How sweet Johhny. You couldn't ask for a better rendition and what a beautiful guitar style, so clear and precise - just found you, hope it's not too late for you to read this, much love & peace.
I have seen clips of him performing when he was much older and enjoyed them very much. This is a real treasure. Seeing him at his best is a real treat. So smooth and precise, singing and playing. A great bluesman. Thanks for posting.
@RcUniverseGuy Ok, why so negative? If your sick of something it usually means you overloaded on it. Thats not his fault. Then again if you did overload on it it was prob cause it was GOOD. Lets not forget music is a art form. I love Levi Jeans but sometimes want to wear cargo shorts..........the point being, at least im not walking around in my boxers . Expand your musical vocabulary so u stop getting SICK
@schnikeys LOL lets just hope your not looking for john mayer to get a blues fix. John is a singer songwriter who happens to like blues styles. These guys are Blues Men and thanks for John Mayer for at least bringing it to this generation to keep it alive. Not sure who if anyone ever called JM a blues artist...lol including himself. Hope you keep listening and try not to get sick of any artist, they are just doing what they love..........Entertaining Humans
His way of playing (and even singing) this song is the closest one to the Robert Johnson's way. They were friends, if someone is looking for R J's way of playing, this is the best example you can get. What an amazing upload !! Thanks for sharing it !!
Johnny Shines played very precise and clear. He travelled with Robert in the 30's and performed at a radio show with Robert and some other guy but the tape never surfaced.
Absolutely wonderful. Full of the old time mojo-it comes from a very deep place. The voice is haunting-it's as close to the dark side as I want to go....
I gotta tell you, I toured with Johnny towards the end of his life, in 1989. It was an incredible privilege and honor sit stand behind him on stage and play the bass with him and to sit with him in the hotels and at rehearsals; telling us stories about his days with Robert Johnson and all. I'll never forget it...
this guy use to play in my dad's polka band on the south side of Chicago in the 50s, his real name is John Shinesowski, he usually played the accordion but I guess he played this stuff for fun.
Johnny playing that beautiful Delta-style blues guitar. Someone mentioned a washtub or bass? No way! That's just Johnny, doing the bass with his thumb. He's got a thumb pick and a finger pick on his index finger. Some guys wore a pick on the second finger, too.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
well there's somebody playin' washtub bass+/or a jug behind him so yah you could nearly accomplish it with a flat pick. Watch his thumb & listen to the bass.
theres nobody playing bass behind him... hes using a thumb pick not a flat pick.... this is how the song should sound... listen to robert johnsons version same thing.... and i dont think you could accomplish it with a flat pick get yourself a thumb and finger pick and youl have a lot easier time playing this then you would using a flat pick....
@lennon2007 This was how Django Reinhardt and Robert Johnson invented it: let it sound like there's more than 1 person playing. Genious. Great interpretation.
@Rotzloeffi thats not really how i would describe djangos playing, lol... its way more melodic and like, non bassy lol. robert johnsons, hell yeah, but django? i love his shit but lol no
I was lucky enough to see Johnny Shines quite a few times when I was in college at the University of Alabama. He used to play fairly regularly at a little bar called Egan's. I remember being enthralled watching and listening the the man playing and singing...and this was only a few years before his death. What a bluesman! And I always found him to be friendly.
The poorest blacks moving up from Mississippi were housed in worn out buildings that were originally slaughterhouses, hence the KILLIN" FLOOR allusions~~~~~
For sure it's a great version of the song. The recording is certainly better than the original and Johny Shines pays homage to Robert Johnson through the whole song. I like that it has a splash of his own figures but Roberts performance is a little more precise. Both versions are great.
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Johnny was a gentleman, and told cool stories about Robert Johnson. He traveled all the way up to Canada with him. Two stories Robert had his guitar stolen, and as they traveled by a cotton field with workers in the field, Robert played a harmonica, and had all the field hands around him in awe, he was so good. He made enough to buy another guitar when they got into town. In Canada, Robert played "Come on in my Kitchen",and every single person was crying.
The one thing that is a shame is that people are so blinded by the legend and myths around Robert Johnson, that they miss the fact that Johnny Shines is one of the greatest Bluesmen that ever lived.
My Johnny Shines cd's are more dear to me than my Robert Johnson cd's to be quite honest.(not that I'm not very fond of my Johnson Cd's)
Stop comparing everything. Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines are both incredible delta bluesmen. In my opinion, RJ deserves every bit of credit he receives, it's just that Blind Lemon, Johnny Shines, Skip James, etc don't get enough credit.
