Wabash Cannonball - Blind Willie McTell

[StollyDolly]

thank you so much for sharing this great man's music, xx

[lobizoon1]

@StollyDolly It's always a pleasure, thanks for the comment!

[martinusvantee]

@zimbotiger

I've got the Blind Willie "King of the Georgia blues" box set, and this, the Last Sessions. If you are only familiar with his early work, then this may not sound like Blind Willie to you, but if you listen to all his albums chronologically, you can hear his voice changing. This is definitely Blind Willie singing here.

[BaggedGnome]

I also would have no idea who Blind Willie McTell was if it were not for Jack.

[49mrjd]

you fools jacks done his bit to bring blind willie to 200? give him some credit !!

[lobizoon1]

@zimbotiger I'll answer again because other comments said this is not Blind Willie.

He is the one who sings and plays, his voice is the same, but it's from his last sessions.

This is from his last session, Fall of 1956, in Atlanta, Georgia.

[MrLiukuvoide1]

Sounds like promised land

[BloodyCatastrophee]

Good lord, willie does sound like Jack. Someone said that in another mctell video, but now I can really hear it. Willie's like an old Jack White in the blues time era. SO GOOD. I'm glad Willie came around in his time to then influence Mr. White, 'cause White is a big influence on me. =) ah.. Blues!

[terrisonb]

I thought I knew every major version of this song but I have never heard this one before.

[jbeng1953]

who ever posted this is a real music lover. tyvm!!

[lobizoon1]

@jbeng1953 Thanks my friend, glad to see people who still love this kind of music.

[1m2a3t4t5]

@lobizoon1

is there a cd out there that contains his complete recordings

[lobizoon1]

@1m2a3t4t5 Yes my friend. Look for Document Records, where you have his Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order. There's a new set from the same label of his first recordings called The Early Years. Then you have his later recordings of 1940 way up to the 50's.

[1m2a3t4t5]

@lobizoon1

Great, thanks for the fast reply man.

[LTandDS]

Anytime you come across an old-time, black, blues singer whose name starts with "blind' you know he's going to be good!

[LuckyShitZu]

This guy was GREAT!!

[BlueRidgeMtnsNative]

Blind Willie McTell is new to me. He's great and I thank you for posting this and introducing me to another fine musician.

[xrockthe40ozx]

Best Song I have ever heard.

[Smasher5257]

Great song..great authentic delivery. Love his guitar work...thanks for the post!!!

[Smasher5257]

Love this recording!!! Thanks for posting it!

[jessupar]

FUCK jack white, this is blind willie mctell, a real musician, not some rich white boy.

[49mrjd]

absolooootly.puuuuurfect..what­.a.geezer

[49mrjd]

its.inthe.beautiful.c.bgb.jonr­a.quality

[49mrjd]

twenty.years.or.less.you.proba­bly.wont.find.anyone.who.knew.­who.s.r.v.was.unike.willie.he.­recorded.tis.over.fifty.years.­ago.

[49mrjd]

in.fifty.years.time.or.even.le­ss.nobody.will.know.who.s.r.v.­was.unlike.willie.m

[shatchett0]

Stevie Ray Vaughn would blow this guy away.

[lobizoon1]

Oh yes, he surely would....

jeez....

[maxbsgonnafuckyouup]

stevie ray vaughn wouldnt exist with out him, douche.

[sharkabilly]

Chuck Berry did use the melody. Hank Williams used it for Pan American. Jack White is cool. He's helping to turn a new generation on the great music that came before. I hope no forgets the music of Blind Willie McTell, Son House, Charlie Patton, Tommy Johnson, Blind Blake and so many others without whom our music would sound more like Pat Boone than I care to imagine.

[NunzOnDrugs]

Comparing the Jack White to Blind Willie McTell is like comparing Pat Boone to Blind Lemon Jefferson. No matter how times he name-drops Willie as an influence, Jack White will never be a blues player..Jack may be a great rock musician but Blind Willie McTell would have played circles around Jack White.

[countrybluesluver]

Pat Boone to Jack White come on man he's not that bad I mean you didn't really but him down. I'm sure Pat Boone is cool wiht you but I mean I think your analogie is wrong or too dramatic maybe. You really can't compare him to Blind Willie like Dylan said nobody can sing the blues like blind willie mctell but don't put Jack on the same level as Pat Boone that's just cold.

