Jody Williams/Little Papa Joe-Looking For My Baby

Back to Back 'Looking For My Baby' from 1955 and 2004 by Jody Williams. First recorded for Al Benson on his Blue Lake logo in '55 under the name Little Papa Joe. So you think you don't know Jody Williams? If you know 'Evil' or 'Forty-Four' by Howlin' Wolf, you know Jody. If you know 'Mona' or 'Who Do You Love' by Bo Diddley, you know Jody. If you know 'I Wish You Would' or 'I was Fooled' by Billy Boy Arnold, you know Jody. All those hot guitar licks were his. Not Wolf's or Hubert's, not Bo's, they were Jody's. Now, when Big Bad Bo gave Jody's licks from 'Billy's Blues' to Mickey and Sylvia, I guess Jody had had it and quit in the 60's. But he's back 40some years later, and better than ever. He rerecorded 'Looking' and here's the chance to hear both back to back. He is simply, and has always been (ask Otis Rush), one of the best Chicago Blues pickers ever. Nobody does a Chicago shuffle or boogie better. Bless you Jody for the great music you've given us.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chicago
• Blues
• R&B
• Oldies

[guidoman]

IMHO--I don't like the new one --at all. No comparison. Is it the recording techniques or the arrangement??? I don't know but the original is hands down better! Sorry.

[pghpookie]

@guidoman don't be sorry!! that's what's great about you tube. speak your peace!! i love the 'presence' of the blue lake recording from '55. amazing that chess and universal produced such superb recordings for their day. they hold up today. just great studios. Al Benson used universal, and the blues and vocal group recordings from that time are hard to fault. just a great sound, great music.

[Costadelsolshow]

Fantástico!

[DancingOwl]

Both versions really great, but the 50's release is somehow more supple sounding, maybe the stand-up bass is the reason it pulses along so nicely!

[darkgreysuit]

@guidoman I know for sure he re-recorded Moaning for Molasses and Lucky Lou.  My fav is Lonely Without You. Hope he re-records that.

[insightfloww]

New one so much better.

[guidoman]

Mr. Framat--you are so right! It is a testament to the blues musicians and creators of this music that we love that copying them is no easy feat!!!

[guidoman]

OK--I'm not sorry. These guys like Jody have to re-record their hits and they'll never live up to the original--and what would be the point of copying them note for note anyway? He's probably on tour and trying to sell records. Did he re-record "Moanin for Molasses" and "Hideout"?--my faves!

[2009framat]

@guidoman

maybe it is because the man is 50 years older than on the original recording and almost all his former sidemen from the past are dead and gone for some years! LOL

He worked also at least 30 years not as a profi musician,too. I like both but the original is of course better because the music was new then- but I like generally blues, rock&roll from the original artists.

I like to invite you to my Bluescartoon on Bo Diddley (played all instruments&did the animation)hope you like it

[phoenixdoubledeuce]

Lucky Lou