Leo Kottke - Louise

[saculvad]

...thnx 4 this, all my giut playin' friends wonder why I play a 12string...they say it's 'awkward'....2many strings....all I can say is ....get with the program, and let your fingers really makka difference when it comes to sound....they oughta try a 'lute'....ya' know17th century'.....how you use an instrument, is what YOU want to hear.....not others..... :

[Scottie1152]

What we have here is the finest virtuoso of the twelve string guitar that ever was (period).

They broke the mold in Leo for sure! Lol

[bobhedstrom]

I think the foliage behind Leo is the woods of Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis on Minnetonka Lake where he lived when I lived in Mpls. I saw him once driving a convertible sports car in Uptown and he was smiling at the sky. That was many moons ago in the 80s. In the 70s most of us boomers thought he was the best guitar player in the world, until Tommy Immanuel came along. I'll always love Kottke's music and goes way back, for me. Bob

[apr0cks]

I wanna go to leo's porch!

[LanceHelmut]

my all time leo fave..sure wanna hear the studio version of this

[XLIVwhodat]

@LanceHelmut I find this version better.

[derfzus]

One of my most favorites by Mr. Kottke......Master of the slide guitar!!!

[kiwimale1]

An artist of sound and thought and colours from the brighter side ...

[danocable]

For an old friend.

[tythefrog]

<3

[MoabMadness2011]

Leo has that kind of effect on folks. Of course, folks who admire him have to be willing to admit they've been burned. Life has a way of burning ...

[MoabMadness2011]

Leo has that kind of effect on folks. Of course, folks who admire him have to be willing to admit they've been burned....

[joecburke]

This song by Leo just burns through me.

[kfox47]

Love this video! And what a sweet face this man has...had?

[twohawksfucking]

@kfox47 Me, too. Used to listen to this in Athens--played it for my kids. (And the Bonnie Raitt version...)

[909chuck]

Just sublime. Easy pace and the 12 string sound is audio champagne. No wonder the tune has been covered by so many, male and female. Leo picked his tunes well back in the day.

[yankel57]

In the early '70's, at the Plough & Stars in Cambridge, it wasn't unusual to see John Fahey, Spider John Koerner or Leo kootke just show up. Bonnie Raitt would drop by Jack's next door and we'd all move over there for a set, then file back to the Plough.

[totalrandomcrap]

This version is from the Home and Away video.

[fatschlamp1]

...just learning this at the moment, so a few notes for the pickers -

...it's in dropped d though the guitar is tuned down a tone or two so you'll need a high action set-up and thick strings..

...in the solo, notice how he alternates quite deftly between the slide and his fingers

...also, note that he sings with different phrasing than used in the greenhouse version...very nice

[byecarl]

The finest practitioner of the 12 string there ever was.

[MariasAngel]

Louise is my passed away GF i miss her a lot

let her soul rest in peace

[MrBuckwilliam]

296 likes, 2 dislikes... must have been two guys that brought ten cent trinkets and didn't like leo singin' about it O_o

[nmcclure79]

Is Louise a hooker, or does she just sleep around a lot. also, I think Leo is crazy saying he has a voice that sounds like a honking goose. It sounds absolutely great.

[gfrancisbrown]

@nmcclure79 Yes, Louise was a real person and she was a hooker in Natchez, Mississippi.

[deathtosmurfs]

@nmcclure79 If I'm remembering right, the phrase he used to describe his voice was "geese farts on a muggy day". He's wrong, of course, his voice is truly great. So full of feeling.

[GRITSMEISTER42]

Leo and Linda Ronstadt - the two best "Louise's" of all time!

[Mouldytone]

I`ve never heard the original version by the writer of this song but Leo has made it his own I recon. Hope I`m not insulting the writer (Paul Siebel).

Tony

[mary0mca0gypsy0eyes]

Leo! where were you when i was falling in love!!??

[mahogma66]

Used to see Leo play at the Scholar Coffeehouse on the West Bank U of M,Minneapolis back in '66-'67. Amazing then,amazing now.

[jimbobgator]

Saw him in Athens, GA (his hometown) about 40 yrs ago, very small venue. My table was no more than ten feet from where he was singing/playing, One of my great college memories from a unique artist.

[tatomyr]

I wanna say that this video and Leo's music tells me so many thing about America. It reminds me good old Bluegrass and also J.J.Cale from South or Tony Joe White, Tim Hardin, Wilie Nelson, Merle Haggard or even Johnny Cash. Once I had his Mudlark on MC, it was 90's in West Ukraine. Sweet youth memories :) Thank you man for this beautiful song!

[JohnMcKenna]

The Master, pushed through a crowd of muddy hippies (nowt wrong with that) right to the front to see him in a wet field in...erm yorkshire? Early eighties, we called out our requests, and he played them, bliss!! We kept him on too long, which pssd off country(wrong spelling!) Joe who then harangued me and my pal by saying "You think think he's good? Wait'll ya f**k*n hear meee!" End of a perfect night :)

[sherrillwallace]

I've been stroking the strings 45 years. This song is preformed about as well as a song could be. From his vocals down to the control on the 12 string. Just a masterpeice. Sherrill

[IYAMNI]

After all these years this remains one of my favorite of his works. This is a very soulful rendition. Thanks for posting.

[redsfanstu]

An anthology containing at least this great tune and "Tiny Island" constitutes a must have deserted island disc! Gotte love Leo 's sweet sounding 12 string with a voice to match, "The wind is blowing cold tonight, so goodnight Louise, goodnight!" Thanks to: jpiir for the upload and You Tube for leaving the light on the space!

[godz60illa]

..a true legend.

[yooblues]

Saw him live in 1977 at a place called Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne. Leon Redbone was on the same gig. What a memory...

[yooblues]

Saw him live in 1977 at a place called Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne. Leon Redbone was on the same gig. What a memory...

[Beemerboy324]

@yooblues - saw him that year with Leon Redbone in Portland, Oregon.

[iaingbrennan]

Norloel. Yes, he really is a virtuoso of the 12-string, his playing has inspired me, trouble is, if, like me, you like to play his material, your forever tuning your guitar in order to play them faithfully to the original.

[timpipe]

His guitar sounds like an organ.

[iaingbrennan]

Looks like a Taylor to me? I was given two cassette Albums by this guy, ( Mudlark, and Greenhouse) when I lived in Toronto, Canada, back in the 70's, subsequently, every time I listen to his music, I realize that when Leo was made, they broke the mould, nobody really like him, inspired me to start playing 12-string anyway......

[norloel]

@iaingbrennan

I've been a Leo fan since my big brother brought home some of his albums from college in the early 70's. Have most everything he's done, including vinyl copies of Mudlark, Greenhouse, Ice Water, Dreams & All That Stuff, 6 & 12 String (Armadillo Album), etc. They definitely broke the mould w/Leo...one of a kind. No one's ever gotten so much sound out of one guitar. This video of him on his porch playing "Louise" is really special; can't get enough of it.

[lowspark68]

Can anyone tell me the make and model of the guitar he's playing?

[warragul1946]

this man is a true legend.another great version of this song comes from another legend.......bonnie raitt.check it out folks.

[frankfurtlounge]

thanks for your comments folks...

[frankfurtlounge]

thanks for your comments folks

[JesusChristMcGod]

Just keep playing this one, can't get enough of it. It's just fantastic.

[NLisi55]

So young!!

[marvinbnaylor]

Same here, I heard his name years ago, but only started getting into him when I heard Busted Bicycle on youtube, and I call myself a 12 string guitarist!

[jaegerhund]

how soulful is 3:40 ?

[brianjacobi]

What a wonderful musician.

This is such a lovely song, it brings back many memories.

Thanks so much for posting.

Brian.

[GibsonHummingbird]

I bought 'Greenhouses' pre release , the song 'Tiny Island' is still an alltime favourite.

[Realitytourist]

@GibsonHummingbird I met Leo after he played Mountain Stage back in the 90s and had him sign my vinyl copy of Greenhouse. One of my most treasured LPs. And his singing is far from the sound of a duck farting. :)

[squeezycat]

This is so my song.....thanks Leo

[joelkeaton]

I love Leo

[jaegerhund]

You got to dig his grampa slippers. :) Leo kottke is one of the few guitarists I do not get tired of. He is sophisticated but not pretentious, accomplished and creative but not contrived and overly "artistic." He is meat and potatoes good enough for a king.

[wimpicker54]

If you've never seen this guy live you're missing out. Not only is he such a tremendous musical genius, he's also hilarious. He could've easily been a great comedian.

[tjmangum]

"Honest music" - what a wonderful way to describe Leo and his talent.

[soapbarbob]

this song is SO beautifully sad!!!! if your heart don't ache after this, you ain't human!