[chandlerbrujo]

@NunzOnDrugs a rather sweeping statement!!! jack white is as much a blues guitarist as anyone......lets not forget its not about where your fingers fall but more where your heart falls.......not all blues music falls in your pidgeonhole! x

[BaggedGnome]

@NunzOnDrugs I disagree. Jack White is a fine player, and I think he's done his fair amount of covers with tenacity and origination to be considered a fine 'blues' player.

[subwiredesire]

his blues expression is even felt today.he kills it,no doubt.

[MsKeepinItReal]

You will never get Mctell's voice mixed with some other blues player!

[martinusvantee]

Where on earth can I get hold of this? Blind Willie is by far my favourite Blues musician. He can sing a folk song, or a country song as good as anyone.He was so diverse. Amazing.

[beeteep60]

thats not blind willie mctell

[lobizoon1]

Ok, ignorant, write what you please, you don't have a mere idea about Willie's abilities.

[lobizoon1]

Please, don't say that the White Stripes play blues!

[mrgabest]

Not any kind of blues I recognize, anyway.

[TheNinetySecond]

No, if they play anything bluesy, they play a kind of hard blues rock, wich is an idiotic title for a genre. But Jack White is very influenced by Willie's singing, like every other good musician today :)

[MightyAlz]

They don't - although Wabash Cannonball isn't blues either...it's a country song.

People like to this huge differentiation between country and blues, but to honest, at the beginning they were basically the same.

[lkjhgfdsa123able]

its definetly a mix, not one or the other

[MightyAlz]

Well, Wabash Cannonball's pretty straight Appalachian.

[sugarkang]

@lobizoon1 not exactly on their albums, but Jack White is very knowledgeable about the blues. There's no need to shit on the White Stripes. The old stuff is good but so is the new stuff.

[lobizoon1]

@sugarkang I disagree completely with you. Jack White seems to know LITTLE about the blues. And I think that the new stuff is not as good as the old one.

That's all.

[sugarkang]

@lobizoon1 he plays a blind willie mctell song in the white stripes documentary. i understand if you think he sucks, but he definitely knows the blues.

[lobizoon1]

@sugarkang Hahaha, do you think that because he knows Blind Willie McTell he knows the blues? I mean, there are many blues singers from the 20's 30's, all excelent and all with a unique style. From what he does I can surely percieve he only knows a few of them.

[JAYCHUCKBURNS]

@lobizoon1 you are wrong

[GaertnerJan]

@lobizoon1

you are wrong

before man had even played the littlest bit of punkrock he was already listening to son house, blind willie mctell and MANY others, he just wanted to fuse these oldtime bluesmusicians into his new rock music

no need to critizize on the stripes, they absolutely rock

[4l4ddin77]

@lobizoon1

cmon man. how would you know? i dont know jack shite about jack white, but i do know that jack is a well respected musician, who probably crammed his head with all the music he could find since he was a kid. im not crazy about him either, but he's a well known musician, and a traveling one. you know how much music hes probably had thrown his way over the years, and how many blues/country/folk buffs he's probably met and learned from?

[westpsmity]

@lobizoon1 oh wow dude, you know Jack White? That's awesome, tell him I say hi!

[lobizoon1]

@westpsmity I will!

[tophlovr]

@lobizoon1 I like the raconteurs and The white stripes but absiloutley HATE the dead weather And jack white is more of a rock / blues player

[Chickenhawk9932]

Sing it Willie!

[49mrjd]

just heard the white stripes for the first time after reading your comments i must admit i expected abig hair band they are exellent

[49mrjd]

fthis is definately the king of the twelve string willie mctell as for losing his sense of rhythm you should get you lugs syringed pal

[dopestarinc9868]

you guys are talking blues and bring up the white stripes as a good example! get the fuck outta here!

[ballocoke]

You are far too immature to understand the philosophical aspects of those superior to your intelligence.The white stripes are a fine example of modern blues with a twist.I'm not sure if your aware but The white stripes are doing wonders for the blues scene these days.I suggest you leave your computer and see what the live music scene has to offer!

[danzigvi]

And I think that YOU should at least TRY to comprehend that without Blind Willie Mctell and guys like him there would BE NO white stripes. Get a grip on reality!!!

[thallassocracy]

Willie completely lost his sense of rhythm for all the pieces he recorded for these 'last sessions'. He still has most of his technical mastery left - but he sounds white.

