Red River Blues

[gitfiddlejim1]

By the way Henry plays the Pan pipes or quills, its not a whistle or a flute, a number of pipes of different lengths, probably 4 or 5. nProbably self made, held toghether with string, remeber this guy is a real hobo, no money.

[kickingmule]

@gitfiddlejim1 Thanks I like the name Hobo, to describe Henry !

I also like no money, I just play !

I do, but Henry is the best !!!

Peace Bro !

Urban

[gitfiddlejim1]

Well Urban I only know what I have read from other researchers investigations.Henry seems to have spent his life ridin the blinds on the Sunshine, he was wearin 3 dirty overcoats, havin a real hard life accordin to this LP notes by Mack, written in 1949, he by chance this big black man, with guitar, at a railroad station, feels it was Henry. I guess I could scan it into my PC & would email it to you if you would like to read it all

[kickingmule]

@gitfiddlejim1 Well, a lot of good news, ( though old ), I appreciate it very much.

Thanks brother !

Peace !

Urban

[gitfiddlejim1]

I dont know how much info on H Tnomas, but I have Herwin LP all tracks 1927-29It hasa 10 LP size pages of info, all tracks wording+  lengthy piece by Mack Mccormick on Henry, a real hobo, mostly on Texas Pacific railroad Shreveport to Dallas + 1930 timetable for the Sunshine Special. Probably born 1874, quite old when recorded. Its Herwin double LP 209, so if you find one its a treasure of info. Railroadin Some is my fave

[kickingmule]

@gitfiddlejim1 You know more about Henry Thomas than anyone else, I think.

I only know he was a blues-songster and travelled from town to town or where they had a party or dancing night.

Thanks for a very good comment and thanks for listening !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[MyMoppet52]

Wonderful song! I am not familiar with this gentleman but like his singing & style. You have some treasures I think! :) The reed pipe is very unusual in the music I listen to. (I am NOT an expert). I like it & wonder if he was using it like the string bands did in the mountains & the south. They would use anything and everything if it was there or easy to make. This reed pipe sounds so lovely, lilting, and a bit "happy" for the blues. The blues makes me smile so it is perfect for me! Thank you!

[kickingmule]

@MyMoppet52 Henry Thomas ( Ragtime Texas ), is/was a Blues-Songster playing in the streets as well to Saturday Night Dances ! Its a Happy Blues and as you know the Blues is al about feelings, so I think he had the right style for a good Saturday Evening, with Joy and Communion among people.

Nice comment !

Peace Sister !

Urban

[geratonia]

That is the power of this kind of music and why it s influence on contemporary

music is so great. It is very hard to imagine that today in an atmosphere of

splendor,clinical productions , video clips and terrible commerciality,left even a trace of the dust from the crossroad at which R Johnson sold his soul to the

Devil. Thank you

[kickingmule]

@geratonia You are so right ! This kind of music have influenced a lot of contemporary performers, but never with this kind of originality and feeling !

Very good comment and I thank You very much fotr that and listening.

Peace Brother !

[geratonia]

Arthur C. Clarke has commented if someone wants to surpass 2001 space odyssy need to make it on the spot. I wander wheather this kind of music should be performed on the spot too at the dusty roads, smoky coffee ,plantations of cotton, etc. The longing the nasal vocals,sound of harmonica ,guitars.. as they incorporate all the atmosphere which was created this music.

[kickingmule]

@geratonia Well, I think this kind of music is perfect for a so called "instant moment" wherever you are ! Often it was played at carnevals or some "great" event, like dancing places or bars saturday evenings etc.

Thanks for the good comment and listening.

We let the old Blues Live !

Peace Brother !'

[geratonia]

Arthur C. Clarke has commented if someone wants to surpass 2001 space odyssy need to make it on the spot. I wander wheather this kind of music should be performed on the spot too at the dusty roads, smoky coffee ,plantations of cotton, etc. The longing the nasal vocals,sound of harmonica ,guitars.. as they incorporate all the atmosphere which was created this music.

[geratonia]

oh what a power of expression . this is pure soul expresses in its own way.I think that for this music will never be

created the necessary conditions,

[kickingmule]

@geratonia Well, the roots of the Blues show us the way to our popular music today and I love it ! Though time goes bye and popular music today aren't as expressive as the old Blues, I think !

Thanks for the comment and listening !

Peace Brother !

Urban, The Kicking Mule

[Durandal1717]

Now this is the real music.

[kickingmule]

@Durandal1717 Thanks Pete !

You know what its all about. Good songs never die !

Thanks for the comment and listening !

Peace !

Urban

[Dannyboy855]

isnt he playin quills?

[xmanningx]

i wish i knew what the lyrics were.

[kickingmule]

I also wish I knew what the lyrics is all about, but to me its a mixture of rather common expressions those days, used by Bluesartists !

