Big Joe was always one of my favorites and so ferocious with that amped guitar - I was lucky to record him in 1960 with that same sound - it became the second Arhoolie release - he was an amazing genius - illiterate but just with an amazing memory and remarkable way to find his way across the country - always finding someone to record him - read the notes to the Arhoolie LP/CD!
@hubertsumlin96973 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your contributions to the music we love
@masterflatz10233 жыл бұрын
Hey Chris- not sure if you are going to see this 3 years later, but I used to work for Rounder Distribution in Chicago and NY and tried to get Arhoolie on as many record store shelves as I could. One of my favorite labels and really appreciated all you did.
@hughtierneytierney35853 жыл бұрын
Thanks to Chris for making so much wonderful music available for us to listen to. I have enjoyed a good number of Arhoolie recordings, but most especially Sonny Boy Williamson's King Biscuit Time. It is a miracale of ingenuity that we can enjoy the playing of artists long after their passing.
@gregsilsby68842 жыл бұрын
I have it and have listened to it dozens of times. I love ‘Brother James’. I can only imagine recording this giant. I’m from STL and have been a blues musician here for years. I think of Big Joe wandering around here. I know he did.
@SuperBuzz712 жыл бұрын
Dude, that is AMAZING!
@firdausHITMAN10 жыл бұрын
Look at the guitar Big Joe is using and people today obsess so much over what kind of guitar and specs they have instead of spending that time playing. Do you think the old bluesmen obsessed over what kind of pick-ups they had or strings? they just played the bloody thing!
@spenner35293 жыл бұрын
STRATMAN firdaus: It's not the wand, it's the magician.
@translateslowly3 жыл бұрын
that is was and is a badass guitar. I think it's a silvertone made by Kay
@derin1113 жыл бұрын
I have often thought it would be fun to take an old ratty guitar and try to make a 9-string guitar like Joe’s but I never been able to see exactly how it’s strung or which strings are paired.
@shine411443 жыл бұрын
@@derin111 1st 2nd 4rd double, openG capoed to A, I think he used plain strings on the 4rd, may be pitched the same as 1st or octaves ? Easiest to start with a 12 string amd take off surplus strings.
@derin1113 жыл бұрын
@@shine41144 thanks so much! I'll try it on my 12 string guitar. 🙂
@mns87322 жыл бұрын
Thank the lord that Europe recorded these performances
@rievans575 ай бұрын
I believe this was recorded in Canada. Muddy, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Terry & McGhee, Sunnyland Slim, and James Cotton were there as well.
@fuxgood10 жыл бұрын
Joe and Willie Dixon together. More talent than any one person can stand.
@rievans578 ай бұрын
I like how Big Joe said "the real Sonny Boy".
@circlecloud118 жыл бұрын
Joe just got better with age like a fine wine! Let's hope young people are listening to this. He's an original who inspired soooooo many.
@josesanchezjr90525 жыл бұрын
Yes would be good that young people would listen to old blues , but instead they are to busy listening to junk rap. They forgot were real music came from.
@mathieuschuler3663 жыл бұрын
Im a 19 year old blues player and im here! I hope that helps to restores your faith in the youth for a little bit.
@circlecloud113 жыл бұрын
@@mathieuschuler366 Yes it does my friend! You are sipping music from the well. He was the original and you can feel it in his music.
@FYMASMD Жыл бұрын
I’m 61. I consider myself young.😂 Great stuff!!
@jeromyxavierwenzelwashingt462511 ай бұрын
young people are fake
@tonyfreeman13395 жыл бұрын
About the best thing I've heard in about 55 years.
@sorrarain5 ай бұрын
Big joe is the definition of "Only a bad carpenter complains about his tools". Since I watched this video I never once companied about my instruments. That guitar is truly special.
@franzkafka777 жыл бұрын
Willie Dixon presiding....a magisterial countenance in so many recording sessions.
@johnmcmenamin16393 жыл бұрын
is that Willie on the bass?
@Quebecoisegal2 жыл бұрын
@@johnmcmenamin1639 Yep.
9 жыл бұрын
With his iconic, custom nine-string guitar, famed Delta bluesman Big Joe Williams performed “She Left Me a Mule to Ride” back in 1966. He was accompanied by none other than the legendary Willie Dixon on the stand up bass.
@stevestowell-virtue3781 Жыл бұрын
That's the real deal. If you didn't listen to Stax 78s you don't know the Delta Blues. Am I right?
@tyakitaboid62310 жыл бұрын
I had the privilege and thrill to play a few songs (drums) with this huge legend when he stopped at "The Library" in Hattiesburg, MS on his way down to the Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Thanks to R.T. for a memory to treasure.R.I.P. Mr, Williams.
@rodbrock47592 жыл бұрын
You have to be great also. I learn a lot from you pros......The real and greatest musician of all times.
@DJK-cq2uy Жыл бұрын
Me too. I was 6 days old at the time
@Artee509 Жыл бұрын
That's cool man. I was not ever really aware of Big Joe until he came and played for me. It was a time we all will never forget. It was a privilege to have him and all the musicians that showed up to have their chance at playing with a legend. He was great and unfortunately we lost him a few years later, but his legacy lives on!!