[stavrospgr2009]

I do not think this is Blind Willie Mc Tell on this song... I think this is a fake..

[galaxyrock]

It's one of his later recordings, recorded by John Lomax.

[lobizoon1]

Thanks, galaxyrock for the answering him. Before saying something, stavrospgr2009, I would recomend you to investigate.

[GBZ10TROY]

Thanks for posting this. Willie LIVES!

[Thepianoguy123]

well... actually can you here that Bob Dylan take some inspiration from Blind Willie Mc Tell... Grate music with other words...

[GazzaGlitta]

Definatley. Also he has a song called 'Blind Willie Mctell'. Bit of a give away.

[ringbolt9]

awesome

[imkingdad]

This is McTell, doing what he did best.

[danzigvi]

That's a great piece of Americana right there. Thanks a million for putting this song on youtube. Great music! They sure don't make good songs like this anymore

[aaronfoster624]

Is this really Blind Willie McTell? his voice sounds pretty deep here, really different from bell street lightning and statesboro blues.

[pianiplunker]

Dispite what people are saying, McTell wasn't really a blues musician. He played blues of course but he's more of a songster/ragtime guitarist.

[lobizoon1]

Country Blues is not only that from the delta,known by everybody, and popularized by Clapton singing Robert Johnson and that stupid movie "based"(?) on his life. This type of blues is known as "East Coast Blues" or "Piedmont Blues", and its main characteristic is what you said: ragtime guitar. Listen to Blind Blake, Boy Fuller, Barbacue Bob, they are also blues musicians.

[pianiplunker]

Yes, I know what your saying, I know about Piedmont blues too, but it seems that McTell doesn't play a whole lot of actual 12 bar blues but I may be wrong I'm not as familiar with his recordings as Blind Blake for example.

[onitram1]

He doesn't play 12 bar blues because 12 bar blues are Delta Blues. There are many types of blues as the posted stated, and in many forms-9 bar, 10 bar, 14 bar, not to mention irregular forms like 9 1/2 bar etc. Blind Willie is firmly in the blues tradition, not the songster tradition of Lead Belly, Mance Lipscomb, etc., although many blues scholars have noted that ALL bluesmen had a varied repertoire of pop, blues, country-whatever put the tips in the jar!

[ndh83]

Labels...that's all those are. You're right, but I also consider Bob Wills to have some bluesy numbers, so I reckon it's all just music, really.

[g0ldbuG]

what's a wabash cannonball? a train?

[BrunetteLiana76]

Yes.

[williestratton]

LOVE this guy's voice, so gooood

[proman84]

True, And no one can sing the blues like Blind WIllie McTell...

[stickyjam1]

i prefer the robbie williams version

[rwb345]

If you ever get to Thomson, GA, you can visit Blind Willie's grave site. It's about 6 miles south on GA hwy 17. Turn right on Happy Valley' go about 3 miles to a small church on the left. You can see the grave from the road. Willie will be glad you stopped by

[francescaemc2]

a masterpiece. Thanks so much for posting this.

[steveygee1]

oh my god i thought i had all his recordings in a 6 disc box set but this song is not on?!!? he is without doubt my favourite bluesman, such a sweet unique voice. is there anyone else like him?

[acidcasual07]

Grow up! music is just music.

[panda606]

yer cheery..

[williestratton]

man i am LOVING THIS!!!

[Chickenhawk9932]

my soul rolls along as he plays.

[ObserveIt]

Yeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[lobizoon1]

Stop discussing and enjoy. This is not American Idol, in where we say this is better than that. It's just music, nothing is better than nothing, it's just opinion that counts. The only think that I find against modern music, is that the new "musician" are produced in a studio in order to become best seller. That's shit, they are killing real art. As Oscar Wilde said first art,then the artist. Let's stop discussing and enjoy now. Cheers and thanks for listening!

[DukeTaylors]

so true, whenn it comes down to it, music is all noise, it's only opinion.

[jessupar]

i read somewhere that the green day lead guitarist claimed to be influenced by son house. that has nothing to do with blind willie mctell, but i was making a comparrison between jack white and whoever the prick was that said that.

sure, i CAN enjoy music without bashing the people who are desacrating it now, but why bother? its youtube. if you dont like it, dont comment.

