Blues Legend 1: Blind Willie McTell

[jhb134]

Willie was one of the GREATest, of the old, 12-string, guitar players. One of the GREATest bluesmen, who ever lived and thanks very much, for this compilation of photos, and the music, itself.

[Mojooverlord]

@jhb134 Robert Hicks (Aka Barbeque Bob) plays a mean 12 string as well.

[ratstompmusic]

this is the best music there is! if you love raw blues you might like Rat Stomp :)

youtube.com/user/ratstompmusic

Our song Reckless Woman and Searching the Forest have a Delta blues style with slide guitar and fingerpicking

[jonton123]

im finding it hard to find a tab for this, any one have a link they would like to share? :) i love this so much..

[welshy9494]

i like this

[MrBlues1942]

Great blues the real deal Mr. Blind Willie Mctell

mighty mo rodgers

[redharrison7777]

Much love from Thomson!

[musiclover9361]

"Sho Nuff, that's too bad baby." Sublime!

[nickw66]

Love it, so glad to have had the pleasure to hear this classic recording, you have to love youtube for moments like this.Simply amazing

[paschal421]

too cool

don't forget mance lipscomb

[TheTommy203]

Just sweet, this guy rocks. I cant believe I have been missing out for 33 yrs.

[jblackmd1]

wow.....just keep on listening

[doomsdaypreacher]

Blind willie played the 12 string, that's something different in comparison with his contemporaries, the vocal style is reminiscent of the singers of the time, the most well known Robert Johnson. I like it, never heard of blind willie til now.

[SethEdward1930]

If you like him, you'll show like me! I'm a 2010 acoustic blues artist from mississippi! I want to bring back di forgotten style of blues to dis new generation! I will upload first song soon! MY style is 1930 acoustic blues! I'm asking yall to support me by subscribing! Thanks much!

seth edward

[0live0wire0]

Great song i mean listen to these licks. He's a legend.

[InsanelyINsane]

I've only begun listening to Blind Willie McTell. He's right up there with Lightnin' Hopkins.

[humbleish420]

I think its wild an artist this pure was playing in the street for quarters just a few years before he died. catch 22, maybe thats why his blues are so pure?

[mrpiki]

the arrogant blues giant.

[Kynatics]

I enjoy the mellow, riverside feel of his music. One of my favorite blues guitarists.

[lynettekomidar]

My first intro. to country roots blues .. love the man

[kobrajesusreturns]

So natural and easy.

[Sanctuary1952]

Oh man..I was 12 years old when I first heard this!!! (46 years ago!!) This song drove me into the arms of the Blues.... So happy to find this..... thanx for uploading!!!

[peacefrog002]

no one cant sing a blues like a blind willie mctell!!

[BearHeart13]

Thank you sharing this great video and song. Just heard him today on our local public radio station Thhursday afternoon show, "The Blues Lady's Time Machine." They play a lot of blues throughout the week, so I love that station.

[buffalobilly]

Willie Mctell, one of the best ever. check out his album "atlanta twelve string"

[populistherd]

Leadbelly is great.. They were both recorded by the same guy... I have this record where he ( the white guy recording) asks Mctell if he knows how to play "any complaining songs?"

Mctell: Ummm ( he sounds really nervous, like he might have been silently smuggled into a klan rally)

White guy: you don't know how to play"Ain't it hard to be a Nigger, Nigger" being blind black and possessing such talent must have made him a huge target as a street musician. There are at least 3 blind willies.

[lucasiskewl]

Is it too much of a stretch to claim that the blues is right up there with calculus as one of the greatest achievements of the human mind?

[spitblueblood]

my favorite version, talking to myself is good but this is in my opinion superior. Both are ambitious for blues in terms of chord progression. I love Mctell..

other great atypical blues songs : "CC Rider" and "Where did you sleep" by LeadBelly __"Shake it and break it" and "spoonful" by Chalie Patton__"Was I right or wrong" and"my black mama" by Son House__"Killing floor Blues" and Cypress Grove" by Skip James---"canned heat" "big road blues" and "cool drink of water blues" by Tommy Johnson.

