18 Aug 07 - 10:02 AM (#2128524) Subject: Happy Blues From: Leadbelly Hi there, everbody knows that the original blues describes a state of depression or melancholy aso. But I learned that at least there's one so-called happy blues, which is a rarity. I do refer to the "Blues of Happiness" by Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, which is a nice track, recorded in the 50' or 60'. Is anybody aware of a similar 'Happy Blues'? Thanks, Manfred |
18 Aug 07 - 02:07 PM (#2128683) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Mark H. Countless hokum and jug band numbers. There's a lot of ribaldry and celebration of life's pleasures. Ned Ludd and I were in a band, Hokum, that played little else. One example, "Sitting On Top Of the World" has been performed and recorded many different ways. The idea that blues music is all miserable exasperates me. Blues music is a cure for the blues. Even the downer stuff often has an ironic twist or at least some dignity about it. These are aspects of the music that are often missed by performers and teachers, and books are usually misleading on this point. Please allow me to recommend the box sets, JSP7752 and JSP7745, and if you like 'em send me a message and we can discuss this excellent music further. Enjoy! |
19 Aug 07 - 10:08 AM (#2129096) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,leeneia Since I Met You Baby Peace in the Valley How about "I Get a Kick Out of You"? |
19 Aug 07 - 01:42 PM (#2129196) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Leadbelly To Leeneia (the following notes are subjective, i.e. I can be wrong): Peace in the Valley: that's a spiritual with some optimistic hopes but no classical blues. Since a met you baby: More bluesy and with a strong tendency of feeling happy. I get a kick out you: First recorded by Ethel Merman with many follow-ups (Sinatra twice aso).I really don't know whether this can be characterized as (happy) blues. It's about cocaine, isn't it? Sorry, but I even can't remember the tune (I'm german). Therefore I'm not able to make a judgement. Many thanks for your contribution! Manfred |
19 Aug 07 - 04:13 PM (#2129263) Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE RED HOT (Robert Johnson) From: the button There's "THEY’RE RED HOT" by Robert Johnson -- hardly renowned for his cheery output, but quite a funny song, nonetheless. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. I got a girl, say she long and tall. She sleeps in the kitchen with her feets in the hall. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, Yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. She got two for a nickel, got four for a dime. Would sell you more, but they ain't none of mine. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, Yes, she got 'em for sale, yes, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. I got a letter from a girl in the room. Now she got something good she got to bring home soon, now. It’s hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, Yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. (spoken) They're too hot, boy! The billy got back in a bumblebee nest. Ever since that, he can't take his rest, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, you got 'em for sale, I mean, Yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. (spoken) Man don't mess around 'em hot tamales now, (spoken) ‘Cause they too black bad. if you mess around 'em hot tamales, (spoken) I'm onna upset your backbone, put your kidneys to sleep. (spoken) I'll due to break away your liver and dare your heart to beat ‘bout my Hot tamales ‘cause they red hot, yes, they got 'em for sale, I mean, Yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. You know grandma left and grandpa too. well, I wonder what in the world we chillun gon do now. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Me and my babe bought a V-8 Ford. well, we wind that thing all on the runnin board, yes. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. They're too hot boy! Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, now she got 'em for sale. You know the monkey, now the baboon playin in the grass. well, the monkey stuck his finger in that old 'Good Gulf Gas', now. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale. I got a girls, say she long and tall. Sleeps in the kitchen with her feets in the hall. Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, she got 'em for sale, I mean, yes, she got 'em for sale, yeah. |
19 Aug 07 - 08:16 PM (#2129395) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,Art Thieme Sam Lightnin' Hopkins recorded Happy Blues For John Genn when Glenn's 3-orbit flight into apace happened. Art |