[jessupar]

In my oppinion, the only other good version of Wabash Cannonball was Jerry Reed playing on the Porter Wagoner Country Music Hour. This is the first time i've heard Samuel McTier (his real name) playing it.

as for an argument that's allready passed, Jack white is a disgraceful man for saying he was influenced by real musicians. he may as well just slander the names of bukka white and furry lewis while he's at it.

[lobizoon1]

"Dark was the night- Cold was the ground" is from Blind Willie JOHNSON, not fro McTell. He was another GOSPEL-BLUES great guitarist, specially an enormous slide guitarist. All the same, thanks for listening!

[hungbob2000]

Did you guys know that this fine gentlemen's music has left our solar system? Along with others his song "dark was the night - cold was the ground" is on the most distant human-made objectfrom earth voyager 1. An hounour Willie and the song definetley have deserved.

[peppermints53]

yeppers

[peppermints53]

he souds like jack white, no wonder he is jacks idol. heehee

[Lukeblueslover]

did you answer yourself?? °_°

P.S. Don't EVER put Jack White's name near Willie's name. He might be influenced by him, but he makes horrible music.

[peppermints53]

NO! i don't remember putting that their so whatever about that and why do you even care? and i happen to like the white stripes and jack white so you have no right to tell me off like that.are like bwm's defender?!. sheeeeeeeesh!!!

[Lukeblueslover]

EEEEEEEH? shut up peppermints:)

[peppermints53]

oh grow up and be mature!!!

[Lukeblueslover]

??? You have to grow up, you said I have no rights to tell you off...I was just saying white stripes makes horrible music, and that's my opinion. To put it down like you said, neither you have the right to say to me sheeeeesh just because I think they make shit instead of music. So...shut up peppermints:)

[peppermints53]

ok i am going to say this nicely... i think everyone deserves some respect so why don't we stop this whole crappy argument/disareement ok? lets be nice. to everyone. (i am not trying to sound cheesy).

good then.

[Fawksian21]

Do not disrespect the Great White, man! I'm sick to death of all these snobs cutting on him. His music is amazing. Seriously what's bad about it?

[Lukeblueslover]

I ain't a snob, simply for me they make horrible music...

[Fawksian21]

What's so horrible about The White Stripes' music that you don't think they should be mentioned alongside Blind Willie McTell?

[Lukeblueslover]

Oh my god...are you serious about that?

It's like putting Chopin alongside Britney Spears. nuff said

[Fawksian21]

No. You haven't actually put forth any argument as to why Jack White is comparable to the likes of Britney Spears. What is there that makes Blind Willie McTell better than him? Is it just because he's dead? Because his music's been around longer? McTell was an artist and musician just like Jack White; Britney Spears is not even close to being either. And unless you put forth some sort of actual argument, I suggest you stop making idiot comparisons and acting like that's that.

[Lukeblueslover]

OH MY GOD!Have you EVER heard the music of Blind Willie McTell?? He was an incomparable artist, no matter if he was alive or now that he is dead..simply there are some musicians that are in an "higher place" than others (Britney Spears docet), that's my argument. Simple as that.

[Fawksian21]

Of course I've heard Blind Willie McTell. Why the hell do you think I saw this video in the first place (not to argue with you)? Anyway, hollow elitist rhetoric is all you've given in place of an argument so far. "He's better just because he is" is the only thing you've said so far. Make no mistake, I love the blues as much as you and greatly enjoy Blind Willie McTell's music. I just don't feel like I have to vindicate those tastes by trashing other credible artist's names. 'Nuff said?

[Lukeblueslover]

hollow elitis rhetoric...wow, wonderful expression.I've only said that for me Jack White makes horrible music, and would be a sterile analysis talking about what you call an "argument".Could I say that he lacks in songwriting skills, in "intention" when playing his stuff and others stuff as well? Could I say that he butchered some classics with horrible arrangements or it could be enough saying that he is a mediocre musician?Then we are in the field of personal tastes and for me he makes shit.

[Fawksian21]

I'll end by saying this: you insulted one of my favorite guitarists by saying that he couldn't be compared with a great blues musician, then comparing him with Britney Spears. You've been shrill about the matter and I still fail to comprehend why you're so hostile towards someone whose music I enjoy, who's received unending praise from real musicians, and who made Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists. In view of these things, your saying he's mediocre means nothing to me.

