Author Topic: "Dark" sounding performances (Read 2005 times)

roig · « **on:** February 13, 2013, 02:56:01 AM »

I was wondering how many examples you guys can think of, of country-blues recordings that kinda have a "dark" feeling, or "haunting" feeling as we sometimes like to call it.

Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on my Trail"
Rube Lacey's "Mississippi Jail House Groan"
Charlie Pickett's "Down the Highway", which might be my favorite blues performance of all time
Robert Wilkins' "Rolling Stone"

Also many performances by Skip James of course, and King Solomon Hill...

Take it away and discuss

harriet · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2013, 04:03:28 AM »

Maybe these two fit in the category?

Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night
Fred McDowell - Death Come In

Pan · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2013, 04:48:09 AM »

Leadbelly's "In The Pines" comes to mind.

Cheers

Pan

143TallBoy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2013, 06:00:18 AM »

Great topic! I have a playlist of songs like this I call "Deep blues" :

Tommy Johnson - Lonesome Home Blues - track 11 on the Document DOCD 5001 (Completely different song from the welll-known version)
Skip James - Devil Got my Woman & Cypress Grove Blues
Sam Collins - Devil in the Lion's Den
Blind Willie Johnson - Dark was the Night Cold was the Ground
William Harris - Early Mornin' Blues
Bobby Grant - Nappy Head Blues
Lane Hardin - California Desert Blues
Robert Johnson - Hellhound on my Trail
Blind Lemon Jefferson - See that my Grave is Kept Clean
Charley Patton - Green River Blues
Geechie Wiley & Elvie Thomas - Last Kind Word Blues
Skip James - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
Sam Collins - Jail House Blues
Sam Collins - Yellow Dog Blues

GhostRider · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2013, 11:20:14 AM »

The darkest-sounding recording I can think of is Robert Wilkin's "Rolling Stone", noted above.

Alex

frailer24 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2013, 12:04:55 PM »

Leadbelly's "I'm On My Last Go-Round" always sounded dark, almost brooding to me.

143TallBoy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2013, 12:10:23 PM »

If I had to pick one favourite from my list it would be the Tommy Johnson track, it's the lowest-down blues I have ever heard:

JohnLeePimp · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2013, 05:12:33 PM »

Smokey Hogg - Penitentiary Blues

DA Hunt - Lonesome Ol' Jailhouse

Bumble Bee Slim - Chain Gang Bound

Texas Alexander - Section Gang/Penitentiary Moan

(pay close attention to find a recurring theme - probably has something to do with the melancholy nature of prison/work songs)

Also Ishman Bracey, Son House and Charley Taylor

Rivers · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2013, 10:17:46 AM »

Re. Gary Davis - Death Don't Have No Mercy

d. spree · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2014, 08:48:32 AM »

Willie Brown - Future Blues - very haunting sound. Also very haunting is Johnson's Malted Milk Blues

Shovel · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2014, 02:46:26 PM »

roig, I echo your opinon of the Charlie Picket tune. That's a REALLY dynamic song and def. more than a tinge of darkness

Tommy Johnson - Cool Drink of Water Blues
John Lee Hooker - Ground Hog Blues
Jim Jackson - I'm a Bad Bad Man
Robert (Nighthawk) Lee McCoy - G Man
Kokomo Arnold - Milk Cow Blues
Scrapper Blackwell - Sneaking Blues
Lightning Hopkins- Everybody's Down on Me (he sounds real down and real drunk)
Son House - Death Letter Blues

Zoharbareket · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2014, 05:31:58 AM »

Great topic!
What about Shirley Griffith's River line blues.
And Rosa lee Hill's stuff.

Z

jrn · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2014, 08:33:18 AM »

btasoundsradio · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2014, 11:00:28 AM »

everything by King solomon Hill
Charlie Patton, "Pea Vine Blues", "Oh Death"
Jack Owens and Bud spires (everything they do)
George Bullet Williams, "Escaped Convict", "Frisco Leaving Birmingham"
Bukka White "District attorney Blues"
Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas, "Over To My House"
Willie McTell, "Broke Down Engine"
Blind Blake "Rope Stretchin' Blues"
George Torey "Lonesome Man Blues"
Sam Collins "Slow Mama Slow" (dark and SEXY)
Long Cleve Reed "Two Little Tomies" (that song has always given me the creeps! It's so dissonant and incredible)
Rev Edward Clayborn "Before This Time Another Year" (a startlingly dark performance)

etc...

Johnm · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2014, 11:03:15 AM »

Hi all,
Cat Iron-"Jimmy Bell" is a dark one, for sure.
All best,
Johnm

NotRevGDavis · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2014, 01:27:48 PM »

Tar Heel Slim- "Weepin' Willow"

wreid75 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:11:45 AM »

Last kind words Geechee Wiley

d. spree · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2014, 09:49:42 AM »

Quote from: d. spree on July 16, 2014, 08:48:32 AM

Willie Brown - Future Blues - very haunting sound. Also very haunting is Johnson's Malted Milk Blues

absolutely. I can't think of any more haunting than these two.

arg6442 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 24, 2014, 12:15:55 PM »

Most king solomon hill, especially whoopee blues and down on my bended knee. The version 1 of the songs sounds very creepy, but take 2 is very stark and eerie with his falsetto vocals, definitley something to check out if dark is your thing

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Author Topic: "Dark" sounding performances (Read 2005 times)