Mississippi John Hurt

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 10:23 AM

Simon-Pierre,

Tom Paxton's original version of "Did You Hear John Hurt?" is on "New Songs From the Briar Patch (Vanguard)."

That entire album is part of the new CD: "Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years (Vanguard)."

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:56 PM

refresh

I just love John Hurt so much, let's put this up for everyone who wasn't here to read it back in 00/01

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: rangeroger
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:35 PM

Last fall at Strawberry Music Festival we had "Avalon Blues",a trio composed of Dave Alvin,Peter Case, and Chris Smithers, doing nothing but MJH songs. What an amazing set this was.

My introduction to MJH was the the Tom Paxton song. Since then I picked up the Vanguard "Blues at Newport 1963" and "Great Bluesmen at Newport" on vinyl.

I just wish that I had been able to listen to the man live. I have to agree with Drew (above), if you have the chance, don't let it pass.

I had that chance with Rosalie Sorrels back stage at Strawberry, and will always cherish the time spent over 2 days talking with her.

rr

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Alex.S
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:02 AM

My favorite bluesman, bar none.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,guest mick
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 07:27 AM

I agree with Steve Latimer's comments . I find that when people try to "get" the John Hurt style they miss out that essential dialectic between the gentleness of the voice and the raw lyrics .
Anecdote :Somebody told me once that a pupil once played Segovia a recording of Hurt. Segovia asked him who was playing the other guitar .

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Susanl
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 04:51 AM

People who dazzle are a dime a dozen. (I'll never figure out why people are so impressed by those who dazzle.) but when John Hurt played and sang, it was downright beautiful. Beautiful is a rare thing and I'll never get over him for that. I love Mississippi John Hurt.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt new website
From: GUEST,Frank Delaney
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 01:31 AM

www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com is the new official website for John Hurt. His grand daughter is the administrator of his museum and you will find info on John, his music, the annual music festival in his honor, his museum, and the blues foundation dedicated to his memory.

We are hoping to expand this site with a lot more pictures and guitar tab etc so pls email me any questions you have. I have been researching and playing his music since the 1960's and invite you to visit this site and welcome your questions and comments.

Frank Delaney
[e-mail]
Webmaster for www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 10:38 PM

Refreshing this, instead of creating a Happy Birthday John thread.
Today is one of the two dates given as MJH's birthday. Tonight, a MJH Gospel fest is being held in Carroll County, MS and tomorrow the MJH Blues Fest at his old home there.

Happy birthday, Mississippi John! Thanks for the music.

Ken

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: jaze
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 11:08 PM

I've loved MJH since I was in college in the 70's and a friend played the Immortal Mississippi John Hurt Lp for me. I've loved him ever since. Does anyone know of any video's of MJH? I would love to see those fingers in action.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 11:33 PM

"Legends of the Country Blues Guitar" has John playing "Spike Driver Blues" and "You Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley".
It is available at Stephen Grossman's website.

Watching John on the video is a must! Plus there are some other great pickers there. Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Mance Lipscomb, to name a few...but Mississippi John tops them all!

Ken

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 11:38 PM

HERE is the link, jaze.

k

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 11:41 PM

HERE is a more direct link to the video.

k

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,JB
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:01 AM

I've really gotten into the ol' country blues recently, and MJH continues to amaze and delight the more I listen. I've been amassing an LP collection of his quite successfully, but am unable to attain the 1928 recordings on vinyl. How rare is either the original Okeh recordings or the newer released recordings of the original? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:35 AM

I've got the Okeh recordings. You should be able to order them.

There are some videos of MJH - but I didn't think there was any audio tracks to go with them. Am I wrong ?

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 12:10 PM

The original OK 78 recordings are on shellac not vinyl and would cost you a considerable amount. The vinyl re-issues should be available from a good mail-order company, Red Lick for instance in Wales, they have a web site and a good constant turnover of second hand Vinyl, CD's etc. Yazoo among others put this material out on vinyl.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: number 6
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 10:43 PM

Nothing is finer than listening to John singing "Richland Woman Blues" ... so, so, sooo nice.

sIx

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 06:43 AM

I agree with Easy Rider ... John was unique and wonderful, the epitome of sweet temper, and although shy, a kind of natural diplomat at ease in the world -- even though when I met him he had just been brought out of his lifelong isolation in Avalon, Mississippi. The extraordinary impression he made on me is shared by many of us who met him.

I was lucky enough to share a program with him in late '62 or early '63 at the Showboat Lounge, Washington DC. I was entranced of course, having heard his Spike Driver Blues, Candy Man, and one or two other things. I had already learned, as best I could, his wonderful rolling fingerpicking style, which mesmerized me.

