Guitar Slim - The Things That I Used To Do

[9thWardJukebox]

@OrwellianNightmareOw I thought I would be "belly up" by 40 but it is amazing what the human body can endure.

[newaccountdebzbd]

SRV just wails on this one. I think Slim and SRV would have gotten along just fine.

[9thWardJukebox]

@newaccountdebzbd I would think there would have been a mutual admiration of each other. Ironically that both lives were cut very short.

[monkeytown1000]

Ray Charles did the arrangement but was also very taken with Guitar Slim's preach blues, gospel style and In 1954 Ray released his first overtly, gospel based single "I've Got A Woman" - the rest is history.

Slim as a performer was the Hendrix of his day. Flashily dressd, he had a 340 foot guitar cord so he could be carried out on an assitant's shoulders into the audience to play & sometimes out into the street causing mayhem. A true original & very influential.

[9thWardJukebox]

@monkeytown1000 Great info. Would have loved to witness that. Had to be mayhem. We all know about Ray's excited utterance at the end of "The Things That I Used To Do". It's just incredible to think of Ray as a session musician recording at Cosimo's.

[guitartech9]

@monkeytown1000

Wasn't it Albert Collins with the long guitar cable?

[Mixtapeworm]

This competes with the Wilbert Harrison version

[Tomatelasrabeta]

Oh, yeah...things that I used to do...just no more, fucking time; it s so bad and quickly...

[V8Deuce]

Guitar Slim !

[dogler11]

one of my favorite tear jerkers.

[SteviJobs]

Da BLUEs ........Ray Vaughn and zappa admired him

[9thWardJukebox]

@SteviJobs Among many others.

[checkorbet12]

James Lee Burkes' books talk of this song and I'm sure alot of hits are from his

readers too. He writes of New Orleans. Slim was 32 when he died of his Alcoholism. No self-pity or anger contrary to "bitch slapping"! he had acceptance,, but yes much sorrow.

[9thWardJukebox]

@checkorbet12 many try to "romanticize" the demons as to what made him (and others) great artists. I think perhaps we should take a more negative view as to how those "demons" cheated us from receiving more gifts or art from the likes of Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones.

[checkorbet12]

@9thWardJukebox try alanon , no family is not touched. If you think about it, their best work came from the deamons and there were many artists, 'comfortably numb' is a classic story also, about artists living on the edge.

[9thWardJukebox]

@checkorbet12 Giving credit to the "demons" is like when people were doing down here when they said the Saints were on a journey of "destiny" to win the Super Bowl a year ago. Bullshit! They worked their asses off, they play their asses off and they got good bounces and good breaks. But mostly, they earned it with their talent . "Destiny" had nothing to do with it. Eddie Jones gets all the credit for his talent. The booze gets credit for destroying it. Pretty simple.

[Satchmoeddie]

@9thWardJukebox I think some of the writing comes from the booze or drugs, but eventually the drugs (booze is a drug too) tend to win out and do destroy the talent. So I would credit the drugs for the creative aspect, as well as the demise of the ability to perform and eventual loss of life completely. It is both sides of the coin, but one eats through destroying the coin completely. You still have to have both side for it to even be a coin though. These guys worked hard as hell too!

[9thWardJukebox]

@Satchmoeddie I read your comment and it makes me uncomfortable. That may be one of the best compliments you'll get for a while. That doesn't mean I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[lynchblair]

he drank himself to death way too soon.....

[9thWardJukebox]

@lynchblair It's an imperfect world. We lost him and James Booker because of similar demons. 

[mvarahadas]

Hey 9 ward- I added to my favorites-----varaha

Escondido

[9thWardJukebox]

@mvarahadas It is the most viewed/listened to song of all my uploads.

[CameronsFag]

bitch slapping in order methinks

[9thWardJukebox]

@CameronsFag On Valentine's Day no less. (I'm with you)

[mmozzis]

where is the "i"????????

[9thWardJukebox]

@mmozzis A bit too cryptic for me to understand the question. Can you elaborate?

[mmozzis]

@9thWardJukebox look at the juke box... :)

[Satchmoeddie]

@mmozzis In alphanumeric coding like a Jukebox, or building plans with column lines laid out with numbers north to south and letters west to east Is and Os are omitted as they can easily be confused with ones and zeroes. It was done to simplify both remembering which selection and for the poor guys who had to assemble, and service these Jukeboxes and put the record in the correct slot. So now ya know.

[blisster22]

@mmozzis It's missing the "O" too.

[blisster22]

@mmozzis As well as WXYZ

[lNHUMANE]

@blisster22 The Thngs That Used t d

[NoFearOfGod]

LOL  Thanks Bro

[NoFearOfGod]

This is the song I want played at my funeral :D

[9thWardJukebox]

@NoFearOfGod The spiritual implication of this song has never occurred to me until I saw your comment. Cool idea but I hope it's not an issue for you for a long time to come.

[dakarlion1]

classic blues tune!

[9thWardJukebox]

@dakarlion1 "Classic" sums it up! Glad you enjoyed it!!!

[midamasco1]

Ray Charles on piano !!!

[9thWardJukebox]

@midamasco1 And yelling at the very end.

[MyMoppet52]

Love this song. I've heard it lots and still love it so much. BTY, H-Bomb pounded on his piano and made this familiar at least in this part of the country. It sounded nice with the piano, also. I always enjoy your notes. They are interesting and make me go look things up, so it just starts snowballing. Great song. I am sorry that we lost Mr. Jones so early. Thank you for posting.

[9thWardJukebox]

@MyMoppet52 You are quire welcome!! I have 2600 songs up on this channel. I have about 10,000 to 11,000 hits per day. This song leads the pack just about everyday with an astounding 8% views. BTW, usually the top 4 tunes listened to each day are by Guitar Slim.

[claymorefann]

thanks for uploading! I needed this for my music final :)

[9thWardJukebox]

@claymorefann One of the best and most recorded songs dat virtually no one has heard. And you're welcome!

[rocktenniscat]

Remembering Guitar Slim today: Dec. 10, 1926 - February 7, 1959

[9thWardJukebox]

@rocktenniscat Wow. Great catch! What an amazing talent to have lost so soon. I will send this out on my facebook page.

[rocktenniscat]

@9thWardJukebox - You're welcome! Happy New Year! (Just got tickets to see Robert Plant - huge fan himself of Guitar Slim and many other greats.....)

[9thWardJukebox]

@rocktenniscat Very cool. I got to see him and Alison Krauss when they were on tour a few years back when they did Jazz Fest here in New Orleans. Dat "unlikely duet" really need to do another batch of songs. They are so great together! Enjoy your concert!!!!

[LivingWorstNightmare]

This is nice! Sounds like something from an old movie

[HoboGus]

Great old song. Thanks for sharing!

[9thWardJukebox]

@HoboGus You're welcome. One of the most covered songs that many have never even heard.

[billchew450]

I understand that Ray Charles actually played piano on this track.

Also- Garrett Hartley SUCKS- he has to go!

[9thWardJukebox]

@billchew450 As for Hartley, he's like a "schoid" kicker. If he goes, then he'll be right behind our offense....who apparently has left their offense in Miami in February. And I ain't even gonna talk about the "defense". Who knew dat Scott Fujita was worth $14 Million over 3 years with 8 million guaranteed?  (I'm being sarcastic.) Ray is on piano and at approximately 2:54 of the recording, listen carefully and you will hear somebody yell out "Yeah". Dat is Ray overwhelmed with emotion.

[granzombi]

@9thWardJukebox Hey man, the defense is actually,doin ok, what's up with brees, though? And thanks for all you post, love it!

[9thWardJukebox]

@granzombi Here's the deal and I can tell you with a straight face, we were inches away in a bunch of games last year from being 8 and 8 and we got to the Super Bowl probably on a coin toss. That's how football is today. Balls are bouncing just a bit the wrong way this year, and a couple of bad throws by Brees who looks like he's getting a bit un-nerved. Only good excuse is the loss of Bush. He's as great running back and a great decoy. He petrifies defenses and then Brees can have his way.

