Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist

Subject: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From:
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:22 PM

First, a gracious thank you to the fine folks running this site. A great resource and reference too! Second, hello to all you fellow travelers and blues hounds out there. I love listening to the blues! Makes everything go away on a bad day! Finally, I have been trying to find out who performs a certain version of "Ain't Nobody's Business" for over two and a half decades now. If anyone remembers college or REAL alternative radio, that's where I originally heard this particular version. I used to think it was by Taj Mahal but I can't seem to find the version I have in mind anywhere by him or anyone else. It may have even been a live version. It had some, if not all of the original lyrics of the classic. There were a few additional bars of the song that were NOT part of the original lyrics and and other lyrics or "shouts" possibly ad-libbed or improvised there on the spot. Due to the length of time that has expired since then I can only remember part of the additional verses. The two lines that have always been stuck in my head were "champagne don't drive me crazy, cocaine don't make me lazy, ain't nobody's business if I do" and "you can drive a great big cadillac to church on Sunday, hang around the house with your old lady on Monday, ain't nobody's business if I do". I'm a little hazy on the "shout" portion of the song but it's a long and rambling line that starts with; "hey man, ain't you the guy drives that big cadillac with.........." and goes on for a few more verses. Any help with Artist, Title, Album Name, Discography, whatever would be greatly appreciated. Maybe we could even trade if someone actually has a copy of what I'm looking for. A thousand thank you's to all and may you find no strange mules kickin' in your stall!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:26 PM

That's Taj alright. It's on the compilation In Progress and In Motion, which is phenomenal. It's marked there as "previously unreleased." I once transcribed it for fun. I'll see if I can find it.

PA

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:37 PM

It was recorded live in 1971 with The Pointer Sisters, though they didn't sing on this track. It believe it was on a TV special.

PA

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: WyoWoman
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:39 PM

The amazing powers of the Mudcat, otra vez!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:44 PM

We are pretty cool, aren't we WW? Siempre! (we're pushing the limits of my Spanish here) :^)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: WyoWoman
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:51 PM

Muy frio, si. Que suave.

By the way, I kept trying to figure out what your handle meant -- Blue Pasta was the only translation I could come up with, but I guess that would be Penne Azul.

Now that I've figured it out, the mystery only deepens ... and I probably don't really want to know ...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 09:30 PM

This should solve the mystery of my nickname.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: WyoWoman
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 09:39 PM

Ah! Pianist. I thought you said ...

Nivver mind. ...

At any rate, thank you for that elucidation. (I haven't been elucidated for the LONGEST time ...)

ww

Subject: Lyr Add: NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MY OWN (Taj Mahal)
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 11:40 PM

OK, here it is. Maybe not perfect but close.
He introduces it with:
"This is a funny little song about snow in the desert."

NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MY OWN
(Taj Mahal live version)

Chorus:
Champagne don't drive me crazy.
Cocaine don't make me lazy.
Ain't Nobody's business but my own.
Candy is dandy and liquor is quicker.
You can drink all liquor down in Costa Rica.
Ain't nobody's business but my own.

You can ride a great big pink Cadillac to church on Sunday.
You can hang around the house with your old lady on Monday.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.
Man, I don't care what in the world that you do
As long as you do what you say you goin' to
Ain't nobody's business but your own.

Now I know some of you cuties you real fine cuties
You go steppin' downtown just to hang around.
Standin' on the corner so the fellas will stare and say
Ah, ain't she sweet.

(Chorus)

You can walk downtown in your birthday suit
I can see you comin' out of the bank of America with a whole lotta loot.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.
Now you know that cocaine for horses now it ain't for men.
The doctor said it kill me but he didn't say when.
Ain't nobody's business but your own.

Now you know sometime I put I put on my straw hat and my stripe pants
And my spats baby you know and I go truckin' downtown.
Standin' on the corner so the fellas can stare and say:

Hey man ain't you the brother in the '57 Mercury
with the turnpike skirts and the chrome reverse wheels
and the whitewall tires and lights under the skirts
with painted lime green with reversible license plates
with windows that you can't see out can't nobody see in.
with four on the floor 745 horsepower and a big stereo
listenin' to Wolfman Jack say, "Ain't this XCRB baby."

