cocaine blues davey graham

[Kals33]

In case anyone is wondering, John's tuned down a full step and is using the capo on the FIFTH fret. If you were tuned up to 'Standard' you'd put yours on the third.

[johni2bad]

@Kals33 Hey thanks for that. Are u sure JM plays in standard tuning? I thought maybe he use an open G or C tuning

[domhar543]

Mate, this is really helpful, I've just got into Davey Graham (late I know), found him through Graham Coxon, I'm seeing why Coxon finds him so inspiring. Cocaine is my fave tune so far and I'm learning it right now thanks to your video! Thanks!

[johni2bad]

@domhar543, glad it helps buddy. its one of those tunes u can't help playin every time u pick a guitar! this, girl from the north country and may you never!

[sockenfrank]

Great playing.

[ionnit]

beautiful dood anuva i want the tab for lol.... wqurr u learn these songs? u pik them off man?

[johni2bad]

thx alot lol. i just try and play stuff i like. started off playin dylan and went from there. don't do tabs tho, lifes too short......

[kttunstallator]

sooo wicked! love this tune! have the tabs for it? plllleeeaaseee! you did a great awesome job; and to me it's far from rough. :)

[ajworky]

check out dave van ronk if you like this sort of stuff - cocaine blues - that'l never happen no more and sunday street should be enough to get you hooked. nice playin.

[jiyder]

i love these old tunes, very traditional and turned inside out by alot of artist. D Grahams version is somewhat similar to Diddy Wah Diddy, and then John Martyns version is maybe a slght homage to warm and windy or even anji, with out the cocaine chorus lol...great tune none the less, and great job.....greetings from Australia......enjoying a day off youtubing with geetar and coffee in hand...caio

[shankaboom]

me too, I like Fred Neils bitter-sweet cocaine, Freds stuff is always so beautifully simple - but what I wanted to mention was the similarity with another artists song, namely Elizabeth Cotten, I think its her Freight Train that has a few bars that almost match the Graham version (at about 28-35 seconds). Other than that, the original is Rev gary davis - dave van ronk learnt it off him, btw, Davis says he learnt it in 1905 from a carnival musician porter irving.

[shankaboom]

the only contradiction to that is the very similar song "take a whiff on me" which was a leadbelly song recorded by one of the Lomaxs' in 1935.

Finally, one strange thing is the credit for cocaine blues on rev. gary davis' version. it is to rev. gary davis, and T.J. "Red" Arnall, (strange because T.J. "Red" Arnall wrote the song that johnny cash does about the desperado who shoots his old lady down in a haze of wiskey and cocaine!) - check cocaine blues on wiki.

[johni2bad]

Followin the heartbreakin news of johns death i just wanna pass on my condolensces to any1 who has been touched by his genious in any way. i am so grateful i got to see him in person, his music will stay with me forever. i will b much more active on this site in the future and apologise for not posting in the past. pls feel free to msg me

[johni2bad]

never seen a decent tab 4 this 1 theres so many different recordings. just start off in c and use f, a7, d7, g and e. pick up the fingerstyle from recordings.

[ceneg]

Any chance of the tab for this?

[nellster66]

niiiice!

(H)

[DANNYK678]

yeah, so i was lyin in bed listening to davey graham, and this song just got me, so i typed it into utube, fuk me wet! i never expected anything to turn up! but that was some good playing, will u teach me that? or give me a link for the tab......

[bandanza]

this is great, i love davy graha even though is a massive drunkard. Do you know where i can get a tab for this?

[muschilover]

cocaine all aroun' my brain !!!!!

[pmayer65]

John - thanks to you I've just learnt to play something new for the first time in years. Thankyou.

[karlosfunkster]

Yes this is a Rev. Gary Davis tune. The Rev has a number of videos on youtube and he was incredible. His recordings don't do him justice!

[QuarterAfterStudios]

Everybody is commenting on the hapless Davy Graham. Yes, he WAS good, but this IS today and here in this video is a representative of the current culture. I THINK THIS GUYS GOOD, let's just hope he doesn't become a stinking drunk in 40 years. One more thing, I believe this is a Reverand Gary Davis song that was covered by Mr. Graham.

[sellobic]

QUARTERAFTERSTUDIOS ,I'm sure davy grahams family will relish you calling him a stinking drunk. people like you are a cancer on youtube.

[99ZARDOZ]

I went to see Davy last year and was pretty disappointed. To say he was once a great player is an understatement.

Judging by what I saw, he isnt any more. He couldnt keep finish most of the songs and just resorted to strumming the chords.

Shame really and I have to question the wisdom of him trying to relaunch himself. I get the impression its a financial thing.

Personally I think you would be better off buying "After Hours" than going to see him live.

[andyjjay]

just wanted to say - your rendition of this classic is excellent .I am a new fan to davy graham and think he is great- your version of cocaine blues sounds right on cue. Do you have the tabs for this song as i am also learning guitar cheers

[nabatat]

Nice playing...thanks for showing your fretwork clearly, not enough D.G. tabs on the net.

