Look at the guitar Big Joe is using and people today obsess so much over what kind of guitar and specs they have instead of spending that time playing. Do you think the old bluesmen obsessed over what kind of pick-ups they had or strings? they just played the bloody thing!
I have often thought it would be fun to take an old ratty guitar and try to make a 9-string guitar like Joe’s but I never been able to see exactly how it’s strung or which strings are paired.
@@derin111 1st 2nd 4rd double, openG capoed to A, I think he used plain strings on the 4rd, may be pitched the same as 1st or octaves ? Easiest to start with a 12 string amd take off surplus strings.
Thanks I was trying to figure out how many strings there were, at first I thought it was a 12 string but then I saw less than 12 tuning knobs... 9 strings eh, so just the top 3 are doubled up? The way he plays it sounds amazing.
I was fortunate enough 😂to own a club in South Mississippi in the late 70's.and had Big Joe play for me two times. It was only a couple of years before he passed. He was awesome. Didn't get many photos. I wish I had more.
such a gentle guy the way he requests that he do it his way, with no disrespect to the others trying to urge him to do what they want him to do. Big Joe Williams does some fierce and energetic playing, too. Top Notch Man, great to see an original do it the way he wants to do it. Pretty awesume
Awesome! I met Big Joe down in the basement of the Jazz Record Mart in 1967 (when it was located at 7 W. Grand in Chicago). I got to tote his laundry to the ... yes,the laundromat! ... we both went down to Mexico for a concert gig. I always admired his 9-string guitar / sort of a mandolin tuning.
That guitar came from the bottom of the Mississippi. Crazy good music it's not the guitar but what you do with it. It sounds like a mandolin with bailing wire strings great sound.
Wherever it is hopefully 8:00 still exist would be Priceless today I'd like to think it was left to a family member in a will and whoever it was bequeathed to appreciate what they have ❤ ....
Big Joe was always one of my favorites and so ferocious with that amped guitar - I was lucky to record him in 1960 with that same sound - it became the second Arhoolie release - he was an amazing genius - illiterate but just with an amazing memory and remarkable way to find his way across the country - always finding someone to record him - read the notes to the Arhoolie LP/CD!
Hey Chris- not sure if you are going to see this 3 years later, but I used to work for Rounder Distribution in Chicago and NY and tried to get Arhoolie on as many record store shelves as I could. One of my favorite labels and really appreciated all you did.
Thanks to Chris for making so much wonderful music available for us to listen to. I have enjoyed a good number of Arhoolie recordings, but most especially Sonny Boy Williamson's King Biscuit Time. It is a miracale of ingenuity that we can enjoy the playing of artists long after their passing.
I have it and have listened to it dozens of times. I love ‘Brother James’. I can only imagine recording this giant. I’m from STL and have been a blues musician here for years. I think of Big Joe wandering around here. I know he did.
If not a direct inspiration... maybe “left me a mule to ride” was a common saying? But yes, “She Caught The Katy” was the first thing that popped to mind when I saw the video title.
Great performance! My late friend Lou Curtiss asked Joe how he could occasionally pass himself for Blind Lemon (Joe's claim) being so totally different. The answer was " Some folks back then were not too bright!". Joe also said he recorded as King Solomon Hill changing his voice. He said that when in London he often stayed with John Beatle and that was confirmed in a famous Lennon interview while mentioning unique Guitar Styles.As a footnote Joe said: "Me and John Beatle get along Just fine, but his Chinee woman Is too damn bossy". Unique in many ways!
The Beast of early rock n roll. Could you imagine that sound with a tube reverb bouncing off the walls?! JD Short, Big Joe's cousin, of St Louis born in 1902 you should check out. Harmonica rack player and guitar player. JD Short: The Sonnet Years. Every song has a short story like a woman crossing him up 😂
he speeds up, slows down....the rhythm section has to accelerate and deaccelerate with him! magnificent. love thebtone. What is that guitar tuning set up
It is isn't it? And all the more so that 99% of these musicians would never have given a moment's thought to how much we enjoy and revere their music. Louis Armstrong himself said much the same thing: "I don't try to make an art of my music. I just do an honest day's work. That's what pays for the pork chops."
