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25 Jan 02 - 03:11 PM (#635464) Subject: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Coyote Breath David Scotese tells of a musician selling his soul to the Devil at 'the Crossroad' at midnight. The quote is credited to Tommy Johnson (1896 to 1956). The essay, though is about Robert Johnson (1911 to 1938). I just acquired a book called "The Big Book of Blues". In that book, under the name Tommy Johnson there is a biographical note. According to TBBoB, Tommy Johnson typically made references to having "sold his soul" to the devil to learn how to play. Tommy Johnson had a serious alcohol addiction problem which essentially kept him down in Mississippi and unknown to the broader public. He had two 'hits' Big Road Blues and Canned Heat Blues. In Canned Heat Blues he makes reference to his drinking. Tommy Johnson was a contemporary of Son House and knew him and he was also a contemporary (briefly) of Robert Johnson's. The blues/rock band Canned Heat took their name from Tommy Johnson's hit. Tommy Johnson is the name of the young blues guitarist in O Brother. I always thought that his character was supposed to be Robert Johnson. Is it possible that the Robert Johnson selling his soul to the Devil story is the result of confusion with Tommy Johnson's stories about doing just that? I'd like to hear some more about Tommy Johnson and his career, especially about his association with Son House and Charlie Patton. So can anyone guide me to a good source? Thanks CB |
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25 Jan 02 - 04:33 PM (#635538) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Sorcha There is a little bit at The Blue Flame Cafe. |
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25 Jan 02 - 07:57 PM (#635699) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Stewie Try David Evans 'Tommy Johnson' London, Studio Vista 1971. This is long out of print, but you should be able to access it from a library. Evans' 'Big Road Blues' and Jeff Todd Titon's 'Down Home Blues' also have material on Johnson, but mainly tune and textual analysis. --Stewie. |
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25 Jan 02 - 08:44 PM (#635717) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Rolfyboy6 Tommy Johnson is a very important figure in the early blues. He had a lyrical quality that set him apart. He influenced many following blues musciains. His "Big Road Blues is a standard to this day. Here's another short bio of Tommy Johnson. And here's AMG's bio of Tommy There is one funny inaccuracy from automatic computer filing: it lists Tommy as having worked with KC and the sunsine band--Tommy goes disco! |
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26 Jan 02 - 12:13 AM (#635867) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Coyote Breath Wow! Rolfyboy6, what a great site! I'm gonna get that CD ASAP and Sorcha, you came through again! The Blue Flame stuff is almost exactly what is in The Big Book of Blues. My youngest daughter sent me the book (she works for Last Gasp out in SF) and I've been thumbing through it nightly. Stewie, thanks for the info about David Evan's book, my local library has access to quite a broad series of collections, public and private. I should be able to learn more about this wild man. Robert Johnson has held my interest for many years but I must have been asleep when it comes to Tommy Johnson. Given what I've learned, I have even MORE respect for the Coen brothers 'scholarship' than before. Thanks folks! CB |
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26 Jan 02 - 04:41 AM (#635933) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: GUEST,Lionel The book "Tommy Johnson" is currently in the catalogue of Red Lick Records a UK Internet and mail order company specialising in blues CDs and related stuff. www.redlick records.com Also see the book "Chasin' that Devil Music" by Gayle Dean Wardlow, Backbeat Books ISBN 0-87930-552-5 (also at Red Lick) it has a chapter "Leddell Johnson Remembers his Brother Tommy" and a chapter which is an interview with Ishmon Bracey in which he discusses Tommy.("Four, Five Puppies, one little Shaggy Hound")Bracey became a Christian preacher in later life but makes no mention of Johnsons supposed pact with the Devil, a fact that had it been true you would have felt he would mention. I quote from the book: " I was working one day down there on South Street (in 1956.) He, (Tommy)told me to pray for him, and he want to stop, (drinking)but he look like he couldn't. I told him he had to make up his mind and pray too. "Thank the Lord I told him, and he swear that he would. And he wants to be preachin' like I was, he say." So it would appear that Tommy sought redemption from the evil in his life but no specific mention of the Devil. |
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26 Jan 02 - 11:34 AM (#636049) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: Rolfyboy6 The Redlick Records site is now an advertising page, anybody know what happened? Did they go somewhere else? Is this a temporary glitch? They were/are a great store. |
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27 Jan 02 - 08:27 AM (#636551) Subject: RE: Tommy Johnson quote by D. Scotese From: GUEST,Lionel Hi Rolfy - you're right about the redlick site, it's coming up as an ad page, even though the web address given in their Jan/Feb 2002 catalogue is www.redlickrecords.com Weird. I'll phone them monday (28th) when they open up after the weekend and check it out. I'll keep you posted. |