Nothing But The Blues
Nothing But The Blues #47
A.C. Reed (Hard Times); Robert Cray Band (Across The Line); Debbie Davies and Albert Collins (I Wonder Why); Robert Johnson (Sweet Home Chicago); Lonnie Johnson (Chicago Blues); Erick Hovey (Feels So Good Hurts So Bad); Buddy Whittington (Can't Be Good For Me); Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup (Chicago Blues); Jimmy Rogers (Chicago Bound); Craig Horton (Find Another Fool); Big Joe Williams (Vitamin A); Kokomo Arnold (Biscuit Roller Blues); Mississippi John Hurt (Frankie); Willie Harris (Never Drive A Stranger From Your Door); Popa Chubby (Healing In Her Hands); Watermelon Slim (Truck Drivin' Songs).
(upbeat music) ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Robert Cray with "Across the Line" from his 1988 album, "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." A couple of years earlier he'd collaborated with Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland on the "Showdown" album, which was an absolutely great album. And I gather he was a late substitute for Clarence Gate Man with "Brown." I would have been interested to hear that collaboration as well. I saw Robert Cray open for, I think it must have been Eric Clapton a couple of years ago, still a great player, lovely stuff. Well, Debbie Davis was in Albert Collins' band for a few years, and this is a track from her debut solo album, "Picture This," released in 1993. But with her own old boss on the track, "Guessing," Debbie Davis and Albert Collins, I wonder why? ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well now you told me that you loved me ♪ ♪ You told me you were mine ♪ ♪ Now you're gone and left me ♪ ♪ I'm alone, I cried ♪ ♪ Tell me why ♪ ♪ Honey, you're so mean to me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ What I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ I wonder why ♪ ♪ Oh you're so mean to me ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ I wonder why baby ♪ ♪ Honey you're so mean to me ♪ ♪ Huh ♪ ♪ Well I'll be good to you darling, I'll be kind as a woman can be ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Mmhmm, Debbie Davis and all the colons with I wonder why, terrific stuff. Well I think I've got a bit of a tendency to avoid the classics, so I'm going to resist that tendency now. see now. This is Robert Johnson in Sweet Home Chicago. Oh, baby, ought to want to go. Oh, baby, ought to want to go. Oh, baby, ought to want to go. Oh, baby, ought to want to go. Hey, ought to want to go. Hey, ought to want to go. Hey, ought to land the fattest for you. Tell my sweet home to your car, but... I want to want to do. Can't do this, though. I'm having a lonely baby. I'm just, I gotta go. I may, baby, ought to want to go. Hey, ought to land the California to my sweet home to your car, but... I turn to his phone, four and two, six. You're going to keep on mucking 'round your friends, boy, you're going to get your... been a son and a trick, but I'm crying, baby, ought to want to go. Hey, can't land the California to my sweet home to your car, but... I'm thinking too, ain't it too thin? This was a tricky one time. She shall go do it again. I'm crying, hey. Baby, ought to want to go. Hey, ought to land the California to my sweet home to your car, but... I'm going to California, from 30 miles away. Somebody will tell me that you need my help some data. Hey, hey. Baby, ought to want to go. Hey, can't land the California to my sweet home to your car, but... I'm going to California to my sweet home to your car, but I'm going to California to my sweet home to your car, but I'm going to California to my sweet home to your car, but I'm going to... You'll find the smooth blanks and high yellows, boy, and those milliprobes. But when your bankroll is gone, you're just another shop that's dropped in town. My boys night in Chicago, my friends, they really treated me fine. And overnight, they all change like they like saving time. And everything I wanted, I had to lay my body down all the life. I said, "Baby, you're so lovely. Your eyes shine like the stars above." You went number three shoe, yes, and went number five gloves. She said, "It's money I need. Baby, I don't need love." I said, "Could make you love me darling. Baby, I just know I could." You can learn to love me, baby. I know you could. She says, "Lay your money down. Baby, make you better good." I said, "Let's go to New York, baby. I'll buy you anything you'd like." I won't give you plenty money. I won't buy you 19 for it you can't like. She says, "I'm sorry. This fire brown body will be out when you get by." What a great line changed overnight like daylight saving time. Terrific. Ronnie Johnson with Chicago Blues with Lil Armstrong on piano recorded in Chicago in February 1941. And before that, the absolutely classic Robert Johnson with Sweet Home