Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home - GUS CANNON (1927) Banjo Blues Legend

[Citizen110]

First time I've ever heard slide banjo. Far out!

[streetelevison]

She Cried The Bucket's got a hold, wont hold no beer

[arnettstacy]

Thank YOU for posting this! I used to have a blues/old time country show on a community radio station. This was one of my standby tunes! I no longer have the lp's, so this is fabulous! I collected them all, and this artist was a favorite.

[jasonmluna]

Tried to phone it to ma' Tried to phone it to ma' Tried to phone it to ma' Tried to send me a little..., Tried to send me a little money, Tried to send me a little money, Lord to buy my fine. (cannot tell what he's saying here but I think it's) She cried 'a but I gotta...' She cried 'a but a got....' She cried 'a but I gotta... But don't hold no ???

[jasonmluna]

Man if that don't do em' why...woods for a while, Try the woods a while...yeah.... I cried "Hell Central" give me... Yer long distance phone, I cried "Hello Central", give me your long distance phone She asked what number I want! I cried 'please ma'am give me Thirteen-Forty-Nine, Thirteen-Forty-Nine' I cried 'Please Ma'am give me Thirteen-Forty-Nine' 

[jasonmluna]

Lyrics from what I can tell. Been a poor boy and long ways from home Long ways from home, Been a poor boy and a long ways from home. I got 'rested, no money to buy my fine, Money to buy my fine, I got 'rested, no money to buy my fine. Say I guess I'll have to catch a Frisco out - in this lan' Catch a Frisco out, Lord I guess I'll have to catch a Frisco out.

[MrDogrose]

Gus Cannon's playing may have been what inspired John Dopyera to invent the resonator guitar. Nice cut with Blake.

[farazagha]

which album is this from??

[cblanch]

Another one who apparently went to bars and picked fights when he was bored was Gene Hackman, when he was in New York taking acting lessons and trying to get work as an actor....he'd just got out of the navy (where he'd boxed for the Navy in the Inter - Services Championships) and could more than take care of himself in street fights...he, of course, could see...god knows how Blake survived...

[cblanch]

Gus Cannon told Sam Charters about Blake leading him home (it's in Charters' Sweet As the Showers of Rain)...Mayo Williams, Blake's "handler" at Paramount told Steve Calt about Blake's enjoyment of fighting and Calt included it in the liner notes the Yazoo re-issue LP of Blake

[cblanch]

Yes....it's Blake allright ....Cannon reckoned the two of them went out and got drunk after the session and Blake (blind and drunk) had to lead Cannon (just totally blind drunk...lol..) back to the hotel where Cannon was staying...Blake could apparently drink anyone under the table and still find his way around Chicago despite being completely blind...Blake also enjoyed picking fights in bars when he was drunk (which was most of the time)...and was very handy in a street fight...

[horlacsd]

@cblanch

Wow great story! Which bio did you read? Information on the net is quite scarce..

From Blake's only photograph, he seems to be a hefty, lumbering, bashful demeanor. > 6'4" 250 lbs. I would give anything to party it up with these folk -- to observe their demeanor and subtle maneurisms. I imagine these old bluesmen to be walking parties in social settings, capable of involving and working crowds -- yet most depressed and conflicted when alone. Bipolar/manic.

[cblanch]

Sorry that should have read "Blind Blake" not "Blind Black"...this computer can't spell...lol...

[cblanch]

Gus Cannon is playing banjo flat on his lap, slide style, using the back edge of a knife in place of a steel or a bottleneck...Blind Black is playing guitar

[horlacsd]

@cblanch

For real that's blind blake on guitar? its so low key and not in your face like most blake..

obviously its a gus cannon track but would not have guessed

Kinda sounds like the record needs to be sped up a little bit.

[mmpresti]

I have another recorded version of this, ragtime, that's by Cannon. I'm going to try to post it as a response. Unless it's the same song and you have it slowed down on your record player.

[borntobewildpascal]

j'voudrais entendre les premiere enregistrement blues din année 1910 ......

[morerabbit2]

Goon to hear this one, Gus Is dealin ......

[dougd1015]

That colored man play good.

[taurtue]

it's nice, but it isn't banjo as far as i know. it sounds more like a resonator guitar

[RagtimeDorianHenry]

yes, this is a slide banjo

[wwmadi]

5-string?

[morerabbit2]

@wwmadi Yea this is Banjo wth a then called a " Mute"

Today a tone enhancer, my Grand father taught me this,

I am 68 years old so you know how long ago I got that information there is an uptodate on that Ime usin it on anothersong on the wind, tribute to Guss Cannon

[iwasinfiniteonce]

pshh, yeah. duh. whozissguy thinkee iz?

[MortenBoHansen]

@RagtimeDorianHenry no. its a resonater guitar allright.

[sonofpregnant]

@RagtimeDorianHenry its more like he's just simply playing a slide with his banjo

[jasonmluna]

It's a Banjo, but the song was slowed down so sounds like a resonator.

[bostonteabagger71739]

@jasonmluna makes sense because his voice is much deeper than on his other tunes.

[busessuck1]

@taurtue there's a guitar playing behind it

[bostonteabagger71739]

just great