Home › Forums › Our Blues Roots – The History of the Blues › Our Blues Roots: Somebody Loan Me a Song
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August 30, 2018 at 1:44 pm #108456
This one started out about Fenton Robinson and his song, “Somebody Loan Me a Dime”; there’s a section down there about him, but while his music’s great, I didn’t find a lot to say. He was a musician’s musician, lots of people showed up when he played. His career was interrupted by a car wreck that changed his life in a lot of ways, and from what I can tell, in spite of his incredible talent, he wasn’t happy.
So I decided to do a recap of the songs I’d created playlists for, thinking a lot of people probably hadn’t seen the corresponding Blues Roots. That’s the bulk of this one, but there are a few other little things for your consideration.
About a month ago my workplace seating shifted around and I went from a quiet spot alone on one floor to the middle of a busy floor. I haven’t quite gotten used to it yet. I felt funny putting on headphones, typing away while tapping my feet, grunting and shouting (I’ve cut way back on the grunting). I’m getting more comfortable here and should be back in the groove before long. You should have seen this a week ago.
Thanks for checking this out. The next Blues Roots will appear on Thursday, September 20.
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This Boyd Gilmore song (vocals), with Ike Turner’s band (Ike on piano), James Scott Jr (guitar), Jesse Knight Jr. (bass) and Jessie “Cleanhead” Love or Henry Harris (drums) was recorded on January 23, 1952. In one of the first instances of creative overdubbing, it features a guitar intro and solo from Elmore James’ “Please Find My Baby,” which was grafted on during the mastering on April 13, 1952. The Bihari brothers were the producers’ behind this innovation. If you want a quick slice of blues history, skip down to the “Pseudonyms and royalties” section of the article in their name.
Elmore James’ “Please Find My Baby” was recorded January 25, 1952, also with Ike Turner on piano.
The flip of “All In My Dreams” was a cover of Robert Lockwood’s variant of his stepfather’s Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Boyd Gilmore (vocal and guitar) with Earl Hooker (guitar), Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins (piano), unknown bass, Willie Nix (drums), Memphis, July 15, 1953 (listing on video must be for other songs at same session, no harmonica or saxophone on here, none needed)
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Other songs Elmore James recorded on the same date as “Please Find My Baby” were “Hawaiian Boogie (Part 1),” “Lost Woman Blues” (another version of “Please Find My Baby”), “Hand In Hand” (the one released as Flair 1031 below, it is killer), “Long Tall Woman Blues” (compare with EP183; there are two versions of this song but this is the one that’s recorded with the Broomdusters, so I think I’ve got the right one for this date), “Rock My Baby Right,” “My Baby’s Gone” and two versions of “One More Drink.”
This is the version of “Long Tall Woman” that reminds me of EP183.
We hear him use the words “hand in hand” in this song. I notice the guitar intro was pretty similar too. There are quite a few little overlaps on this date, showing us a little of his thought processes.
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Boyd Atkins and J.T. Brown (saxophones), Johnny Jones (piano), Ransom Knowling (bass), Odie Payne (drums), Chicago, August 1953
Johnny Big Moose Walker (piano) unknown bass and drums, New York City, February 21, 1963
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These songs are ones that caught my ear. They were either ones I played and wanted to hear variations of, like “44 Blues” and “Work Song,” ones I want to learn like “One Room Country Shack” or “Catfish Blues” (I’ve since learned it), or just songs of general interest to me.I try to place the original or most well-known one first, followed by influential and well-known covers, then chronologically or in some other sensible order. The list of playlists below is alphabetical, ignoring “The” when it’s the first word. Complaints and criticisms are welcomed.
Where there’s a related Blues Roots, it’s in the link that follows the title
“Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby” Our Blues Roots, “Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby,” June 27, 2017. There’s a link right at the beginning of part 1 of this 2-part Blues Roots (neither one was my favorite, notwithstanding the great Jimmy Reed song at the heart of it—that was great.
“Back at the Chicken Shack” Our Blues Roots: “Back at the Chicken Shack,” August 3, 2017
“Catfish Blues” Our Blues Roots: “Catfish Blues,” June 8, 2017
“I Just Want to Make Love to You” All the best versions are found at this Blues Roots from March 30, 2017.
“One Room Country Shack” Our Blues Roots: “One Room Country Shack,” August 31, 2017
“Shake Your Money Maker” Our Blues Roots, “Shake Your Money Maker,” July 6, 2017
“Sitting On Top of the World” Our Blues Roots “Sitting On Top of the World,” May 25, 2017
“Trouble In Mind” (there’s an explanation about the changes this list goes through in the playlist description), I filmed Jontavious Willis’s version when he was in New York about a year ago (number 39).
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Fenton Robinson wrote “Somebody Loan Me a Dime ” and first recorded it in 1967. You’ll find many versions of it, starting with a live one, and a lot of other songs, at this playlist dedicated to his music. The 10th video on this list features the 1967, 1972 and 1974 studio versions. There’s a link in the playlist description that leads to the Fenton Robinson YouTube topic where many of his albums, including the brilliant Somebody Loan Me a Dime from 1974 (link takes you to album). Fenton Robinson was the guitarist on Larry Davis’ 1958 “Texas Flood” (song number 35 on the playlist below).
