Best Slow Blues Songs

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: forty two
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 05:21 AM

What about "Blue Jean Blues" from ZZ Top. Always loved that band!

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: ddw
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 09:40 PM

Big Bill's "Southbound Train"

Josh White's "Baby, Baby," "Backwater Blues," "Trouble in Mind," or "Strange Fruit"

John Jackson's "Blood Red River"

Leroy Carr's "Midnight Hour Blues"

Cephas & Wiggans's "Roberta"

This could be an all-night project....

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 12:41 PM

Thanks for all the replies, I found another one.....Recession Blues, as done by, Vince Converse
All those suggestions will keep me busy for awhile :)

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 03:14 AM

and what about 'Sugar Mama' (the Chester Burnett a.k.a. Howlin' Wolf version: 'Where in the world you get your sugar from')
I Like that song because I was there when Cuby & The Blizzards (anyone heard about them over there? - famous Dutch blues group) did record it 'Live in Duesseldorf')

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 11:55 PM

I'm With you Stefan, I love that song. It was probably written by Fenton Robinson when he was part of Don Robey's stable of artist/songwriters.

There is nothing I can do
As you leave me here to cry
There is nothing I can do
As you leave me here to cry
You know my love will follow you
As the years go passing by"

"Give you all that I own
That's one thing you can't deny
Give you all that I own
That's one thing you can't deny
You know my love will follow you
As the years go passing by"

"Gonna leave it up to you
So long, so long, goodbye
Gonna leave it up to you
So long, so long, goodbye
You know my love will follow you
As the years go passing by"

Another great one is Elmore James' "The Sky Is Crying"

The sky is crying,
Look at the tears rolling down the streets.
The sky is crying,
Look at the tears rolling down the streets.
I looked out my window,
The rain was falling down in sheets.

My baby left me this morning,
Lord knows I don't know the reason why.
My baby left me this morning,
I don't know the reason why.
And everytime I think about it,
I hang my head and cry.

The sun is shining,
Although it's raining in my heart.
The sun is shining,
Although it's raining in my heart.
I love my baby,
I hate to see us part.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST,walker
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 11:44 PM

Here's a few:

Song Titles and Artists I know who did the song:

Reconsider Baby: Lowell Fulsom / Elvis

Texas Flood / Things I Used To Do: SRV

Fool For Your Stockings / Jesus Left Chicago: ZZ Topp

Big Legged Woman: Jerry Lee Lewis

Hoochie Coochie Man / Mannish Boy / She's 19: Muddy Waters

There's a few; they are literally everywhere. But as stated previously, it depends on what you consider slow.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 01:23 PM

Don Robey's (aka D. Malone) "As The Years Go Passing By" !
Great versions by
- Albert King
- Fenton Robinson
- Otis Rush
- Magic Slim
- David Bromberg
- Boz Scaggs
- Al Kooper
and
- The Animals intro:

Ah, the blues.
The ball and chain that is 'round every English musician's leg.
In fact, EVERY musician's leg.
Tryin' to kick it off, baby?
No, no.
You'll just never do it.
And these are the blues of time,
And the blues of a woman,
And a man thinkin' of her
As time goes by.

There is nothin' I can do
If you leave me here to cry ...

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 09:42 AM

"Somebody Loan Me a Dime" by Fenton Robinson (Boz Scaggs also did a great version of this w/ Duane Allman on guitar)
"Fever" by Peggy Lee
"Hobo Blues" JL Hooker
"Early This Morning" Blind Blake (and it's cousin "Black Dog Blues")
"St. Louis Blues" great versions from Bessie Smith to John Fahey
"Two Legged Rat" Buddy Guy
"How Blue Can You Get" BB King ( breathtaking guitar intro)

PS Big Pink Lad, is that the Fleetwood Mac song that starts out "I'm crazy for my baby but my baby don't love me..."? Great song, I've been looking for a recording of it. vl

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Max
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 10:11 PM

Tupelo by John Lee Hooker.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Redbeard
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 10:06 PM

Serves You Right To Suffer, I believe original to John Lee Hooker, but I like the J. Geils Band version. A friend of mine also used to play Summertime as a real slow blues song and it was really great.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 08:57 AM

Someone suggested "Motherless Child," which is a good one. I might propose "It's a Mean Old World" by Elmore James or perhaps "Black and Blue" from Louis Armstrong.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Malachy
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 06:10 PM

'Another Night with the Boys'..Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva..it's the b-side of the old 60's hit 'Swinging on a Star'. I doubt many people have heard it though!....Otherwise, 'Since I Fell for You' ..Bonnie Raitts' version

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST,Slickerbill
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 03:20 PM

Allman Brothers did some great slow blues. Try "Ain't My Cross to Bear". They also did a great version of "Stormy Monday". How bout Hendrix's "red House"? I think what's great about playing these songs is that there's soooooooo much head room for improvisation. You can really stretch out and play fast or slow. Have fun. sb

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 03:08 PM

Goin' down slow -- Johnny Winter
Need your love so bad -- Fleetwood Mac
River of tears -- Eric Clapton

and, if you want something slow and sexy ...