[BlackCatCadillac]

lmao "now i'm gonna punch you in the nose." 1:06

[suckmynoids]

A college class taught by a very nice old lady led me to son house, who led me to the white stripes, who led me here. i know the white stripes isnt as good at the originals, but nobody from today can play these blues as believable as the originals. so dont be hating.

anyways, what i mean to say is: thanks for the post!

[ridgedodge]

any one ever heard any body pick a 12 string like that? ooooo eeee

[Bobbo293]

Great pictures and superb sound quality. Well done for posting this!

[mhmoss]

could someone please give me some info on the chord progression?

[ridgedodge]

iif you look at my channel ill post it for u slow, let me know if you want to c it. i just learned in by ear yesterday

[populistherd]

@mhmoss he's not playing all standard chords, most of the time. starts with E then a d chord slid up to the 4th fret, then an A held down with the index finger while the other fingers play a run of 4 notes:3 on the high E: 5th fret, 3rd fret,2nd fret( already held down) one on the B 5th fret, or the E open. then 5th fret on the G and E while alternating in a classic blues riff where only the notes on the G string descend E: 5 5 5 G:5 54 43 33... just look up the tab.

[joniJEALOUSY]

Yeah, Jack White of The White Stripes pointed me in the direction of Blind Willie McTell. For people who have loved him for years, do you not think you should be happy that a whole new generation of people are starting to love the blues? Jack White himself wouldn't have covered this song if he didn't admire him. It's musicians like him that are keeping this music alive today, and are exposing the younger generation to other amazing musicians!

[roejogan8]

kurt cobain loved this guy too. and bob dylan.

[32251]

He sounds like Jimmy Carter.

[HolyFerdinand]

one of his best, in my opinion.

[BoutchBen]

I just LOVE it. That's right pure and raw...

Keep the faith y'all

[boardmaster94]

raw and awesome!! honest and pure !!

[GibbyGoba]

each song and man is unique..... appreciate them all equally! man out....

[BLACKIESBOY]

Anybody know the lyrics to "A to Z Blues"?

[nichmars]

Ha! Yeah, most of 'em, but I won't repeat them here. Good Luck!

[BLACKIESBOY]

Don't worry, I know the bad parts, but I don't know what he says at the very beginning, and far as I know, those aren't that explicit at all.

[nichmars]

You mean the part where she wants to raise sand, fuss and fight and get a chance to stay out all night? I'm too hungover to remember the whole thing. She comes slidin' in at 4:oo. "Now you drunk, got all my money too, come here gal lemme tell you want I'm going to do to you..."

[galaxyrock]

"Now I'm gon' punch you in the nose!"

[musicologyexists]

thats my favorite part.hah,

its hard to believe they said stuff like that in the 30's

[ZEDZOR2]

Why do people keep quoting Dylan.Go phone some1 who gives a F**K. For me Dylan done a smash and grab with the blues.

[doobiesz]

No one will ever come close to being able to replicate this voice.

The most haunting blues voice I've ever heard.

[musicologyexists]

Blind Willie Johnson i think also has a unique voice

[subterranean47]

I agree no one can replicate it but I'd have to say Skip James, without a doubt, has the most haunting blues voice

[Frowned]

If you want a haunting voice, go looking for Tommy Johnson stuff.

[subterranean47]

Yeah I'm familiar with his stuff.

He does have a crazy voice

very unique

[FaustyFob]

skip james' voice literally sends chills down my spine..

[49mrjd]

to quote bob dylans song in all the years of listening to this form of music there is most defineately nobody who can sing and play like BLIND WILLIE MCTELL

[mikemckv]

Blues like showers of rain! Tx.

[2009framat]

McTell was good from beginning to the end of his recording career. This is one of my fav of him. (you better let married women alone, lol) Scrapshooter, Deliah are some others.