@6AnAsianGuy92 жыл бұрын
That guitar picking is amazing!!!!
@A_Pa-Plainjane Жыл бұрын
such a gentle guy the way he requests that he do it his way, with no disrespect to the others trying to urge him to do what they want him to do. Big Joe Williams does some fierce and energetic playing, too. Top Notch Man, great to see an original do it the way he wants to do it. Pretty awesume
@shep6916 Жыл бұрын
I've been a heavy metal bass player for 30 years and just came across this today for the first time. So good. Im gonna take up the acoustic guitar and try jam along
@erikkibler34668 ай бұрын
I’ve been playing guitar for 25 years and this year picked up bass.let our opposite powers combine🤟🤟guitar is invaluable to sing writing in my opinion.good luck dude😎
@circlecloud113 жыл бұрын
This IS the man who created so many blues classics. Let's learn and enjoy!
@rrrogster10 жыл бұрын
Big Joe's guitar was unique. Just count the strings. Very unusual but it certainly worked well for him. RIP.
@jacksondrake-lost Жыл бұрын
Looks like he has two strings close so he can bar them at once...
@TheBluesmanBlue Жыл бұрын
He left us a world full of treasures that was the legendary Big Joe Williams🎙️🎶🎶🎶
@mikeroberts5107 жыл бұрын
that just rocks like nothing else. he is the business and then some!
@taiping1944 жыл бұрын
If I was asked to chose, this must be one of the top 10 recordings that I like. Takes some beating. I've appreciated Big Joe for some 50+ years.
@taiping1944 жыл бұрын
Also like Highway 49 with Ransom Knowling on bass. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d5OhhsmAv9rPg2g.html
@iberius99378 жыл бұрын
EXCELLENT Blues guitar playing and singing, and on a NINE string to boot!!
@EdFredHernandez5 ай бұрын
Thanks I was trying to figure out how many strings there were, at first I thought it was a 12 string but then I saw less than 12 tuning knobs... 9 strings eh, so just the top 3 are doubled up? The way he plays it sounds amazing.
@mdhj672 жыл бұрын
Please give this man Telecaster and a Princeton Reverb. He is tearing it up! Does he realize how cool he is!
@Stephanjnj Жыл бұрын
His unique guitar style and tone are amazing!
@louissilvani13892 жыл бұрын
The upright bass and drums just fills everything perfectly 👍😊
@Artee5093 ай бұрын
I was fortunate enough 😂to own a club in South Mississippi in the late 70's.and had Big Joe play for me two times. It was only a couple of years before he passed. He was awesome. Didn't get many photos. I wish I had more.
@ManInBlack61211 жыл бұрын
So beautiful. Real music.
@cindylawrence15154 жыл бұрын
This is where one of the direct lines of development which led to Rock and Roll came from. Amazing, brilliant musicianship.
@jimchristopher4529 Жыл бұрын
This is so great it makes my heart ache. Big Joe does what John Lee and Lightnin' and Muddy did after him, which is he plays great guitar and SINGS the blues. That is what it's really about IMHO - that is why Hendrix was so amazing and true to the blues history - because he didn't just play them, he sang them from the depths of his soul.
@francisbradley1027 Жыл бұрын
Oh my goodness, this is so great. Thank you
@coravisser38463 жыл бұрын
Brilliant i do love this for ever and ever.
@ksoulen28898 жыл бұрын
Mercy mercy. This is balm to the soul.
@Cienega322 жыл бұрын
"King of the 9 String Guitar"
@bobryan354811 жыл бұрын
Great!Thank You!!Never did I think all those years ago that I would SEE BJW playing his 9-string..WOW!Thanx again.All the best
@circlecloud116 жыл бұрын
Lots of good folks have done this but there is no better version of this. So much power and emotion in his voice and playing. Ground zero master blues!!!!
@calbudd2838 Жыл бұрын
This is the blessed blues.
@deanoppergoalieclinics8342 жыл бұрын
Incredible genius-Big Joe Williams, you can hear it all in his music!!!
@scotthouston1737 Жыл бұрын
You can’t tell me Blues isn’t the father of rock and roll .
@tonk8211 жыл бұрын
Man... i was going to ask exactly the same question. Big joe is awesome in this performance.
@27Atomic9 жыл бұрын
Awesome! I met Big Joe down in the basement of the Jazz Record Mart in 1967 (when it was located at 7 W. Grand in Chicago). I got to tote his laundry to the ... yes,the laundromat! ... we both went down to Mexico for a concert gig. I always admired his 9-string guitar / sort of a mandolin tuning.
@circlecloud116 жыл бұрын
That's pretty Damn awesome!!!
@CatherineSTodd6 жыл бұрын
Great story!
@jim72975 жыл бұрын
Big Joe was the real deal!
@izzzthewizzz7 жыл бұрын
omg this is so awesome!
@p0k7lm6 жыл бұрын
Big Joe Williams and his band are genuine fantastic musicians !