20 Aug 07 - 08:34 AM (#2129588) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Duke Jesse 'lonecat' Fuller once told me that all the songs he does are happy blues. He wrote SanFrancisco Blues, so he may have a point! |
20 Aug 07 - 03:48 PM (#2129874) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Leadbelly To the buttom: Indeed, a very funny song by great Robert. But what I meant was characterized by the term happy. That's another category, I do believe. Funny blues might be anothher tread. Supposedly there is a lot of this kind. To Art: the title seems to be a good example although I don't know Lightnin's song. My only Hopkins LP is "Fast life woman". To Duke: Are you really sure about what he told? Perhaps he felt happy when playing his songs, but have been all resp. almost all of his songs happy blues? Or more likely funny songs (see above)which would make a difference to this thread? Apart from this: great for you to have talked to him! To Mark H.: Thanks for your hint! But-again-what I meant are mostly single blues musicians sometimes active in a rare category called happy blues. Like Sonny Terry when he sang:"...I felt so welcome, I felt so happy, it was the beginning, not the end..." Most classical Blues are about the end of love. That's the main reason because we talk about "blues". That's right????? Or wrong? |
20 Aug 07 - 06:48 PM (#2129973) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Dan Schatz "I'm Satisfied" by John Hurt. Dan Schatz |
20 Aug 07 - 07:41 PM (#2130002) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,Jim I don't know if They're Red Hot really qualifies as blues. I think of it more as a rag. San Francisco Bay Blues is certainly not my idea of a blues. While I wouldn't restrict the term "blues" to a twelve bar pattern, it must have some resemblance to a standard blues to be called "blues". |
20 Aug 07 - 09:10 PM (#2130059) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: pdq So far, John Hurt, Jesse Fuller and the duo of Sonny Terry and Brownie have been mentioned. These people all play a high percent 8-bar blues, sometimes one after another after another. The 8-bar format is just as valid a blues as the 12-bar version, although the latter is certainly the "classic" blues. Many true blues are also 16-bar songs, a form more likely done by country performers and White musicians. Doc Watson, especially in the latter years of his son Merle, often played half or more of his show using various blues songs, including some written by Jimmie Rodgers. Many 16-bar blues sound like normal folk or pop songs. If you really want to get a lesson in music, count-out the measures of some of Lonnie Johnson's work from his acoustic "one man, one guitar" era. He uses 8, 12, 16, 24, even 32-bar blues units strung together like building blocks> to give a through-composed quality to something that may sound, to an un-trained ear, to be nothing but a primative blues. Lonnie was a genius, so "don't try this at home" if you stlll have Mel Bay vol.1 in front of you. |
21 Aug 07 - 12:29 PM (#2130458) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,Jim I'd agree that Key To The Highway, Trouble In Mind and I ain't Got No Honey Baby Now are all blues, even though they're 8-bars, but they SOUND like blues, while the ones I mentioned above don't. The same exact accompaniment for They're Red Hot can be used for Arlo's Alice's Restaurant, John Hartford's Boogie, Pink Anderson's Bring It On Down, and the western swing tune You Can't Tame Wild Women. With a few chord changes in the bridge, it works for Jada too. None of these sound very bluesey to me. |
21 Aug 07 - 12:41 PM (#2130467) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,Jim Back to the topic of this discussion; I'm not sure, but I think I heard Michael Cooney sing this: I prayed to the Lord to send me an angel down I prayed to the Lord to send me an angel down He must've been outa angels 'cause he sent me old Thelma Brown. What is it makes me love that Thelma Brown? What is it makes me love that Thelma Brown? Must be the same old thing makes a bulldog hug a hound. The first verse might not sound too happy, but the second one one puts me in a good mood. In a similar vein, Lonnie Johnson sang: What makes my Grandma love my Grandpa so? What makes my Grandma love my Grandpa so? He's got the same jelly-roll he had fifty years ago. Now that's pretty happy. Blues sure aren't all sad. A lot of blues seem to be bragging about sexual bravado: I ain't never had no two women at one time No, I ain't never had no two women at one time To satisfy me takes six, seven eight or nine. |