[Lukeblueslover]

There's nothing hard to comprehend it's just you being "hurted" because I think that one of your favorite musician is shit for me. As for Rolling Stone's list...well, get real, what kind of serious reliability could have these kind of lists?Better leave it aside man...As I said, we are in the personal tastes field so ANYONE (even the "real" musicians you said) could find enjoyable or hateful his work. So it's me that gives no serious arguments?? Bye mate.

[Domdomhead]

Wouldn't want to add anything nasty but, (gotta love that 'but') I mean it's great that you enjoy jack whites music and all but it's so basic and seems to lack feeling (for me), where as this guy wrote classics that are still heard and remembered 50 or 60 years later (thats a guesstimate). I don't think anyone will remember 7 nation army in 2050... But keep on enjoying it! (Maybe try learning some guitar and when you can learn a song in less than a minute I don't think that's 'ledgend material')

[Fawksian21]

I know Jack White's not for everyone and won't bother to argue with you since you don't seem to want to argue with me. I'll only say that I'm not a music theorist, but I know what I like and don't really put stock in the opinions of those who know more about music than me. I had a friend who knew a lot about opera and classical and he told me he couldn't stand Philip Glass because the music was so simple. But it didn't change what I felt when I listened to Glass. Anyway, cheers.

[steveygee1]

How can you even compare Jack White to Blind Wille Mctell. They both legends in their own time and as calling music simplistic, I frankly couldn't give a shit as long as it sounds good. is the blues not simplistic? that is the whole point in the white stripes, simplicity is their strength

[SRVRULES893]

i don't really agree with the less than a minute comment, I mean look at Son House. His music is simple, but it will never be forgotten. Death Letter blues could be learnt in less than one minute, but i believe its one of the meanest most soulful tracks ever committed to disc. I'm not saying complex music is bad (i love Megadeth, and Iron Maiden and Rush too), but music doesn't need to be complicated to be memorable.

[alwaysdestroy84]

I agree. Most times, especially in blues and rock & roll, less is more. The songs I enjoy the most are usually the simplest. The White Stripes are a good example.

[Fawksian21]

The whole point of the blues is simplicity. You don't have to be a virtuoso; you have to have feeling.

Love The White Stripes as well, though some people on here are convinced that Jack White's the Antichrist for some reason..

[alwaysdestroy84]

Well said.

[jessupar]

your not alone in that argument... what in the christ did he do to Death Letter Blues, is what i'd like to know. he's worse then Green Day.

[Fawksian21]

What the fuck does Green Day have to do with any of this? They're not even close to being influenced by Blind Willie McTell or any other blues musician. Can't you just listen to music that you like without hating on modern stuff?

[psychedelichobo]

yeah man.. green day are a whole other time period and genre..

[XpickmansmodelX]

I dont give a shit what anyone says about Jack White. I love all of his music and the white stripes will be my personal favorite until the day I die.

[Lukeblueslover]

wow, cool:)

[Fawksian21]

Right on.

[jhee76]

He sure does hey! Wow! It's great stuff eh?

[lobizoon1]

No,no. This is ragtime blues from the east cost. This song particulary is country, but this musician like Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, played this rare blues mixed with ragtime. It is not like mississippi blues, is piedmont blues. It is not jazz, bluegrass it aint nothing but old time blues. Blues was already "created" at the time he recorded. Thanks for listening and comments

[ROSEBLOOD333]

bluegrass..blues..folk..roots

good music is good music and this

IS A GREAT SONG GREAT SOUND

GRRRRRREAT MAN

[ROSEBLOOD333]

bluegrass..blues..folk..roots

good music is good music and this

IS A GREAT SONG GREAT SOUND

GRRRRRREAT MAN

[telegraphline]

Isn't this Bluegrass?

[putonick2]

... but this sound more like country than blues

[RooHole]

This is a period in time...like around 1925-35 when, in my opinion, blues music was not realized yet. This is the roots. From slave songs, to folk songs, to what would eventually be called "the blues". His songs vary between all three of those genres.

[almanacofsleep]

this was when blues were less defined, he sounds a bit like country cause hes from georga and so has a lot more different aproach than Patton and co. from mississippi.

[putonick2]

maybe by this period blues was in jazz

[TennesseeToddy]

Fantastic!

[o0whitestripes0o]

Awesome song, thanks!

[lobizoon1]

Thanks for listening!