I believe so. He was a favorite of Big Joe's ("Where's The Melody?", Martin Williams, pp.126-133) - a much sought-after Chicago blues bass player who eventually ended up as a writer, composer and arranger at Chess Records until leaving and founding his own label Ghana Music.
"When the train left the station, the mule laid down and died." "She make the same biscuit bread that she cooked 40 years ago." This is the kind of genius, not to mention the musical talent is way better, that makes people reach BACK for real art when faced with the filthy sick imitation of music that the modern media accepts as good today. Do you think that Beyonce or Rihanna or Kanye or Lady Gaga could even start to put a dent in real music against Muddy Waters, Little Richard, Fats Domino, the Beatles, Robert Johnson? HELL NO!!!
It been said Every time he reckoned somebody might be figuring out how he tuned, how he played his special customized guitar, then he would add another string to it. I believe he ended up playing a nine or ten string guitar.
No he did not make the guitar. He added strings. That is a huge guitar. I think it's a K22 Jumbo made by Kay for the Sears Catalog. Big Joe wanted the biggest sound he could get. He played on the street. That guitar is very loud and ladder braced. Problem is, it was made in the 50's and 60's and had a "modern" rather thin neck. So it would not have lasted too long with those extra strings on there. There were lots of them made but they did not survive needing a neck reset. If you can find one they are incredible guitars. Seventeen inch lower bout. Great for open tunings and beautiful sounding. Very hard to find in good condition though. You can get jumbos today, but for a guitar that "jumbo" it would cost a lot of money. These were mail order guitars.
With such a rusty and very wasted guitar these people did a great job. It's a pity that only brittish recognized their talents and in their own country they didn´t receive the proper recognition just because of a matter of skin. The the usual american hypocrisy "british invasion".
Don't know her music, but if her influence on her fans keeps Diaper Don the Convicted felon out of office, then yes, I'm a Swiftie. Go Taylor. Keep that convicted rapist/felon out of office. Just say no to nazi wannabes. Lock him Up!
I had the privilege and thrill to play a few songs (drums) with this huge legend when he stopped at "The Library" in Hattiesburg, MS on his way down to the Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Thanks to R.T. for a memory to treasure.R.I.P. Mr, Williams.
That's cool man. I was not ever really aware of Big Joe until he came and played for me. It was a time we all will never forget. It was a privilege to have him and all the musicians that showed up to have their chance at playing with a legend. He was great and unfortunately we lost him a few years later, but his legacy lives on!!
With his iconic, custom nine-string guitar, famed Delta bluesman Big Joe Williams performed “She Left Me a Mule to Ride” back in 1966. He was accompanied by none other than the legendary Willie Dixon on the stand up bass.
Yes would be good that young people would listen to old blues , but instead they are to busy listening to junk rap. They forgot were real music came from.
I've been a heavy metal bass player for 30 years and just came across this today for the first time. So good. Im gonna take up the acoustic guitar and try jam along
I’ve been playing guitar for 25 years and this year picked up bass.let our opposite powers combine🤟🤟guitar is invaluable to sing writing in my opinion.good luck dude😎
Lots of good folks have done this but there is no better version of this. So much power and emotion in his voice and playing. Ground zero master blues!!!!
Big joe is the definition of "Only a bad carpenter complains about his tools". Since I watched this video I never once companied about my instruments. That guitar is truly special.
She Left Me A Mule To Ride Big Joe Williams Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride Well, the train left the station, mam', the mule laid down and died If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door I'll leave so early, 'til your good man won't never know Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town If I don't feel no better in tomorrow, I'll be Melbury bound What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so? What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so? She cook the same jellyroll that she cooked forty years ago (Hey! Hit it, boy!) If I can't come in, set down in front of your door If I can't come in, let me set down in front of your door Leave so early in the mornin' your good man won't never know Compositor: Joe Williams
This is so great it makes my heart ache. Big Joe does what John Lee and Lightnin' and Muddy did after him, which is he plays great guitar and SINGS the blues. That is what it's really about IMHO - that is why Hendrix was so amazing and true to the blues history - because he didn't just play them, he sang them from the depths of his soul.