I did a tribute to Jimmy Reed but quite different. If you click on my name you can watch it. It is just 74 seconds long.

Greetings

[Smidt5702]

Soo, nice tribute. Love it love the music and the lyrics.

[messejesse1126]

damned good I love it

[Bumblebee38]

Bloody Marvellous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[entity3sf]

Wonderful.

[mattimus00matt]

i wish they still made em like this..so damn good.

[TREVOR1900]

Jack White on De Stijl

[patrickpants]

Dont you miss the old jack white. De Stijl and Self Titled are great.

[spikek12]

yeah i do. 1 or 2 of the tracks from icky thumb sounded like his old self though

[patrickpants]

more like icky thumb up his own ass

[Donalorudhain]

Why all this oneupmanship and petty abuse of one another? Makes for unpleasant reading. Take your agression elsewhere so as the rest of us can enjoy and appreciate the music.

[babyduck1gk1]

Definately my fave McTell song....

Savage..!!! =D

[whoareyou342]

"Mama you'll never find another hot shot like me"

Tell'em Willie.

[Ashal007]

I enjoyed that very much. Thanks for posting.

[wewillwinit6times]

Thank you for watching. :)

[vinegaroon1]

Any of you dudes ever been down South?Elmore James becomes (in most people's mouths and accents) Elmo'. Believe me nobody ever called Bukka White 'Booker.' They may have written it out that way when they locked him up at Parchman, but it comes out Bukka or Booka when people say it.

[Banjomountain]

I know someone who went to school with Blind Wille McTell, she's really old.

[DHEMPHILL4610]

Wow, great collection of photos. Georgia Bill, or Blind Willie McTell is alright with me! King of the 12 string!

[DrunkenBlur]

i vote leadbelly for that title.

side question, who is the lady adding the commentary in this song?

[wewillwinit6times]

Ruby Glaze, though wiki has got her down as Kate McTell who was also originally known as Ruth Kate Williams, though they do also give reference that both Kate and Ruby are actually two seperate people and searching both names only really brings up the wiki bio and her credits alongside Willie.

Both names have been credited as singing with Willie but it is Ruby who is credited on this track, if they are one and the same we may never know.

[florijan]

Black or white, it,s BLUES. It,s not about the skin colour, its about the state of mind.

FLORIAN

[zatoichiche]

love McTell's voice

[francescaemc2]

Truth is beauty, beauty is truth. Not my line but applicable.

[RTRoberto]

oh, I'm a blues fan from way back (52 yrs old), but I give Jack White credit for bringing some of the great old music to new fans. He's good at it, too. I believe he really feels it. Course, best ever blue eyed bluesman was Duane Allman.

[RTRoberto]

well, when I say blue eyed bluesman, I mean white boys playing the blues. Most of you guys know what I meant. Some of the younger music fans may not, so I thought I'd clarify that.

[acidcasual07]

Its only music get over it.

[klimt82]

there's no such thing as "only music"

[Chickenhawk9932]

Can anybody taday play like this? i haven't heard the likes.

[dbfkjmatt]

white sripes do a cover, good old jack is keeping the blues alive, and there is also a york scene happening in the U.K. check out the band Boss Caine on myspace n most of d friends on ther r bluesy of at least gd old folk, i fuckin love this stuff n if it wern't 4 d york scene i'd b fucked.

[kidcalabria]

This is great man, you've done a fantastic job. Wow, how many pictures of Blind Willie McTell! I only knew 3 or 4! And the sepia finish & the editing....well done, although I'd have chosen Broke Down Engine or Statesboro Blues...great stuff! Can't wait to see the rest: Leadbelly, etc..