We talked for a little between sets. He was very gracious to me, said he liked my playing onstage (now that, I think, must have been his polite generosity, but I cherish it anyway).

John was one of the gentlest, sweetest people I ever knew. I honestly don't think that was because he was a subservient black of the old school. On the contrary he had a rare mixture of gentleness with dignity.

And oh my, could he sing and play a song. He had a vast fund of them, not a few, I suspect, never recorded. Voice and guitar perfectly blended. A miracle.

His personality was one that has stayed with me from then till now, as a kind of model for kindness and generosity. He appears in my music, whether it can be heard or not. He's one of my heroes, always.

And the song that clings to me like a burr, above all of his that marked me, is "Louis Collins." It's become part of my DNA.

Bob

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 11:53 AM

His take on 'You Are My Sunshine' is stunning.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: voyager
Date: 08 Oct 05 - 12:41 PM

At an FSGW program in the DC area (back in the 90's) I got a chance
to meet TOM HOSKINS and hear the wonderful story of "discovering"
MJH in the early 60's.

Has this story been chronicled on Mudcat in previous threads?
I found a snippet of this tale over here --

http://www.bluesworld.com/Fang.html

Part of that workshop included a handwritten biography of MJH which
I've kept in the archives.

voyager

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 02:09 PM

Tom Hoskins was one of my best friends. I lived with and near Fang from 1960-1`975. Went throught the whole John Hurt part of Tom's life. It Hurt when John died and it hurt when Fang died. Dave Nicholson, General Delivery, Williamsville Virginia 24487

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Peter Silitch
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 11:48 PM

It is appropriate and touching that John is so appreciated, as shown by all these tributes.   There may be hope for our civilization after all!

John was a jewel of a gentleman who lived in a world in which it was very difficult to be a gentleman, white or black, rich or poor. Like another earlier hero, he showed us how.

You ask how I know?   I was privelaged to record him in April 1963 in Annapolis, Maryland for a couple of days.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 02:03 AM

I'm hoping to attend the little festival at the Mississippi John Hurt Museum this coming 4th-of-July weekend. Anyone else?

Mississippi John Hurt Museum

Wasn't able to make it last year, although I had begun making plans and had done all the necessary research. The site is well off the beaten path, but I got a decent set of directions from a contributor to the forum at tweedsblues.net.

If I had never heard John Hurt, and been so totally captivated by his playing and his personality, I might well have lost interest in the guitar and never been motivated to keep trying to learn. If I live long enough. maybe I'll finally be able to make the thing sound at least a little bit as good as MJH could do. Of course, he's not a bad role model as a vocalist, either!

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Steve-o
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:29 PM

Poppa, you are so right. About the time I hit the wall with fingerpicking in a pattern, I discovered MJH, who broke the pattern. At first it was mostly a learning experience, then I fell in love with everything about him. I'm still challenged today when I try to do things like Monday Morning Blues. So brilliant, and so sweet.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Bluesless & Cluesless
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:46 PM

sad days indeed..

first we hear news "Tom Dundee injured"

and now "Mississippi John Hurt"..

anyone know how badly, and the nature of his injuries ?

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 07:28 PM

When I first heard "Spike Driver's Blues" I got tingly. It's not really blues, strictly speaking. More like a rare window into black folkstyles that might have help shape the blues. I try to imagine that it might have been originally played on a clawhammer banjo.

I vowed when I bought an acoustic that I would learn that song. It took a while but now I play it almost effortlessly and people love it. There's something about the spell it kind of casts over you. It's so haunting. It's a man enslaved on the railroad planning his escape back to Colorado before that spike driver's hammer does him in like it did po' ol' John Henry. Amazing song!

And when you sing it, you have to sing it like John did. You have to pronounce "hammer" as "HAM-maaw"--seriously, it doesn't sound right if you don't.

The guitar line just repeats. It doesn't vary although I've worked in all kinds of interesting variations as I cycle through it. A folkie I know loved it when I played it for him but he already knew it and could play it better than me (at least I liked how he played it more than I like how I play it) but he admitted he can't sing it and play it which I do quite easily in a perfect John impersonation.

When I was buying my last acoustic, I was trying it out close to a lobby where parents could sit while their kids took their lessons. I started picking out "Spike Driver's Blues" and this longhaired kid in one of the chairs suddenly sat up and looked over at me. Then he got up and approached me smiling and said, "That's Mississippi John Hurt, isn't it?" I nodded. "Sure is," I said, "Spike Driver's Blues." I played the cycle through a couple of times working in some of my more impressive variations and he watched for a while and then said, "That's cool!" So it pays to know your MJH, folks.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Khandu
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 09:25 PM

Ah, yes, "Spike Driver Blues". One of the songs from the 1928 sessions that made the "pre-discovery" John Hurt a legend. Doc Watson and his son, Merle, considered MJH one of the more phenomenal guitarist they had heard, and they referred to "Spike Driver Blues" when they said it.

