Robert Johnson Song ? - Mississippi Delta Blues

Subject: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: GUEST,Jim Clark London England
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 05:48 AM

I posted one of many videos I have made of Dave Peabody performing one of his marvelous recreations of a Robert Johnson song last night on youtube,but for the life of me cant think of the songs title and a bit of a search around the Robert Johnson lyrics pages (which are annoyingly laen with pop ups) hasnt yielded the title as yet.

Could one of you Robert Johnson buffs at Mudcat help me out with the songs title.I am qiute knowledgeable about country blues,but confess Johnson is one of my weaker areas.

heres the link..


Dave Peabody performs a Robert Johnson song

Actualy I have posted a whole heap videos from my archive at youtube since I last stopped by Mudcat,and last night a couple more Irish traditional videos I recorded of all places at The British museum back in 1997 of a quartet of Irish and Scots traditional musicians featuring the vocal talents of Mick Sands singing "The Rocks of Bawn" etc etc.

Videologicaly yours

Jim Clark aka vidlad at youtube

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 08:56 AM

At a quick listen it sounds like a version of Mississippi Blues, but that's not one of the songs that Johnson recorded (nor the missing song).

Mick

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: dwditty
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 09:46 AM

Mick is correct. The song is Mississippi Blues and is not a Robert Johnson song. I cannot find the origin of the song right now, but Dave Peabody's version is very much like Roy Book Binder's. I believe Mark Knoffler also covered it.

dw

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 10:37 AM

A quick search seems to imply that the original was by Willie Brown (but it seems not the one who played with Son House. Though there seems to be some confusion about how many Willie Browns Alan Lomax recorded; my blues book lists only the one). There's some information on it here Mississippi Blues. There's also an instrumental vesion on youtube.

As well as the recordings mentioned by dwditty I think Stephan Grossman recorded it too.

Mick

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 11:09 AM

With all due respect, that can't hold a candle to Mudcat's founder, Max's version. That kid sounds so authentic it's uncanny!

I gave up on myspace, taking so long to load, but I know Max has some videos on his page there: click

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 12:27 PM

Missipi Delta Blues by Willie Brown. Stefan Grossman has done transcription and tab on How to Play Blues guitar.

fun!

Robert Johnson connected cos Robert sings,You can run, you can hide - Please tell my friend Poor Willy brown, I'm going down to the crossroads and I believe I'm sinkin' down.

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 03:55 PM

It was excellent, as one would expect from Dave Peabody. Mississippi Blues is one of those standards most of us learn, though we don't all do it quite like that. I last saw Dave Peabody playing thirty one years ago, with a tea chest bass player, in the duo Peabody-McNalty. He is also a very good photographer, who has photographed just about any blues singer who played in the UK. He must be a useful guy to know if you need a photo or an anecdote. I wonder if any other Mudcatters know him, as I noticed that he had played in The Pilot at Maidstone, which is known to some of our members.

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: GUEST,Jim Clark London England
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 06:05 PM

Thanx Mudcatters.OK Mississippi blues it is and probably I reckon by Willie Brown who may or may not be the one we associate as being Son House's buddy ha ha.

Musicologicaly yours

Jim Clark
Unique acoustic music video archive at youtube

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: GUEST,Fox Talbot
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 06:08 AM

Re the Alanabit posting above.

If you are looking for Blues Photography I have found the following site to be very excellent; [e-mail]

They may not play guitar but they can wield a camera and have some great photos including Son House.

FT

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 10:22 AM

Thanks, I'll have a look in.

Subject: RE: Robert Johnson Song ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 11:27 AM

Don't forget Art Thieme's photos. Here are a few which come up when one searches for "blues:" click. If that link doesn't show them specifically, just use the search function. There are some beautiful ones of Sam Lightnin' Hopkins, Sunnyland Slim, and Mama Yancey, and Bukka White.