Mississippi Bottom Blues... Kid Bailey ( Willie Brown )?

Nothing is known of Kid Bailey apart from he recorded some tunes of which two were issued.These were recorded on September 25 1929 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.Research by Dr. David Evans, professor of music at Memphis State University has concluded that Kid Bailey may have been a pseudonym for Willie Brown.Son House on hearing this recording instantly recognised his partner Willie Brown. Being contracted to Paramount, Brown would have used an alias to be recorded for Brunswick/Vocalion.
The 2nd guitar may have been played by either Charlie McCoy,Joe McCoy,Joe Callicut or Memphis Minnie ,all of whom were present that day.
www.the-blindman.com/Archives/KidBaily.pdf

...

"Mississippi Bottom Blues"

Way down in Mississippi where I was bred and born
I believe that will forever be my native home

My poor mothers old and her hair is turning gray
My poor mothers old and her hair is turning gray
I know it would break her heart if she found out I was barrelhousing this a-way

Im going where the water tastes like wine
Im going where the water tastes like wine
Where I can be drunk and staggering all the time

Aint but the one thing and Lord, it worries my mind
Aint but the one thing and Lord, it worries my mind
Well, theres a house full of women, Lord, aint none of them mine

My baby passed me and she never said a word
My baby passed me and she never said a word
Nothing I had did but twas something she had heard

Category:

Music

Tags:

• kid
• bailey
• willie
• brown
• son
• house
• charlie
• mccoy
• joe
• callicut
• memphis
• minnie
• guitar
• blues

[iamtheeggman100]

lol why is there always a pic of son house when there isnt one of the actual singer.

[zenguitarblues]

no picture of Willie Brown so Son House is the next best link lol

[zenguitarblues]

thanks Urban~just found a site that says Kid Bailey was remembered by Ishman Bracey and Walter Vinson and another that says he is Willie Brown with Charlie Patton on 2nd guitar and yet another which says that Rowdy Blues is by a differant singer altogether.......

quite a mystery really

[kickingmule]

This is rare and great ! Kid Bailey recorded 1 record as you say. A. Mississippi Bottom Blues B. Rowdy Blues I think it's Kid Bailey by himself and acc. git. I don't know. Son House knew Willie Brown well, but Willie recorded his first song in 1930 M&O Blues. So Son House knew the sound of his friend Willie and he recocnized it as Willie's, but in fact it was/is Kid Bailey. At least, It's my theory ! Comments, please ! 5 up and Peace ! Urban Good Stuff !

[zenguitarblues]

thanks Urban~I think theres a 2nd guitar playing bass lines behind Kid Bailey and it could be Memphis Minnie as she played in that style and was known as "kid" and probably Kid McCoy at that time.Seems strange that a total unknown would be invited to play as all the Memphis "names" were there and Tampa Red was recording with Jim Jackson.After this session Kid Bailey disappears and nobody knows anything about him or can remember ever seeing him perform.I think it must be an alias but who knows?

[zenguitarblues]

thanks BB

[luvthatzeppelin]

I believe I have the identity of Kid Bailey.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks...



[luvthatzeppelin]

/watch?v=FkWQscxdofc

[luvthatzeppelin]

Ledell Johnson, brother of Tommy Johnson and Wife Identify

Kid Bailey as Will Brown.(Different person than Willie Brown)Gayle Dean Wardlow interview 1969 - ((See my page to listen to audio of interview)

Wardlow plays Mississippi Bottom Blues by Kid Bailey and Rowdy Blues; Ledell never heard anyone call him Willie or Bill - they called him Will Brown; Mrs. Johnson thinks that Kid Bailey was the Wil Brown that they knew at Drew -"That's him, cause he just loved to play."

[shannonandsheila1]

@spareaxe well we got enough sense to know and appreciate something good whos john mayer the black man cant take credit for the blues all by himself i live in appalachia and way back there we faced simular hardships and that prouced some white blues men to so look at this way throw everything out of your home pioneered by so called white men an you will have a different way of thinkin

[shannonandsheila1]

wish to god there was more of willie brown recordins they say he rarely played alone dude should have kept to himself untainted

[spareaxe]

Why are white people so interested in the black man's blues? Just leave well enough alone and be happy with John Mayer?

[sharkabilly]

The voice is not the same as Willy Brown on M & O and Future Blues. I don't think he could go from the natural gruffness of those vocal performances and suddenly have a clear as a bell vocal sound like this Kid Bailey does.

[darkhorse651]

Blues music is haunting and will draw you right smack into it. I love the old blues I think not knowing alot about the early artist is what makes it so special. Playing music for the love of it pure and simple.

[sheilapatrick1]

thats gotta be mr patton on guitar

[betokkikke]

That's roots, man! Lovely... beto from México.