Well just look at the posts. Over half of them are about Robert Johnson. Not that the myths and history around him are not interesting. But I do feel it is an insult to Johnny Shines.
He played great Blues for most of the last century. And al people seem to be interested in, are the few times early in his career when he bumped in to Johnson.
And to a lot of people dthat is al he is."The guy that knew Robert Johnson". And that's why he doesn't even get the recognition of Skip james etc...
Johnny Shines was in awe of Robert Johnson, and traveled with him. He loved telling stories about the trip he took up to Canada with Robert. Everyone said they knew Robert, but few really did, that's why Johnny has that description about him. I do agree that he had a style that was his alone, kind of the way George Thorogood with Elmore James. JOHNNY SHINES RULES!!!!
Yeah, and Robert would tell Johnny to go play on another corner down the street, across the way! I saw Robert Lockwood jr. at the Edmonton folk fest back in '91, he was the 7yr old son of a woman that invited Johnson to stay with them. Johnson built him a guitar, and showed him how to play it, apparently the only person ever taught by Johnson. Lockwood was amazing, it was weird, like he was injecting delta voodoo into the ground, and this mojo energy started emanating from everywhere! trippy!
...quite so - a wonderful artist - what a voice! - that session he did at JOB with Big Walter - pure poetry! I know we're not supposed to say it, but personally I find 'RJ' a bit on the dull side (sorry - sacred cows and all that)- I can't remember when I last tried to put one of his records on - I took it off again pretty sharpish! I think the truth is that some people like to have their entertainers seasoned with a large dollop of tragedy - only my opinion, of course.
this comments are just your need for attention. if you want to talk with someone, you can send him a private message. this isn't a private conversation, this is just the way to show that you know all this things. I think that people who are interested in this music now all the stuff you are talking about. so, stop exposure yourself. I can't stand people who think that they now everything. and try to keep some things for yourself, blues is one special thing.
not at all, its just easier to add the reply to the video whilst listening to the music instead of having to do all the clicking without the music to send a private message. Agree with what your saying in principal though but I just kinda think -who cares???
Your a skip james fan judging by your name- good call :-)
So according to your own theroy that you just tried to post in your broken english.. your own comments are your way of trying to gain attention by trying to show off how much you think you know about human nature? Whats the point of making a comment about how commenting is stupid? You're pretty much calling yourself a dumbass..
my english is bad, so what? and my comments are here because of you and there is no other reason. sorry, but I didn't call you a dumbass, I just wanted to say...music is that what is important.
crow jane 2220 ! I am not aware of the conversation that preceded your comment but then ....who is anyone here to tell anyone else to shut up? and by the way: some people may certainly not KNOW everything and YOU ARE one of them for sure: you don´t even know how to write your own mother tongue and that´s always a very bad bad sign!
blues just changed thats all. blues will always be the blues. and as long as youtube and people keep uploading material, we will never lose our blues.
You are watching the last of the great Bluesmen. After Johnny died, Blues lost a lot of its originality. Johnny belongs up there with Patton, Lonnie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Luke Jordan, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon; men amongst men!
ever heard of honey boy edwards?? he is the last living original delta player, he is 92!! Played with robert johnson a lot and is still touring, i saw him the other year.
Yes, I know of Edwards. His Library of Congress recordings from the '40s are wonderful, but the stuff he's done within the last 20 years sounds very tired and lifeless to me. I give the guy all the credit in the world, though. He's 92! I should probably see him live while I still have the chance. Did he have another guitar player or two backing him up? Did he sound as good as Lockwood did during his last years?
well if your gonna bag on HoneyBoy, in a public forum. I hope you're some kind of blues phenom like him.. When I heard his version of Pony Blues (recent recording) I thought it was the coolest shit I had ever heard and it got me into Patton. Didnt sound one bit lifeless to me! There were still many good and very original players left after Johnny.
Do you know what album it's on? I didn't mean to "bag" on him; I just think that the stuff I've heard from him recently really shows his old age and is nothing compared to the '40s stuff. I supposed that's just natural and a part of life though.
yeah what I do know is that honeyboy edwards last album was a return to the delta blues and his roots. In the time between his first and latest recordings he tried to play around with rock and roll and simply couldnt do it goos enough but whilst doing this he missed out on the blues revival of the 60's and wasn't really promoted as well as guys like bukka white and son house, which is a real shame. But seriously if you get chance go see him cos he aint gonna be around for much longer sadly.