[wewillwinit6times]

Cheers kidcalabria, I just used google images and yahoo image search for the photos and Windows movie editor for the video, real basic stuff compared to some videos on here but as long as people enjoy it well that's all what counts and of course I couldn't have done it without the Blues Legend himself either, also I've already made a Leadbelly video if you want to check it out in my video section, Leadbelly is Blues Legend 2 and there is also Blind Lemon Jefferson. Anyway thank you for the reply

[steveygee1]

i'm talkin about the white stripes cover

[bryony4444]

I've got two women, you can't tell them apart, there's one on my bossem. the other one's in my heart. I have never, ever, heard 12 string played like that. Absolutely phenominal! Many thanks. And the lugubrious Ruby Glaze and her glorious sexual metaphores in the background. God, it hurts.

[stover75]

Jack White was a huge fan of Blind Willie

That's why he did a tribute as mentioned above

What is wrong with that?

Why did sum-1 mark that negative ?

[o0whitestripes0o]

He's done a few "tributes" as you say.

Lord, Send Me an Angel, in my opinion one of Mister McTell's greatest works, and also "Your Southern Can is Mine" on De Stijl, however McTell's versions are far far far far better, and that is from a huge Stripes fan. And finally Dyin Crapshooter's Blues, which is pretty good but McTell's is just mind blowing. I love that song. :)

[stacyblue1980]

Willie makes me feel like cryin when he sings that.

I aint got anybod else to tell it to baby.

Hehe! Lovely. I love this man and his work. Thank u 4 posting.

[genericizeme]

GENIUS.

[stanknigraman]

Now I'm gonna punch you in the nose.

[bollweevil33]

i love it

[henrydoob]

its lord send me an angel the white stripes cover

[steveygee1]

lord send me an angel seems to mix lyrics from both that song and this song(searching the desert for the blues). both songs have the same melody tho rite??

[henrydoob]

yeah thats how i found this guys music by listen to the stripes an then found the black keys think there great too

[juanarm]

fuckin ignorants

[steveygee1]

who the fuck are you? were you born in 1912 and grew up with blind willie mctell's music i suppose?

[juanarm]

lol good reply but wasnt talkin to you fuckin prick

[Luppertazzi]

FUCK your White Stripes,this is Blind Willie son.

[henrydoob]

muppet its not blind willie its blind willie mctell you small minded tit "fuck your white stripes" lmao this band point you in the direction of this guy you tool

[Luppertazzi]

Your dyslexic comments are not appreciated.When you're listening to a song by Blind Willie Mctell you better shut the fuck up and listen,because not everyone has to listen to new-generation rock cover songs to know that legends like Willie ever existed.If The White Stripes pointed you in the direction of this "man" then i feel sorry for you.

[leitros]

Hi Luppertazzi. "If the White Stripes pointed you in the direction of this "man" then I feel sorry for you"

Most of us aren't 100 years old and born in the Southern States of the US. SAomeone or something had to point us. I sure wish more people could be pointed!

[whitestripesguitar]

well. the white stripes are definetely better then most music nowadays. but im not gonna argue u with u cause u seem waaaayyyy tooo cool for me. i mean. ur so damn hardcore man. stop being a pretentious asswipe.

[CoolJack2]

consequently I likely know more about contemporary music and old blues music than you do so I'll dignify you with a shut the fuck up tard.

[mattimus00matt]

thanks for the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gitarrenfruchtblues]

one of the white stripes songs sounds like a cover. but i´ve forgot wich song it was. lol well, the lyrics are almost the same.

[wewillwinit6times]

You may be thinking of " Well It's True That We Love One Another " on their Elephant album featuring Miss Holly Golightly.

[amygdalae]

Yea. It's actually 'Lord, send me an angel'. Catchy stuff.

[sharonclyon]

WoW! thanx so much. I've heard this before but didn't know who it was. The guitar is great. Did you hear Bob Dylan's song about Blind Willie Mctell?

[wewillwinit6times]

Yes a great track from Bob Dylan who is also a music legend singing with all his might about another great musical legend.

[Spoonful18]

Sounds like Crow Jane by Skip James, mostly the top strings.

[panda606]

Booka White, Skip James, Blind Willie McTell - Three Shades of Blue,got this album if u want the link just ask..

