*Finding The Roots Of The Roots-The Country Blues Experience

Click ON Title To Link To YouTube's Film Clip Of Mississippi John Hurt doing "Spike Driver's Blues".

CD REVIEW

Before The Blues: Volume 3, Yazoo, 1996

I have been harping away lately on the various trends in the blues that started to appear in America as an indigenous music form in the early 20th century. However, as a good historical materialist it is worth noting (and incidentally adding another reason to the use of this methodology) that, as the producers of this CD make clear that the roots of the roots go back some way, perhaps, even to the old country traditions (British Isles) of a few centuries ago. I take special note that in the 19th century there was basically one common ‘folk’ music and that it only split into its black and white racial components later (and then, certainly not fully).

This argument is presented in greater depth in the always informative liner notes booklet that accompanies Yazoo productions and make virtually any purchase of their CDs worthwhile. I also note that the distinctive blues sound comes into its own once its sheds the old country fiddle and banjo and is replaced by guitar and piano as instrumentation. From personal experience my ear has always been more prone to pick up that mesmerizing guitar or piano-driven blues beat than the earlier reel, jig and breakdown sound. Thanks, blues forebears for that shift.

Several of the performers included in this CD compilation (one of three which I will ultimately review) I have mentioned previously in this space. Memphis Minnie is fresh and saucy on “Frisco Town”, John Hurt rings out smoothly, as always, on his version of the John Henry saga, “Spike Driver’s Blues”. Furry Lewis is just fine on his part one of “Kassie Jones (you really need to get a CD that has the two parts together, by the way). Blind Boy Fuller gives “Thousand Woman Blues” a workout as does Blind Blake on “Champaign Charlie Is My Name”. Barbecue Bob surprises with his “Black Skunk Blues”. However, the “king of the hill” on this one is an incredible version of “Levee Camp Moan Blues” (a Son House specialty) by Texas Alexander. Wow.

The liner notes mention that record companies in the 1920’s (when most of this stuff was recorded), catering to the new found commercial popularity of the blues sound, labeled anything and everything that was not nailed down otherwise as the blues. Clearly some of this material is not the blues in any recognizable musical sense and some hits the sources right on the head (think Furry Lewis on that “Kassie Jones” track) but that is what makes looking for the roots of the roots interesting.

"FRISCO TOWN"-Memphis Minnie

That old 'Frisco train makes a mile a minute
That old 'Frisco train makes a mile a minute
Well, in that old coach, I'm gonna sit right in it
I'm on my way, to 'Frisco town

You can toot your whistle, you can ring your bell
You can toot your whistle, you can ring your bell
But I know you been wanting it by the way you smell
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

There's a boa constrictor and a lemon stick
There's a boa constrictor and a lemon stick
I don't mind being with you but my mama's sick
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

I would tell you what's the matter, but I done got scared
I would tell you what's the matter, but I done got scared
You got to wait now, until we go to bed
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

If you was sick, I wouldn't worry you
If you was sick, I wouldn't worry you
I wouldn't want you to do something that you couldn't do
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

Well, if you want it, you can get it, and I ain't mad
Well, if you want it, you can get it, and I ain't mad
If you tell me this is something that you ain't never had
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

Look-a here, you get mad everytime I call your name
Look-a here, you get mad everytime I call your name
I ain't never told you that you couldn't get that thing
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

I woke up this morning about half past five
I woke up this morning about half past five
My baby turned over, cried just like a child
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

I got something to tell you, I don't want to make you mad
I got something to tell you, I don't want to make you mad
I got something for you, make you feel glad
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

Look-a here, look-a here, what you want me to do
Look-a here, look-a here, what you want me to do
Give you my jelly when die for you
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

I got something to tell you, gonna break your heart
I got something to tell you, gonna break your heart
We been together so far, we gotta get apart
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town

Memphis Minnie - BUMBLE BEE


Bumble bee, bumble bee, please come back to me
Bumble bee, bumble bee, please come back to me
He got the best old stinger any bumble bee that I ever seen

He stung me this morning, I been looking for him all day long
He stung me this morning, I been looking for him all day long
Lord, it got me to the place, hate to see my bumble bee leave home

Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home

I can't stand to hear him buzz, buzz, buzz
Come in, bumble bee, want you to stop your fuss
You're my bumble bee and you know your stuff
Oh, sting me, bumble bee, until I get enough

Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home

I don't mind you going, ain't going to stay so long
Don't mind you going, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home

I can't stand to hear him buzz, buzz, buzz
Come in, bumble bee, I want you to stop your fuss
You's my bumble bee and you know your stuff
Oh, sting me bumble bee, until I get enough

"Mean Old Bedbug Blues"- Furry Lewis

Mean old bedbug sho' is evil, he don't mean me no good
Mean old bedbug sho' is evil, he don't mean me no good
He thinks I'm a woodpecker and he takes me for a chunk o' wood

When I lay down at night I wonder how can a poor man sleep
When I lay down at night I wonder how can a poor man sleep
With one hole in your head while the other one in your feet

Bedbug's big as a jackass, he will bite you, stand and grin
Bedbug's big as a jackass, will bite you and stand and grin
Drink a bowl of bedbug poison, come back and bite you again

Saw one morn' in a corner, Lord I tried so hard to see
Saw one morn' in a corner, Lord I tried so hard to see
It was a mother bedbug Lord, prayin' for some oat to eat

I had to sit up all night long, my feet can't touch the floor
I had to sit up all night long, my feet can't touch the floor
Cause the mean old bedbug told me I can't live there no more