I saw Johnny Shines in Auburn, Alabama's Supper Club bar, often -- about 89-91. He'd play there with the great Kent DuChaine, who rediscovered Johnny at this time. Johnny and Kent then went on to tour and record. At the time, Johnny was working as a auto upholsterer to make ends meet. I talked to him several times, and he sat at my table during breaks several times. He and I would laugh at my stutter, he'd say, boy, you've got it good! He stuttered some so he knew, it was a common connection...
I hear this song and I am so deeply moved by the ache in his voice .. love the blues but this is the song/version/man that personifies the blues for me. Thank you for putting this on Utube ... sincerely (Not enough people hear that ache ... I know that ache is what the blues are really all about.)
@doctorpep1: Sweet Home Chicago is completely based on James "Kokomo" Arnolds 1934 composition, "Old Original Kokomo Blues". Kokomo was a brand of coffee!
Nevertheless, personally I think that Robert Johnson has been and still is a major influence to many colleagues in music. I also consider R.J. as one of the greatest technical guitarists that ever lived.
It's also related to a Scrapper Blackwell song, I believe. Don't get me wrong; I love Johnson. I just don't get why McTell, Shines and Lonnie Johnson aren't household names, too.
Well.. let me tell you that McTell, Shines & Lonnie Johnson ARE "household" names for me. I'm honoured that Shines performed in the small building/club where I met my wife !!
And studying the blues, everybody is stealing everything form everybody !! Elvis stole 'That's Allright' from Arthur Crudup who already recorded this composition of him in 1946! Elvis became a 'worldstar' with this song, but who ever knew that Crudup himself was a great artist? Of course Elvis was NOT the inventor of R&R.
....the great blues mandolin player, and while Young was sloppy, drunk, fat, mean and loud, Mr. Shines always kept his cool, dressed to the nines, very discreet, never intoxicated in public, a gentleman of the first school. He could do Blind Lemon Jefferson to the hilt, but, of course, he was also a blues orignial in his own right, but never properly recognized for his artistry.
Eric Clapton says in his dvd "Sessions for Robert J." that when he plays a lot of RJ's songs that he needs a second guitarist to make them sound the way RJ's did. Clapton does a pretty good job of playing them tho. Theres a guy named Roy Rogers on youtube that plays some RJ material and he's very good at it.
Thanks for the info. I don't have the dvd, so I didn't know that. I'm not saying that I can play guitar like Eric Clapton, but I think the guy is terribly overrated, and, more than anything, is a bridge between young suburbanites and the old Country Blues singers. It's irritating when people think he's the genuine article and compare him to Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Skip James, etc.
It's always amazed me that he got so little attention - while he was still alive and playing - compared to Robert Johnson, who was long gone.
I've heard that people used to bug the crap out of Shines by constantly asking him if it was true that he had known Robert Johnson (he had) instead of just listening to and appreciating Shines' incredible guitar and voice.
Yep! Isn't it completely ridiculous? Shines was terribly underrated. Shines, Joe Turner and Son House are probably the greatest singers the music ever hard, Shines was a great slide player, and one of the top five lyricists in the music's history.
How sweet Johhny. You couldn't ask for a better rendition and what a beautiful guitar style, so clear and precise - just found you, hope it's not too late for you to read this, much love & peace.
TomHunterUK 3 weeks ago
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How does a black man finance KFC daily and a Gibson guitar?
baloons4satanists 3 months ago
what tuning??
RcUniverseGuy 3 months ago
I have seen clips of him performing when he was much older and enjoyed them very much. This is a real treasure. Seeing him at his best is a real treat. So smooth and precise, singing and playing. A great bluesman. Thanks for posting.
legmaker50 4 months ago in playlist legmaker50's Favorited Videos
This is blues - I'm so sick of John Mayer
schnikeys 5 months ago 12
@schnikeys im sick of clapton
RcUniverseGuy 3 months ago 3
@RcUniverseGuy Ok, why so negative? If your sick of something it usually means you overloaded on it. Thats not his fault. Then again if you did overload on it it was prob cause it was GOOD. Lets not forget music is a art form. I love Levi Jeans but sometimes want to wear cargo shorts..........the point being, at least im not walking around in my boxers . Expand your musical vocabulary so u stop getting SICK
bakedsushi 2 weeks ago
@schnikeys LOL lets just hope your not looking for john mayer to get a blues fix. John is a singer songwriter who happens to like blues styles. These guys are Blues Men and thanks for John Mayer for at least bringing it to this generation to keep it alive. Not sure who if anyone ever called JM a blues artist...lol including himself. Hope you keep listening and try not to get sick of any artist, they are just doing what they love..........Entertaining Humans
bakedsushi 2 weeks ago
Delta Blues :)
laloyaux 5 months ago
this song and video sure does rock,love the blues my friend,thumbs way up high,have a really super nice day I have really enjoyed my visit here :)
cowboytony47 6 months ago
nobody can do dat guitar style dis days
TheSatanas666 7 months ago
His way of playing (and even singing) this song is the closest one to the Robert Johnson's way. They were friends, if someone is looking for R J's way of playing, this is the best example you can get. What an amazing upload !! Thanks for sharing it !!
