Topic: SOTM 25 September: Bottle It Up/Step It Up And Go

[StoogeKebab]

Indeed an amazing list. There was mention of slide, John Lee Hooker did a version at I think Newport in '91 or '92 and I believe John Hammond backs him on slide. I have it somewhere in the realm of my bootlegs, I could dig it out if anyone's interested?

Edit: never mind, here's the film of it. Love the move with the fingers at the start!

[Gumbo]

Wonderful choice and selection, Pan. I've been playing around with BBF's version for a while but keep getting tangled up in the lyrics!

Charlie Burse recorded Oil It Up and Go on July 8th 1939 in Memphis. I wonder if this is the version JB Long remembers? I've attached here (I hope!) It's on The Memphis Shakedown box from JSP as are the two Picaninny Jug Band tracks.

Lyrics are something like:

I got a phrase I used it before
I was singing what'll make it go
I better oil it up and go
And oil it up and go
No use to walk around with it
Oil it up and go

I started downtown the other day
I met a chick - funny that way
I had to oil it up and go
I had to oil it up and go
No use to  fool around with it
Got to Oil it up and go

I don't chew tobacco and I don't dip snuff
put the stopper on the bottle - I've got enough
I got to oil it up and go
Got to oil it up and go
Don't you walk around with it
Got to Oil it up and go

Got it gal, this was hunka man???
Can't stay long I got a bad old man
Bottle up and go
oil it up and go
No use to fool around with it
Oil it up and go

some help with the opening lines of verses 1 and 4 would be useful!

[Pan]

Thanks Gumbo!

Much appreciated!

Cheers

Pan

[Gumbo]

You're most welcome!

There is a 4th version on that same box set, called Get Up and Go. This time by The Delta Boys - Son Bonds vcl with Sleepy John Estes, recorded in September 1941

[Johnm]

Hi Pan,
Here is a version I found by KC Douglas, recorded in 1961.



All best,
Johnm

[Pan]

That's a great find, thanks for posting, John.

I added it to the YouTube playlist.

His version reminds me of the Snooks Eaglin one, which was recorded a few years earlier, in 1959.

I like the little treble lick he does in the middle of the song, and again in the end. It adds an element of surprise, because you almost expect him to end the song, but then he just goes on.

Cheers

Pan

[Pan]

Hi all

I'm a little surprised that we don't have more member's takes than Harry's very nice one. I thought everybody and his brother play the tune! 

Having said that, I realize that I'm not going to come up with a recording of my own for some time, so this video snippet from my gig from last summer will have to do. It was late in my set, and the camera's battery died in mid-song, but you get the drift!



Come on, post your own version! 

Cheers

Pan

[bnemerov]

Hi all,
Here's one with Josh Graves (vocal and dobro) and Kenny Baker (guitar--most folks don't know what a good 4 finger guitarist he was).
Josh told me his favorite musician during his teen-age years was BBF. Josh grew up near Tellico Plains, TN., just the other side of the mountains from North Carolina.

[Pan]

Whew, that was fast!

Thanks for posting Bruce!
I added it to the playlist.

Cheers

Pan

[Johnm]

Nice version of the song, Pan!  I particularly enjoy that bass run you put i at the end of the form--sounds great!  Nice singing, too.
All best,
Johnm

[Pan]

Thanks for the kind words, John!

Cheers

Pan

[David Kaatz]

I just stumbled across this version on YouTube
http://youtu.be/kJQM1H-9aGw?list=PLyn_thCb1Z-IqcDq_K6K-VnelUvJySVQ9

Dave

[Lignite]

That's Rich Trice (As Little Boy Fuller) unreleased Savoy recording from 1947.

[Pan]

Great!

Thanks Dave and Lignite! Added to the playlist!

Cheers

Pan

[Mr.OMuck]

Great job Pan! And harry too.