[deadguy1964]

This song and the album Greenhouse are some of the finest examples of honest music, without the sharp and offensive twang of "the celebration of self" we often find with most accomplished guitarists. With the likes of Leo Kottke, Joe Pass, and Ry Cooder we are saved if not from anything else but ourselves. Don't go see a psychiatrist, put on an album. Thanks Leo....too cool.

[wyldeotse]

Many many years ago when Leo Kottke's first songs came out, I remember listening, with a new friend. I rember being surprised when he announced that this was the voice of God. Once in a while I hear it too.

[spotz62]

The one and only...

[TitaniumChemist]

Love the song, Leo is awesome... and what the hell happened to his socks? Lol.

[Halflife451]

I saw this on a PBS Special in the 70's or early 80's if my memory serves me. I never forgot it as it was the best cover of this song that I ever heard. This evening on a whim, I googled it and to my astonishment, there it was. Thank you so very much. Is the internet great or what?

linky76

[laurapolkflint]

Beautiful. Thank You for posting this video.

[penanlad]

The man is a living National Treasure.

[MrBuckwilliam]

SWEET :)

THANK YOU MISTER LEO KOTTKE AND jpiir

[Plebo]

This is from the DVD "Leo Kottke, Home & Away Revisited" Lots of Leo on stage and off. Available on Amazon and other places.

[bassbob42]

One of my favorite songs ever. Leo, the master. 'Nuf said.

[Toylandsrs]

That one 12 string and a good song, is all leo needs. He's a great one.

[guylline]

Such great picking, sliding and singing ! Fantastic song ! 5*****, Rene.

[sherrillwallace]

Rene this is the best song I've found on YT in several months. I tried to cover it but Leo and his 12 string are almost un-matchable on this one. Such an outstand performance.

[harrynicholas]

Brilliant song.

[sherrillwallace]

Such a sad mornful song. But sand and picked to perfection. 5 stars well earned. Vocals great and the Taylor is set up just right. So fine.

[L3ssth4nt233]

Such a sad song, yet somehow so uplifting.

[melodicdreamer72]

I never heard much from Leo until this week...and I call myself a guitar player...he is one of the greats for sure...

That song was just so well done. Can't say much more than that...that song was just so well done.

[MyMoppet52]

@melodicdreamer72 Leo is fantastic and I love this version of his song. He is a genius. His mentor was John Fahey. He is incredible also. You might like to hear some of his stuff. His Layla is not my favorite, but I can't figure out how he does it! He is just unbelievable on much of his music. I am so glad he and Leo hooked up. I think it made each of their music even better. :)

[kristi449]

Each does Louise justice...Thanks Leo, Thanks ,Bonnie.

[troutvt]

song of the trials of life and death unrewarded by the users and abusers, love ya louise, see ya soon

[honeyroyellis]

Thanks for my favorite song that Leo did! Was written by Paul Seibel of Buffalo, NY.

[judetk1]

(from down under) Oh Leo, thanks for that.

[grieche56]

not alone the guitar, as well the agreeable voice.........

[mallardgreen]

Great song, a Kottke classic...

[billgr0248]

...the master!

[FLambert1985]

Kottke is the master.

[varsityredheads]

First heard this on Plainsong's "In Search of Amelia Earhart" album. Thought it was a Depression-era song at first.

[jsgantt]

This song was written by Paul Seibel

Paul had stage fright real bad but he wrote a lot of cool tunes,

[Rhapsodomancy7487]

Judging by the language, it sounds like a folk song. Anyone know if it is?

[digndrums2003]

to bad radio does'nt have time for artists' like this ! I have to you tube it I guess .

[adamstokke]

Leo Kottke is amazing and beautiful. That's all that needs to be said. :)

[sanborns]

Amen...

[fendersquier91]

Does anyone know where I can find a tab for "From the Cradle to the Grave," a tutorial video, or even just a video of him playing. I have to learn that song.

[nomiclas]

hey pdmay1-i saw him there also and drank dark draft beer during the wonderful concert.what a artist/comedian and a great theater especially from the balcony!!!i hope he returns also.he gets to interlochen music camp near TC Mich from time to time and actually gives instructionals for people who play.great guy!!!!

[thrummer1953]

This song is gently heartbreaking.

[JoeDeMaio917]

I remember back in the mid 70's my dad came home with Leo's album "Greenhouses" .... We would listen to that album night and day. Great songs and great memories. Louise was one of my favorites, that and Tiny Island.

