Blind Willie Johnson in "The Ladykillers" in Pre War Blues Forum

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Blind Willie Johnson in "The Ladykillers"

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tanta07

Blind Willie Johnson in "The Ladykillers"

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Nov 16 04 6:59 PM

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I recently rented the Tom Hanks movie, "The Ladykillers." The Coen brothers are known for including older spirituals and blues music in their movies, but I was very pleasantly surprised when the credits started to roll at the end of the film, and I heard Blind Willie Johnson's raw, distinctive voice coming from the TV, sincing "Let Your Light Shine on Me." That was good enough for me, but then there were actually additions to Johnson's original track, as they added percussion, and a chorus of backup singers. It was great!

I tried to tell my wife how cool it was to see a mainstream movie featuring such an underappreciated blues singer. She kind of gave me the "okay, he's talking about that goofy blues stuff he likes again" look.

The Buzz Brothers Band

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Les Forgue

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Nov 16 04 8:15 PM

QUOTE (tanta07 @ Nov 16 2004, 02:59 PM)

She kind of gave me the "okay, he's talking about that goofy blues stuff he likes again" look.

So, I am not the only recipient of That look.

And Blind Willie Johnson's voice is just the thing to bring on one of Those looks.
And my wife is from the 3rd ward of Houston, she grew up near street corners Lightning Hopkins stood and played, (and her family came from Mance Lipscomb's Navasota) but does she know and love the blues? No,ooooo!
But she is coming around, just give another few decades. Yesterday I brought Little Brother Montgomery to church, at a concert to benefit Haiti and Grenada hrricuane vicitms, I sang and played a hymn using the melody of Montgomery's Vicksburg Blues (just like Wolf's Forty-Four), for a couple of stanzas. During my practice sessions, My musically conservative wife had not liked my using an alternate meoldy, but after the concert she admitted to having liked my use of Montgomery's melody.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=1749895&q=Lo

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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tanta07

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Nov 16 04 8:19 PM

QUOTE (Les Forgue @ Nov 16 2004, 10:15 PM)

And Blind Willie Johnson's voice is just the thing to bring on one of Those looks.

Hahahaha. No doubt about it. I was playing a Johnson CD in our living room one day, and my wife walked in, kind of crinkled her nose, and said, "what is THIS? It sounds weird." For those not accustomed to Johnson's voice, it can be kind of jarring, I guess. LOL

The Buzz Brothers Band

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barrelhouse

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6072

Nov 16 04 8:28 PM

I must be one of the lucky ones going by you guys stories here! My wife actually likes and appreciates blues music,it isn't her favourite or anything,that goes to country and western,(pass the barf bag) but after thirty-odd years of being with me she either had to convert or ship out

I suppose.

Don't you think too bad about me when I'm gone.--Allardyce/ Kocemba.

Peterhead, N.E. Scotland, between the Ugie and Ythan Deltas.

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Les Forgue

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Deepest Blue

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Nov 16 04 8:45 PM

I like to think that it is not a dislike for blues that my wife has, but rather a lack of knowledge and understanding of blues. I know she has heard some blues here and there in the top-40 and jazz music she has listened to, but she just doesn't understand. But maybe she will evolve in this thing, if not, it ain't no thing. This summer she accompanied me to the Blues Fest and she actually enjoyed seeing and hearing T Model Ford!

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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tanta07

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 9133

Nov 16 04 8:48 PM

I think that blues is sort of alien to my wife's ears. Like Les Forque's wife, I think she just doesn't "get" it. I've taken her to see R.L. Burnside and B.B. King, and she really enjoyed both shows, so she does have her moments. For the most part, though, she doesn't see anything in the music, especially pre-war stuff. I'm working on her, slowly, but surely though. LOL I'll occasionally quiz her, and so far, she can identify Howlin' Wolf and a few others when she hears them.

The Buzz Brothers Band

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MaskedMarvel

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Nov 17 04 4:51 AM

I should check this movie.
Les, Muddy's "Louisiana Blues" is another very good one if you liked Wolfs "44".

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Les Forgue

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Deepest Blue

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Nov 17 04 3:55 PM

QUOTE (MaskedMarvel @ Nov 17 2004, 12:51 AM)

I should check this movie.
Les, Muddy's "Louisiana Blues" is another very good one if you liked Wolfs "44".

Yes that one by Muddy does use that same melody strain,
and it is one of my favolrite MW.
I knew a man in Cassopolis Michigan, originally from the south extreme of the Delta near Rolling Fork, MS,
who had it on a 45 RPM.
When he took it out and played it I could not keep my seat, it excited me so.
That was is the late 1960s.

I can't remember which of Charlie Patton's songs uses that Vicksburg/44/Louisiana blues melody, Is it not Dirt Road?

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc

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MaskedMarvel

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Nov 17 04 4:47 PM

If I remember correctly it's definatly not Down the Dirt Road, memory sais maybe "Pea Vine" but I have to check it to be sure.

PS, Patton didn't record that tune. However P Vine and Down the Dirt Road have some similarities, Little Brother Montgomery came from the Delta like Patton and the others so there is influences, if there are families of tunes those tunes can be considered as brothers (like "Sitting on top of the world" and "Got to Move", similar but not identical). Thats what I think from the little I know.

All the above written is in my opinion unless it is someone else's opinion, or a fact.

Location: Zur Moshe, Israel

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Les Forgue

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6205

Nov 17 04 6:51 PM

QUOTE (MaskedMarvel @ Nov 17 2004, 12:47 PM)

If I remember correctly it's definatly not Down the Dirt Road, memory sais maybe "Pea Vine" but I have to check it to be sure.

PS, Patton didn't record that tune. However P Vine and Down the Dirt Road have some similarities, Little Brother Montgomery came from the Delta like Patton and the others so there is influences, if there are families of tunes those tunes can be considered as brothers (like "Sitting on top of the world" and "Got to Move", similar but not identical). Thats what I think from the little I know.

Let's get one thing straight, Tommer, the "little" you know IS A LOT!

Les from Chicago

"Nobody sits on a rolling stone".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMRWhmqJwHc