The Late, Great Dave Van Ronk: "Stackerlee"

[zener81]

The man is posessed by folk - it was an honor to see him in his later years (2000?) play a small town near me - 18 people and Dave with his Guild - it felt surreal.

[UncleErnie71]

The Coen brothers are writing a script based on his memoir. Hope it follows through.

[ristau]

@UncleErnie71 So I do.

[hrolio]

@blindbonder i'll tune in on that!

[ElGoodo]

God damn what a performance, heard a lot about Dave Van Ronk through Bob Dylan but haven't heard a lot of his actual performances, what a voice!

[7jack7]

Damn@!

[pbellucci1]

Dave gave me so much joy !! I miss him

[steelpikker]

does anyone have He Was A Friend Of Mine

[marinaeulalia]

@steelpikker The best cover ever of He Was a Friend of Mine is definitely Van Ronk's! I have it on an old LP, but I have no idea how to digitalize and upload, sorry! Over the years, it has also been my favorite Van Ronk. I loved that man.

[steelpikker]

Does anyone have a tab for this..........I'd give my left nut

[HippieGuitarBoy]

I've been looking for ages, but can't find any tabs of this. This song has been done 306 different ways, and I can't find this version anywhere. Anybody found tabs for it?

[blindbonder]

@HippieGuitarBoy If you are still interested, I can put up a lesson for how to play this song. Let me know

[HippieGuitarBoy]

@blindbonder Interested? I'm fascinated. Please do. Thank you very much! :)

[mrblues1147]

I nwas a grerat fan of dave. in 1972 saw him in Philladepha AT THE CELLAR DOOR IN South st.

First time Isaw Dave

Where is he now? Have many recorides of him?

[buffalobilly]

so much going on in his voice not to mention the virtuoso fingerpicking, RIP van Ronk

[dharmapunk777]

Man, Stacker Lee sounds like one Bad Motherfucker

[BakerJnr]

The lyrics of this song make me think that Nick Cave must have used this as his inspiration for "Stagger Lee" of his Murder Ballads album -it's too close to be a coincidence.

[kwsn]

@BakerJnr this song's been recorded in different incarnations hundreds of times, or songs based on the same story with similar names.

[kwsn]

@BakerJnr this song's been recorded in different incarnations hundreds of times, or songs based on the same story with similar names.

[Derweiland]

I DID get to say thank you to HIM somewhere in Minneapolis at a concert '78?, where I gave him one of my 3 copies of my (Pebbles) LP, I had with me from Germany, never knew if he ever listened to it. It had "guitar shuffle" on it from B.B.Broonzy which I had learned from an old album of Daves. But I got to say thanks- awesome!!! does anyone have the tracks "Guitar Shuffle" ? or any of the other songs?

[shensan88]

great bluesman. my favorite version of Stackalee. love his "He Was A Friend of Mine" too.

[wetears]

I'm having that song played at my funeral!

[mrblues1147]

@shensan88 Staklee

Yes

[RoyalFool]

"When you lose your money, learn to lose!"

[Udaphonic]

Thanks for posting this! I used to have the whole video of that performance and somehow ignominiously lost it during a move. I remember he was so funny in between songs - wonderful schtick!

[grundoon51]

If I remember right, this song's on my favorite DVR album "Folksinger" along with Cocaine Blues, Hang Me, Mr Noah and some other good songs--great stuff

[talerdudansk]

Dave is so genuine. Love his music forever. Never met him, wish I had.

[xHOLYROLLERx]

You Done Shot Your Last! Best version of this song ever done, Furry was a master.

God speed for keeping the blues alive sir.

[pentangle4444]

I miss Dave Van Ronk so very much. I enjoyed so many of his folk performances in the Village and at festivals and he always gave everything he had into each performance. There can never be another Dave Van Ronk.

[coyoteguy45]

There has to be more footage of Dave. Please post it..I had the opportunity to see him and speak to him on a number of occassions. He was a gentle giant and as of yet, grossly under-recognized and appreciated.

[PLT1212]

PLease, do you have 'BOTH SIDES NOW / CLOUDS" by Van Ronk?

[AnniesEggs]

Thanks to a Stefan Grossman column in an old UK magazine called 'Guitarist' something like 23-24 years ago I sat down and learned to play this exact arrangement including the stretch on the guitar break. Then I went on the Cocaine Blues. But I was beat by St James Infirmary.

[jtseem]

In 1992-93 I spotted an ad in the Village Voice.Guitar Lessons - Dave Van Ronk. I thought, could this be the real Dave Van Ronk? I called and when he answered the phone it was obviously him!

I turned up at his apartment a week later for our first lesson. The place was tiny. He was a very articulate and gentle man. Often we would would overun our alloted time just talking about music, things in the news.

God Bless You Dave.

[etlambert]

That is really cool story...

[steamboatsblues]

God you were lucky to meet him.

[firetaker25]

@jtseem How long did you study with Dave? When did he pass?

[Revumch]

@jtseem Great story! I wish I could have met him, taken lessons from him. He had passed on before I knew about him.

[lwierd]

my grandpa showed me this song and im stuck listening to it now :3 amazing!

[therealdude1]

thanks for posting this, it's a great song!

[DaMJBM]

Good Song. It would be best to include more right hand screen shots to make it easier to learn

[evenatomato]

a lovely seal

h...haa...h..

[sammello411]

amazing thanks for the video, rip van ronk

[mrblues1147]

@saHadn many of his music

Good man

mmello411

[nichmars]

very cool.

[doctorpep1]

That was excellent! He added three or four verses to the song, but the guitar playing was identical to the Furry version.

[geniuschristie]

TTTHAnks for posting this!!!!!!

[abrekutu]

Thanks so much for posting this video.I remember listening to Van Ronk's albums in the 1960s, I believe. May he rest in peace.

[robindavies24]

Great stuff