David Bromberg teaches "Cocaine Blues" Part 1 of 2

[tbcass]

Nice to see Bromberg is still around. Back in the early 70's Bromberg was required listening for any aspiring guitarist.

[Les3201]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!! This one has been on the "woodshed" list since about 1980...but the version on "My Own House" was always too daunting to tackle...with the 12-string, the speed, the diminished chords, etc....Thanks for posting it.

[7953dave]

excellent stuff...

[cgdolce]

sooo damn good!bromberg is the man

[heymynameistyler]

sounds like a rip off of salty dog

[GENIUS99999992345678]

@heymynameistyler procol harum's salty dog? don't sound nuttin like it

[whocares1694]

Outstanding! Guess ya really need a OM model Martin for fingerstyle like they say.

[msspi764]

This is beautiful, but its Bromberg channeling the Reverend playing Luke Jordan/Dick Justice. Very cool, but Jordan/Justice played it differently. Not that it's wrong, or has to be played only one way, but not everything has to be played in the Reverend Gary Davis style. Quite honestly there are beautiful subtleties in how Jordan and Justice played it that get lost here. Example, there is a C-Em-Am-C run ("around the back door...") that Justice plays that is elegant in its simplicity.

[alneal100]

I had the original album too! That was back in the early 1980's I used to play it all the time. I can't remember what happened to the album......because I was stoned on marijuana or mushrooms all the time. Sometimes I would try to give the marijuana and mushrooms a break by just gettting drunk. I tried to quit the booze, marijuana and mushrooms by getting hooked on model airplane glue (tolulene) and finally cocaine. That's when I lost my house and all of my wives (I'm Mormon)!

[alneal100]

I had the original album back sometime in the eighties. Ioved this song and just about wore the album out too! I lost the album along the way.....porbably because I was stoned on marijuana or mushrooms.

[inky960]

I bought the album this is on and wore it OUT. This tune, I mean. "If there ever was a devil without any horns, he must have been a furniture man." Ha! What a great line. Bromberg plays it all-out, faster and string-ripping fervor on the album. A real gem. Love it, love it.

[Wats4Crick]

Thanks David ... you're among my all time favorite guitar players ...

[betzdoodle43]

David Bromberg isa master musician!!!

[belikewater001]

This guy is the shit....Love Tuna, but Jorma won't ever play any new songs in concert...Bromberg never plays the same set-list twice.

[tonytwotoes9]

one of the best players, worst singer though

[celloprofundo]

@tonytwotoes9..Dave's great, but Jorma Kaukonen's the master..Hot Tuna is the shit..

[steveshowse]

@tonytwotoes9 not a great singer, but he OWNS it and all is forgiven.

[nevikmoore]

@tonytwotoes9 Sad, but true. He used to be much better, vocally. 70s and 80s he was at the top of his game. He looks like he had an off-day in this shoot.

[messmeup77]

i know where my next few weeks are going to be spend, right here in this bedroom, learning this didley.

[nineveh420]

2 dislikes... what, do you play it better?

[MrJackonthehighway]

this version is sick, it sounds phenomenal.

[horlacsd]

2:42 " heeeeey heeeeey!"

love the rendition

[mosadni]

dave:

please post Delia.

all I got is gone.

[giusto1006]

Thanks David! You are the reason I started playing guitar in 1979!!! I watched you perform on Long Island for years...then in Michigan later on...I remember a performance with George Kindler and Dick Fegy that left me breathless and a fan for life. Yes I am amazed to finally be able to play this tune!!!

Peace!!!

[greystole]

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get lessons from David Bromberg.  Thanks so much, I am truly blessed.

[SuperOlds88]

nobody is ever gonna fill this guys shoes

[skynrdpikr]

THANK-YOU David! ... I used to play this song a lot & I could never get it right ... this clears up a lot!

[1thumb3fingers]

I recently figured out your versions of Early This Morning and Chumpman Blues from a cassette I bought decades ago.

You've been one of my acoustic guitar gods since then and finding you on Youtube will make it a lot easier to learn how you do what you do. Thanks!

[juiceman1965]

Man has more music in'em than 10 musicians

[lobizoon1]

Excellent, Luke's Jordan version!

[totamus]

I doubt if you read these, but thanks for allowing this to be posted. I havent heard the Luke Jordan version before, just the Rev Gary Davis version. I am an instant convert!

I used to see you at Charlotte's Web, back when there was a Charlotte's web. Your playing has inspired me since that time.

[yogisuperman]

You are the best David! I want you to know that song you sang about Bloom being the fastest man alive is my very favorite! What ids the name of it? "Travelin' Man?" or was it "The Fastest Man Alive?" I heard you play at Lemoyne Collwge Long Branch Park in Auburn at the Shine Theater. At a farm near Syracuse. Damn! those were the greatest days of my life. Thanks again, David!

[felixrockss]

where can i get a complete tab of this version of cocaine blues ???

[surferchad122]

buy the DVD...

[stevertr]

Brings back many, many memories....of the days in the mid 70's at the Rutgers Student Center.... :o)

[saullouis]

Thank you David. I'm lately taking bluegrass lessons from Tony Watt. But Im greatful always for  the roots of yourself and the Reverend and Ramblin Jack. Its a pleasure. Ill always be a better audiance than musician, but its still fun. Thanks.

[beethovenbix]

Thanks David. I really love it that your honoring the Reverend and playing as great as He did.  Wow you've really Inspired us down here in New Zealand!

[russelsheartinacage]

wow, that performance was fantastic! i think i know which one i'm goin to try and learn next!

[irelephant]

Never knew David was a Rev. Gary Davis student! Like Stefan Grossman, who influenced Eric Clapton, and Ian Buchanan [who schooled Jorma Kaukonen] the reverend's students have done a splendid job of bringing this great music to a global audience while preserving the master's legacy.

[kidderminsterbro]

David:

I miss the days of catching your performances in the 70's and 80's at The Quiet Night in Chitown. It was always fantastic guitar playing and very funny joking around with the audience. I wonder if you remember the Ron Crick Band that would play at The Bulls music club. He was also very funny to see. Thanks for the lesson.

peace,

rich

[davescgc]

Thanks alot, David

From a dedicated "groopy" of gtrworkshp.