Lightnin' Wells: "Little Sadie"

"Little Sadie" is an American bad-man ballad from the late 19th or early 20th century. It is related to other, similar songs "Bad Lee Brown" and "Cocaine Blues," the latter of which which was recorded by Johnny Cash. The earliest written record of "Little Sadie" dates to 1922 and the first audio recording was made by North Carolina old-time musician Clarence "Tom" Ashley in 1930. The murder in the story took place in North Carolina, with the sheriff from Thomasville apprehending the killer in Jericho, which is possibly near Charleston, SC.

"Little Sadie" is on Lightnin's CD _Shake 'Em On Down_. Visit lightninwells.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• old-time
• banjo
• ballad
• Little
• Sadie
• Lightnin'
• Wells

[faheyball]

Just being nit-picky, but in your description you've got Mr Ashley listed as Clarence "Tom" Ashley.

His real name was Tom Ashley, so it would read more accurate as Tom "Clarence" Ashley

Nice rendition!

[bozzieboy]

I have two sources in print that say Clarence, at a young age, was nicknamed "Tommy Tiddy Waddy" by his grandfather Enoch, and that only the "Tom" part stuck. He was actually born Clarence Earl McCurry. The name "McCurry" was dropped in favour of "Ashley" because Clarence was raised by his mother's parents, who were Ashleys.

Lightnin' did do a hauntingly beautiful take, didn't he?

[VolvoWagon77]

Banjo's just sound so much better played on the back step! Why is it that murder ballads are quite often such beautiful songs?

[Glaeken1961]

..that'll be a pickin' lizard..stand well back

[longbowbanjoAL]

Guess that lizard at :12 wanted to listen to lol

[Paxtoranious]

Excellent. I like this more than Bob's version, thanks

[ivycompton]

Quite nice version of this great murder ballad,. PS Everybody calls him Clarence Ashley.

[pirates9j]

Awesome Lightnin'!!! This is the fella that used to live in the brick house back up in the field across from Pollard Rd. where you used to stay. Last name Sutton. I clearly remember as a little kid hearing those 'throwdowns' ya'll used to have as if it were yesterday. I used to sit out back on my parent's deck and listen to the band!! That's how far you could hear it!!

[MrOutlawCountry]

cocaine blues was recorded by Woodie Guthrie way before Johnny Cash

[metalthrashhardcore]

omfg man, good job...good freakin job

[ferociousgumby]

Bob Dylan did this in Self Portrait (not one of his better albums). I wondered where it came from!