Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues

Subject: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: GUEST,CB James
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 05:37 PM

In the early 1970s Geoff and Maria Muldaur recorded an album which might have simply been eponymously named or might have had a title. It did have a knockout version of Geoff singing "Brazil" and Maria with a dynamite cover of "Georgia on my Mind".

The LP had another memorable track by Geoff called "Hopscotch Blues" with a definite New Orleans brass feel to it. I can't guess the date on it, but I would guess at 1920s t0 1940s.

Any thoughts out there on who wrote it - or to whom it should be attributed? Anyone have the lyrics?

CB James

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 06:30 PM

Bessie Smith recorded a "New Orleans Hopscotch Blues". Could this be it.

There's a recording on youtube (not Bessie Smith): Hopscotch Blues

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 06:54 PM

The Bessie Smith recording has the title given as Hop Scop Blues or Hopscotch Blues.

Here are the lyrics from one of the youtube recordings.

Mick

---

HOP SCOP BLUES

Up New Orleans is a great big ol' Southern town
Where hospitality you will surely find
The population there is very, very fair
There's everything to do, white folks do it too
They have a dance, surely it's something rare there.

Glide, slide, prance, dance
Hop, scop, take it easy honey, mmm
I can never get tired
Of dancing these hop scop blues.

Once more you glide, slide, prance, dance
Hopscotch blues make you ?do a? lovely shake
They make you feel so grand When you join hand in hand
I'm never get tired of dancing these hopscotch blues

Once more you glide, slide, prance, now dance
Hop, now scop, take it easy honey, mmm
I can never get tired of dancing those hop scop blues.

Source: Meredith Axelrod (on youtube)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 06:57 PM

And here's a link to the Bessie Smith lyrics at Harry's Blues Archive: Bessie Smith - New Orleans Hop Scop Blues

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: GUEST,CB James
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 07:27 PM

Hey Mick -

Many Thanks !!

That is indeed the very song !

And what I love about Mudcat - Instant informed turnaround on seemingly obscure music questions.

CBJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 10:14 PM

Mildred Bailey sings NEW ORLEANS HOP SCOTCH BLUES on "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" (2011). I listened to the recording on Spotify. The lyrics are identical to those posted by Mick Pearce above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 03:26 AM

It was one of the songs featured in the musical Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and sung by rubber-legged Vern Bagneris in the UK production.

RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopscotch Blues
From: MAG
Date: 02 Dec 12 - 02:34 PM

as soon as I can figure out how to reconnect my (analog) speakers, I'm going to play that album -- one of my faves