TheDaveSpaceBand 7 months ago
Sweet guitar lick.
gallanttimmy201 7 months ago
Wow!!! yeah he does make it look so easy. Thanks for sharing.
halfdoc2 8 months ago
Superb.
autinspare 8 months ago
ridiculouly good
madFlam1 10 months ago
He makes it look easy, but it isn't....
toddallenhooper 10 months ago
Just watched the two Robert Johnson documentaries... I love the way he talks, he's full of real sense and elloquence
busessuck1 10 months ago
I'd give my left nut to sing and play like Johnny Shines, I shit you not.
judeseamus 10 months ago 3
super .God Bless him
suvarbal 11 months ago
That my friends is "how it's done".
bluesborn 11 months ago
i like it thx bro
bigwillhenk 1 year ago
Jesus Christ ... I better start work on that time machine
Mar2623 1 year ago 3
Another bluesman so underestimate....outstanding!
DAVO1984FI 1 year ago
the REAL T'HING
3Firesiders 1 year ago
Sensational!
IbanezArtcoreAF75 1 year ago
Amazing just like Robert Johnson
goodfellow1951 1 year ago
@goodfellow1951 no this is just like Johnny shines.
gamedogs4life1 1 year ago
The blues is so damn cool
MILWAUKEEthriller08 1 year ago
The real deal
greencheetah 1 year ago
massively underrated.
sirvidia 1 year ago
Johnny Shines is the devil
barmmmm2 1 year ago
Johnny Shines played very precise and clear. He travelled with Robert in the 30's and performed at a radio show with Robert and some other guy but the tape never surfaced.
buffalobilly 1 year ago 4
Absolutely wonderful. Full of the old time mojo-it comes from a very deep place. The voice is haunting-it's as close to the dark side as I want to go....
muddyguitar 1 year ago
aw yeah :D
voodoowop45s 1 year ago
singing is excellent guitar is good too he sounds familiar to robert johnson too
Rolandvids 1 year ago
Free Aubry rest in peace a great legend Johhny shines
BamaBoy205SR 1 year ago
See: Os Velhos da Montanha
osvelhos 1 year ago
i play with my fingers cus i can't get left handed picks!!! and no it is not a joke
denaced 1 year ago
The best version period.
Last weekend was the Johnny Shines Blues Festival in his backyard in Tuscaloosa.
He lived here for 20 years and I never saw him play.
My loss.
Bamaboompa 1 year ago
Comment removed
Bamaboompa 1 year ago
check out how David Bromberg personalizes this!
btkru 1 year ago
same ghostly voice than robert johnson cool!!!!!!!
casu3 1 year ago
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check out the cover i have i promise you wont regret it
GuitarMan2269 1 year ago
Amazing...seems a whole band playing!
torqueup74 1 year ago
Robert would be proud of his roadmate..
RATM44 1 year ago
Amazing. Utterly brilliant. This should be required listening material in schools.
jfj619 1 year ago
This is a champion.
ezekielwahwah 1 year ago
This is what Blues is about !
QuanYin71 1 year ago
I gotta tell you, I toured with Johnny towards the end of his life, in 1989. It was an incredible privilege and honor sit stand behind him on stage and play the bass with him and to sit with him in the hotels and at rehearsals; telling us stories about his days with Robert Johnson and all. I'll never forget it...
polydiatonic 1 year ago
what a voice!great artist!
ItalianBull83 1 year ago
this guy use to play in my dad's polka band on the south side of Chicago in the 50s, his real name is John Shinesowski, he usually played the accordion but I guess he played this stuff for fun.
SuperOlds88 1 year ago
@SuperOlds88 hahahaha
ntucker88 1 year ago
Really reminds me of Robert. He was taught by the best.
