please don't post any answers before 8:00 AM your time on Monday, September 30.  Thanks for your participation, and I hope you enjoy the song.
All best,
Johnm

the sections about Henry Thomas, LV Thomas, Blind Lemon and Blind Willie Johnson are what I have read so far and they are revelatory. Had anyone else heard of Blind Madkin Butler as an influence on Lemon and Johnson before?

Thank you, Lew. I saw this in Archeophone's Tuesday mailing but didn't think to post a link. It should be excellent, like all of their releases.

I've been pre-occupied with non-important things but am finally starting to give the guitar some attention again.