Charley Patton (between April 1887 and 1891 – April 28, 1934), also known a… Read Full Bio ↴Charley Patton (between April 1887 and 1891 – April 28, 1934), also known as Charlie Patton, was an American Delta blues musician. He is considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", and is credited with creating an enduring body of American music and personally inspiring just about every Delta blues man (Palmer, 1995). Musicologist Robert Palmer considers him among the most important musicians that America produced in the twentieth century. Many sources, including musical releases and his gravestone, spell his name “Charley” even though the musician himself spelled his name "Charlie".
Patton was born in Hinds County, Mississippi, near the town of Edwards, and lived most of his life in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. Some sources say he was born May 1, 1891, but there is some debate about this, and the years 1887 and 1894 have also been suggested.
Patton's parentage and race have been the subject of debate. Although born to Bill and Annie Patton, locally he was regarded as having been fathered by former slave Henderson Chatmon, many of whose other children also became popular Delta musicians both as solo acts and as members of groups such as the Mississippi Sheiks. Biographer John Fahey describes Patton as having "light skin and Caucasian features." Though Patton was considered African-American, because of his light complexion there have been rumors that he was Mexican, or possibly a full-blood Cherokee, a theory endorsed by Howlin' Wolf. In actuality, Patton was a mix of white, black, and Cherokee (one of his grandmothers was a full-blooded Cherokee). Patton himself sang in "Down the Dirt Road Blues" of having gone to "the Nation" and "the Territo'"—meaning the Cherokee Nation portion of the Indian Territory (which became part of the state of Oklahoma in 1907), where a number of Black Indians tried unsuccessfully to claim a place on the tribal rolls and thereby obtain land.
In 1900, his family moved 100 miles (160 km) north to the legendary 10,000-acre (40 km2) Dockery Plantation sawmill and cotton farm near Ruleville, Mississippi. It was here that both John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf fell under the Patton spell as well as Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Fiddlin' Joe Martin. It was also here that Robert Johnson played and was given his first guitar. At Dockery, Charley fell under the tutelage of Henry Sloan, who had a new, unusual style of playing music which today would be considered very early blues. Charley followed Henry Sloan around, and, by the time he was about 19, had become an accomplished performer and songwriter in his own right, having already composed "Pony Blues," a seminal song of the era.
Robert Palmer describes Patton as a "jack-of all-trades bluesman" who played "deep blues, white hillbilly songs, nineteenth-century ballads, and other varieties of black and white country dance music with equal facility". He was extremely popular across the Southern United States and also performed annually in Chicago, Illinois and, in 1934, New York City. In contrast to the itinerant wandering of most blues musicians of his time, Patton played scheduled engagements at plantations and taverns. Long before Jimi Hendrix impressed audiences with flashy guitar playing, Patton gained notoriety for his showmanship, often playing with the guitar down on his knees, behind his head, or behind his back. Although Patton was a small man at about 5 foot 5,[8] his gravelly voice was rumored to have been loud enough to carry 500 yards without amplification. Patton's gritty bellowing was a major influence on the singing style of his young friend Chester Burnett, who went on to gain fame in Chicago as Howlin' Wolf.
Patton settled in Holly Ridge, Mississippi with his common-law wife and recording partner Bertha Lee in 1933. He died on the Heathman-Dedham plantation near Indianola on April 28, 1934 and is buried in Holly Ridge (both towns are located in Sunflower County). Patton's death certificate states that he died of a mitral valve disorder. Bertha Lee is not mentioned on the certificate, the only informant listed being one Willie Calvin. His death was not reported in the newspapers. A memorial headstone was erected on Patton's grave (the location of which was identified by the cemetery caretaker C. Howard who claimed to have been present at the burial) paid for by musician John Fogerty through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in July, 1990. The spelling of Patton's name was dictated by Jim O'Neal, who also composed the Patton epitaph.
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton (2001) is a boxed set collecting Patton's recorded works. It also featured recordings by many of his friends and associates. The set won three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Best Historical Album, Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and Best Album Notes. Another collection of Patton recordings, released under Catfish Records, is titled The Definitive Charley Patton.
Charley Patton's song "Pony Blues" (1929) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2006. The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
In 2013 Jack White's Third Man Records teamed up with Document Records to reissue The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and The Mississippi Sheiks.