Look at the guitar Big Joe is using and people today obsess so much over what kind of guitar and specs they have instead of spending that time playing. Do you think the old bluesmen obsessed over what kind of pick-ups they had or strings? they just played the bloody thing!
STRATMAN firdaus: It's not the wand, it's the magician.
that is was and is a badass guitar. I think it's a silvertone made by Kay
I have often thought it would be fun to take an old ratty guitar and try to make a 9-string guitar like Joe’s but I never been able to see exactly how it’s strung or which strings are paired.
@@derin111 1st 2nd 4rd double, openG capoed to A, I think he used plain strings on the 4rd, may be pitched the same as 1st or octaves ? Easiest to start with a 12 string amd take off surplus strings.
@@shine41144 thanks so much! I'll try it on my 12 string guitar. 🙂
Willie Dixon presiding....a magisterial countenance in so many recording sessions.
is that Willie on the bass?
@@johnmcmenamin1639 Yep.
About the best thing I've heard in about 55 years.
EXCELLENT Blues guitar playing and singing, and on a NINE string to boot!!
Thanks I was trying to figure out how many strings there were, at first I thought it was a 12 string but then I saw less than 12 tuning knobs... 9 strings eh, so just the top 3 are doubled up? The way he plays it sounds amazing.
I was fortunate enough 😂to own a club in South Mississippi in the late 70's.and had Big Joe play for me two times. It was only a couple of years before he passed. He was awesome. Didn't get many photos. I wish I had more.
such a gentle guy the way he requests that he do it his way, with no disrespect to the others trying to urge him to do what they want him to do. Big Joe Williams does some fierce and energetic playing, too. Top Notch Man, great to see an original do it the way he wants to do it. Pretty awesume
That guitar picking is amazing!!!!
The upright bass and drums just fills everything perfectly
👍😊
This is where one of the direct lines of development which led to Rock and Roll came from. Amazing, brilliant musicianship.
"King of the 9 String Guitar"
Awesome! I met Big Joe down in the basement of the Jazz Record Mart in 1967 (when it was located at 7 W. Grand in Chicago). I got to tote his laundry to the ... yes,the laundromat! ... we both went down to Mexico for a concert gig. I always admired his 9-string guitar / sort of a mandolin tuning.
That's pretty Damn awesome!!!
Great story!
Big Joe Williams and his band are genuine fantastic musicians !
This is amazing brilliant fantastic played love it with my whole soul.
That guitar came from the bottom of the Mississippi. Crazy good music it's not the guitar but what you do with it. It sounds like a mandolin with bailing wire strings great sound.
Very outstanding I've learned from these Blues greats
Saw The Willie Dixon Band Live In Edmonton At The Ambassador Hotel In 1985! Best One Legged Stand Up Bass Player Ever!
Wonder where that guitar ended up after he passed ,probably one of the most iconic guitars of all time
Wherever it is hopefully 8:00 still exist would be Priceless today I'd like to think it was left to a family member in a will and whoever it was bequeathed to appreciate what they have ❤ ....
Big Joe was always one of my favorites and so ferocious with that amped guitar - I was lucky to record him in 1960 with that same sound - it became the second Arhoolie release - he was an amazing genius - illiterate but just with an amazing memory and remarkable way to find his way across the country - always finding someone to record him - read the notes to the Arhoolie LP/CD!
Thank you for your contributions to the music we love
Hey Chris- not sure if you are going to see this 3 years later, but I used to work for Rounder Distribution in Chicago and NY and tried to get Arhoolie on as many record store shelves as I could. One of my favorite labels and really appreciated all you did.
