Blind John Davis in Pre War Blues Forum

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Blind John Davis

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MaskedMarvel

Blind John Davis

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Jan 30 05 4:31 AM

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I just picked a post war cd of BJD. It made me put some of pre war stuff he backed others on... I think he knew what he was doing with that piano. Any comments about him ?

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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JellyRoll Baker

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2745

Jan 30 05 5:51 AM

I've got a live set of a concert he did in the early '70s and it's one opf my favourite blues piano recordings - you get the sense that he really enjoys his music.

The Juke Joint on PBS 106.7FM
Thursdays, 1-3pm (Melbourne time)
Looking for airplay in Australia? Send your CDs to:
Attn: Matt, The Juke Joint
PBS 106.7FM
PO BOX 2917
Fitzroy MDC, 3065
AUSTRALIA

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swoon

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Posts: 23

Jan 30 05 7:43 AM

did he record any solo prewar sides? i have him on like a billion sides as a session piano player - and he really was one of the best.

When I said I wanted to be your dog
I wasn't coming on to you
I just wanted to lick your face

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Sam hopkins

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 716

Jan 30 05 8:25 AM

QUOTE (swoon @ Jan 30 2005, 07:43 AM)

i have him on like a billion sides as a session piano player - and he really was one of the best.

Yep, he didn't record much under his own name but was Lester Melrose's 'house" pianist and ubiquitous on pre-war recordings of:

Red Mike Bailey
Big Bill Broonzy
Jean Brady
Doctor Clayton
Amos Easton
Jazz Gillum
Mattie Hardy
Lil Johnson
Lonnie Johnson
Merline Johnson
Memphis Minnie
Monkey Joe
Clara Morris
One Arm Slim
Red Nelson
Tampa Red
Lorraine Walton
Washboard Sam
Sonny Boy Williamson
The Za Zu Girl

and post-war:

Billy Boy Arnold
Big Bill Broonzy
Dr. Clayton
Lonnie Johnson
Memphis Minnie
Sunnyland Slim
Tampa Red
Washboard Sam
John Lee Williamson
Yas Yas Girl

Davis toured Europe in 1952 (with Broonzy) and made a return 21 years later! I was fortunate enough be his "chaperon" for his gig at London's 100 Club (Thursday 29 November 1973). He struck me as a very modest and self effacing person who, despite being repeatedly asked (not by me) what was �so-and-so� was like to work with, politely and modestly responded that at the time he was just doing his job.

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MaskedMarvel

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Jan 30 05 8:44 AM

The cd I have suggest he also backed Charlie McCoy. Though it doesn't says when and where the recordings of this cd been made, it can well be the same gig Sam is talking about, it's a live show he played stuff like "Pinetop Boogie", "How Long" "My Own Boogie" "Rockin' Chair Boogie" and more.

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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richard ray

#5

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Posts: 1365

Feb 1 05 1:57 PM

i have a recording of blind john that was recorded on april 16, 1973 in hamburg, germany. it's excellent. richard ray

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JellyRoll Baker

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 2745

Feb 3 05 12:31 AM

QUOTE (MaskedMarvel @ Jan 30 2005, 08:44 AM)

The cd I have suggest he also backed Charlie McCoy. Though it doesn't says when and where the recordings of this cd been made, it can well be the same gig Sam is talking about, it's a live show he played stuff like "Pinetop Boogie", "How Long" "My Own Boogie" "Rockin' Chair Boogie" and more.

That's the same one I've got. It's a cracker. I found it on a tiny label called "Past PerfecT' which has a decent range of budget jazz and blues - got some nice Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker from them.

The Juke Joint on PBS 106.7FM
Thursdays, 1-3pm (Melbourne time)
Looking for airplay in Australia? Send your CDs to:
Attn: Matt, The Juke Joint
PBS 106.7FM
PO BOX 2917
Fitzroy MDC, 3065
AUSTRALIA

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MaskedMarvel

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Feb 3 05 4:48 AM

QUOTE (JellyRoll Baker @ Feb 3 2005, 02:31 AM)

QUOTE (MaskedMarvel @ Jan 30 2005, 08:44 AM)

The cd I have suggest he also backed Charlie McCoy. Though it doesn't says when and where the recordings of this cd been made, it can well be the same gig Sam is talking about, it's a live show he played stuff like "Pinetop Boogie", "How Long" "My Own Boogie" "Rockin' Chair Boogie" and more.

That's the same one I've got. It's a cracker. I found it on a tiny label called "Past PerfecT' which has a decent range of budget jazz and blues - got some nice Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker from them.

Yeah, thats the one. Despite the poor liner notes , I noticed Blind John Davis live on cd and I picked it immediatly.

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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volvo slim

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1236

Feb 20 05 9:58 AM

Anybody know of a song with the first line Lorraine, look what you've done to my heart or similar? I don't know the title, I don't know the singer (male), but I think John Davis was playing the piano. It sounds like him.

I think one important aspect of Davis' piano sound was that he was one of the very few blues pianists that actually used the pedals. Most blues piano players use their feet to stomp the beat or just keep them on the floor - always at a safe distance from the pedals.

Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sverige (Sweden, Schweden, Suède, Suecia)

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The Blindman

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 7079

Apr 18 05 7:54 AM

Member Sam Hopkins has sent me an addition to the Archives
an article on Blind John Davis from 1974 Melody Maker.
You can find it and lots more in the Archives. Here!

blindman

Aberdeen - Scotland

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Not even Forumer is Gonna Put Me Down!

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MaskedMarvel

#10

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6919

Apr 18 05 9:54 AM

Excellent stuff. Thanks !!!
Crudup played the earliest Urban Delta Blues, that's it, the music of Bukka White, Robert Johnson, Skip James and others urbanized. IMO he was the first who brought the Blues from the Delta to post war Chicago electric Blues. I'm not surprised that BJD wasn't getting that music because it was new

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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