[granzombi]

@9thWardJukebox We saw now what the Saints can do. No let down tomorrow! But your right, Hartley makes a kick we are 6-2, Brees has two bone headed games that we should have won, and honestly Payton didint think the Cleveland game through as well as he usually does. We could be 8-8. It is a game of bounces and plays like Meacham's vs the Redskins...

[d820m]

@billchew450 Ray was also the credited arranger of the song too

[9thWardJukebox]

@d820m This song was the most played song of all my songs every day since I posted it up until about 3 weeks ago. Rebirth Brass Band - Do Whatcha Wanna has just taken over the spot and I don't know why unless it's because of HBO's Treme. There are days now when Slim's classic is not even in the top 10 listens. For the 20 or so months this channel has been up, this song still has a comfortable lead with 3% of all views followed by Bobby Charles The Mardi Gras Song @1.6% and Rebirth @ 1.5%.

[bluesfreund]

hi guys, we love guitar slim...try our version of "Certainly All" - Willi Lohmann Kapelle...

[ardarvin]

Great track. That's 23yr old Ray Charles on the piano. And Ray did the horn arranging as well.

[autinspare]

The original and the best. Shame he died so young.

[57dogsbody]

I`ve got another GREAT version of this on a JOHNNY OTIS album(live at monthery,I think) by PEE WEE CRAYTON .It`s deleted now (on vinyl anyway) but might be on aCD somewhere.IT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!In fac nearly every ttack on the album is great.Eddie Vinson, Roy milton JOETURNER ,Esther philips,Joe hunter are allthere.its worth looking for in second hand record shops.

[9thWardJukebox]

@57dogsbody Lots of the rel obscure stuff are in public domain now and have been booted and are readily available over in Europe. Some of the quality is very good. I seem to become obsessive and always trying to upgrade quality. This music is infectious.

[57dogsbody]

this record is FAN FUCKIN TASTIC !!!! LOTS of good versions, but this is definitive.It is just SO SO GOOD. O YES.

[9thWardJukebox]

@57dogsbody Well, it's the original and many have covered it but I believe they did so because out of their love and respect of Jones' (Slim) version. No one will ever top this one and they know it but but yest, they will still do it. Sort of like covers of Etta James' "At Last". That along with this and a few others have crossed over from a "music form" into works of art. This is art.

[Bluesanne]

Kurt Ostbahn, Fia di Hoa, Album: Höchste Zeit (2003)

[acousticelectricdude]

BADASSSSS

[9thWardJukebox]

@acousticelectricdude Virtually an unknown legend!

[rosseis]

SRV plays this note for note

[9thWardJukebox]

@rosseis Well, besides Stevie Ray, many many artists were influenced by this relatively unknown artist.

[Lowdown13blues]

Do u guys know who's the one who yells "..yeah!!" @ 2:55 ?

The young Ray Charles !!! playing some piano in the background..

Thought it was good to add that remark to such a beautiful song.

[9thWardJukebox]

@Lowdown13blues Yep, that is a young Ray Charles when he was hanging out in New Orleans. He actually recorded over at WDSU studios ("Ray's Blues" and "Don't You Know") because Cosimo's studio down the block was already booked up.

[Lowdown13blues]

Niiiiiice !!

[merc0049]

I have this original record that I bought 31 years ago. This record

came out in1951.. It rocks hard and long before the rock and rollers

who came along in 1955. Elvis, Jerry Lee, Buddy Holly, Little Richard

and Bill Haley.... Listen to I Got Something For Ya... Its pure rock and

roll in 1951....... MERC

[9thWardJukebox]

@merc0049 There's lots of unknowns who paved the way for the dudes you called out. Least now we can give them some respect and let folks hear them here.

[merc0049]

@9thWardJukebox As a teenager and a young guitar player, I listened to

Hendrix, Clapton and Duanne Allman. At about 16, I started to listen to the

players they listened to. I first learned of Slim in an interview of Frank Zappa

where he raved about Guitar Slim. I bought The Things I Used To Do and

Buddy Guy's I Was Walking Through The Woods and my whole perspective

of the guitar and music changed......... MERC

[9thWardJukebox]

@merc0049 You need to hunt down Guitar Slim's "ATCO Sessions". I get (nor want) any kickback on sales so go find the cheapest one you can. I cannot post these songs because the owner of the material, WMG will not allow it. Trust me on this one, you won't be disappointed.

