Another look at Charley Patton; happy birthday Pinetop

Bluesmen, and Blueswomen, only get better as they get older!!

Happy Birthday, Pinetop!!

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

With regards to the discussion of Charley Patton, I found an interesting article chronicling the demise of Paramount records and the fate of it's resources. Fascinating stuff for a 78 collector.

www.mainspringpress.com/nyrl.html

For a Blues Freak, there is something almost magical about holding an actual Paramount 78 RPM recording of Ma Rainey or Blind Lemon Jefferson. (Robert Johnson's Vocalion 78s are worth big bucks!! Too rich for my budget.).  If you feel that piano Blues sound best when played on an actual acoustic instrument then you'd perhaps have heart palpitations listening to original early Blues recordings as they were first introduced...on a Victrola!! Not to mention that Little Walter on Checker and Jimmy Reed on Vee Jay can also send chills up your spine. The Pops, crackle, and hiss add an extra layer of character that is quickly disappearing from most modern reissues. Do you remember those Biograph reissues from the 1970s? The introduction of the Compact Disc has made collecting decent recordings much easier than it used to be but vintage Blues 78s are still fun to listen to..

I rember seeing Pinetop take part in a Muddy Waters Tribute show at Graffiti 15 years ago.  He was already in his 80's, seemed quite frail and had difficulty hearing wnich he blamed on too much loud music.  He was a standout in an evening that also included the late, great Jimmy Rogers.  I've probably seen him a half dozen times since and he never fails to captivate the audience.  He and Hubert Sumlin wearing their suits and straw hats in 80 degree sun on the beach at the Cheasapeake Bay Fest serveral years back once again knocked a rapt crowd for a loop.  Long may he continue to do so.  And to think of it, if it wasn't for a jealous woman who assaulted him with a knife, he'd been just another guitar player.  His hand couln't negotiate a fret board after that attack so the keyboard became his mainstay.  At least that's the story I heard.

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OH NO!!...there's an interloper on the blog...I thought because you had to register in order to post here that this kind of thing wouldn't happen.

Anyway, back to business. I found some video that explains what happened to Paramount records.

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

And I also found the following gem...perhaps the most extraordinary 58 minutes of footage on the internet relative to the subject of the Blues. Heavy stuff. The footage of Sam Chatman is worth the price of admission!! Caution: This is serious Hard-core Blues material that may not be suitable for all members of the family.

www.folkstreams.net/film,109

And Finally, The most extensive research concerning the life of Charley Patton that you're likely to find written by David Evans. Everything you always wanted to know about Charley Patton but were too afraid to ask!!

PART 1

www.paramountshome.org/index.php

PART 2

www.paramountshome.org/index.php

PART 3

www.paramountshome.org/index.php