[flakepralineaddict]

good effort pal.everyone is too busy commenting on the one and only davy grahams alcoholism.they are forgeting to tell you how pleasant on the ears your version was.keep it up.

[karlosfunkster]

Hi Jimklear - youre obviously a big fan and so am I. It was me who met him and bought him a drink. He drank the first half in ONE sip!!! To say that I got a nervous feeling was an understatement.

I love the guys old records and was brought up with them as a kid.

I expected Davy to still be very good to be honest, as I understood he was teaching...

[karlosfunkster]

...now I can honestly say that he was lucid and clear when I met him, but on stage he was pissed. After the gig we popped next door to get a pint in to drown our own sorrows and 5 mins later he came in, with a fag in his gob, on his own and asked for a beer. He was so drunk he'd forgotten that you can't smoke in pubs anymore!

I'm not being disrespectful; I'm just annoyed and rather disappointed that he had the nerve to let us down in such a way.

[karlosfunkster]

I can honestly say that he was in fact disrespectful in performing in such a shambolic way -- yet as a fan I also felt a little sorry that he has become -- well a shadow of himself. He really seemed like a lovely chap, he was in great shape in person -- but I will stick to his classic recordings in future and try to forget about last night. Good luck to Davey -- I hope he's OK and I hope he decides to stop drinking for his familys sake (he proudly talked about his Irish wife and grand children)

[karlosfunkster]

Lastly, I tend to think everyone from the past is better than anyone around nowadays, but it's simply not true -- I love Richie Havens to death (he can still play and sing brilliantly) but John Smiths rhythmic work was totally unlike Richies -- theres no comparison! John Smith's style was inventive and worked very well. He's a darn sight better than most new kids out there.

[bunnichello]

just returned from Davey Graham gig in Sheffield at City Hall. FOlk walked out. He played for around 30 mins then left. His playing was not good, missed notes and whole chords not clear, it was surprisingly poor. Guitar not tuned well, hardly spoke, I was shocked, he sounded like he'd had a lot to drink, I heard he was like that when he arrived at the Hall. Sad for him to be like that. Read on Youtube, this is not the first time. I will ask for money back, it was awful.

[rymercho]

Oh my god! I just went to see him in Leeds lastnight. My mate was waitng for me in the bar next door and he saw Davy and said hello. The guy sat with him and had a beer (Downed in 5 mins). He said he was a great guy so we were looking forward to seeing him.

When he came on he was Shhlurring and couldn't play for toffee. Not one passage was clean, it was like watching a car crash. I thought John Smith was good I really like the precussive tune.

Shocked to say the least, what a shame!

[Jimklear]

What? You must be tone deaf, and definately disrespectful. This guy is in his later years. Anyone expecting him to turn up and play a clinical version of Anji shouldve stayed home and played the cd. A wealth of talent, and an unmatched source of styles. You have to remember that he's been through the mill of drink and drugs (its well acknowledged) Who cares if he like a tipple. Just being in the presence of this guy was more than ample.

[rymercho]

'Been through' still going through unfotunately

Meeting him would have been great I missed him by 5 mins but I would not call the state he was in on stage 'Having a Tipple'.

I paid to see an artist and that he was...

I know sober he would have been amazing but the support was better.

And no I am not tone deaf, if you weren't there you can't possibly comment and if you were maybe you should clean your ears out.

[Jimklear]

Hmmm. Sorry about the tone bit. I did meet him in passing and he certainly hadnt been drinking.

He's a 'gurner' A sure sign of his turbulent years. That might account for the slurrs. Technically though, you surely didnt expect the dextrous Davy of 1959 did you? I thought Mark Pavey was good (oddly reminiscent of a Davy of years ago. Not that i can remember)

[rymercho]

Yeah he was good.

He looked a bit nervous but competent.

I think the nerves may have come from knowing what was going to happen after his set to be honest.

John Smith was great, he came across really well with the audience and very talented for one so young (early 20's).

I will still class Davey as great but maybe stick to listening to early recordings.

[Jimklear]

Again, never heard of John Smith. I was pretty impressed. Smokey voice like the frontman from Paolo Nutini. Maybe some people turned off when he started harping on about pregnant sharks. And, i'll stick with Richie Havens thanks, when it comes to guitar body percussion. All in all, not a bad evening, aside the blinding glare from the Guilds and Martins. Hey, arent we supposed to be commenting on Johni2bads 'Anji'? Oh, what the hell! Posted anyway!

[amazinglycleverone]

really well played, i enjoyed it! ive done a version but its not as good as this one!

[MuNkYBizNess]

I concur, Davey Graham is fantastic. This is one of my faves, nicely played.

[bluez4soul]

What's better, amazing or fantastic?

[Waggonerslad]

Another nice one mate. Keep them coming, I love this style of playing.

[johni2bad]

thx! i'll post a better one when i've practiced it more.davey graham is amazing