The Evil Devil Blues

Recorded by Johnnie Temple in 1935, This song is an adaption of Skip James's "Devil Got My Woman".

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[Glaeken1961]

But can we be sure? Johnnie might have written it, or heard a third singer do it. Skip's version is so weird in its melody, that maybe he heard the song by someone else, then made the eerie embellishments.

[PreWarMusic]

I read that Skip James was a tutor of some kind to Johnnie Temple, I can't remember where as it was a while ago, either in the document sleeves or in the book "I'd rather be the Devil" and we're told it's an adaption. 

[ettaj2]

i never heard this artist before. he does a grand job of covering skips song. is there more of his work?

[PreWarMusic]

yeah he has three document volumes released (which is around 75 songs), though don't expect them to sound alot like this as he mostly uses a backing band this and one or two other songs are some nice little exceptions. From what i've heard Johnnie Temple was a music student of Skip James who achieved minor - moderate success in the late 30's

[ettaj2]

don't forget skips resurgence in the 60's. cream even covered i'm so glad which i understand gave him the first real money in his life. seems he was a huge hit at newport and other venues.records reissued in the sixties sold well. skip is one of the icons of the blues world imho and the chief proponent of the bentonia school of blues.i adore him and his haunting, almost spooky quality. johnnie temple has captured some of his sound here.

[PreWarMusic]

Was thinkin Johnnie Temple really as far as mid - late 30's success though you are right about Skip James.. who more or less was the Bentonia school of blues.

[geodezija8888]

Nice,Thanks!

[kentuckuh]

it's hard to say, as Henry Stuckey was never recorded. maybe he started the whole Bentonia sound.

what about Jack Owens? I can't remember if he learned from Skip James or not.

[zepkungfu]

Skip always claimed he never played a song from someone else. Always written his own songs, so he claims. But that was really important for him wasn't it, So it must be true.

[Lee Stago]

Pour ceux qui connaissent parfaitement l'oeuvre de Robert Johnson,il est extrêmement facile de reconnaître de troublantes similitudes soit dans la prononciation de certains mots et dans le phrasé de johnnie Temple et celui de R Johnson.

[Gabriele Amalfitano]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yeah , YEAH !

[MrCoscienza]

why this artist sell theyr soul to play guitar why now they suffer for lucifer satan why? 

[niki b]

Thank you Rocco :)



[2711913]

Oh, thought you were referring to a post about Lonnie Johnson. Oops!

[2711913]

Could be wrong about the year, it was a long time ago.

[2711913]

Could be wrong about the year as it was a long time ago, but yes, I did meet him. I was there with my family at Gerde's Folk City in the Village and he came over to our table and introduced himself.