1SPYRO 1 year ago
C'est un très grand bluesmann avec un style très agréable à écouter...Monseigneur pie 3.14
lazik48 1 year ago
Love reading about Johnny and Robert Johnson playing around the south....good stuff
CletusColtrane 1 year ago
Sweet home Chi-town
xxFzeroxx 1 year ago
I'm not gay, but I just fell in love with this man.
mussman717word 1 year ago 2
yesss
TJmoneymaker13 1 year ago
mmmmmmmm thats so damn good
keymankeys1960 1 year ago
absolutamente hermosa interpretacion.
mibellorecuerdo 2 years ago
wow!! i need that partiture. people, sendme that
mashmortar 2 years ago
Beautiful tone
rapid287 2 years ago
EXCELLENT THATS ALL I CAN SAY
88AMPED88 2 years ago 2
A Blues Master!!! Nuff said.
rbutler8585 2 years ago
Johnny playing that beautiful Delta-style blues guitar. Someone mentioned a washtub or bass? No way! That's just Johnny, doing the bass with his thumb. He's got a thumb pick and a finger pick on his index finger. Some guys wore a pick on the second finger, too.
One of my all-time favorites is Johnny.
NicolletIslandSlim 2 years ago
beautifullL Voice,....!!
VERBALOUTLAW 2 years ago
Sensational!!!
ata1811 2 years ago
He know how to keep time ... my god : )
Scoopy4444 2 years ago
It's amazing how brilliant these blues players were, a load of cool lead licks whilst they keep the rhythm on the lower strings
ncl19941 2 years ago
weird fingerpicking,can you sound like that just flatpicking?
tubesteakbooky 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
well there's somebody playin' washtub bass+/or a jug behind him so yah you could nearly accomplish it with a flat pick. Watch his thumb & listen to the bass.
GREGLUHOWY 2 years ago
theres nobody playing bass behind him... hes using a thumb pick not a flat pick.... this is how the song should sound... listen to robert johnsons version same thing.... and i dont think you could accomplish it with a flat pick get yourself a thumb and finger pick and youl have a lot easier time playing this then you would using a flat pick....
lennon2007 2 years ago 20
@lennon2007 This was how Django Reinhardt and Robert Johnson invented it: let it sound like there's more than 1 person playing. Genious. Great interpretation.
Rotzloeffi 1 year ago
@Rotzloeffi thats not really how i would describe djangos playing, lol... its way more melodic and like, non bassy lol. robert johnsons, hell yeah, but django? i love his shit but lol no
LTmattYT 1 year ago
@LTmattYT Hm you right.
Rotzloeffi 1 year ago
@lennon2007 thankyou for informing the uninformed squids.
2nahavemercy 1 year ago
@lennon2007 You know someones good if people think 2 people are playing when its just him
gageman70 1 year ago
nope
ceepatton 2 years ago
merci de nous avoir apprécié ce n'est q'une petite compo qui doit continuer d'être travaillée
mano7negra 2 years ago
Awesome!
drysdale1979 2 years ago
model?
srvvaughan93 2 years ago
OUTSTANDING voice!!!
masajhn 2 years ago 10
what guitar used?
srvvaughan93 2 years ago
Gibson
loafy128 2 years ago
I think its acoustic?
ToaPhantoka 2 years ago
lol
monkeys350 2 years ago
I was lucky enough to see Johnny Shines quite a few times when I was in college at the University of Alabama. He used to play fairly regularly at a little bar called Egan's. I remember being enthralled watching and listening the the man playing and singing...and this was only a few years before his death. What a bluesman! And I always found him to be friendly.
ScotsPower 2 years ago 2
what accordatur uses????=
srvvaughan93 2 years ago
That's living in the Chicago, working every day in the slaughterhouse blues. (Guess what that old blues standard "The Killing Floor" is about.)
FraterSoddi 2 years ago
The poorest blacks moving up from Mississippi were housed in worn out buildings that were originally slaughterhouses, hence the KILLIN" FLOOR allusions~~~~~
edboswell 2 years ago
where did you get that info from...? sounds like a fiction writers guess to me.
brewereric 2 years ago
@edboswell
I thought it was because they often worked in the stockyards.
RaananVolesPianist 1 year ago
That´s the blues
Bluzer86 2 years ago
his voice and guitar playin damn hes an amazing blues maker
BrandonBearden01 2 years ago 2
He's the closest thang sounding like Robert Johnson...Johnny Shines-Great!!
cedricleecason 2 years ago 2
prolly cuz he played with johnson
but johnson didnt need any body to play with him, he was a master at sounding like a hole band was playing
chrissept21 2 years ago 2
I fully agree with you
Great tune !!!!