Chicago recorded in San Antonio in November 1936. And I don't know if you've ever listened closely to the words. He sings to the land of California to my Sweet Home Chicago. And I used to think maybe he was geographically challenged Chicago being in Illinois, of course. But he traveled around enough to know where Chicago was. And it turns out that the land of California was a way of saying the land of milk and honey. But none of the bands that do it these days include that line. In fact, most of them do a version that's closest to the coconut oil and original coconut blues. Great stuff. Well, let's change the tack a bit now. I mentioned recently that Eric Hovey has two new albums. I was when I played a track from Blues Farm. This is from the other album from Recycled Souls. It feels so good. It hurts so bad. ♪ ♪ When I rise me ♪ ♪ When I punch me ♪ ♪ Oh, you know ♪ ♪ Oh, it's better to see ♪ ♪ We fly ♪ ♪ We fly away ♪ ♪ Until tomorrow ♪ ♪ It's yesterday ♪ ♪ It feels so good ♪ ♪ When it hurts so bad ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll see blue skies ♪ ♪ I will start the way ♪ ♪ I'll see black skies ♪ ♪ Full of yesterday's ♪ ♪ Can't rhyme ♪ ♪ Can't hide ♪ ♪ Can't find my way ♪ ♪ And my way back home ♪ ♪ It's so good ♪ ♪ And it hurts so bad ♪ ♪ ♪ The slice ♪ ♪ The slice of life ♪ ♪ I see years ♪ ♪ The slice of life ♪ ♪ I can one look ♪ ♪ I can two thoughts ♪ ♪ I can three words ♪ ♪ Ain't what love is ♪ ♪ You're so good ♪ ♪ You're so good ♪ ♪ You're so good ♪ ♪ That it hurts so bad ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Can't be good for me ♪ ♪ Because I crave your sugar like a star ♪ ♪ Cross sailing seas shelter from a storm ♪ ♪ Let me see ♪ ♪ There ain't another, nothing on the big blue planet ♪ ♪ Gonna save myself for me ♪ ♪ 'Cause if the good don't ever matter ♪ ♪ Anything better is ♪ ♪ It's waiting in eternity ♪ ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good, good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Can't be good for me ♪ ♪ I followed everything but the doctors orders ♪ ♪ Just looking for a sweet relief ♪ ♪ Tried everything sold over the counter ♪ ♪ Ran a few from underneath ♪ ♪ But I know deep down that there ain't enough ♪ ♪ Nothing gonna satisfy my weary soul ♪ ♪ With one you done blew it ♪ ♪ 'Cause a hundred won't do it ♪ ♪ I got to have your love and to keep me home ♪ ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good, good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Can't be good for me ♪ (rock music) ♪ Well I tried everything in the medicine cabinet ♪ ♪ I tried to feel my spirit fly ♪ ♪ All the medications, pills and preparations ♪ ♪ From the doctor and the other guy ♪ ♪ I made every wrong turn to life ♪ ♪ That you learned and I'm beginning to get it right ♪ ♪ I wasn't empty shell trudging through the pail tail ♪ ♪ Your sweet love led me to the line ♪ ♪ Too much of a good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good, good day ♪ ♪ Too much of a good, good day ♪ ♪ Can't be good for me ♪ ♪ Can't be good for me ♪ - Well that must be one of the few tracks from this album that I haven't played yet. The album is Buddy Whittington's self-titled album and the track is can't be good for me. It's the greatest album I know. I'll probably fill in the other few tracks sometime along the way, although there's a very long version of "Sugar Cuddled" after the rain fell, which is probably too long for the show. And before that, Eric Hovey with "Field So Good, Heard So Bad" from his "Recycle Souls" album. I'm going back to the Chicago theme now. This is Arthur Big Boy Crudup and "Chicago Blues." (gentle music) (gentle music) ♪ Every time I hail with a ♪ ♪ City smoke from a railroad train ♪ ♪ Every time I hail with a ♪ ♪ City smoke from a railroad train ♪ ♪ My mind gets wondering ♪ ♪ Wanna go back to Chicago again ♪ ♪ Chicago, Chicago ♪ ♪ Is a grandest place on earth ♪ ♪ Chicago, Chicago ♪ ♪ Is a grandest place on earth ♪ ♪ You know I ain't heard it ♪ ♪ I ain't heard it from my heart ♪ ♪ Yeah, man ♪ (gentle music) (gentle music) (singing in foreign language) ♪ I'm out next to Chicago, my home ♪ ♪ Something I'll get lucky ♪ ♪ I'm out next to Chicago, my home ♪ ♪ I'm tired of saying I'll stop ♪ ♪ I'll always treat it wrong ♪ ♪ I've got no one to love me ♪ ♪ No one to call my own ♪ ♪ I've got no one to love me ♪ ♪ No one to call my own ♪ ♪ I'm just way down south ♪ ♪ And I'm always treated wrong ♪ (gentle music) ♪ I have lots of lovin' ♪ ♪ Me and I have myself with time ♪ ♪ I have lots of lovin' ♪ ♪ Me and I have myself with time ♪ ♪ You know the woman I got ♪ ♪ She really don't change your mind ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ When I love 'bout to enjoy the 1934 ♪ ♪ My baby, she beg me that it please don't go ♪ ♪ But I love that time ♪ ♪ You know I love that time ♪ ♪ When I love 'bout to enjoy you ♪ ♪ You know I was meant to respond ♪ ♪ When I stayed in Memphis in 1939 ♪ ♪ The woman I've been lovin' she didn't pay me no mind ♪ ♪ Then I love that time ♪ ♪ I love that time ♪ ♪ When I love 'bout to remember this ♪ ♪ You know I was sanders now ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I didn't need no steam heat by my bed ♪ ♪ The little girl I had kept it cherry red ♪ ♪ But I love that time ♪ ♪ You know I love that time ♪ ♪ When I love sanders you know I was Chicago ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I'm gonna tell you something that you all should know ♪ ♪ Chicago is the best place I ever know ♪ ♪ I'm gonna stay in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in Chicago's greatest place around ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live in this town ♪ (upbeat music) - Jimmy Rogers with Chicago Bound recorded in Chicago in January 1954, with little Walter on harmonica, Muddy Waters on second guitar, and Willie Dicks on bass. And before that Arthur Big Boy crude up with Chicago blues, again recorded in Chicago this time in September 1946. We'll back up to date a bit now or to 2004. This is a guy called Craig Horton and find another fool. - We're playing below. ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ I'm finding baby ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I don't care for the situation you put me through ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I don't appreciate the thing you said I could do ♪ ♪ I don't want all of this trouble and strife ♪ ♪ I don't need nobody telling me how to live my life ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live as fast as I can ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, oh man ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, oh man ♪ ♪ I don't know what you expect out of a man ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ All I know is I've done the best that I can ♪ ♪ Ain't no thing and I know it's true ♪ ♪ But I swear I've never done anything to hurt you ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live as fast as I can ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, oh man ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, oh man ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Find another fool ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I don't know why ♪ ♪ You treat me so unkind ♪ ♪ Can't tell why ♪ ♪ What's going on through your mind ♪ ♪ I don't understand why we just can't get along ♪ ♪ Why do you treat me like I have done your own ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live as fast as I can ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, oh man ♪ ♪ You can find another fool ♪ ♪ Better be your man ♪ ♪ Well, you can find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, better be your man ♪ ♪ Find another ♪ ♪ Baby, better be your man ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, better be your man ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, better be your man ♪ ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Baby, better be your man ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Find another fool ♪ ♪ Find another, baby ♪ (laughing) - Rather enthusiastic backing sings that Craig Horton would find another fool from his 2004 album, Touch of the Blues None. Well, document records have had a sale on recently, which is always catastrophic when I'm concerned, bought a whole load of stuff. One of the things I bought was Volume 2 of Big Joe Williams, complete recorded works in chronological order. Probably goes up to about number 38, I think with Big Joe. But this is from 1945 to 1949. And this track is a bit of an oddity. This is Vitamin A. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna have me some vitamin ♪ ♪ Yeah, let me keep up my pelvis ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna have some vitamin A boys ♪ ♪ Yeah, poor Joe, keep up my pelvis ♪ ♪ Yeah, you know that we have passed ♪ ♪ Poor Joe wouldn't have been nothing but slim ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me boy ♪ ♪ She said it won't be very long ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Poor Joe won't be very long ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna have some vitamin A ♪ ♪ Get to help poor Joe with him ♪ ♪ Chair, it's a good way ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Yeah, my baby, I'm gonna have some vitamin A ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ She looked at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, my baby, she looked at me ♪ ♪ Well, the one thing about my little woman ♪ ♪ He about can't holly see ♪ ♪ Yeah, the one thing about my little woman ♪ ♪ He about can't holly see ♪ ♪ Lord, you have been running around ♪ ♪ But my baby, she don't have no carefully ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm a bottom doctor ♪ ♪ I've been dark and dark, 'cause you see ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm a bottom doctor ♪ ♪ I've been dark and dark, 'cause you see ♪ ♪ I've been up deep, I've dropped out of St. Louis ♪ ♪ I've been up deep, I've dropped out ♪ ♪ Oh, Mr. Mamie, come on ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I know just a little awesome ♪ ♪ When your biscuit roll is gone ♪ ♪ I know just a little awesome ♪ ♪ When your biscuit roll is gone ♪ ♪ Said I'm getting so tired now ♪ ♪ Just sleeping all along ♪ ♪ As long as you're tall ♪ ♪ And you are but when she won't ♪ ♪ As long as you're tall ♪ ♪ And you are but when she won't ♪ ♪ Still I know I'm midnight ♪ ♪ If I could only hear a tone ♪ ♪ Now tell me I'll come a rooster ♪ ♪ For just a deep break or day ♪ ♪ Now tell me I'll come a rooster ♪ ♪ For just a deep break or day ♪ ♪ 'Cause he won't get up ♪ ♪ And give him a little play ♪ ♪ Said I'm coming in your backyard ♪ ♪ One more time tonight ♪ ♪ Said I'm coming in your backyard ♪ ♪ One more time tonight ♪ (gentle guitar music) ♪ Now don't you seek your purpose on me ♪ ♪ Please don't let your good old body ♪ ♪ Now I feel like in my night shed mama ♪ ♪ Now you go and get your gown ♪ ♪ Said I feel like in my night shed mama ♪ ♪ And you go and get your gown ♪ ♪ Said I ain't a bit sleepy ♪ ♪ But I just feel like lying down ♪ (gentle guitar music) Well, since I mentioned them earlier, I thought I'd put them in. That was "Cocum of Arnold" with "Biscuit Roller Blues", yet another one recorded in Chicago in February 1935. And before that, Big Joe Williams with Vitamin A, or sorry, Vitamin A, recorded in Chicago in July 1945, with Sonny Boy Williams' non-harmonica. I looked it up, Vitamin A, Vitamin A, sorry, was discovered around the beginning of the 20th century, but it wasn't synthesized until 1947, which was two years after Joe made the record, but it was obviously known about, so a strange thing to make a blue song about, I thought. Great, though. Well, how do you mail from a guy called Mike McCauley in New York? Many thanks for your kind words, Mike, and you're absolutely right. You can't go far wrong with a bit of Mississippi John hurt. (gentle guitar music) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Frankie was a good girl, every boy to go. ♪ He'd be a hundred dollars, but I would once do a clue. ♪ He's a man, and he done it wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) ♪ ♪ Ryan went down to the connoissele, didn't go to be gone long. ♪ She peed through, she holed a door, spied out with analysis on, he's my man, and he done me wrong. (gentle guitar music) ♪ (gentle guitar music) ♪ Frankie called out the house that I had on him. ♪ ♪ If you don't come to the woman you loved, ♪ ♪ gonna hold you out of here, use my name, ♪ ♪ and you done me wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) ♪ ♪ Frankie shot in the album, and she shot him three a good time. ♪ ♪ Says throw back out smoke in the gun, let him see his album. ♪ ♪ He's my man, and he done me wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) ♪ Frank, any judge walked down the stand, ♪ ♪ and walked outside the side. ♪ ♪ The judge says to Frankie, you're gonna be justified, ♪ ♪ killing the mane, and he done you wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) ♪ Dog was the night, the cold was on the ground. ♪ ♪ The last word I heard Frankie said, ♪ ♪ a little louder now, he's my man, and he done me wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) ♪ I ain't gonna tell no story, and I ain't gonna tell no lies. ♪ ♪ Well, I would pass 'bout an hour ago, ♪ ♪ 'cause you call that a surprise. ♪ ♪ He's your man, and he done you wrong. ♪ (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, she caught her head, thought for a minute, then she cried and shook my hand, and then she pulled down the dress, she showed me her ego. She said, "Now I understand why my man is a fool for a 18-wheeler, 'cause he says about the same-jurned thing." And I don't like to show you more, but I know I could get it if I do. And I'm used to explain why we do the things we do, and I'm glad you took the time of the hell. And I'd like to have a cutie just like you, waiting home to bang me for my plans in town. And I'd like to see more, but I'm proud to do it more than can to make you smile. And now you know why I was drunk driving songs, ain't ever going out of time. So if you see me on the interstate roaming, don't you mess with your radio dial? 'Cause I want good reason why I'm drunk driving songs, ain't ever going out of time. What you're 20? I want good reason why I'm drunk driving songs, ain't ever going out of time. And now you know why I was drunk driving songs, ain't ever going out of time. You know why I was drunk driving songs, ain't ever going out of time.