Danny Barker - St. James Infirmary Blues

[requiemofhearts]

Though I still prefer Cab Calloway's version from Betty Boop, I have to say I love this version. Feels more like a story than that one. Definitely my second-favorite version.

[LiarsNightmare]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[LiarsNightmare]

THE BEST!!!!!

PAYDAY MONSANTO . COM

1

[aprilvan44]

Thanks for putting the words on here. This is a treasure.  What's the book on it?

[susisilv]

amazing! the best lyrics i foun yet.....

[superfly1191]

goddam..perfection.

does anyone know the chords?

[maxnevins]

the devil makes three has the best version

[speedkleaver]

such a beautiful rendition, thank you and treme for bringing this to my attention

[shiffyboy]

Great version. Nothing beats James Booker's off Bayou Maharajah though.

[pbmutomb]

omg, i love this song. especially, when performed live at a particular jazz bar.

[paganmaestro]

Danny was so great, unique, knowledgeable, compelling. He made music feel like part of the conversation. Danny was featured well in the Canadian documentary "Liberty Street Blues". Allen Toussaint did a wonderful instrumental cover of this song on his "Bright Mississippi" cd. There's a good book by Robert W. Harwood dedicated entirely to the history and evolution of this song, called "I Went Down To The St James Infirmary" (Harland Press).

[humancity]

after this recording came out i got a chance to watch mr. barker perform across the street from cafe brazil near the french quarter. i made a point to talk to him. i said, "i really like your stuff." he seemed very happy i would say this. he was no prima donna. straight up regular guy. he asked how the rest of the songs were. i said, "very good, very good." danny liked that. i mean, who was i to tell him how his stuff was? goddamn, nice unassuming guy danny was.

[zacvandergugten]

you sure gown man isnt a reference to the kkk?

[DavelovesRealMusic]

I agree--SUPERB version..wish there was video of him singing this.

[jujuman1029384756]

I was born in the wrong era...

[drowsynumbness]

@jujuman1029384756 No you were not, in this era you can sit at home and discover these songs in any part of the world. If you like jazz, this is the best era to be born in!

[MinorSwingBlues]

@jujuman1029384756

if you can feels this blues music, there is no era anymore.

[Blindianboy]

damn! listening to this makes me wanna go to the nearest smoke filled juke joint and pour out a couple for all those who can't be with us.

[deadg00se]

amazing

[gninalex]

nig thanx for sharing

[zombiejon]

CAn't thank you enough for posting this...

Really brings me up when i'm down..

thanks again

[steveknows62]

@zombiejon

Yes. And down when I'm up.

[dormouse72]

Merci pour ce somptueux post. Thank tou for this post. This is just a blach perl of Blues. Thak you so much from France.

[Bluesman9830]

There must be hundreds if not thousands of versions of this song. I don't like to compare them. I'll sat that I love Danny Barker's version. Of course I could say the same about Bobby Bland, Cab Callaway, Satchmo etc...They each bring something different to the table.

[RockYourLobster]

i can't say i like this more than armstrong's or the white stripes' but I do love the whole "She opened up one eye and said get the hell away from me can't you see I'm tryin' to pass away

(I said forgive me darlin')"

I wish that were in more versions.

[infirmarybluesism]

check out Cab Calloway's version. Janis Joplin has one too. So do the Doors...

[TacomaGraphicArtist]

I first heard Danny Barker on The Bob Rivers show years ago...glad I was able to find him on here. I'd love to find a CD if anyone can point me in the right direction ..

[redmikeu2]

go to louisiana music factory on the web

[scirabbor]

You all both ritarded....Barker's a bad motherfucker. Fact. End of conversation. Yea man, other people done the song well too. it's all the shit. Apples n oranges, oranges and apples. Now go get some whiskey and handjobs. Good lawd.

[8leggedmonster]

@scirabbor ... whiskey and HJs... good combo...like Danny Barker and words...blahaha!

[youbobwhatsnew]

"You all both ritarded." I think this clause speaks for itself.

[youbobwhatsnew]

Definitely too wordy. Check out Snooks Eaglin or Louis Armstrong, Joe Cocker or Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

[8leggedmonster]

@youbobwhatsnew .... haha too wordy? you're crazy dude, Danny Barker is awesome...the wordy words he's wording around there are the best part of his version... "put a jazz band on top of my casket" . He's a story teller. Other versions are killing too - but Barker's is personal.

[youbobwhatsnew]

That part's not even his. It's another line that gets used or omitted depending on who's singing it, like most of the song. (See Ramblin' Jack Elliott: "Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon...")

[8leggedmonster]

@youbobwhatsnew ... fine, you get a shiny star for knowing a bunch of versions of St, James... point being Danny Barkers a badass MF, not just some dude who sings too many words.

Things you're not supposed to do: drink non-alcoholic beer, eat vegetarian gumbo, and complain that Danny Barker sings too many words. Just listen to Barker and love him... end.

[youbobwhatsnew]

Don't take it personal. I like Danny Barker fine, it's just not my favorite version is all. The poster says in the description that this version will change the minds of those who previously had a favorite. Different strokes.

[AlFrisby]

@8leggedmonster Dat right!!! Who are these wombats?? ..l'm born raised N.O. and I can tell you you'd need a PhD in NOLA music just to sound stupid.These comment are beyond stupid..trust me just listen to "8 Leg" he's right your wrong..It's a male whack off Fest embarrassing guy's.."listen to Lil' Jimmy Wittgenstein's version it's the best!"

[knulla08]

Barker was tops!

[jipidibipity]

This is my understanding of this old old traditional. And I love my understanding.....so

[doctorkazoo]

Oh god...too wordy! It's annoying! Love the King Oliver version.

[MrJaynickel]

yeah!

[LiarsNightmare]

Yes.. the BEST (when you wanna have a good time)

[heinbanjo12]

The best version I ever heard of this old song. We used to sing it on the high school in the Netherlands.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Jazz Banjo.

[j50gal]

I saw Danny Barker while visiting New Orleans with a girlfriend in 1988, shortly out of college. He was amazing, tack sharp, and he and his band came over and sat with us and signed the albums we had bought. A real treasure of a musician and human being, even at that ripe old age, and rather fond of the young ladies!

[redmikeu2]

i can't quit playing this song. I have had a book of his, since high school called "Bourbon Street Black" that I have started reading again because of this clip. It is hard to believe that there aren't more video of Danny Barker playing in clubs on you tube. Thanks.

[WildcatKelly2009]

Great post. He's taken some liberties with the lyrics, and I like what he's done. WWOZ plays this version quite a bit. There is a whole blog and book devoted to this song. But one quick correction - it isn't "she looked like a doll, man", it's that she looked like a "gown man", which was sort of a boogieman in the old days of New Orleans. Gown men supposedly killed people for their organs, and i think they were linked to some rather aggressive charity hospital medical students.

[malenkylizards]

Oh, I miss the OZ...brightened up my day more days than I could count

[addymike]

you can listen to it on the internet if you are away from nola

[BigAssTuba]

@malenkylizards You can still listen to WWOZ online at WWOZ.org! No doubt we all were listening to Brother Bob French play his collection of Danny Barker vocals including Henry Doesn't Eat No Meat. Bobby was asked to leave the station for speaking his mind apparently too freely. As per usual, which was why I loved listening to his show. No BS! And a real good heart!