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Trains are present in so many songs, I made a list covering all genres except metal and things like that. It’s heavily weighted toward blues, country, R&B, genres that were popular during the railroads’ heyday. If you think your favorite train song isn’t on here, let me know—I’ll either find it in the list or add it if I can find it. YouTube’s most recent updates make it harder to search other people’s playlists.
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See if this Frankie Lee Sims album doesn’t grab you—“Lucy Mae” is a must-hear classic.
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In case you missed this last time, Blues From The Gutter, with Larry Dale on guitar (then going by his birth name Ennis Lowery), New York City, February 4, 1958.
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Strong, basic, classic, raw album
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Lots more versions atOur Blues Roots: “Crosscut Saw,” May 4, 2017, but I wasn’t aware of this one.
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Playlists on my channel, I think the order you see them in is determined by the last one edited rising to the top. In a year or two, I plan to set the order by not editing them (except to prune deleted ones on a semiregular basis).Don D.
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August 30, 2018 at 3:07 pm #108458
Thank you Don, you are a true educator and I very much appreciate it all. I grew up musically in the late 50’s with Buddy and Elvis and Lonnie Donegan (big influence on everybody in England) and down the pub, back room, an occasional American blues singer. Brownie, Big Bill, lots of American blues singers, all brought over by Chris Barber(google him!). I thought at the time this was the real blues and it probably was, but I now realise it was a very partial education into the blues and my knowledge and understanding is greater now thanks to your Blues Roots. That’s what I mean by saying you’re a real educator Don. So thank you very much.
Martyn-
August 30, 2018 at 3:29 pm #108459
Thanks for commenting, Martyn, I’m glad you’re enjoying these, but they’re very partial too, I’m just hoping to create some interest, maybe satisfying a little curiosity. And there’s nobody more real than Big Bill Broonzy. If there’s anyone in particular that interests you, let me know, I’d be glad to dig around and put something together.
I’m listening to “The Sky Is Crying” playlist again right now. That’s a song! Elmore James wrote and recorded it on a rainy Chicago day, probably November 3 or 4, 1959, with J.T. Brown (and possibly Boyd Atkins on tenor sax), Johnny Jones (piano), Homesick James (bass), Odie Payne (or Sam Myers on drums). According to the info I have, he only recorded that one version, but he recorded three takes of the follow-up, “The Sun Is Shining” (almost all the same people, April 14, 1960).
Don D.
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August 30, 2018 at 4:19 pm #108465
I forgot to add a link to the Blues Roots for “Shake Your Money Maker” (July 6, 2017), so here ’tis.
Don D.
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August 30, 2018 at 8:21 pm #108469
Thanks Don for another absorbing Our Blues Roots . I totally agree with Martyn’s sentiments. I’m looking for to dipping into this over the next couple of weeks. Cheers,
Rick-
August 31, 2018 at 11:31 am #108478
Thsnks for commenting Rick! What you said actually puts me at ease about the monthly schedule.
I’m going to try to pick back up on mentioning the contemporary artists Jontavious Willis points out in his Facebook posts. I don’t exactly remember who saw this before, so here’s a page where he took spreading that awareness a step further; he’s begun sharing interviews that he’s done with older blues musicians on The Fall Line Blues Project, which is named for “the men and women of the Fall Line region (Georgia, Alabama and further) who enjoy playing the music handed down by their ancestors.” I think you saw this and said something about it, but I had wanted to add it to yesterday’s initial post and forgot, so here it is today.
Don D.
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August 31, 2018 at 11:27 pm #108491
Loved Jontavious’ interview with Horace Combs as part of The Fall Line Blues Project. The recollections of these older blues musicians, and recordings of them playing of the music of their forebears, is essential to sharing and preserving the blues and its story. Jontavious and his fellow collaborators are doing a great job.
Thanks for reposting this Don; I didn’t catch it before but will certainly be following it from here on.
Rick-
September 1, 2018 at 7:34 am #108500
Thanks Rick, that’s good to know, I think I’m going to repost the entire intro to the Fall Line Blues Project in about a week. As you mentioned, it is vital, and the people who did respond really liked it. If you missed the first one, I’ll bet others did.
Don D.
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November 1, 2023 at 7:18 pm #353887
Thanks for all you do Don! I don’t know if it was commented on already but Christone “Kingfish” Ingram did a 60 Minutes piece this last Sunday. It started out about the Clarksdale Miss blues scene then a club owned by Morgan Freeman and Kingfish closed it out. I think you can access it on YT.
MikeMike
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September 17, 2024 at 6:05 pm #378417
Hi Don Good to find a new root!
Lots to listen to here as always.
Talking of favourite railway songs not sure it fits in here but alway liked the NRPS “Somebody Robbed the Glendale train”.
Good to know there is more on the way.
Thanks for all
Cheers
JohnStrat-
September 23, 2024 at 11:46 pm #378663
It fits, John, thanks for the tip. Now I just have to find it and add it.
By the way, I saw Fenton Robinson at the top. Coincidentally, September 23 was the anniversary of his birthday.
Don D.
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