There are 2 early recordings of this in Yazoo's excellent 2000 series. The first is by Charlie Oaks, a 1920s street busker from Knoxville. It's on 'Times Ain't What They Used to Be Vol 1' Yazoo 2028. This version is of the 'Katy Dear', 'Silver Dagger' song complex. The second is an interesting variant by Wilmer Watts and His Lonely Eagles from North Carolina. This is titled 'Sleepy Desert' and is on 'Times Ain't What They Used to Be Vol 3' Yazoo 2047.

I first encountered 'Drowsy Sleeper' from an old Mark Spoelstra album. Whatever happened to him? Does he still perform?

--Stewie.