21 Aug 07 - 02:36 PM (#2130537) Subject: Lyr Add: HAPPY BLUES FOR JOHN GLENN (Hopkins) From: Leadbelly Thus far, thanks to all! For deeper information about the blues I would like to recommend thread " What is Blues?" from year 2000. It's very interesting. Because of Art Thieme's mention here are the lyrics: (Source: gettherhyth.com) Happy Blues For John Glenn Lightnin' Hopkins People I was sittin' this mornin' with this on my mind Said there ain't no livin' man who gone around the world three time But John Glenn did Yes he did He did it, I'm talkin' about him Only did it for fun Half a million dollars made him feel so well He got to eatin' his lunch and couldn't hardly tell He said I feel all right John Glenn said it Everybody was laughin' And dipped in the gritty It was a million prayer went up Prayin' that he would land I looked at a schoolhouse full of men and they didn't know what to say But they said "Let him come back, God Please let him land You know that's the onliest man ever did it And you're the helpin' hand" I see'd him when he left but I didn't see him when he land But I knowed he was doin' all right when they said it is OK to give him a great big hand He'll be in on the ship They say he's on deck His mother say I know my son gonna make it, it ain't never been no mistake You know I wanna tell you somethin', this ain't lyin' You know that man must had on his mind flyin' It ain't nobody will take that for his tryin', unless they gonna build him his own self airplane and they gonna go flyin' They told him "Don't worry, this is true You may miss me for a few minutes but I'll be back to see about you" - He did! Yes he did Yes when he done it, didn't know what had happened the helicopter say - You know they tested that boy's body, even test his heart They knowed he was all right when he was gettin' to start I mean he's made it! He went around the world three times You know he went and got him an airplane. Correction: Blues of Happiness was sung by Brownie. |
21 Aug 07 - 03:26 PM (#2130564) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Jerry Rasmussen I just pulled out an Ella Fitzgerald CD at random (see A Blind Pick thread)and was surprised with one of the tracks. Most of the cuts on the CD are with a big band backing, but this one starts out with a blues guitar introduction. The song was recorded with a small combo and very much in the rhythm and structure of the blues. The title: I'm A Lucky So And So. The whole song is about seeing how miserable others are, and feeling lucky to have a home to go home to, with someone there to greet you. Kinda dissorienting, in a way.. Jerry |
21 Aug 07 - 09:53 PM (#2130793) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: GUEST,Art Thieme I just got off the phone talkin' to Jerry, and that always makes me feel happy whether I'm up or down. About Lightnin' Hopkins: He has always been my favorite blues poet. His lyrics told real stories coming from a deep well of intellectual sensitivity in this man. The songs were topical in nature like the best ballads and they didn't shy away from highlighting human emotions and interactions. This rather incoherent song, HAPPY BLUES FOR JOHN GLENN, was probably done off the top of his head in a rural Texas studio somewhere. He wasn't singing only about the L-word--Love, with double and triple entendres. Listen to his blues called MAMA AND PAPA HOPKINS. In it he comes home to find his parents really pissed off at each other and not communicating very well at all. Lightnin' becomes the mediator and points out that they've been together a long time and ought to make an effort to learn a better way and not toss it all away because of a few ego-driven angry words. It ends with everyone seeing, pretty much, that it'd be better to chill out and not come to blows. At the end, they're all rather happy for having used their heads for once. One album of his I've always loved was called AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN BLUES. Give it a listen... Art |
22 Aug 07 - 06:43 AM (#2130975) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Mark H. Jazz Gillum: "Sarah Jane". |
22 Aug 07 - 06:54 AM (#2130980) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Jerry Rasmussen Art is da man.No art-ifice in him. I'd like to add Bay Rum Blues "Give me a dime so I can buy some more." A lot of the white country blues has a humorous edge to it. Narry an "Ooooh-wheee my baby done left me." I'll second Lightnion' Hopkins... probably my favoritye as well. I had a chance to hear him and sit at the bar next to him on a memorable night at the Village Gate where he was one-third of a triple bill which alsol included The Modern Jazz Quartet and Sabicas, the highly respected Falmenco player. As unlikely a combination as one night at the Fat Black Pussy Cat in the Village where I did a set, along with Tiny Tim and Richie Havens. Jerry |