Bumblebee38 2 years ago
the best blues video on you tube!!!!!!!
jcandstonesfollower 2 years ago
fuckin right
MyManDan 2 years ago
simply amazing!
jcandstonesfollower 2 years ago
NOW THAT'S BLUES!!!!!!!!
siradamhughes 2 years ago
ottimo blues!!
fabietto991 2 years ago
Super! Bravo! 5 stars
1Timcso 2 years ago
hujaniec!
janek125p 2 years ago
Real blues!!
mazzoli 2 years ago
Chicago, Linda!!!
fernando1cunha 2 years ago
bella sweet home chicago
seiunonove 2 years ago
one of the most unique voices of the blues
buchananstreet 2 years ago 2
sounds like 2 guitars even though i can see it's one..this guy is great..
willy4u4u 2 years ago 3
Better than Robert Johnson's version IMO. Johnny Shines was the man.
elpanchito421 2 years ago
not baetter for me..but differend..both versions are great...
Robert is more scary...
Bohumill2 2 years ago
For sure it's a great version of the song. The recording is certainly better than the original and Johny Shines pays homage to Robert Johnson through the whole song. I like that it has a splash of his own figures but Roberts performance is a little more precise. Both versions are great.
alderson2 2 years ago
That can't be .Sorry !
Bumblebee38 2 years ago
simply amazing
janopato 3 years ago
Johnny Shines rules- Ten stars
lolispasaviolis 3 years ago
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klmflight68 3 years ago
Johnny was a good friend of Memphis Minnie.
You can hear alot of her 1940s sound in his singing.
steinsteel 3 years ago
This guy is good.
JesseBuss 3 years ago
This guy???ahahahahahahah this is Johnny Shines he played with Robert Johnson and Rice Miller...rest in peace...
albedaw 2 years ago
What tunning is he playing? anybody know?
Rainbowshow 3 years ago
It's standard tuning...
toddallenhooper 3 years ago
shine on, johnny!
sayyes2bull 3 years ago
Johnny was a gentleman, and told cool stories about Robert Johnson. He traveled all the way up to Canada with him. Two stories Robert had his guitar stolen, and as they traveled by a cotton field with workers in the field, Robert played a harmonica, and had all the field hands around him in awe, he was so good. He made enough to buy another guitar when they got into town. In Canada, Robert played "Come on in my Kitchen",and every single person was crying.
edboswell 3 years ago
I used to see him play a lot in Tuscaloosa at Egan's
tonypavon1 3 years ago
what guitar is he using?
gilrchibk 3 years ago
The one thing that is a shame is that people are so blinded by the legend and myths around Robert Johnson, that they miss the fact that Johnny Shines is one of the greatest Bluesmen that ever lived.
My Johnny Shines cd's are more dear to me than my Robert Johnson cd's to be quite honest.(not that I'm not very fond of my Johnson Cd's)
Xaffax 3 years ago
Stop comparing everything. Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines are both incredible delta bluesmen. In my opinion, RJ deserves every bit of credit he receives, it's just that Blind Lemon, Johnny Shines, Skip James, etc don't get enough credit.
JosephMalicke 3 years ago
Well just look at the posts. Over half of them are about Robert Johnson. Not that the myths and history around him are not interesting. But I do feel it is an insult to Johnny Shines.
He played great Blues for most of the last century. And al people seem to be interested in, are the few times early in his career when he bumped in to Johnson.
And to a lot of people dthat is al he is."The guy that knew Robert Johnson". And that's why he doesn't even get the recognition of Skip james etc...
Xaffax 3 years ago
Johnny Shines was in awe of Robert Johnson, and traveled with him. He loved telling stories about the trip he took up to Canada with Robert. Everyone said they knew Robert, but few really did, that's why Johnny has that description about him. I do agree that he had a style that was his alone, kind of the way George Thorogood with Elmore James. JOHNNY SHINES RULES!!!!
edboswell 3 years ago
Yeah, and Robert would tell Johnny to go play on another corner down the street, across the way! I saw Robert Lockwood jr. at the Edmonton folk fest back in '91, he was the 7yr old son of a woman that invited Johnson to stay with them. Johnson built him a guitar, and showed him how to play it, apparently the only person ever taught by Johnson. Lockwood was amazing, it was weird, like he was injecting delta voodoo into the ground, and this mojo energy started emanating from everywhere! trippy!
multidimensional1 3 years ago 3
...quite so - a wonderful artist - what a voice! - that session he did at JOB with Big Walter - pure poetry! I know we're not supposed to say it, but personally I find 'RJ' a bit on the dull side (sorry - sacred cows and all that)- I can't remember when I last tried to put one of his records on - I took it off again pretty sharpish! I think the truth is that some people like to have their entertainers seasoned with a large dollop of tragedy - only my opinion, of course.
kingdavidroyalmusic 3 years ago
This is as close as we get to a Robert Johnson performance...