The Mississippi Blues Trail placed its first historic marker on Charley Patton's grave in Holly Ridge, Mississippi, in recognition of his legendary status as a bluesman and his importance in the development of the blues in Mississippi. It placed another historic marker at the site where the Peavine Railroad intersects with Highway 446 in Boyle, Mississippi, designating it as a second site related to Patton on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the original lyrics of Patton's "Peavine Blues" that describe the railway branch of Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, which ran south from Dockery Plantation to Boyle. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape.
Tributes
"Blind Owl" Alan Wilson & Canned Heat covered Patton songs "Pony Blues", "Shake It and Break It" and "Yellow Bee".
Bob Dylan dedicated his song "High Water (For Charley Patton)", on his 2001 album "Love and Theft", to Patton.
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band internationally touring American country blues recording/touring artists, fronted by Kentucky Colonel, The Reverend Peyton, produced a tribute recording to Charley Patton: Peyton on Patton, which was released July 19, 2011. The album entered the Billboard Blues Album chart at #7.
French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel refers to Charley Patton in the song "Cent Ans de Plus" on his 1999 album Hors-Saison.
Indie rock band Gomez recorded a song on their 2006 release How We Operate, entitled "Charley Patton Songs".
There is a picture of Charley Patton in the recording studio used for The White Stripes' album Icky Thump. It can be seen in the background of the short demo video on their website
Jule Brown recorded an updated arrangement of Patton's "Green River Blues", on their 2006 release Smoke and Mirrors.
Robert Crumb narrated Patton's life in a comic book.
The 1980s NYC Punk/Blues band Hi Sheriffs of Blue (which included visual artists Mark Dagley, George Condo and Elliott Sharp) was named after the Patton song "High Sheriff Blues".
Discography
Gennett Records, Richmond, Indiana, 1929
"Pony Blues"
"Mississippi Boweavil Blues"
"Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues"
"Down The Dirt Road Blues"
"Banty Rooster Blues"
"Pea Vine Blues"
"It Won't Be Long"
"Tom Rushen Blues"
"A Spoonful Blues"
"Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama)"
"Prayer Of Death Part 1 & 2"
"Lord I'm Discouraged"
"I'm Goin' Home"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1929
"Going To Move To Alabama"
"Elder Greene Blues"
"Circle Round The Moon"
"Devil Sent The Rain Blues"
"Mean Black Cat Blues"
"Frankie And Albert"
"Some These Days I'll Be Gone"
"Green River Blues"
"Hammer Blues"
"Magnolia Blues"
"When Your Way Gets Dark"
"Heart Like Railroad Steel"
"Some Happy Day"
"You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 1"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 2"
"High Water Everywhere Part 1"
"High Water Everywhere Part 2"
"Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker"
"I Shall Not Be Moved"
"Rattlesnake Blues"
"Running Wild Blues"
"Joe Kirby"
"Mean Black Moan"
"Farrell Blues"
"Come Back Corrina"
"Tell Me Man Blues"
"Be True Be True Blues"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1930
"Dry Well Blues"
"Some Summer Day"
"Moon Going Down"
"Bird Nest Bound"
Vocalion Records, New York City, New York, 1934
"Jersey Bull Blues"
"High Sheriff Blues"
"Stone Pony Blues"
"34 Blues"
"Love My Stuff"
"Revenue Man Blues"
"Oh Death"
"Troubled 'Bout My Mother"
"Poor Me"
"Hang It On The Wall"
"Yellow Bee"
"Mind Reader Blues"
Patton was born in Hinds County, Mississippi, near the town of Edwards, and lived most of his life in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. Some sources say he was born May 1, 1891, but there is some debate about this, and the years 1887 and 1894 have also been suggested.
Patton's parentage and race have been the subject of debate. Although born to Bill and Annie Patton, locally he was regarded as having been fathered by former slave Henderson Chatmon, many of whose other children also became popular Delta musicians both as solo acts and as members of groups such as the Mississippi Sheiks. Biographer John Fahey describes Patton as having "light skin and Caucasian features." Though Patton was considered African-American, because of his light complexion there have been rumors that he was Mexican, or possibly a full-blood Cherokee, a theory endorsed by Howlin' Wolf. In actuality, Patton was a mix of white, black, and Cherokee (one of his grandmothers was a full-blooded Cherokee). Patton himself sang in "Down the Dirt Road Blues" of having gone to "the Nation" and "the Territo'"—meaning the Cherokee Nation portion of the Indian Territory (which became part of the state of Oklahoma in 1907), where a number of Black Indians tried unsuccessfully to claim a place on the tribal rolls and thereby obtain land.