22 Aug 07 - 08:48 AM (#2131026) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: deadfrett Leadbelly-I always likend Henry Townsend's Fishin'Blues as "Happy Blues". He played Quills or Panpipes and guitar together. How can you not be happy with a sound like that! Then of course there was songs by Barbeque Bob,Jesse "Lonecat" Fuller and Blind Willie McTell. All of them played 12 string Guitar. Ever try slide guitar on a 12 string? What a gas!! Cheers-Dave |
22 Aug 07 - 02:20 PM (#2131309) Subject: Lyr Add: FISHIN' BLUES -and- HAPPY BLUES From: Leadbelly Deadfrett, found this version of Fishing Blues as sung by Tij Mahal. Is this the version of Henry Townsend, too? Funny, indeed, and with some feelings of happiness. (Source: traditionalmusic.co.uk) Fishin' Blues Bet you goin' fishin' all of the time. Baby goin' fishin' too. Bet your life that your sweet wife Gonna catch more fish than you. CHO: Many fish bite if you got good bait. Here's a little tip that I'd like to relate: Many fish bite if you got good bait. I'm a-goin' fishin', yes I'm goin' fishin', And my baby's goin' fishin' too. I went on down to my favorite fishin' hole, Baby grab me a pole and line. Throw my pole on in caught a nine pound catfish, Now I brought him home for suppertime, provin' Baby brother 'bout to run me out of my mind, Sayin', "Can't I go fishin' with you?" I took him on down to the fishin' hole, Now what do you think that he did do? (Chorus 2:) Pulled a great big fish out the bottom of the pond, Now he laughed and jumped 'cause he was real gone. Many fish bite if you got good bait. I'm a-goin' fishin', yes I'm goin' fishin', And my baby's goin' fishin' too. Put him in the pot baby put him in the pan, Honey cook him till he's nice and brown. Make a batch of buttermilk coldcakes mama, Then chew those things and chomp 'em on down, singing, (Repeat first verse.) As sung by Taj Mahal As to slide technique: yes, I tried, but my 12-string Guild said to me, please put your bottle neck away and use normal techniques. So I stopped trying although...it wasn't bad at all. Jerry, thanks for your nice lttle story! And here comes another song by Ella, called Happy Blues. It's rather long. (Source: lyricstime.com) Happy Blues We want to leave you happy Don't want to leave you sad We want to leave you happy Don't want to leave you sad Want to sing some blues But don't want to sing them bad Roy wailed for you He wailed the blues tonight Roy wailed for you He wailed the blues tonight He wailed, he wailed, he wailed 'em just right He talked about a mean woman Oh what a woman was she Talked about a mean woman What a woman was she I've got my chance to talk about a man I'll talk about he He was good to me He was good He was good to me Whoa, so good I don't know much about the blues But I know somewhere There's a little bit of soul in Ella There's a little bit of soul in me There's a little bit of soul in Ella There's a little bit of soul in me Oh somewhere down the line I've had misery Every woman gets misery Every woman is crying Every woman has misery Every woman is crying Crying 'bout a man And the way he did her wrong I had one too I had one too I had one too I had one too He did me wrong, but what did I do I picked up and took patoot Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah I want to go out swinging Swinging the blues tonight Don't want to talk about Mack The Knife Don't want to talk about the snuffing Just want to have fun talking about Things that make you happy Snappy happy happy snappy, that's me Joe Williams sang the blues tune He talked about his woman Joe Williams sang the blues tune He talked about his woman Everybody, everybody pays those dues Have you paid your dues Have you paid your dues Have you paid your dues Have you paid your dues Everybody, somewhere along the line is paying some dues Dues, one and two Dues, doesn't matter nothing Dues, three and four Dues, maybe more, that's all right You're still paying dues So let's stay happy, happy, happy Let's stay happy Go swinging out, swinging out, swinging out Singing the blues Bye-bye Bye-bye It's been a wonderful night tonight Yes, it's been nice One more chorus, just for you I thank you daddy, for coming out I thank you people, for coming out Cause somewhere along the line, everyone will want to shout I want to shout Shout about my troubles I want to shout Shout about my troubles Like you I've paid the dues And I've got double trouble Come on, let's stay happy Come on, clap, let's stay happy Let's sing the happy blues No more sad dues I am happy you are happy too I am happy you are happy too So let's go out with the blues that's swinging Like Count Basie, swing on Like Count Basie, swing on Like Count Basie, swing on Like Count Basie, swing on Swing on, swing out tonight Hey now Hey now Hey now Right on now, with that soul C'mon everybody C'mon and say right on I said right on I said right on Right on Right on Right on Right on Right on Get with it, yeah Get with it, yeah Get with it, yeah Get with it, yeah Get with it Get with it Get with it, c'mon Let's make you happy Happy I've sung these blues, and I'm through Cause I don't know what I'm singing about I don't know what I'm singing about With this happy music This happy music So I'd better leave while I'm happy And say good night to you Goodnight Goodnight Goodnight Goodnight Goodnight |