BlueGalen 3 years ago
Great version. Isn't it a shame we will never ever ever ever actually see Robert Johnson perform this.
AcousticGuitar1973 3 years ago 2
FANTASTIC SONG!
GiulioChuck89 3 years ago
Shines' got what it takes....Thanks Johnny and RIP.
muddywinter 3 years ago
Johnny Shines is one of the greatest bluesmen ever ... he has lots of recordings and they all are well worth having. I have most of them.
ThomasDeLello 3 years ago
this is the real shit!!!!
SRVAustria 3 years ago
i want a tab pls help me
huruguru123 3 years ago
I IV I V IV I figure it out yourself, its better when your not playing from tabs.
Tabla461 3 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
so lonely tonight on cam have msn!!! msg me jane23belle M
350ci4ever 3 years ago
Go suck a fuck spam boy. Stick to the mainstream and not our blues time.
acidcasual07 3 years ago
one of the most unusual voices in blues! a crime that the man is not much wider known !
buchananstreet 3 years ago 6
Best voice in Delta Blues!
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 3
this comments are just your need for attention. if you want to talk with someone, you can send him a private message. this isn't a private conversation, this is just the way to show that you know all this things. I think that people who are interested in this music now all the stuff you are talking about. so, stop exposure yourself. I can't stand people who think that they now everything. and try to keep some things for yourself, blues is one special thing.
crowjane2220 3 years ago
not at all, its just easier to add the reply to the video whilst listening to the music instead of having to do all the clicking without the music to send a private message. Agree with what your saying in principal though but I just kinda think -who cares???
Your a skip james fan judging by your name- good call :-)
killerkarl123 3 years ago
So according to your own theroy that you just tried to post in your broken english.. your own comments are your way of trying to gain attention by trying to show off how much you think you know about human nature? Whats the point of making a comment about how commenting is stupid? You're pretty much calling yourself a dumbass..
byhudson 3 years ago
my english is bad, so what? and my comments are here because of you and there is no other reason. sorry, but I didn't call you a dumbass, I just wanted to say...music is that what is important.
crowjane2220 3 years ago
crow jane 2220 ! I am not aware of the conversation that preceded your comment but then ....who is anyone here to tell anyone else to shut up? and by the way: some people may certainly not KNOW everything and YOU ARE one of them for sure: you don´t even know how to write your own mother tongue and that´s always a very bad bad sign!
buchananstreet 3 years ago
I'm from Croatia. peace
crowjane2220 3 years ago
blues just changed thats all. blues will always be the blues. and as long as youtube and people keep uploading material, we will never lose our blues.
acidcasual07 3 years ago 9
This comment has received too many negative votes show
doctorpep and byhudson. your comments are not important. stop chatting and enjoy the music.
crowjane2220 3 years ago
You should follow your own advise..
byhudson 3 years ago
Wow just wonderful
Beautiful guitar too
OmryLV 3 years ago
mississippi sharecroppers migrated to chicago, and splash the blues all over chicago.
yourblknessxxx 3 years ago
You are watching the last of the great Bluesmen. After Johnny died, Blues lost a lot of its originality. Johnny belongs up there with Patton, Lonnie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Luke Jordan, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon; men amongst men!
doctorpep1 3 years ago
ever heard of honey boy edwards?? he is the last living original delta player, he is 92!! Played with robert johnson a lot and is still touring, i saw him the other year.
killerkarl123 3 years ago
Yes, I know of Edwards. His Library of Congress recordings from the '40s are wonderful, but the stuff he's done within the last 20 years sounds very tired and lifeless to me. I give the guy all the credit in the world, though. He's 92! I should probably see him live while I still have the chance. Did he have another guitar player or two backing him up? Did he sound as good as Lockwood did during his last years?
doctorpep1 3 years ago
well if your gonna bag on HoneyBoy, in a public forum. I hope you're some kind of blues phenom like him.. When I heard his version of Pony Blues (recent recording) I thought it was the coolest shit I had ever heard and it got me into Patton. Didnt sound one bit lifeless to me! There were still many good and very original players left after Johnny.
byhudson 3 years ago
Do you know what album it's on? I didn't mean to "bag" on him; I just think that the stuff I've heard from him recently really shows his old age and is nothing compared to the '40s stuff. I supposed that's just natural and a part of life though.
doctorpep1 3 years ago
I heard it on a compilation. I bet Itunes has it though.
byhudson 3 years ago
yeah what I do know is that honeyboy edwards last album was a return to the delta blues and his roots. In the time between his first and latest recordings he tried to play around with rock and roll and simply couldnt do it goos enough but whilst doing this he missed out on the blues revival of the 60's and wasn't really promoted as well as guys like bukka white and son house, which is a real shame. But seriously if you get chance go see him cos he aint gonna be around for much longer sadly.
killerkarl123 3 years ago
LONG LIVE JOHNNY SHINES!!!!!
hov345 3 years ago
Is this in standard tuning?