[sb577]

lets get that link

[billyshitcheese]

its 'bukka' white

[panda606]

ok...

[zanklwang09]

its 'booker' white

[billyshitcheese]

from Wikipedia: Bukka White (November 12, 1909 February 26, 1977) was a delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a misspelling of White's Christian name by his second (1937) record label, (Vocalion). after the misspelling his name was rendered Bukka. and as i'm sure you know, language grows and changes.

[zanklwang09]

so does culture, and sometimes for the worse, as it seems people are now willing to accept a website like WIKIPEDIA as truth and a place of REAL information, instead of investing their time in reading and researching actual evidence, not second hand mumbo jumbo. As i'm sure you know...

[billyshitcheese]

well yes, wikipedia is known for it's many inaccuracies but most articles, including the one from which i sourced the above citation, now footnote their sources, particularly since wiki staff conducted a massive clean-up of content. so, if in doubt, one can simply check the source for verification. even so, just because something is printed in a book does not mean it's gospel. as i'm sure you know...

[almanacofsleep]

Booker reportly hated "Bukka" and allways used Booker, so I think he has ultimate athority over how to spell his name.

[billyshitcheese]

i agree, of course any individual has authority over the spelling of their name, but that wasn't the issue. the person i corrected spelled it 'booka'. i was simply pointing out that he had misspelled 'bukka'.

[CommieAliens]

McTell is the best I've heard.  Play it for em Mr. Weaver!

[lehipster]

I have had so many punches in the nose....

[ettaj2]

melody sounds like key to the highway.

[mikemckv]

Blues like showers of rain sure enough.

[stanthco]

Wow I could just drink his voice. Thank you!

[cidedwards31a]

Thanks for this heartfelt tribute..Blind Willie Mctell is my Favorite of all Blues artists..loved his voice and his playing.I like Charley Patton from that era also,as well as John Hurt,Mance Lipscomb,Bukka White and Blind Blake among others,but for me Papa Mctell is my favorite.

[derin111]

I find it very difficult to stop listening to Willie!

Everything's so complete guitar, voice...lyrics. Man he could come up with some funny stuff too?

[tangerine1490]

this is pretty complicated picking. this man was incredible. apparently he could find his way around atlanta like nothing, and somehow could tell a dollar bill from a five. i wouldn't doubt it.

[orwellian1984now]

HOly Shit! I love this fella, you cannot get better than Willie Mctear !!! (mctell)  This is the SHIT!!!!

[RTRoberto]

The White Stripes covered this tune. Lord Send me an Angel

[spideymeister]

Blind Willie is one of Jacks favorite musicians.

[ApacheSk]

Thank You For Your Time,Great Photos!!!!!

Blind Willie is Beyond Incredible!!!!

Apache-_-SKY

[o0whitestripes0o]

McTell's birth date was never actually discovered. It's not certain, some think he was born in 1897, others in 1900/1901.

[o0whitestripes0o]

Mr McTell sure got the blues.

[Lukeblueslover]

Blind Willie is one of my biggest influence, one of the finest musicians EVER...soulful voice, incredible guitar playing and great lyrics...

thanks willie

[abfab114]

Blind Willie blows me away, this song is genius.

[CHICOLEO666]

I love it!

[bigswifty219]

Very entertaining! though i notice that same 'I'm goin'' lead in and melody repeats itself in bWM recordings. He was definitely a superior talent to most other black recorders of the time.

[orwellian1984now]

Thats true, as is the nature of the blues, out of neccessity, it's only 5 notes!!! So now that you know that...maybie you understand how reat it is..being only 5 notes! (pentatonic)

[KweeZuul]

Now I'm gonna punch you in the nose!

[DUNPEAL01]

AMAZING

[Rockapebates]

I listened to blues for years then, heard Mctell and he blew all the others away ;)

[SydLennon79]

something about him really moves me. He is my favorite blues musician.