In 1900, his family moved 100 miles (160 km) north to the legendary 10,000-acre (40 km2) Dockery Plantation sawmill and cotton farm near Ruleville, Mississippi. It was here that both John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf fell under the Patton spell as well as Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Fiddlin' Joe Martin. It was also here that Robert Johnson played and was given his first guitar. At Dockery, Charley fell under the tutelage of Henry Sloan, who had a new, unusual style of playing music which today would be considered very early blues. Charley followed Henry Sloan around, and, by the time he was about 19, had become an accomplished performer and songwriter in his own right, having already composed "Pony Blues," a seminal song of the era.
Robert Palmer describes Patton as a "jack-of all-trades bluesman" who played "deep blues, white hillbilly songs, nineteenth-century ballads, and other varieties of black and white country dance music with equal facility". He was extremely popular across the Southern United States and also performed annually in Chicago, Illinois and, in 1934, New York City. In contrast to the itinerant wandering of most blues musicians of his time, Patton played scheduled engagements at plantations and taverns. Long before Jimi Hendrix impressed audiences with flashy guitar playing, Patton gained notoriety for his showmanship, often playing with the guitar down on his knees, behind his head, or behind his back. Although Patton was a small man at about 5 foot 5,[8] his gravelly voice was rumored to have been loud enough to carry 500 yards without amplification. Patton's gritty bellowing was a major influence on the singing style of his young friend Chester Burnett, who went on to gain fame in Chicago as Howlin' Wolf.
Patton settled in Holly Ridge, Mississippi with his common-law wife and recording partner Bertha Lee in 1933. He died on the Heathman-Dedham plantation near Indianola on April 28, 1934 and is buried in Holly Ridge (both towns are located in Sunflower County). Patton's death certificate states that he died of a mitral valve disorder. Bertha Lee is not mentioned on the certificate, the only informant listed being one Willie Calvin. His death was not reported in the newspapers. A memorial headstone was erected on Patton's grave (the location of which was identified by the cemetery caretaker C. Howard who claimed to have been present at the burial) paid for by musician John Fogerty through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in July, 1990. The spelling of Patton's name was dictated by Jim O'Neal, who also composed the Patton epitaph.
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton (2001) is a boxed set collecting Patton's recorded works. It also featured recordings by many of his friends and associates. The set won three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Best Historical Album, Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and Best Album Notes. Another collection of Patton recordings, released under Catfish Records, is titled The Definitive Charley Patton.
Charley Patton's song "Pony Blues" (1929) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2006. The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
In 2013 Jack White's Third Man Records teamed up with Document Records to reissue The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and The Mississippi Sheiks.
The Mississippi Blues Trail placed its first historic marker on Charley Patton's grave in Holly Ridge, Mississippi, in recognition of his legendary status as a bluesman and his importance in the development of the blues in Mississippi. It placed another historic marker at the site where the Peavine Railroad intersects with Highway 446 in Boyle, Mississippi, designating it as a second site related to Patton on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the original lyrics of Patton's "Peavine Blues" that describe the railway branch of Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, which ran south from Dockery Plantation to Boyle. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape.
Tributes
"Blind Owl" Alan Wilson & Canned Heat covered Patton songs "Pony Blues", "Shake It and Break It" and "Yellow Bee".
Bob Dylan dedicated his song "High Water (For Charley Patton)", on his 2001 album "Love and Theft", to Patton.
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band internationally touring American country blues recording/touring artists, fronted by Kentucky Colonel, The Reverend Peyton, produced a tribute recording to Charley Patton: Peyton on Patton, which was released July 19, 2011. The album entered the Billboard Blues Album chart at #7.
French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel refers to Charley Patton in the song "Cent Ans de Plus" on his 1999 album Hors-Saison.
Indie rock band Gomez recorded a song on their 2006 release How We Operate, entitled "Charley Patton Songs".
There is a picture of Charley Patton in the recording studio used for The White Stripes' album Icky Thump. It can be seen in the background of the short demo video on their website
Jule Brown recorded an updated arrangement of Patton's "Green River Blues", on their 2006 release Smoke and Mirrors.