[grieche56]

gott sei dank hob i den a live segn dürfn

[jacobsiostrom]

totally XD

[frankfurtlounge]

far beyond good and bad...the best version of this song i ever heard...

[da324]

Have you ever heard Bonnie Raitt's version from her Sweet Forgiveness LP from 77? She also does a great version of John Prine's Angel From Montgomery.  Both worth checking out.

[frankfurtlounge]

sorry, nice song of b.raitt, but you cant compare with kottke.

cheers

[da324]

Well, let' say they don't compare to you. Neither one wrote the song and I think Bonnie sings better. Nobody touches Leo on 12 string guitar, but he can't play slide on a Stratocaster as well as Bonnie either. Just my opinion, thanks.

[frankfurtlounge]

i appreciate your opinion, i am not a bonnie raitt expert...did she perform "louise" via 12 string guitar?

[joedeaninsanpedro]

Bonnie's a great singer and player, but what's the point if you miss the emotion of the music and lyric? Too many fancy vocal turns for the material.

[da324]

I don't think she misses the emotion of this song at all. I love Leo and the way he plays this song too; I just like Bonnie's version better.

[formsofthingsunknown]

This song gives me goosebumps and a lump in the throat. Timelessly haunting. Thanks for posting this early clip...

[pdmay1]

I have seen him 4 times in Kalamazoo Mi at the State Theatre....can't wait until he comes back!

[duinnerfs]

Many of Kottke's tunes are instumentals and fun just to watch him run over his 12 string guitar frets. But his vocals almost always have a sound of hopeless or ironic overtone, my favorite of those vocal tunes is "From the Cradle to the Grave" from his Greenhouse Album.

[tiptopshape]

I was part of a concert promotions company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 22 years. We had the pleasure, and I do mean pleasure, of presenting this gentleman several times. This guy is the consumate performer. He is the man with 14 fingers, and he knows how to play them all! Leo is one of the very best!

[1949gene]

Hi --

Leo's quote about his voice is "geese farts on a muggy day." We have crossed paths several times and he performed at a friend's wedding long ago.

Try and track down "Armadillo", whatever other earlier stuiff you can find. Leo lives here, in the Twin Cities, and he still has a cult-like following. His annual Xmas concert is always a joy.

[jwiwood]

I saw Leo once way back in Minneapolis. Guessing mid/late 70's. Wow! Great talent, musician. ps: I don't agree with coco. Sounds like the same key as ever to me.

[cocochanelleke]

Hang on, Kottke used to sing this an octave lower. Methinks. Will get used to this version, however...

What a brilliant, good chap he still seems.

5*, no 4* -´til I´ve got used to it.

[razorrayrazor]

like raccoon farts on a foggy morning

[cocochanelleke]

LOL, thanks.

Goose fart on a Sunday morning, too.

;)

Coco

(we don´t have raccoons over here, but foggy mornings, yes...)

[razorrayrazor]

Kottke at his best THANKS

[PaluaWahine]

What a privilege to hear this. Love Leo!!

[cocochanelleke]

P.S.: he recorded another one at the time I´ll always love and feel sad about

"Going from the cradle to the grave".

Incredible guitar, wonderful voice.

[LEWOOF]

cradle to the grave is awesome....and "Tiny Island" love his voice

[cocochanelleke]

I´m afraid I can´t, but might be willing to send you my dusty cassette with the original on it, copied from the LP, if I can find it eventually.

It used to bring tears to my eyes. But Kottke had other songs that made one feel sad and familiar, or else joyous - I felt that in his music too at the time, though his masterously complex classical guitar style was beyond me. Loved and still love his voice.

[LEWOOF]

hi coco if run across it that would be very nice. I remember the first time I heard leo sing this song was as the Opera house... thinking it was about 1974. all he said about the song was "this song is about the ravages of V.D"

[cocochanelleke]

Never saw the man on stage, I envy you ;)

Can´t remember Tiny Island at the moment.

Please have some patience, what with finding and dusting off the old cassettes. And listening to them, of course.

Never realized that ´Louise` was about VD in Kottke´s mind, that makes sense, however.

Have a good weekend,

Coco

[timjellis]

I can't find cradle to the grave anywhere. Could you point me in the right direction?

[cocochanelleke]

timjellis - wish I could but can´t, for the lack of means.

Perhaps though we could start something as to exchange without financial means.

Let´s wrte and see,

Coco

[cocochanelleke]

Heard a (studio) version of this decades ago.