Yes, John's ability to stay in one chord throughout a song and keep it interesting is fascinating. "Spike Driver Blues", "Shake That Thing", "Pay Day", all one-chord songs and all maintain interest throughout. It just blows my brain around!

John's variations are incredible. So subtle, one could easily miss them, but they are beautifully placed and they add those special embellishments (I think PoppaGator calls then "wrinkles") that makes John John!

PoppaGator, looking forward to meeting you at the MJH Fest this year!

Ken

Subject: TAB Req. - Cocaine Done Killed My Baby
From: GUEST,Fat Lizard
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 06:05 AM

Does anyone have the TAB for this great little tune?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 06:51 AM

now this will surprise you.as iseem to be known as a concertina player.
Iam a great fan of mjh,Ifirst learned Spike drivers blues,When I was 15 on guitar,and along with [got the blues cant be satisfied] still play it today.I now use mjh guitar style on english trad [have a listen to my version of Rounding the Horn in A ].
The use of the pinky for c9 g6 [and G with flattened third in spike drivers blues].,is interesting,apart from the latter,its the pentatonic major idea.
I am not as good as MJH at it,but I bet hed be bowled over to hear english trad,such as burlington fair,adieu sweet nancy, John Blunt,whip jamboree,Bonny Ship Diamond [melody picked]. http://www.dickmiles.com
ps rounding the horn can be heard as aclip ,on the lancaster maritime festival thread at radio liverpool.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 12:22 PM

Video of MJH playing "Spike Driver Blues"

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Roberto
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 12:32 PM

Fat Lizard, I have a TAB for Spike Driver Blues. Let me have your e-mail. R

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: oombanjo
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 06:38 AM

rreeefresh

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Fat Lizard
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 09:12 AM

Thanks Roberto

user [at] fatlizard [.] com [.] au


Do you have Cocaine Killed My Baby

Fat Lizard

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:12 PM

Tabs to several Hurt tunes may be found Here.

Several are very close interpretations of Hurt's tunes. Others are "reasonable facsimiles", while others are tabs of various versions of the songs.

Ken

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Scrump
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 09:29 AM

Sorry to hear about Mississippi John's injury. I hope he recovers soon.

... I'll get me coat.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Roberto
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 10:27 AM

Fat Lizard, I've sent you an e-mail right now. R

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 07 - 03:34 PM

I'd love a tab of Spike Driver Blues

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 May 07 - 05:55 PM

make a g chord,then g6,to g to g7,its on you tube thats the asiest.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 May 07 - 07:26 PM

Check out:

http://www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com/

I've been meaning to attend the 4th-of-July-weekend festival for the last couple of years, but haven't made it yet. Doesn't look good for this year either, but there's still hope.

*************

GUEST, I learned "Spike Driver Blues" from published tablature years ago. It was very probably either an Oak Publications book or one of Stephen Grossman's many excellent instructional works. That much info should help you launch a successful Google search. Everything by Grossman is now available in DVD-plus-booklet format, and he does teach a lot of the MJH repertoire. If "Spike Driver" is not one of the songs he teaches, I know I learned it from some printed source, and if not SG then it was probably Oak; I don't know if all their stuff has been updated to video.

Cpt Birdeye's simple summation is correct as it stands, but you probably need more detail ~ I certainly would. For what is essentially a one-chord song, this number is pretty complicated, or at least subtle.

I haven't seen the YouTube video. If it focuses on the left hand throughout, you might be able to learn everything you need to know.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 May 07 - 01:02 PM

The YouTube stuff is GREAT!

Here's a link to John himself playing the tune, filmed in black and white on a "homey" stage set, sitting around a fake kitchen table with Pete Seeger and a couple of other folks. The camera zooms in on both of hands for at least one chorus each, so it could be quite helpful for learning to play the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6_yV3aX-yk

Once you get to that page, you'll find additional links to many other similar performances by MJH and others, some of them on that same set with Pete and a varying cast of other guests. Most of these film clips (I'm assuming they were shot on film back in the 60s and only recently copied to digital video) include plenty of hands-on-instrument footage; the producers/directors/cameramen knew what the audience wanted!

The footage of "Candyman" is from an afternoon session at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. (The final few seconds cut away to another performer doing a sound check ~ that's the clue to which festival and which year.) I was part of the audience that day, but can't find my young self in the shots panning the crowd. That particular video is useless for learning to play the song; neither of John's hands are shown even for a second. Just his face and head, and lots of audience-reaction shots.