The main purpose was for Blues-Songsters to entertain and I think Nobody listened to the lyrics, while dancing and drinking ???

Thanks for the comment and listening !

PEACE !

Urban

[Kdees]

Love the whistle, Urban man u should be inducted into R&R Hall of Fame & The Blues Museum ;), Bless ya

[kickingmule]

Thanks Kdess !

I just upload what I have and like most of all : The Blues !

I'm glad you like it !

Peace Brother !

[jonno52]

It's always good to hear Henry Thomas. The first 45rpm record I bought as a kid, about 50 years ago, was "Red River Rock" by Johnny & The Hurricanes, which is the same tune of course. It's fascinating to learn about all the connections in music. Now you can find many recordings of this tune as "Red River Valley" on YT. But I think Henry Thomas does it best! Thank you Urban.

[kickingmule]

Thanks John !

As always a very good comment and I agree in everything you say. Many found the sound in the old Blues, but as a collector I prefer the original recordings, though there are newer good ones too.

The main thing is to keep the old Blues alive !!! You have heard it before, but "true Love" never die !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[subterranean47]

that flute bit must have influenced canned heats goin' up country

[kickingmule]

Yes, I think you are right !!!

Sounds like that, but as you know, many artists took material and sound from the old Blues.

I think that's a good thing to do, cause it means Blues is good music !

Thanks for your commnet and listening !

Peace !

[subterranean47]

Of course, the soul of America is in its traditional music such as blues and folk.

[DrFABH]

thank you for that sharing. never heard this before.

[kickingmule]

I try to present old stuff from my collection of old Blues and Gospel, so Henry Thomas, alias Ragtime Texas has his place on my channel !

I'm an old man with old stuff, but old music/Blues/Gospel are always up to date I think, so I also try to present the so called unknown artists.

You find the new contemporary Blues and Gospel elsewhere, but don't forget, I have the Originals ! *smile*

Peace and thanks for the comment and listening !

Urban

[MrPisster]

Henry Thomas was a human juke box. This is one of my favorite blues tunes of all time!

[kickingmule]

Ya, he sure was a human juke box. Sorry to say, we havn't many of them these days !

Thanks for your comment and listening !

Peace !

[Yeractualpatience]

Somehow or other it works...good stuff, as usual! Hope you're well, Urban. Take care and keep posting. I'm down in SW France again this winter - avoiding those Swedish Norrland winters...but missing them too! Best.

[kickingmule]

Yes, my friend, I understand. You do like the birds. Moving south wintertime and come back springtime. *smile*

Thanks for the comment and listening !

Take it easy but take it !

Urban

[xxxxharp]

Thank-you Urban !! Great tune !

[kickingmule]

It's not a real harp, Mr Thomas plays but a reed-pipe. I suppose it has 10 holes too ???

Thanks Jay for the comment and listening !

Peace Bro and take care !

Urban

[cinderellalifestyle]

what a great sound........the lil pennywhistle/flute --what a dimension....brings to mind sumpin that Taj Mahal did,...meebee he heard this un too:-) !Cheers Urban--sending good vibes and thanks your way.loved this.!! XOs, LaurieLee

[kickingmule]

Many artists have found a treasure in the old blues and recorded. I don't blame them, cause, the Blues is the best you can get !?

Thanks LaurieLee for the comment and many hugs to you !

Peace and take care !

Urban

[Bleadbelly1]

Thanks to fendermac for the share. This is a great post

[kickingmule]

I also thanks fendermac, Paul, for showing you the way to the old blues.

I also thank you for the comment and listening !

Peace !

Urban

[fendermac]

I love it...thank you Urban

[kickingmule]

Thanks Paul,

I noticed Mr Henry Thomas not was on my channel, so that's why, the upload.

How could I've missed him ???

Peace Brother !

Take it easy, but take it !

Urban

[jtls8]

Thank you for posting Urban!

[kickingmule]

My pleasure to present, perhap the best Blues-Songster in the late 1920, early 1930.

Thanks for the commnet and listening !

Peace JT !

[uwebde]

Cool Stuff !

Peace !

[kickingmule]

Old Blues and good music never die !

Thanks Uwe for the comment !

Peace Brother !

Urban

[flyhead2]

Weird and wonderful. Thanks for posting, Urban.

[kickingmule]

Thanks Glen,

The blues has different shapes and forms. This is a Songster-Blues. Call it what you want, but its like a troubadour, singing a song the same from time to time.

Thanks Brother !

Peace !

[checkraisedbywolves]

AWESOME post !

[kickingmule]

The Old Blues will never die and many artists have noticed that, so they have done recordings of their own. Nowadays !

Thanks and Peace !

Urban

[sfdog1369]

Very Cool Urban Thx Bro!!!

[kickingmule]

Thanks you are too kind, but I dont blame you cause this song is a 5-star upload.

Peace Brother !

Urban