Robert Crumb narrated Patton's life in a comic book.
The 1980s NYC Punk/Blues band Hi Sheriffs of Blue (which included visual artists Mark Dagley, George Condo and Elliott Sharp) was named after the Patton song "High Sheriff Blues".
Discography
Gennett Records, Richmond, Indiana, 1929
"Pony Blues"
"Mississippi Boweavil Blues"
"Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues"
"Down The Dirt Road Blues"
"Banty Rooster Blues"
"Pea Vine Blues"
"It Won't Be Long"
"Tom Rushen Blues"
"A Spoonful Blues"
"Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama)"
"Prayer Of Death Part 1 & 2"
"Lord I'm Discouraged"
"I'm Goin' Home"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1929
"Going To Move To Alabama"
"Elder Greene Blues"
"Circle Round The Moon"
"Devil Sent The Rain Blues"
"Mean Black Cat Blues"
"Frankie And Albert"
"Some These Days I'll Be Gone"
"Green River Blues"
"Hammer Blues"
"Magnolia Blues"
"When Your Way Gets Dark"
"Heart Like Railroad Steel"
"Some Happy Day"
"You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 1"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 2"
"High Water Everywhere Part 1"
"High Water Everywhere Part 2"
"Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker"
"I Shall Not Be Moved"
"Rattlesnake Blues"
"Running Wild Blues"
"Joe Kirby"
"Mean Black Moan"
"Farrell Blues"
"Come Back Corrina"
"Tell Me Man Blues"
"Be True Be True Blues"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1930
"Dry Well Blues"
"Some Summer Day"
"Moon Going Down"
"Bird Nest Bound"
Vocalion Records, New York City, New York, 1934
"Jersey Bull Blues"
"High Sheriff Blues"
"Stone Pony Blues"
"34 Blues"
"Love My Stuff"
"Revenue Man Blues"
"Oh Death"
"Troubled 'Bout My Mother"
"Poor Me"
"Hang It On The Wall"
"Yellow Bee"
"Mind Reader Blues"
Prayer of Death Pt .1
Charley Patton Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Charley Patton:
'34 Blues I ain't gonna tell nobody, '34 have done for me I…
A Spoonful (spoken: I'm about to go to jail about this spoonful) In…
Banty Rooster Blues I'm gonna buy me a banty, put him at my…
Big legged woman Big legged woman now, where have you been? I ain't had…
Big Road Blues Cryin', ain't goin' down this big road by myself Now don't…
Bird Nest Bound Come on, mama, go to the edge of town Come on,…
Black Horse Blues Tell me what time do the trains come through your…
Blues I'm goin' away, to a world unknown I'm goin' away, to…
Canned Heat Blues Crying, canned heat, canned heat, mama, crying, sure, Lord, …
Dark Road Blues I'm goin' away, to a world unknown I'm goin' away, to…
Devil Sent the Rain Blues Good Lord send the sunshine, Devil he send the rain Good…
Down the Dirt Road I'm goin' away, to a world unknown I'm goin' away, to…
Dry Well Blues Way down in Lula , hard livin' has done hit…
Elder Green Blues I see a river rollin' like a log I wade up…
Elder Greene Blues Elder Greene is (take your time), Elder Greene is gone Gone…
Farrell Blues I'm going to Farrell where I can have my fun I'm…
Fixin' to Die Blues I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm…
Forty Four I wore my forty-four so long, I've made my shoulder…
Frankie and Albert Well, Frankie went down to Albert's house, "How late Albert…
Going To Move To Alabama I'm goin' to move to Alabama I'm goin' to move to…
Green River Blues I see a river rollin' like a log I wade up…
Hammer Blues Gonna buy me a hammock, carry it underneath through the…
Hang It On The Wall Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang…
Heart Like Railroad Steel My babe's got a heart: like a piece of railroad…
Hig Sheriff Blues Get in trouble at Belzoni, there ain't no use a-screamin' An…
High Sherrif Blues Get in trouble at Belzoni, there ain't no use a screamin'…
High Water Everywhere Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me do…
High Water Everywhere Part 1 Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me…
High Water Everywhere Part 11 Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me do…
High Water Everywhere Part 2 Backwater at Blytheville, backed up all around Backwater at …
High Water Everywhere Part I Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me do…
I When I was in Missouri Would not let me be Wouldn't rest…
I Know My Time Ain't Long Just look just look what the Lord done done Just look…
I Shall Not Be Moved …Shall not, I shall not be moved. I shall not, I…
I Will Turn Your Money Green When I was in Missouri Would not let me be Wouldn't rest…
I'm Goin' Home Goin' home, goin' home, goin' home If I never, never see…
It Won It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah It won't be long…