Directly from my heart to you -- Frank Zappa with Sugar Cane Harris

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 03:48 AM

"Trouble in mind" -done by just about everyone.
I prefer Brownie's version of "Sportin' Life"
Bessie's "Empty Bed Blues"
Big Bill's "Black White & Brown"
Fred McD's "Baby Please don't go"

etc

RtS

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 12:27 AM

I like "Gin House Blues"

Jenny

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 08:01 PM

There's a song called 'The Children's Blues' written by Bonnie Koloc and shows up on a Nancy Griffith album , I believe. It's got great chord changes and is the best example of the reality of emotional deprivation in childhood I've ever heard. Still brings me to tears. 'Luka' was observational. This one has the voice of experience and is a little raw...but brilliant.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:33 PM

Actually, Tony, every morning I wake up, grab a cup of coffee and head for the couch where I pick up my guitar and start banging away. This morning I was playin' this slow blues stuff and then it broke into the old Coaster's song "Searchin" which I didn't know the words to but started a thread askin' for 'em and Sorcha posted them. You can paly it real slow and nice in G tuning and a slide and it works real, real good as a slow blues song.

Someone mentioned "Walkin' Blues" and I agree. You can do it in A tuning like Robert Johnson or G put if ya finger pick just right it is sweet.

Bobert

Subject: Lyr Add: FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS (Muddy Waters
From: Tweed
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:13 PM

Muddy's, "Forty Days and Forty Nights", a favorite of mine at least.

"Forty days and forty nights
Since my baby left this town
Sun shining all day long
But the rain keep coming down
She's my life I need her soul
Why she left I just don't know

Forty days and forty nights
Since I sat right down and cried
Keep rainin' all the time
But the river is runnin' dry
Lord, help me it just ain right
I loved that girl will all my might

Forty days and forty nights
Since my baby broke my heart
Searchin' for her everywhere
Like a blind man in the dark
Love can a poor man rich
Or break his heart, I don't know which.

Forty days and forty nights
Like a ship out on the sea
Prayin' for her each night
That she would come back home to me
Life is love, and love is life
I hope she come back home tonight"

When he sings "Searchin' for her everywhere...like a blind man in the dark" he means it. Damn that's a good line...

Yerz,
Tweed

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Merritt
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 06:45 PM

Your idea of slow may vary from mine...also a couple these aren't in standard 12-bar blues or standard minor blues form.

~ "St. James Infirmary Blues"
~ Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" really chugs along pretty nicely when slightly reconfigured as a minor blues
~ "See See Rider" done the way Mike Dowling does it is a nice slow country blues
~ Otis Rush's "Double Trouble"
~ "You Rascal You" (1931; Sam Theard) sounds good slow
~ Randy Newman's "Guilty"
~ "I Put A Spell On You"
~ Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" done as a kind of funk-shuffle in Dropped D variant
~ "Ain't No Sunshine" – Bill Withers

- Merritt

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Tony Burns
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 06:42 PM

What a coincidence! I haven't been to the 'Cat in ages and I came here looking for some lyrics because I'm listening to "The Two Sides of Dave van Ronk".

I love slow blues and want to learn as many as I can.

My party piece at the moment is "Come Back Baby". I was fortunate enough to have Rick Fielding teach me the Dave van Ronk version and it's hard to play it too slow. I love it.

On "The Two Sides of Dave van Ronk" there is a great version of "God Bless the Child". Does that fit your definition of blues?

In some ways I think it's just a matter of taking a blues you love and making it your own. Slow may just work. Feel it slow and play it.

I'd also like to work on a collection of blues in minor keys. The Stevie Ray Vaughn version of "Tin Pan Alley" would be great if I could make it work acoustically.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: mooman
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 06:13 PM

How about...

Motherless Child

Best regards

moo

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 04:44 PM

Little Walter's version of Key To The Highway< johnny Winter's Goin Down Slow.

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 04:36 PM

Hi Tony

Look for "Sportin' Life" as done by The Lovin' Spoonful on the Do You Believe In Magic album. None better and Sebastian's harmonica is just inspired.

Don

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 04:29 PM

Ray Charles "I Wonder"

Subject: RE: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: Steve-o
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 03:56 PM

Years ago Taj Mahal did a version of the Walkin' Blues (with Ry Cooder on mandolin) that is so slow that it's hard to keep time with him....you keep trying to hurry him up. Great, but sloooooowww.

Subject: Best Slow Blues Songs
From: GUEST,Pappadow
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 01:02 PM

I'm lookin for as many Slow Blues songs as I can get ahold of. I really like - Clapton and BB King's - 3 o'clock blues. I'm looking for similar style songs.
Any Ideas?
Thanks.
Tony