Thanks to Chris for making so much wonderful music available for us to listen to. I have enjoyed a good number of Arhoolie recordings, but most especially Sonny Boy Williamson's King Biscuit Time. It is a miracale of ingenuity that we can enjoy the playing of artists long after their passing.
I have it and have listened to it dozens of times. I love ‘Brother James’. I can only imagine recording this giant. I’m from STL and have been a blues musician here for years. I think of Big Joe wandering around here. I know he did.
Dude, that is AMAZING!
Sounds like this could have been inspiration for She Caught The Katy and Left Me A Mule To Ride. Great stuff.
I got to dance with Yank Rachel once when he was in his 80's - he wrote She Caught the Katy.
If not a direct inspiration... maybe “left me a mule to ride” was a common saying? But yes, “She Caught The Katy” was the first thing that popped to mind when I saw the video title.
Love, love love this... Another classic !!!
Love it and is the root of it all. Dixon and Big Joe kicking it...take that Taj Mahal! Another woman song wow...love you St Clair...
Love the Music 💙Great Blues 💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸
'can i relax n have a lil bit of a smoke or somethin?' :))))
omg this is so awesome!
Just found this following youtube around, as you do. This is great!
....hear the voice....one hundred cigarettes a day !
Great performance! My late friend Lou Curtiss asked Joe how he could occasionally pass himself for Blind Lemon (Joe's claim) being so totally different. The answer was " Some folks back then were not too bright!".
Joe also said he recorded as King Solomon Hill changing his voice. He said that when in London he often stayed with John Beatle and that was confirmed in a famous Lennon interview while mentioning unique Guitar Styles.As a footnote Joe said: "Me and John Beatle get along Just fine, but his Chinee woman Is too damn bossy". Unique in many ways!
Espectacular...la mejor musica del mundo el blues
so rockin'!
Big Joe used to play a nine string electric guitar!
I love this. "This is what up"
The Beast of early rock n roll. Could you imagine that sound with a tube reverb bouncing off the walls?! JD Short, Big Joe's cousin, of St Louis born in 1902 you should check out. Harmonica rack player and guitar player. JD Short: The Sonnet Years. Every song has a short story like a woman crossing him up 😂
Absolutely contagious energy!
what a perfomance from an old timer, top notch
Old timer and inventor ; )
Joe and Willie moving on
Willie Dixon played all over the place! Best Blues bass player ever!
And maybe the best songwriter the Blues and Rock ever had
Love it
His playing actually reminds of Arthur Crudup in "That's All Right", which is also in the key of B.
This one's Bb.. (I think it's in A, capo on the 1st fret.) ^..^
This is REAL music.
wow! genio absoluto
ouch, seven rice miller fans are upset about that REAL SONNY BOY comment
Sunnyland always said that too. I supposed he didn't like Rice Miller
Big Joe and his 9 string guitar
Almost Brings me to tears.
Goddamn of have lost my shit of I seen this live. what a performance
I agree whole-heartedly with Shamu.
Joe mentioned the “Real Sonnyboy”! That’s 😎
So Raw so Real💙
That ain't just pickin...that's how people
Livin...it's real
he speeds up, slows down....the rhythm section has to accelerate and deaccelerate with him! magnificent. love thebtone. What is that guitar tuning set up
open G
A Delight. :)
That guy who is the MC sure is as awkward as a MC can get!
You can see that Big Joe senses that but and is quite courteous.
True dat!
holy shit this is amazing
It is isn't it? And all the more so that 99% of these musicians would never have given a moment's thought to how much we enjoy and revere their music. Louis Armstrong himself said much the same thing: "I don't try to make an art of my music. I just do an honest day's work. That's what pays for the pork chops."
Is that Willie Dixon on bass??
+Hairyblues yep
Yes
Mr. Willie Dixon
I believe so. He was a favorite of Big Joe's ("Where's The Melody?", Martin Williams, pp.126-133) - a much sought-after Chicago blues bass player who eventually ended up as a writer, composer and arranger at Chess Records until leaving and founding his own label Ghana Music.