It Won’t Be Long It won't be long yeah, yeah, yeah It won't be long…
Jesue Is A Dying-Bed Maker He's a dying bed maker He's a dying bed maker He's a…
Jesus Got His Arms Around Me One day as I was a-walkin', lordy lordy Down the lonesome…
Jesus Is Dying Now in the time of dying I don't want nobody to…
Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed Now in the time of dying I don't want nobody to…
Jim Lee Blues Went away up the river some forty mile or more I…
Joe Kirby Said I'll be your monkey baby, don't wanna be your…
Lord I'm Discouraged Sometimes I get discouraged and think my works in vain But…
Love My Stuff I love my stuff babe, I want you to hop I…
M & O Blues I leave here I'm going to catch that M&O Now when…
M&O Blues I leave here I′m going to catch that M&O Now when…
Magnolia Blues When your window gets dark, baby, (hang your lights up…
Mama Some people say that the weary blues ain't bad Some people…
Mean Black Blues Tell me what time do the trains come through your…
Mean Black Cat Blues It's a mean black cat lord a clawing on my…
Mean Black Moan It's a mean black moan: and it's lying front of…
Mind Reader Blues Baby, I can see just what′s on your mind Baby, I…
Missippi Bo Weavil Blues It's a little boll weevil, see him movinin' a-in the,…
Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues Sees a little boll weevil keeps movin' in the, Lordie! You…
Mississippi Boll Weevil It's a little boll weevil, see him movinin' a-in the,…
Mississippi Boweavil Blues Sees a little boll weevil keeps movin' in the, Lordie! You…
Moon Going Down Oh well, where were you now, baby, Clarksdale mill burned do…
Oh Just look Just look what the Lord has done Lord I know Lord…
Pea Vine Blues I think I heard the Pea Vine when it blowed I…
Pony Blues Baby, saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare Baby, saddle…
Poor Me Yes on me, it's poor me, you must take pity…
Prayer Of Death The Prayer of Death Toll the bell Call on them to toll…
Prayer Of Death - Part 2 Oh, the prayer of death Oh Lord, oh, oh, oh, Lordy I…
Rattlesnake Blues Just like a rattlesnake, I say mama Lordy, in the…
Revenue Man Blues Lord, the revenue men is ridin', boy, you'd better look…
Runnin' Wild Blues I′m running wild, that mighty boy That mighty boy, he's runn…
Running Wild Blues I'm running wild, that mighty boy That mighty boy, he's runn…
Screamin Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Screamin and Hollerin the Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Screamin' & Hollerin' Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Screamin' and Holerin' the Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson on…
Screamin' and Hollerin' Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Screaming And Hollering The Blues Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson…
Shake it Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang…
Shake It and Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama) You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang…
Shake It Break It Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang…
Shake It, Break It You can shake it, you can break it, You can hang…
Sitting On Top Of The World Was all the summer, and all the fall, Just trying to…
Snatch It And Grab It I bought my gal a hobble skirt Boy, she dressed up…
Some Happy Day Some day, some happy day, from sin set free I'll live…
Some Of These Days Some of these days, you′re gonna miss your honey Some of…
Some Summer Day You are, you are my daisy, you're my lullaby Come sun…
Some Summer Day Part 1 It was late last spring, one sad old day Oh when…
Some These Day's I'll Be Gone Some these days you're gonna miss your honey Some these days…
Some These Days I'll Be Gone (Take 1) Some of these days, you're gonna miss your honey Some of…
Spoonful (spoken: I'm about to go to jail about this spoonful) In…
Stone Pony Blues Baby saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare I'm…
Tom Rushen Blues Laid down last night, hopin I would have my peace,…
Voice Throwin' Blues Come in at dawn, stay out late If I call you…
Walkin' Blues Well got up this morning, feeling 'round for my shoes Know…
We All Gonna Face The Rising Sun I see four and twenty elders On their knees I see four…
Yellow Bee Yellow bee yellow bee please come back to me Yellow bee…
You Gonna Need Somebody When You die You're gonna need somebody when you come to die You're gonna…
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Myrle Wulf
The Prayer of Death
Toll the bell
Call on them to toll the bell again
Tell them sing a little song like this
Take a stand, take a stand, take a stand