(Chorus)
But your own, but my own.

(Chorus)

(Chorus)
(There's a little patter in the final choruses)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 04:33 AM

I have the Fats Waller piano roll of his version of this but I find in fiendishly difficult to singa long with, the phrasing of the "do,do,do"s catches me out all the time. One of my favourite versions is by Ottillie Patterson to her own piano accompaniment.
RtS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,Brigid in the mountains
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 11:39 AM

I have also heard another version........It is sung by the magnificent amazing Galway(west Ireland ) woman.... Mary Coughlan. though the lyrics may have been adapted a little:!!! Brigid

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 11:49 AM

The Taj Mahal version is excellent, I loved his work with the Pointer Sisters.

How about Mississippi John Hurt's "Nobody's Dirty Business?"

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,BlueMax
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 03:46 PM

I think I'm like two years late for this, but Screamin' Jay Hwakins did a wild, wild version of Nobody's Business. I just found this thread (I really don't even know what a thread is) when I did a search on Yahoo trying to find Taj's version for a friend of mind. Aint this computer shit something.......I can find lyrics to old Taj songs. WOW!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Rob S.
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 04:35 PM

I believe that Steve is right, I know that Mississippi John Hurt did a song "Nobody's Busines" it's on his CD The Best of MJH--Ain't No Tellin, but I'm not sure if that would be the origin of the song or not. Hope this helps..

Rob

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: wes.w
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 08:38 AM

I think MJH may also have recorded it in his first recordings (1920/30s?). 'Best of MJH' was in the 1960s, live at a US festival? ..wes

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 09:34 AM

I have MJH's "Avalon Blues" CD first recorded in 1928. It is a treasure, great songs and the best sound quality of anything that I have from that period. Nobody's Dirty Business is on it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 09:44 AM

Steve, Do you know where one can get that Avalon blues CD?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 09:57 AM

Jaze,

I think it is pretty readily available. I picked it up at CD Warehouse in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It was in stock. I just checked amazon.com and they have it for $11.97 U.S. and say that it usually ships in 24 hrs.

The songs on it are: 1. Frankie (his version of Frankie & Albert) 2. Nobody's Dirty Business 3. Ain't No Tellin' 4. Louis Collins 5. Avalon Blues 6. Big Leg Blues 7. Stack O' Lee 8. Candy Man Blues 9. Got The Blues (Can't Be Satisfied) 10. Blessed Be The Name 11. Praying On The Old Camp Ground 12. Blue Harvest Blues 13. Spike Driver Blues Every song on this CD is defiantely worth having. If I had to pick a couple of favourites they would be Louis Collins, Avalon Blues and Spike Driver Blues, but that's splitting hairs.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 11:53 AM

I find Earl Johnson & his Dixie Entertainer's version amusing - old-time fiddle and falsetto harmony. Amazon'll let you listen to 30 seconds of it here .

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: wes.w
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 09:13 AM

My MJH is a tape from Yazoo: 'Original 1928 Recordings'. Might be the same as Steve's from the listings, so its worth looking for other MJH CDs on different labels. Eg (in UK) same Robert Johnson as low as $5 equivalent, or as high as $30 depending on label!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 09:46 AM

Wes.w,

I believe that the two CD's are from the same release judging by the track listings. As I mentioned, the sound quality of mine is tremendous given that it was recorded in 1928. How is the quality on yours?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: wes.w
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:31 AM

On tape, its very good. But I've spend 30 years listening to old blues recordings so I don't tend to hear the imperfections any more. But the difference between CD and my old 33rpm LPs is great. You can hear much more detail on the $5 Robt. Johnson CDs I mentioned, as opposed to the original CBS LPs (cost around $7.50 each in 1969/70). That's progress!
I wanted to play like MJH back then ....wes

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: GUEST,mississippi john hurt
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 02:07 AM

Subject: RE: Tune Req: 'Ain't nobody's business' artist
From: Pene Azul
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 01:25 PM

If you're looking for lyrics to the HJH song, click here.

Jeff