No it's not. But he's great. Love to know his name.
Worth it just for his verbal lead in.....ri' cheer, whad'say?
Great
Is where she caught the Katy taj mahaul heard his start maybe????
"When the train left the station, the mule laid down and died." "She make the same biscuit bread that she cooked
40 years ago." This is the kind of genius, not to mention the musical talent is way better, that makes people reach BACK for real art when faced with the filthy sick imitation of music that the modern media accepts as good today. Do you think that Beyonce or Rihanna or Kanye or Lady Gaga could even start to put a dent in real music against Muddy Waters, Little Richard, Fats Domino, the Beatles, Robert Johnson? HELL NO!!!
John Doe
Well said!
Because schools don't teach American roots music.
It been said Every time he reckoned somebody might be figuring out how he tuned, how he played his special customized guitar, then he would add another string to it. I believe he ended up playing a nine or ten string guitar.
a combination of bleus rockabilly
I think we'll do that Wednesday
he was a friend o' mine
If someone were to ask me what is the blues I would steer them to this record.
Only one who played a 9 string guitar 🎸
Why don't they make guitars that enormous any more?
Because he made it himself. "They" didn't make it.
Matt Nicholson Hmmm I don't think he did; that's a Silvertone Jumbo guitar. It might have a lot to do with Big Joe being quite a small man.
No he did not make the guitar. He added strings. That is a huge guitar. I think it's a K22 Jumbo made by Kay for the Sears Catalog. Big Joe wanted the biggest sound he could get. He played on the street. That guitar is very loud and ladder braced. Problem is, it was made in the 50's and 60's and had a "modern" rather thin neck. So it would not have lasted too long with those extra strings on there. There were lots of them made but they did not survive needing a neck reset. If you can find one they are incredible guitars. Seventeen inch lower bout. Great for open tunings and beautiful sounding. Very hard to find in good condition though. You can get jumbos today, but for a guitar that "jumbo" it would cost a lot of money. These were mail order guitars.
funny ...I love this..but...when Jimi Hendrix plays.....
With such a rusty and very wasted guitar these people did a great job. It's a pity that only brittish recognized their talents and in their own country they didn´t receive the proper recognition just because of a matter of skin. The the usual american hypocrisy "british invasion".
Taylor Swift anyone?
Don't know her music, but if her influence on her fans keeps Diaper Don the Convicted felon out of office, then yes, I'm a Swiftie. Go Taylor. Keep that convicted rapist/felon out of office. Just say no to nazi wannabes. Lock him Up!
Taj Mahal is a copycat?
Everybody steals blues lines to make their own blues.
He didn’t copy, he created his own version.
La voix, all, sweat ? Benzedrine, coke ? Amphte ?
full thing?
I had the privilege and thrill to play a few songs (drums) with this huge legend when he stopped at "The Library" in Hattiesburg, MS on his way down to the Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Thanks to R.T. for a memory to treasure.R.I.P. Mr, Williams.
You have to be great also. I learn a lot from you pros......The real and greatest musician of all times.
Me too. I was 6 days old at the time
That's cool man. I was not ever really aware of Big Joe until he came and played for me. It was a time we all will never forget. It was a privilege to have him and all the musicians that showed up to have their chance at playing with a legend. He was great and unfortunately we lost him a few years later, but his legacy lives on!!
Joe and Willie Dixon together. More talent than any one person can stand.
I like how Big Joe said "the real Sonny Boy".
With his iconic, custom nine-string guitar, famed Delta bluesman Big Joe Williams performed “She Left Me a Mule to Ride” back in 1966. He was accompanied by none other than the legendary Willie Dixon on the stand up bass.
That's the real deal. If you didn't listen to Stax 78s you don't know the Delta Blues. Am I right?
Joe just got better with age like a fine wine! Let's hope young people are listening to this. He's an original who inspired soooooo many.
Yes would be good that young people would listen to old blues , but instead they are to busy listening to junk rap. They forgot were real music came from.