Watching several of these clips, I realized something I always "knew," but of which I was never fully conscious before: we NEVER see John Hurt without a hat on his head!

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 May 07 - 01:28 PM

"we NEVER see John Hurt without a hat on his head!"

And Geoff Muldaur has noted that you've never seen Mississippi John Hurt and Jimminy Cricket in the same place - So Geoff thinks they are one in the same.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 07 - 12:51 PM

Does anyone know where I can find the lyrics to "Somebody else, not me"?

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: C. Ham
Date: 29 May 07 - 03:30 PM

Does anyone know where I can find the lyrics to "Somebody else, not me"?

It's a Bert Williams song, so it's a little off-topic for the Mississippi John Hurt thread.

But the lyrics can be found in the Somebody Else, Not Me thread.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 29 May 07 - 05:20 PM

John Hurt is one of my favorites = Jerry garcia did a great rendition of his Louis Collins, but I have been performing songs of his from his double album for decades. i was too young to see him in person, but have loved his music for years it never goes out of style.

btw my personal favorite, Pallet, is a song I have played more than any other song I have played and sung since I first picked up a guitar in my teens. Every few years, a new verse seems to 'emerge' from somehwere, once it was from a mystery book, written in the Boston area and with a mention of Chris Smither in the forward; forgot the name of the book but not the verse.

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 29 May 07 - 10:17 PM

PoppaGator, there is a video of MJH playing without his hat!

Unfortunately, it is a silent video!

John Miller has an instructional DVD of MJH tunes which features a 9 minute (appr.) silent video of John filmed in his home in D.C.
MJH is seen, but not heard, playing "Candy Man", "Stagger Lee", "Salty Dog" and more; most of them done without his hat! He finally sends his grandson to fetch his hat.

Though it is silent, it is nonetheless a very wonderful video to watch, though I cannot imagine why anyone would film such a great musician without sound!

It is like viewing the Mona Lisa in black and white!.

k

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:58 AM

Khandu ~ very interesting!

I still wonder if there are even any still photos of a hatless MJH (my guess is that there may not be any), which makes the existence of a "bareheaded" film/video (let along a silent one) just that much more strange. I'm not sure I'd recognize John Hurt without the hat. Is he bald?

FWIW, I think that any "video" dating back to Mr. Hurt's lifetime would have to have been film (perhaps 8mm "home movie" quality) later converted to video.

If it's "instructional," I would hope that the camera focuses on the man's hands. Without sound, it's probably difficult to learn how to play the songs from it no matter how intelligent the camerawork might be.

**************

Are you going to make it to the July 4 weekend festival this year? As noted above, I may well be unable to show up due to family and other issues/complications, but I am holding out hope that it might be possible. I know that, like me, you've wanted to go for the last few years but have not been able to do so yet. It'd be nice if we could both make it one of these years on the same year and meet up!

As the date approaches, and if it looks like I might be able to fit in the trip, I'll need to know where to book a room. I'll probably ask Frank Delaney for advice if it comes to that. Stay in touch...

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 08:35 AM

Poppa,
The "instructional" part of the DVD is done by John Miller. The silent footage is an added bonus. I bought the DVD for the silent footage and was very pleased.
Miller's instructive style is very good. A beginning (yet diligent) guitarist could learn quite easily. (That is to say, the "learning" how to do it is quite easy...the actual playing would still be a challenge!) I have recommended this DVD to several MJH neophytes, and to more advanced players, with mixed results.

Regarding the MJH festival...as usual, it is "iffy". If possible, I will be there. But I have said that for 5 years and have not yet made it.
Greenwood would be your best bet for accomodations. It is the nearest town to the festival and has a number of motels.

BTW...MJH is not bald. He has a full head of closely cropped hair!

ken

Subject: RE: Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 12:45 PM

Ken (& everyone),

Since July 4 falls on a Wednesday this year ~ exactly in the middle of the week ~ there won't be a "Fourth of July weekend." I just checked the MJH Museum website, and their festival this year will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, 7/3 and 7/4. This probably makes it even more problematic for me to attend the MJH festival than in past years, but anything can happen. We'll see...

****************

lefthanded guitar:

Could you please post lyrics for some of the lesser-known "Pallet" verses you've discovered? I have printed out everything available from the DT (here at the Mudcat site), which includes all the verses ever recorded by MJH plus quite a few others. You could check the DT to see the verses already available, and just post any others you have learned... Please?!?!

I've never sung all these verses, but it's good to have a backlog. Like you, I've been playing this song forever and never seem to get tired of it. It's very enjoyable to play chorus after chorus (especially when you know a variety of different "turnarounds" to pick between verses), and having a bunch of different lyrics available gives you an excuse to stretch a performance out to maximum length.