[bellgardens53]

Anyway, another good story, according to Earl King, "Gatemouth Brown, T-bone Walker, Lowell Fulsom and Guitar Slim were all performing at the White Eagle in Opelousas (Louisiana). Slim was headlining because "The Things..." was a scorcher. They were all sittin' in the dressing room and Guitar Slim walked up to 'em all and said, 'Gentlemen, we got the greatest guitar players in the country assembled right here...

[bellgardens53]

@bellgardens53 Contin...But when I leave tonight, ain't nobody gonna realize you even been here.' Well, they all laughed, but that's exactly what happened." ...Nothing wrong with Slims confidence lol

[bellgardens53]

Yea...soo good!

[9thWardJukebox]

@bellgardens53 Glad you enjoyed!!!!

[bellgardens53]

@9thWardJukebox Thanx. According to liner notes by Jeff Hannusch (ACE, CHD110), Earl King telling the story, "Slim come out with his hair dyed blue, blue suit, blue pair of shoes. He had 350 feet of mike wire connected to his guitar, and a valet carrying him on his shoulders all through the crowd and out into the parking lot. Man, he was stopping cars driving down the highway. No one could out perform Guitar Slim. He was the performinest man I've ever seen" Dead at 32 years of age

[9thWardJukebox]

@bellgardens53 Great story. So few got to see him perform because of his death at such an early age. He was an amazing artist. If you haven't already, get his "Atco Sessions" CD. Can't upload here because it's on WMG. It's a fantastic album not to be missed. Again, thanks for all the interesting info!

[bellgardens53]

@9thWardJukebox I have 3 albums w/Slim. That earlier mentioned ACE

, ACE (CHD 189) called "Battle of the Blues - Guitar Slim Earl King" and "Guitar Slim Red Cadillacs & Crazy Chicks" (sundown CG 709-08). Some tracks on the last one is from 1951, '54, '55, 56, '57, '58. Don't know when the Atco sessions were done but I have a tendency not buying CDs as my habit is not to pay double. lol

[MagicBoy241]

Just sick!

[HunterRocks1995]

NICE that somebody finally posted ol' Slim. I've played with Guitar Slim Jr. a few times before. A real honor to his father. Amazing music. And since when has John Mayer covered this?! Disgrace!

[rlcope45]

Thanks for this blues classic!!!

[9thWardJukebox]

You're welcome!

[Shim267]

Love this song. Thanks for uploading!

[9thWardJukebox]

You're welcome!

[GuitarJackson213]

wow so earl king covered it then freddie king then stevie ray vaughan and now john mayer

[9thWardJukebox]

....and it will be covered again and again and again..........

[NorthTulsaBoy]

...'Cause it rules ! Ha, ha.

[mrbreeze30]

Buddy Guy too!

[9thWardJukebox]

I have neglected Buddy for no reason other than I always seem to get sidetracked uploading other stuff. Will try to put some of his stuff up in the next few weeks.

[shortcakeslicious]

He WAS ril tired of her!!!

I love this song!!!

[9thWardJukebox]

I agree. This one is out of the park!

[57Will]

I found out about that a few years ago, before the "Ray" movie came out.

[57Will]

Real name: Eddie Jones. This electric blues number (on the Specialty label)was a #1 Billboard R&B hit for him. The Ray Charles band was backing him on this. The cat yelling "Yeahhh!" near the end was probably Ray.

[9thWardJukebox]

Good God!!!!! That is Ray....no doubt in my mind and you know I have heard that song at least 100 times and didn't give it any thought! Great catch!

[d820m]

and the reason for that was the fact that accorfing to engineer Cosimo Matassa was that it took almost two days to record this song........he stated that every time they thought they had a good take, Slim would stop the middle of a take and ask how he sounded....all the musicians were getting tired and frustrated...and that prompted Ray to shout out at the end.....