Im a 19 year old blues player and im here! I hope that helps to restores your faith in the youth for a little bit.
@@mathieuschuler366 Yes it does my friend! You are sipping music from the well. He was the original and you can feel it in his music.
I’m 61. I consider myself young.😂 Great stuff!!
young people are fake
Big Joe's guitar was unique. Just count the strings. Very unusual but it certainly worked well for him. RIP.
Looks like he has two strings close so he can bar them at once...
Thank the lord that Europe recorded these performances
I believe this was recorded in Canada. Muddy, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Terry & McGhee, Sunnyland Slim, and James Cotton were there as well.
that just rocks like nothing else. he is the business and then some!
If I was asked to chose, this must be one of the top 10 recordings that I like. Takes some beating. I've appreciated Big Joe for some 50+ years.
Also like Highway 49 with Ransom Knowling on bass.
ua-cam.com/video/A-qSfOZtkS4/v-deo.html
I've been a heavy metal bass player for 30 years and just came across this today for the first time. So good. Im gonna take up the acoustic guitar and try jam along
I’ve been playing guitar for 25 years and this year picked up bass.let our opposite powers combine🤟🤟guitar is invaluable to sing writing in my opinion.good luck dude😎
Lots of good folks have done this but there is no better version of this. So much power and emotion in his voice and playing. Ground zero master blues!!!!
Big joe is the definition of "Only a bad carpenter complains about his tools". Since I watched this video I never once companied about my instruments. That guitar is truly special.
people sleep on this, but this is "what up" for real no lie.
Beatrice Farmer real stuff. A friend of mine, Libby Rae Watson, got to know and played some with him in Mississippi in the 1970s.
That's right.
That's right.
He left us a world full of treasures that was the legendary Big Joe Williams🎙️🎶🎶🎶
big joe williiams: guitar
willie dixon: bass
??? : drums
can anyone tell me the name of the drummer?
what a line
gonna send my baby a green back twenty dollar bill
if that don't bring her back home
I'm sure my shotgun will ,,,,,, Brilliant
Man... i was going to ask exactly the same question. Big joe is awesome in this performance.
Please give this man Telecaster and a Princeton Reverb. He is tearing it up! Does he realize how cool he is!
She Left Me A Mule To Ride
Big Joe Williams
Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride
Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride
Well, the train left the station, mam', the mule laid down and died
If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door
If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door
I'll leave so early, 'til your good man won't never know
Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town
Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town
If I don't feel no better in tomorrow, I'll be Melbury bound
What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so?
What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so?
She cook the same jellyroll that she cooked forty years ago
(Hey! Hit it, boy!)
If I can't come in, set down in front of your door
If I can't come in, let me set down in front of your door
Leave so early in the mornin' your good man won't never know
Compositor: Joe Williams
Thank you so much for these fine lyrics ! 🌸
His unique guitar style and tone are amazing!
This gentleman is awesome! Now I know where Eddie Van Halen learned to play and customize his guitars, from legends like this.
Incredible genius-Big Joe Williams, you can hear it all in his music!!!
This is so great it makes my heart ache. Big Joe does what John Lee and Lightnin' and Muddy did after him, which is he plays great guitar and SINGS the blues. That is what it's really about IMHO - that is why Hendrix was so amazing and true to the blues history - because he didn't just play them, he sang them from the depths of his soul.
just freakin perfect
Bao demais esse Big Joe . ja pirei quando comprei um DVD Amercan Folk e Blues.que ele canta Baby please dont go
This IS the man who created so many blues classics. Let's learn and enjoy!
That country back beat in Joe's music is groovin
Great!Thank You!!Never did I think all those years ago that I would SEE BJW playing his 9-string..WOW!Thanx again.All the best
Love the Music 💙🎸Great Blues 💙🎸💙🌟💙🌟💙💙🌟💙🌟💙🌟💙🌟💙
Amazing! Buddy Guy and Junior Wells do a great rendition of this tune too.
Mercy mercy. This is balm to the soul.
So beautiful. Real music.