Boogie Piano, Inspired by James Booker: Junco Partner

Another wonderful Booker trademark baseline, extremely hard for my short octave stretch - as good as it gets.
Has ANYBODY noticed that tthis song by James C. Booker is apparently a COVER version of an old and rather unspectacular tune by Chuck Berry: "The Man and the Donkey"? Even in some lyrical phrases (Down the road...) are from that song.
I discovered this odd resemblance when studying the repertoire of Chuck Berry and it nowhere mentioned in any biography or discography of either musician.

I got more, if interested.

Recording details: see clip details to "All By Myself"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blues
• Boogie
• Woogie
• piano
• keyboard
• autodidact

[88BlueKeys4U]

Check your private messages for details.

Junco Partner is set in G, switches between G and D (unlike the typical blues changes) for most sections.

For those who can read music (I can not): there is a book of Booker transcriptions out there, eg at Amazon.

I hope this is helpful.

[guilherme1nstm]

This Is Awesome! I Can't Stop Listening This! <3

[88BlueKeys4U]

@guilherme1nstm

Thanks!

If you like this Booker trademark bass run (actually two independent stories told with one hand, as in jazz stride piano) I encourage you to listen to the original recordings. The best compilation of James' repertoire can be heard on a the CD named just like this song, 'Junco Partner'. His timing was flawless and his creativity mind-boggling - you will like!!

[88BlueKeys4U]

Dupree's 1940 'Junker Blues' has almost NOTHING in common with Booker's version! It is the foundation for F.Domino's 'The Fat Man'!

I know what the history books say, but have you ever listened to C. Berry's 'Man and the Donkey'?

Beside similar words it even has the same key changes as Booker used later in 'Junco Partner'. How about that?

Where the 'Donkey' song originally came from I do not know, but I stick to my opinion that it is the closest to 'Junco Partner', and recorded way earlier.

[thvsherrif]

@88BlueKeys4U First of all: You're great!! Thanks a lot for posting these videos, and keep on posting!!

As far as I know Junker Blues was written by Willie "Drive 'Em Down" Hall. He never recorded it, but Dupree did, as you know... but in 1951 Bob Shad re-wrote the song and called it Junco Partner. It was first recorded in 1951 by James Wayne, you'll find it on youtube. I think thats where Berry got the idea from..

Hope you one day will do "Put out the light" by Booker!=)

[88BlueKeys4U]

@thvsherrif

Now that I have heard the 1951 recording of James Wayne I see where both James Booker and Chuck Berry got their idea from.

Opposite to the very old "Junker Blues" theme by CJ Dupree and as explained by Dr John on VHS tapes this song has all the typical elements and key changes that Booker and Berry used in their interpretations.

One never stops learning new facts.

Found an interesting thread on "Original Junco Partner" at AllAboutJazz in the Jazz Bulletin board.

Thanks!

[BearTheBeast40]

Anyway you could get some sheet music?? it has been my dream to learn a booker song like thiss. if not...even just a chord progression or something. Also, what key is this in? G?

[2krunk4yall]

maybe the "down the road" part, but Junco Partner was formerly Junker's Blues. Champion Jack Dupree recorded Junker's blues in 1940. Berry didn't record anything until 1955. They sound very similar, but I think Chuck borrowed more from Junco Partner than the other way around.

[boogie1master]

Fantastic playing... More!