As far as I remember, LK then described his voice "as a goose fart on a .... morning"

Could not agree with himcon that, at all.

Brilliant chap,

goodness bless him.

Coco

[stktrd]

My dream is a follows: I'm siting off camera on a corner of his porch, sipping a Leon Negro Beer, soaking up the music. When hefinishes Louise, we're all quiet a moment, and I say Leo, how anout Pamela Brown, and he says, "Sure, Frank. Hey Honey, get Frank another beer."

[YUG74]

Excellent :))I'm right there with ya

[sisterdiggins]

One of the saddest songs I ever heard in my life.

[voteforjulio]

awesome song

[RecordWarped]

Beautiful, sad song, tremendously played and sung by a real master. Leo is so often thought of as a master guitarist that you tend to forgot what a great singer is is also. Here's an excellent reminder!

[YUG74]

It's well known he has mocked his own voice as sounding like geese farts on a wet day.you wouldn't be a professional if you didn't poke fun at your self now and then.

[bamapoppy]

Thanks, jpiir, for the post of the magnificent piece of music. Being as it is obviously a private recording I was wondering...how do you know him? I'd love to be able to get something autographed if possible.

[swordfishtrombones]

Much as I love Leo, and I do, this being no exception, I reckon I should point out that this is a Paul Siebel song. Absolutely beautiful version, though, thanks so much...

[wahunga]

Leo Kottke is a greatly underappreciated genius!

[tad449]

One of my fav Leo songs - and bout the only one I can play . . . lol

[straussy73]

Thank you for this. My Dad introduced me to this song and I've always loved it.

[odor9]

Great version of this iconic Leo song. Thanks for uploading and the comments on the tuning!

[junkduma]

Beautiful........saddest song ever written.

Leo opened my ears to blues with this song on his seminal 12" LP "My Feet Are Smiling" which I bought with a 21st birthday present record-gift-token. Still got it too, 32 years on. Thanks Leo for your beautiful sounds.

[digger815]

fabulous...there's only one guy who can do this song, and there is only one leo kottke

[marseydotes1941]

I used to listen to this beautiful sad song many years ago and was delighted and surprised to find it here. Thanks!

[captaingrisley]

ONE of my favorite songs of Leo Kottke. And this is a great interpretation, I love it, thanks!

[PaluaWahine]

One of my favorite songs for too long to count. Beautifully sad.

[cantycrusader]

absolutely fantastic

[SjaakShirly6559]

I love this (great sad) song! The tuning is indeed a sort of "dropped D-tuning", although lowered to Bb!!

So you get (low to high) Bb F Bb Eb G C. But take care. Not every guitar is suited to do the job. Mr. Kottke must have adjusted his guitar to handle this tuning. I guess a higher action (also for slide!) His low voice is perfect for the tuning.

[methodinsane]

Heavier gauge stings will handle the tension. maybe 14s. Sounds great either way.

[bathtangle]

Louise rode home on the mailtrain. Says it all. Coffin on the mailtrain. Women like Louise they get by till they die ugly. Then they are dismissed. Who gives a damn. Someone, someday soon, will write a song for the young disposed boys.

[cocochanelleke]

bathtangle, thanks very much for your explanation - and I hope you will write that song for disposed boys (and girls)

Fare the well from Europe

Coco

[jsgantt]

Does anybody know what tuning he is using?

[rpkirby724]

No promises, but it looks like dropped 'D.' (tuned down to the sub-basement) That's the tuning we'ev done it in for over thirty years and the chords (when you can see 'em!) look familiar. This song, incidentally, was written in the late 60s by the great and overlooked Paul Seibel.

From The Ragwagon,

Lonesome Red

[BeatnikManfred]

Thanks for this upload, one of my favorite Songs....It´s so sad............Take Care

[ladmex53]

I feel that Leo Kottke has been one of the most underrated guitar players for many years. He has a sound and style that is uniquely his. You never see him on T.V. or hear his music on the radio. All he does is consistently put out great music. Thanks for posting this song! Its my favorite.

[bathtangle]

I've always thought that this song sounds like Celia Blaylock, better known as Mattie Earp. Wyatt dumped her when he found josie. She died of a drug overdose in a boarding house.

[bathtangle]

I've always loved this song. I've always wondered who she was. The lyrics seem too personal to be apocryphal.

[stanleycreek]

Thanks for this post, one of my all time favorites. Have been searching for it.

[StrayFire]

beautiful song.. *dreamin*