Common Blues

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From: Nora
Date: 07 Jul 98 - 12:49 AM

Murray,

I have two non-blues-style versions of the first tune you mention: A Rockabilly version of 'Sittin on top of the world' is on Sleepy LaBeef's nifty recording on Rounder, 'Strange Things Happening,' and there is a bluegrass version on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Circle II (Will the Circle Be Unbroken, vol 2, on Universal) Bela Fleck plays banjo, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Vassar Clements on fiddle, and others.

Seems like there is a Rory Block record (also on Rounder) on which she sings 'Come on in my kitchen,' but I think my ex has it. I know I've heard her do it live.

Nora

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From:
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 08:37 PM

That is an interesting question Jon. I always assumed the word "spoon" was coined by the tin pan alley boys because it rhymed so well with its frequent companions "moon", "June", and "soon"--but maybe there was some humor in their tin hearts and they thought of "spoonful" too.

Brian, I have seen a book with a very similar title and at least one of the authors (Calt) advertised in some Yazoo record notes. They claim it is published by Sanashe (or however you spell it) records.

Murray

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From: Jon W.
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 06:47 PM

Charley Patton's version of "Spoonful" is certainly a good one - a good example of letting the slide guitar "talk". I also had, in a previous life (i.e. as a teenager) Cream's version. I've always wondered if the '20's expression "spooning" had any connection with the blues "spoonful" theme. Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 12:11 PM

Murray,

The best source of information on Charlie Patton is Stephen Calt and Gayle Dean Wardlow's book 'King of the Delta Blues: The Life and Music of Charlie Patton.' (1988) Rock Chapel Press: Newton, New Jersey. Unfortunately, as far as I know, it's out of print (if anyone knows different please tell).

Brian.

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From:
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 08:56 PM

Yeah, Brian. I think I choose a bad title for the thread. I wanted to focus attention on these two songs. In fact, I should have taken one at a time.

You did a good job of tracing "Spoonfull" to "pre-history". Where did you get the info about Charlie Patton's early musical life?

Murray

Subject: RE: Common Blues
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 07:56 AM

Murray, If you start asking about blues songs that share common lyrics, titles, or tunes you could be starting an extremely long thread! You mention 'Spoonful', this is certainly a theme that has been covered by a number of performers. Charlie Patton recorded his version in June 1929, but had probably been singing the song for some time before this. He may well have picked up the song from a tenant on Heron's plantation,Lem Nichols, one of the first musicians he met, who would have been 40 or 50 at the turn of the century. This suggests that the song is quite an old one, with a history dating back to the pre-blues era. This is backed up by Sam Chatmon (of the Mississippi Sheiks) who first heard the song in 1906 or 1907 from a man named Dave Henderson. Charlie Jordan also recorded a similar song 'Just a Spoonful' in June 1930. More recently Willie Dixon is given credit for writing 'Spoonful' as performed by more recent blues artists, as well as performers like Etta James and Eric Clapton (with Cream, I think). And I'd bet that there are a lot more versions than this. Anyone?

Brian

Subject: Common Blues
From:
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 04:45 AM

There has recently been some discussion of the song "Sitting on Top of the World". Brian Hoskins has given the lyrics for the (possibly original recorded) version by the Missippi Sheiks..

JonW supplied lyrics for the Charlie Patton version called Some Summer Day.

There is a version by Doc Watson in the DT also called "Sitting on Top of the World".

I was just listening to some Robert Johnson songs and lo and behold there was the same melody in his "Come into my Kitchen".

I would be curious to know of other versions both new and old.

The other song that has been intruding on my consciousness lately is "Spoonfull." Charlie Patton and Mance Lipscomb both have a version by that name (same tune but very different styles of playing.) Mississippi John Hurt has a version called "Coffee Blues". I am told some modern groups have done it. Again I would be interested in other versions, old and new.

Murray