Sportin' Life Blues

[jumba5]

Dave Van Ronk had an anecdote about this song in his memoir. He had worked around an arrangement of this song when he was 15 years old. He thought about performing it, but decided to put if off for many years because he thought it would look silly for a 15 year old to sing a song like this. One day years later, he played his arrangement for Brownie. Afterwards, Dave asked him, "How old were you when you wrote that song?" Brownie replied "Oh, about fifteen."

[kickingmule]

@jumba5 Thank You ! A wonderful story and a very good comment.

That's the Bluesmen, talking !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[GilesBoganski542]

Grab the audio from this tune at tubepull doht cohm.

[ssmark123]

This is wonderful. Nice pictures too.

[kickingmule]

Thanks !

It's easy to upload the old songs, as a collector of old Blues and Gospel, but to find the right pictures are hard to a Swede, like me !

Thanks for the comment and listening !

PEACE !

Urban

[ssmark123]

This is wonderfu Nice pictures too.

[davidglow3]

It's the humbling lyrics that send a shiver down my spine.Evokes the tough times of depression era USA.A marvellous tune that l haven't heard for years...Thanks

[kickingmule]

Thank you David. Its a "Sportin' Life", isn't it, but when you listen to this, you feel better.

I do !

Thanks for the comment and listening.

Urban

[Yeractualpatience]

Splendid stuff. Interesting to hear Brownie solo. Rare indeed. Thanks again. keep rolling along there, friend. Enjoy Valborg and have a beer or two. The music is all the fire you'll need!

[kickingmule]

Thanks lain.

You see the point of this upload. Brownie on his own.

I sure will enjoy Valborg and have some beers, you once promised me when we meet.

I'm thirsty, so let it be soon !*smile*

You are so right, Valborg-fires are good, but not as good/hot as the music, Blues !

Take care !

Bluesy Greetings !

Urban

[MikeG62]

Recorded in New York City in 1946. Originally released on 78 RPM as Alert 401.

[kickingmule]

Thanks a lot Mike, you are always to be trusted.

Peace Brother

Urban

[blindbonder]

Great track and a seemingly rare find!  Thanks a lot!

[kickingmule]

My pleasure as an old collector. I'm a bit proud, to have it !

Peace.

Urban

[Frenk78rpm]

Nice Urban, to stumble on this song again!! Yes I know this song very well, It was one of the first bluessongs I played when I started out about 40 years ago!!

It was on a superb LP-Box by XTRA(1035) called the Rural Blues, compilated by Sam Charters, that came out in the sixties, long before the double LP Story of the Blues by Paul Olliver. I still have it..

On the subject of origin it doesn't give any information, but I tend to agree with blindboyblue.

[Frenk78rpm]

As you can see on the related video's on the right, Dave van Ronk and Happy Traum also play their versions of the song, so to me it is more than likely they got their inspiration from the XTRA lp.

At that time (mid-sixties) this box was a goldmine for country-blueslovers, it had all the inportant bluessingers of the 20ies and the30ies on it!

[kickingmule]

Frenk you are right, the XTRA LP:s were/are good and I/we are lucky to have some of them !

I did the upload, cause I love the song and if anyone know something about it !

I also agree with you and blindboyblue of the origin !

Samuel Charters did a lot for the old Blues those days and I have a boklet by him called The Bluesmen, which I bought in the sixties/early seventies, I guess ?

Thanks for a very good comment !

Much appreciated !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[robindavies24]

Great stuff KM

[kickingmule]

Thanks RD.

This one is rare and mysterious, cause Brownie without Sonny, is like waring one shoe.

However, good stuff.

Stay Cool !

Urban

[suuzzee5]

Absolutely fantastic recording! Thanks so much for sharing this one with us, Urban! *****

[kickingmule]

I agree, it's a wonderful recording, but I no nothing about it ! A little frustrating, cause I can't find the recordingdate or any other facts.

BUT Suze, it isn't so important. The sound is. And I love the song !

Peace Sister.

Urban

[blindboyblue]

Sonny and Brownie knew each other from around 1939/40. Brownie's made several recordings without Sonny and vice Versa. Brownie also wrote this song (when he was in his teens!).

This is most likely recorded for Asch (surname of founder of Folkways) in New York (probably Harlem) at around the same time he cut a few sides with his brother (Sticks McGhee). That would make Pops Foster a likely bass player.

[blindboyblue]

That compilation (blues for your pocket?) is about the only place I know to hear this unless your lucky enough to find one of the Asch cuts (if they even exist lol) so once again, nice upload Urban.

ps This isnt all my knowledge, I have a book on Sonny and Brownie and tried to piece together some info Hope it helps

[kickingmule]

This one is from a LP, "Blues for your pocket", but gives no info about the song.

BUT, you gave me some hints and I really appreciate your efforts figuring out what this is ?

I think your trail, Sticks McGhee, might work.

You know, as a collector you want some facts and it would be nice to trace the old 78:rpm and just check out the other side !

Once again. THANK YOU !

[johngotting]

bravissimo

[kickingmule]

Thank You John, for the comment and listening.

Peace.

Urban

[jtls8]

Thank you Urban!

[kickingmule]

Thanks JT for the comment and listening !

Peace Brother !

[bennydreadful]

I love the stuff you post! I host a blues show at the local Uni, and you're really turning me onto some great artists! Thanks!

[kickingmule]

Thanks for the comment and listening.

I hope I give you some inspiration playing my oldies, but I think good old songs are the roots to todays music, as well as it's a source to "practise", cause good music never die !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[lefthooklyrics]

Thanks for sharing this with the world.

[kickingmule]

It's a good song and it's my pleasure to share it. I don't no nothing about it. Found it on an old LP, but I think it's rare to hear Brownie McGhee by himself. Without Sonny Terry.

Peace Brother !

[mcob1]

is that a bowed double bass back there?

[kickingmule]

Sorry, I can't tell cause this recording is a mysterious to me. I mean, Brownie McGhee without Sonny Terry !

It's a familiar Blues song, but there are many Questionsmarks around it !?? At least from me !

But it's a good song so,

Thanks for the comment and listening.

Peace.

Urban

[sfdog1369]

Thx Urban Good Find!!

[kickingmule]

Thanks Brother,

I do my best converting my Oldies to digital form and stumble over this. I don't know Nothing about it and it's Brownie McGhee by himself, without Sonny Terry. That makes me confused. They met in the early forties and this one sounds like before the companionship Brownie and Sonny ?

Peace.

Urban

[mizzissippiblues]

i've never heard Brownie without Sonny so a rare treat!

[kickingmule]

I'm converting my oldies, 78:rpms as well as my vinyl LP collection to digital form and found this, but I know nothing about it. Frustrating and as you say, Brownie without Sonny, make you wonder ?

BUT, I've heard some recordings of the song on other channels and they claim it's Brownie McGhee's.

However, it's a good song so,

Thanks Brother.

Urban

[francescaemc2]

Ah, Urban. This made my day!!!

Fabulous find. Tack for posting.

hugs over pond,

Francesca

[kickingmule]

Thanks Francesca !

I think this is the Original of this wonderful song by McGhee, but I don't know for sure.

However, it doesn't matter as long as I love it !

Hugs over the pond !

Urban