22 Aug 07 - 03:01 PM (#2131356) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: MissouriMud Fishin Blues is indeed happy, unless you consider the lot of one who has nothing better to do than fish only to be outdone by his baby brother, as blues worthy. It may be a bit more raggish than bluesy, but it is a great song. Taj's version is very similar to Henry Thomas' original other than the latter's use (at least in the recording I heard) of a fast high chord accompaniment with a break on the quills, a sound reproduced by Canned Heat in Going Up the Country (which appears to have been a reworking of another Thomas tune) |
22 Aug 07 - 03:13 PM (#2131360) Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA AND PAPA HOPKINS From: Leadbelly To Art: To me, Mama and Papa Hopkins (see below)seems to be a more funny blues than a happy one although to the end Lightnin' became some kind of happy: ...and it made me feel so good, man, I went truckin' on down the line You know I wa't'nt gonna leave 'til I get them old folks together, whoa yeah, and get bad things of they (their??) mind.. In so far, you are right, Art. Mama and Papa Hopkins I wonder why my mama don't love my papa no more? I guess my daddy been doing somethin' wrong I wonder why my mama don't love my papa no more? Yeah, my daddy must been doing somethin' wrong You know, I asked my mama, I said "Mama, what's the trouble?" She looked at me and said, "Boy, you'd better go head on" I looked at my mama, she looked at me unconcerned, I told my mama, "Don't forget mama, you never gets too old to learn" That time I was talkin' my daddy, walked in the door, Said, "Let that boy alone, 'cause he's tellin' you something right, don't ya know?" Mmmmm, you never gets too old to learn Still, I say my papa must-a done somethin' wrong, oh yeah, to 'cause my mama's heart to ruin Well, you take two old people that's been together a long time, they don't want children's or nobody else messin' round their bidness See, that's what I'm talkin bout! But, the reason why I was talkin', 'cause my mama, I didn't want her to feel too bad over what papa do And I don't want papa to feel too bad over what mama do And I had-a tell 'em You two people is livin', you been together for a great, long time You two people's been livin', yeah you been together for a great, long time Yeah, you know you had four boys and one girl to raise, now, ya better get bad things off your mind Y'all just get together and try to get along, 'cause, you ain't got many more days here You know, then papa told mama, "come, sit down on my knee" Said, "Little things I've did, will you please, forgive me?" And it made me feel so good, man, I went truckin' on down the line You know I wa't'nt gonna leave 'til I get them old folks together, whoa yeah, and get bad things of they mind Sho'h 'nough (Source: blueslyrics.tripod.com) |
23 Aug 07 - 09:39 AM (#2131921) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: deadfrett Leadbelly- There's a recording of H.Thomas on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music which is available from the Folkways/Smithsonian Series. Origin of Jazz Library used to have"Henry Thomas Sings Texas Blues"(OJL 3).I've always liked the way Taj makes a song his own. Fishing Blues Went up on the hill 'bout 12 o'clock Reached right back an got me a pole Went to the hardware, got me a hook Put that line right on that hook Chorus Say you been a fishin' all the time I'm a-going fishin' too I'll bet your life, your lovin' wife I'll catch more fish that you Any fish bite got yo' bait Here's a little somethin' I'd like to relate Any fish bites you got a fish I'm a goin' fishin' Yes I'm goin' fishin' I'm a goin' fishin' too Looked down the river 'bour one o'clock I got so hungry didn't know what to do I'm gonna get me a catfish too (Chorus) Put on the skillet Put on the lid Mamas gonna cook a little shortnin' bread (Chorus) I believe this was in the key of G Missouri Mud-In 1929 when this was recorded ,it wasn't the case of nothing better to do, it was subsistence. Or as we in the Ozarks say, "Gettin' by". Cheers - Dave |
23 Aug 07 - 10:48 AM (#2131976) Subject: RE: Happy Blues From: Duke To Leadbelly: That's what he told me. I lived at a club that he played at for a week and learned a few tricks from him. He was a very strange man! That's the nice thing about living in a folk club, or over it actually, you get to meet all kinds of performers. I met quite a few during the sixties. |