Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'

Subject: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: GUEST,Andrew lawrence
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 11:11 AM

Anyone know of a version of (New) Stranger Blues that predates Tampa Red's on Document Record's Vol 4 (1930-31)?
Much obliged,
~Andrew

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 10:29 AM

"Lady Plays the Blues" * suggested Memphis Minnie might have but that was off the cuff.

* presented is Marion Miller Stroud FM Fri 8pm, Sun 1pm & Tues 12am (all GMT)

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 10:31 AM

Stroud FM streamed live

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: GUEST,Andrew Lawrence
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:51 PM

Thanks for the Memphis Minnie lead. Turns out, though, that that's a different song altogether and probably was recorded after Tampa Red's with Georgia Tom.

I'm wondering because Jesse Fuller credits the song to Red (under the name Hudson Whittaker). I would have expected to be able to trace the "folk processing" of it, but so far all roads lead to Tampa.

Cheers,
~Andrew

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 23 - 05:56 PM

Do we have lyrics? Terry SoRelle sang this today.

This may not be the right one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKJ5Xlbkxf4

But this is the right one: https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/7020220/Brownie+McGhee/I%27m+a+Stranger+Here

Subject: ADD: New Stranger Blues (from Tampa Red)
From: cnd
Date: 13 Jun 23 - 10:51 AM

Here's how Tampa Red sang it - listen

NEW STRANGER BLUES

I'm a stranger here, just blowed in your town
I'm a stranger here, just blowed in your town
Just because I'm a stranger everybody wants to dog me around

Lord, I wonder do my good gal know I'm here?
Lord, I wonder do my good gal know I'm here
Well, if she do she sure don't seem to care

I wonder how can some people dog a poor stranger so
I wonder how can some people dog a poor stranger so
They should remember they goin' to reap what they sow

I would stay up North but nothing here that I can do
I would stay up North but nothing here that I can do
But just hang around the corner and sing the poor stranger blues

Mama, I'm going back South if I wear ninety-nine pairs of shoes
Mama, I'm going back South if I wear ninety-nine pairs of shoes
Then I know I'll be welcome and I won't have the stranger's blues

From https://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/ramblin_jack_elliott/new_stranger_blues.html - I listened and made some minor modifications

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: GUEST,MD
Date: 13 Jun 23 - 12:42 PM

The "I'm A Stranger Here" verse is "traditional" and used widely by others. Buddy Boy Hawkins recorded "Awful Fix Blues" in 1927 with the verse. I think the Tampa song is from 1931. Probably this verse was originally recorded by a classic Blues female vocalist with piano or Jazz band accompaniment.

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 10 Jul 23 - 08:00 PM

The 99 pairs of shoes part is in "Walkin' Blues" 1929 by Peg Leg Howell. I think Tampa Red liked to listen to blues records.

Subject: RE: Pre-Tampa 'New Stranger Blues'
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 11 Jul 23 - 11:36 AM

There is a verse (in Brownie McGhee's version, I think, as sung by Lonnie Donegan) that goes "Gonna write to my daddy to send me my fare...and when the money comes, gonna get the train outta here."
RtS