MatthewPA1972 3 years ago
yes, key of E
killerkarl123 3 years ago
I meant is the guitar in standard tuning.
MatthewPA1972 3 years ago
yes it is. Standard tuning and only 3 chords E,A,B7
killerkarl123 3 years ago
I saw Johnny Shines in Auburn, Alabama's Supper Club bar, often -- about 89-91. He'd play there with the great Kent DuChaine, who rediscovered Johnny at this time. Johnny and Kent then went on to tour and record. At the time, Johnny was working as a auto upholsterer to make ends meet. I talked to him several times, and he sat at my table during breaks several times. He and I would laugh at my stutter, he'd say, boy, you've got it good! He stuttered some so he knew, it was a common connection...
floydoneofmany 3 years ago
That's an awesome story. I'd love to know what you guys talked about. Please tell me everything!
doctorpep1 3 years ago
Do you have any other stories/recollections/memories of Johnny? I'd love to hear them!
doctorpep1 3 years ago
I hear this song and I am so deeply moved by the ache in his voice .. love the blues but this is the song/version/man that personifies the blues for me. Thank you for putting this on Utube ... sincerely (Not enough people hear that ache ... I know that ache is what the blues are really all about.)
kendidragon 3 years ago
fuckin video!!!
ketrico 3 years ago
@doctorpep1: Sweet Home Chicago is completely based on James "Kokomo" Arnolds 1934 composition, "Old Original Kokomo Blues". Kokomo was a brand of coffee!
Nevertheless, personally I think that Robert Johnson has been and still is a major influence to many colleagues in music. I also consider R.J. as one of the greatest technical guitarists that ever lived.
LizzyDouglas 3 years ago
It's also related to a Scrapper Blackwell song, I believe. Don't get me wrong; I love Johnson. I just don't get why McTell, Shines and Lonnie Johnson aren't household names, too.
doctorpep1 3 years ago
Well.. let me tell you that McTell, Shines & Lonnie Johnson ARE "household" names for me. I'm honoured that Shines performed in the small building/club where I met my wife !!
And studying the blues, everybody is stealing everything form everybody !! Elvis stole 'That's Allright' from Arthur Crudup who already recorded this composition of him in 1946! Elvis became a 'worldstar' with this song, but who ever knew that Crudup himself was a great artist? Of course Elvis was NOT the inventor of R&R.
LizzyDouglas 3 years ago
....the great blues mandolin player, and while Young was sloppy, drunk, fat, mean and loud, Mr. Shines always kept his cool, dressed to the nines, very discreet, never intoxicated in public, a gentleman of the first school. He could do Blind Lemon Jefferson to the hilt, but, of course, he was also a blues orignial in his own right, but never properly recognized for his artistry.
pnebenzahl 3 years ago
Eric Clapton says in his dvd "Sessions for Robert J." that when he plays a lot of RJ's songs that he needs a second guitarist to make them sound the way RJ's did. Clapton does a pretty good job of playing them tho. Theres a guy named Roy Rogers on youtube that plays some RJ material and he's very good at it.
AmericanNight43 3 years ago
Thanks for the info. I don't have the dvd, so I didn't know that. I'm not saying that I can play guitar like Eric Clapton, but I think the guy is terribly overrated, and, more than anything, is a bridge between young suburbanites and the old Country Blues singers. It's irritating when people think he's the genuine article and compare him to Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Skip James, etc.
doctorpep1 3 years ago
Johnny Shines was one of the very greatest.
It's always amazed me that he got so little attention - while he was still alive and playing - compared to Robert Johnson, who was long gone.
I've heard that people used to bug the crap out of Shines by constantly asking him if it was true that he had known Robert Johnson (he had) instead of just listening to and appreciating Shines' incredible guitar and voice.
Youssef51 3 years ago
Yep! Isn't it completely ridiculous? Shines was terribly underrated. Shines, Joe Turner and Son House are probably the greatest singers the music ever hard, Shines was a great slide player, and one of the top five lyricists in the music's history.
doctorpep1 3 years ago