Taj Mahal - Stagger Lee

[huichol53]

When I bought my house in Hawaii all I had was a bunch of albums, this is my favorite. Quiet nights and listening to taj mahal and ry cooder to mention just a few. best damn evenings I ever had. With respect to Taj Mahal...Huichol53........

[SuperMower1]

For my friend , Leon

[chukZILLA2]

Lloyd Price

[kabooki09]

no version beats Lloyd Price or is it Floyd Price?

[futurecaster]

good song...annoying with headphones though...guitar is all on the left and vocals on the right

[theoriginalbadbob]

@futurecaster You can blame some bozo space cadet, who was probably stoned out of his mind, for the goofy "mix," or lack thereof.

[rjl032653]

Awesome version, that classic Taj guitar is simply haunting on this one.

[bastus451]

Is he doing this with a slide and what kind of guitar is it

[Prometevsberg]

Porr Billy Lyons widow has voted "Dislike"...

[15chipshops]

This and Wilson Pickett's are my two favourite version's.

Excellent Stuff!!!

[l87kmps]

Thanks I try so hard to get that riff and I can get a version of what U can do with 9 thumbs and a pinkie, and I love it, Thanks

[oldtimtoad]

My favorite version of this classic....Taj can do that. His version of I'm Goin' Fishiin' is my youngest son's favorite.

[xanther97]

The information about the REAL people behind this song is given in detail in "Stagolee Shot Billy" a great recent book of "ethnomusicology" by Cecil Brown. I found it in a local library. It is fun reading too.

[drewfustehfox]

Taj mahal is one of the best things that ever happened to blues

[friendofamegaposer88]

@drewfustehfox wrong. taj mahal is one ofthe best things that happened to MUSIC in general, period. but hey, you were close, and I can't fault you for that.....

[drewfustehfox]

@friendofamegaposer88 Your right! My mistake:)

[scottcampbell1958]

Killer version of this classic tune. Taj Mahal has the best ear in the business.

[Rob50strat]

Samuel L Jackson does a kick ass updated version in the movie "Black Snake Moan"..

[fransgreg]

My prefered version is on Eric Bibb's 2008 cd (Spirit I am), wich is great all through.

[caseyjones67]

i like the deads version

[twirlyboggs]

sweet

check out Lloyd price's version too -

[therebelwaltz]

This is one of the best modern versions of this song imo. The Clash do a mini-version of it at the beginning of their song "Wrong 'Em Boyo" from London Calling.

[cejvanfossen]

There are historically many versions of the name referred to in the song: "Stackolee", "Stagolee", "Stagger Lee", "That Bad Man Stack-o-lee", "Stack-o-Lee", "Stagger Lee"

[reg904y]

Correction

Stag O'lee not Stack O'lee.

[reg904y]

The St. Louis, 1895, origin for this song is widely accepted. However, the original title was ("Stack" O'lee) and Billy Lyons name, in early versions, was Billy d'Lyons. Although there is no documentation. Many researchers believe that this song can be traced to New York circa 1865-1870. When a few French immigrants attempted to colonize the traditional Irish "Hells Kitchen" area of New York City.

Whatever. It's a great song. I love Taj's version on "An evening of Acoustic Music".

[SWFLOTH]

William Lyons, 25, a levee hand, was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o'clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis, at Eleventh and Morgan Streets, by Lee Sheldon, a carriage driver.

[SWFLOTH]

Lyons and Sheldon were friends and were talking together. Both parties, it seems, had been drinking and were feeling in exuberant spirits. The discussion drifted to politics, and an argument was started, the conclusion of which was that Lyons snatched Sheldon's hat from his head. The latter indignantly demanded its return. Lyons refused, and Sheldon withdrew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen.

[SWFLOTH]

When his victim fell to the floor Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away.

He was subsequently arrested and locked up at the Chestnut Street Station. Lyons was taken to the Dispensary, where his wounds were pronounced serious. Lee Sheldon is also known as 'Stag' Lee.

[Im1seahawksfan]

I love this song been years since I heard it going up in the days listen to good music

Thanks for sharing

[gmikl]

OMG Stagger Lee, the bad man, I like the finger pickin'.

[inuyasha745]

what is this song about?

[weekdayyardsale]

this song is a classic bard tale about a Chicago gangster.. and a bar fight. between a very bad man (staggerlee) a yong upcoming gangster and a gambler (billy deline) = - Staggerlle won a bunch of money from Billy a card game and billy didnt have the money --Staggerlee shot Billy.

[kharmabum]

Actually - "Stackerlee" Lee Shelton was a black cab driver and a pimp convicted of murdering William "Billy" Lyons on Christmas Eve, 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri. This version is very similar to one released by Mississippi John Hurt in the 20s, but is just an excellent cover.

[Rob50strat]

a bad man