The Centennial Of Pete Seeger’s Birthday (1919-2014)- *Blues Legends Without The Frills- The Blues Of Sonny Terry And Brownie McGhee

Click on title to link to YouTube's film clip of Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry on Pete Seeger's "Rainbow Quest " performing the classic "Key To The Highway".

CD REVIEW

Back To New Orleans, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Fantasy Records, 1989

Recently I reviewed in this space a DVD of “Rainbow Quest”, a 1960’s television show hosted by Pete Seeger, one of the premier folk anthologists, singers, transmitters of the tradition and “keeper” of the folk flame. One of the segments of that particular documentary (there are five in this series) featured Pete interviewing, playing along with and listening to the well-regarded folk/blues duo of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Needless to say after watching that performance I went scurrying for my Sonny and Brownie CDs. Mainly the work that I have of theirs is in compilations with other artists like Big Joe Williams but the present CD is a total solo Terry and McGhee effort. It is something of a greatest hits compilation. In any case, it can serve as a decent primer of the work of the pair, especially for those unfamiliar with their long careers.

Pete Seeger’s relationship with Sonny and Brownie went back to the days of the Almanac Singers (that included Woody Guthrie) and New York City in the early 1940’s. That above-mentioned segment gives some details about various goings on of those times and the genesis of some of the songs that are sung in the set. I have read elsewhere that at some point in their joint careers Sonny and Brownie stopped talking to each other even as they continued their professional lives together. Here, at least, they appeared to be civil to each other as the combination of Brownie’s guitar and vocals, Sonny’s smokin’ harmonica and accompaniment by Pete on the banjo is a rare treat.

The CD is in the same highly professional mode as that of the television performance. It is only necessary to add a few comments about what to listen for here. To highlight Brownie’s vocals and guitar playing and Sonny’s harmonica the traditional blues classic about a man who went over the edge to please his lady and paid the price you can hardly do better than “Betty and Dupree’s Blues” (also has been done in other variations by other artists under different titles, but the story line is the same). Elizabeth Cotton’s super classic “Freight Train” is well-covered. A couple of novelty-type songs round out this selection, “Let Me Be Your Big Dog” and “Fox Hunt”. Whether they talked to each other or not Sonny and Brownie were a potent combo spreading the blues gospel.

"Double Trouble"

Yes I got double trouble
What am I gonna do now?
Wanna leave here

Well you had trouble, I've got troubles too
Got double trouble, what am I gonna do?
I believe I'll leave here
I don't feel good no more
Well the woman I been lovin'
Don't love me no more

"Death of Blind Boy Fuller"

He's gone, Blind Boy Fuller's gone away
He's gone, Blind Boy Fuller's gone away
Well he heard a voice calling, and he knew he could not stay

Well he called me to his bedside one morning, and the clock was strikin' four
Called me to his bedside one morning, and the clock was strikin' four
Brownie take my guitar and carry my business on, I won't stay here no more

Blind Boy had a million friends, north, east, south and west
Blind Boy had a million friends, north, east, south and west
Well you know it's hard to tell, which place he was loved the best

Well all you women of Blind Boy's, how do you want your lovin' done?
All of you women of Blind Boy's, how do you want your lovin' done?
I'll do my best, I'll do my best, to carry Blind Boy's business on

Goodbye Blind Boy!


I was goin' down the street
Didn't have one dime
The woman I been lovin'
Didn't pay me no mind
I believe I'll leave here
I don't feel good no more
Ah the woman I been lovin'
Drove me from her door

Play it for me boys!

My father told me
When I was only a kid
What you gonna do son
Things happen like this
I believe I'll leave here
I don't feel good no more
Yeah the woman I been lovin'
Drove me from her door

Well must I had now
Your heart in my hand
I would teach you little woman
How to treat a man
I believe I'll leave here
I don't feel good no more
I'm blamin' you woman
Drove me from your door

Play it for me boys! Yeah double trouble!

*Harmonica Heaven- The Blues Harp Of "Jazz" Gillum

Click On Title To Link To Wikipedia's Entry For "Jazz" Gillum".

CD REVIEW

Bill “Jazz” Gillum: The Bluebird recordings, 1934-38, Bill Gillum, BMG Records, 1997

Sonny Boy Williamson (either artist who went by that name), James Cotton, Brownie McGhee all made their marks with some very smoking harmonica. Hell, even Bob Dylan enhanced much of his earlier folk work using that instrument. Here one of the early masters of the instrument gives it a full work out and some very nice blues/jazz tunes. As the title of the album indicates, although he had a longer somewhat checkered career that ended in personal tragedy in some dark alley, Gillum hits his high notes best in the period of the Bluebird recordings. Together with some fine back up musicians and a voice that while not memorable is serviceable this album shows why that statement is true.

Remember though you are getting this album for the harmonica work, that is the strong suit here. For this reviewer the top song is the New “Sail On Little Girl” (that Big Joe Turner made a huge hit on later). Others to listen for are “Sarah Jane”, “Alberta Blues”, “Reefer Head Woman” (you know what that one’s about, right?) and the seemingly obligatory (for any black musician in that time coming out of the Mississippi Delta and heading North to Memphis or Chicago) “Good Old 51 Highway”.

Lyrics to "Reefer Head Woman" (a song covered bu Aerosmith, by the way)


I got a reefer headed woman
She fell right down from the sky
(Good Lord)
Woh...I got a reefer head a woman
She fell right down from the sky

Well, I gots to drink me a two fifths of whiskey
Just to get half as high

When the good Lord made that woman
He sure went to town
Oooh...when the good Lord made that woman
He sure went to town

Well, when he was feelin' high
Oooh...he sure should have been feelin' low

Oh Mr. Perry!

I got a reefer headed woman
Lord...she fell right down from the sky
Uuum...got a reefer headed woman
She fell right down from the sky

Lord, I gots to drink me two fifths of whiskey
Just to get, just to get, half as high

"St. Louis Woman"- Bessie Smith On Video

DVD Review

The Blues Is The Dues-Right?

The Blues, Bessie Smith, Mame Smith, Ida Cox, Big ill Broonzy and Sonny Boy Williamson, Storyville Films, 2007

I have mentioned more than once over the past year of reviewing blues artists in this space that most of my favorites in my youth had already, one way or another, passed from the scene and therefore I had not been able to see them in live performances. Thus, for the most part, I know this music from records, tapes, CDs, later covers and, on occasion, from a video clip (more so now with the increases in video technology and information spread that makes this material more accessible). That is the case here with the performances of Bessie Smith in “St. Louis Woman”; Mame Smith: Ida Cox: Bill Big Broonzy: and, Sonny Boy Williamson.

Those who follow this space know that I have commented previously on Bessie “The Empress Of The Blues” Smith and the legendary “Big Bill” Broonzy. They need no further introduction here. Mame Smith and Ida Cox were working at the same time and in the same milieu as Bessie Smith although off their performances here they do not challenge Bessie’s claim to the Empress title. “Big Bill” here mainly does some very nice guitar work but nothing memorable. Sonny Boy Williamson, aside from the controversy about whether or what his right name was, kind of sneaks in here with some virtuoso harmonica performances. However, what you want to get this video for is Bessie singing “St. Louis Woman” in this short black and white clip from 1929. This is the old tale of a “fancy” man doing his woman wrong and she can’t break his spell. Not even by singing the blues. Watch this thing. It is incredible. Then you will know why she was the Empress.