If I never, never see you any more
Take a stand, take a stand, take a stand
I'll meet you on that other shore
I got his word, got his word, got his word
If I never, never see you anymore
I got his word, got his word, got his word
I'll meet you on that other shore
I'm satisfied, satisfied, satisfied
If I never, never see you anymore
I'm satisfied, satisfied, satisfied
I'll meet you on that other shore
I have a right, have a right, have a right
If I never, never see you anymore
I have a right, have a right, have a right
I'll meet you on that other shore
Devil hell, devil hell, devil hell
If I never, never see you anymore
Devil hell, devil hell, devil hell
I'll meet you on that Kingdom shore
I got his word, got his word, got his word
If I never, never see you anymore
I got his word, got his word, got his word
I'll meet you on that Kingdom shore
Now here my hand, here my hand, here my hand
If I never, never see you anymore
Oh here my hand, here my hand, here my hand
I'll meet you on that Kingdom shore
Here where I hear old Reverend that stopped and went in prayer
Now hear him calling the Lord
"Oh Lord, oh Lordy"
Guerrilla gorilla soldier.
I wish humanity had invented recording equipment earlier than it did. What gems have we missed.
Blue Camus
First known recorded human voice was from a Frenchman singing into a phonautograph in 1860. It was recorded on smoked wax paper and there was no technology available to play it back until recently. At the time, they had no expectation of it ever being heard, but they preserved it anyway as squiggly lines on a paper. It hardly sounds human, but no matter. I wish they had gotten Abraham Lincoln's voice.
Norman Leach
David Smith Your heart is in the right place...Thanks for restoring my faith in humanity.
you ya tube tak
these voices were the last to be uninfluenced by recorded music. do you think something is lost or gained on the whole
Bluesmusic Andwhatnot
@you ya tube tak It's romantic to think that Charley Patton and other blues musicians were not influenced by commercial and/or recorded music, but that simply isn't true in reality. Yes, they are carrying on somewhat of a southern musical tradition in the way they play their instruments but:
1. Delta blues slide guitar was a fairly direct chip off of Hawaiian lap steel guitar, which these guys were most likely familiar with through recordings (Son House even referred to his style as (And this is paraphrased) "achieving an effect like that of Hawaiian lap steel guitar")
2. Many of these guys (Charley Patton, Henry Thomas, Blind Lemon Jefferson, etc etc) had songs that were pretty directly based off of those slightly older, urban female-sung blues records, as well as vaudeville and ragtime numbers. Charley Patton's song 'Tom Rushen' is based pretty directly off of Ma Rainey's 'Booze and Blues' (Recorded in New York in 1924), Henry Thomas' 'Fishing Blues' was originally a vaudeville number, most likely written by Chris Smith, and Blind Lemon Jefferson's 'Black Snake Moan' was inspired by Victoria Spivey's 'Black Snake Blues'.
you ya tube tak
@Bluesmusic Andwhatnot understood , I wasnt romanticizing per se. The voice is what im referring to mainly. Then you get into the question of vocal styles and the Railways dilution of regional accents.. plus the body of thought that links field hollers with west african islamic call to prayer.. it doesnt end.. Charlie Patton and his contemporaries though wouldn't have encountered recorded music until well into their twenties. thats not to say they weren't highly savvy of each other.. Taj Mahal reffered to Pattons style as 'a masking'.. in that he'd 'create a character with his voice and then comment on what this character was doing'
Sharon Nolan
This is a treasure. The blues did not happen just yesterday and these pictures are in no way meant as disrespectful. This is one of the most influential men in music. He taught the next generation how to play the blues. God rest his dear soul.
Edward M
Thank you very much for this great remaster. Congratulations, you did an excellent job!! I wonder if you are planning to do the second part too? It would be great to listen to both of them, back to back, with this clarity. I know, I am being pushy....that's what happens when you do a great job, people wants more of it. :)
Carl Fredriksson
this is my absolute favorite song of all time, absolutely beautiful. makes me feel good
flashgordon
I like the way he starts it; i like those blues licks to start a good blues song; he does lots of good stuff throughout the song as well, integrating his singing with the guitar.