@josephlemko30272 ай бұрын
This is great music!
@charlespeterson37986 жыл бұрын
Two comments, one, this cut kicks. Two, shame on anyone that can't recognize Willie Dixon.
@hairnsap2 жыл бұрын
That country back beat in Joe's music is groovin
@deadfootdave234310 жыл бұрын
Love, love love this... Another classic !!!
@bh8365 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this. Big Joe gave a great live performance here .Bet he never played a song the same way twice.
@patriciakimbrell3734 Жыл бұрын
Love the Music 💙🎸Great Blues 💙🎸💙🌟💙🌟💙💙🌟💙🌟💙🌟💙🌟💙
@coravisser7277 жыл бұрын
This is amazing brilliant fantastic played love it with my whole soul.
@rodbrock47592 жыл бұрын
Very outstanding I've learned from these Blues greats
@TheLardzard8 жыл бұрын
just freakin perfect
@tn951785 жыл бұрын
Grande Big Joe !!!!!!!!!
@Alanoffer3 жыл бұрын
Wonder where that guitar ended up after he passed ,probably one of the most iconic guitars of all time
@ALIOOP1234 Жыл бұрын
Wherever it is hopefully 8:00 still exist would be Priceless today I'd like to think it was left to a family member in a will and whoever it was bequeathed to appreciate what they have ❤ ....
@Javigp11 жыл бұрын
Espectacular...la mejor musica del mundo el blues
@ronald220964 Жыл бұрын
That guitar came from the bottom of the Mississippi. Crazy good music it's not the guitar but what you do with it. It sounds like a mandolin with bailing wire strings great sound.
@krisscanlon40513 жыл бұрын
Love it and is the root of it all. Dixon and Big Joe kicking it...take that Taj Mahal! Another woman song wow...love you St Clair...
@juliabrown5396 Жыл бұрын
The Blues Brothers doing this song may be why I literally own and ride a mule! No, I’m not lying or kidding. 😂
@jeffreyedwards50292 жыл бұрын
Delta Blues best music ever!!!!!!!
@user-om1ke7zd7i Жыл бұрын
Love Big Joe !!
@beatricefarmer67539 жыл бұрын
people sleep on this, but this is "what up" for real no lie.
@catdaddy33026 жыл бұрын
Beatrice Farmer real stuff. A friend of mine, Libby Rae Watson, got to know and played some with him in Mississippi in the 1970s.
@raokblee21576 жыл бұрын
That's right.
@raokblee21576 жыл бұрын
That's right.
@sheilaannsanders26192 жыл бұрын
Love it.
@patriciakimbrell3734 Жыл бұрын
Love the Music 💙Great Blues 💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸
@adrieneborges22699 ай бұрын
uauuuuu o ano que nasci 1966 que honra ver este vídeo A 57 anos atrás ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ uhuuuuiiiu 🇧🇷 .....
@shaserv3 ай бұрын
This is where it all comes from. These men never got the glory or the money but they started the revolution and then it was gone.
@SPLENDIDZEN3 жыл бұрын
She Left Me A Mule To Ride Big Joe Williams Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride Well, my baby, she left me, she left me a mule to ride Well, the train left the station, mam', the mule laid down and died If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door If I can't come in, just let me set down in front of your door I'll leave so early, 'til your good man won't never know Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town Lake Michigan ain't no river, Chicago ain't no hilly town If I don't feel no better in tomorrow, I'll be Melbury bound What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so? What make Grandpa Henry love Grandma Julie so? She cook the same jellyroll that she cooked forty years ago (Hey! Hit it, boy!) If I can't come in, set down in front of your door If I can't come in, let me set down in front of your door Leave so early in the mornin' your good man won't never know Compositor: Joe Williams
@ClaudiaMitchell-jn7fw Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for these fine lyrics ! 🌸
@remoteviewer57 Жыл бұрын
Saw The Willie Dixon Band Live In Edmonton At The Ambassador Hotel In 1985! Best One Legged Stand Up Bass Player Ever!
@purplestuff Жыл бұрын
I love how Joe refers to John Lee as the real Sonny Boy!
@beatricefarmer67539 жыл бұрын
this is one of my favorite
@trs44374 жыл бұрын
Amazing! Buddy Guy and Junior Wells do a great rendition of this tune too.
@girliedog10 ай бұрын
This reminds me of my first marriage.
@kdfrkdfr5 жыл бұрын
Just found this following youtube around, as you do. This is great!
@Patricia-ph9qk7 ай бұрын
Wee Willie Diixon on bass - awesome
@af4k8 жыл бұрын
Sounds like this could have been inspiration for She Caught The Katy and Left Me A Mule To Ride. Great stuff.
@judylaprade4053 жыл бұрын
I got to dance with Yank Rachel once when he was in his 80's - he wrote She Caught the Katy.
@mattkaustickomments3 жыл бұрын
If not a direct inspiration... maybe “left me a mule to ride” was a common saying? But yes, “She Caught The Katy” was the first thing that popped to mind when I saw the video title.
@Deebemc3 ай бұрын
I think the energy he’s pumping into that guitar has a lot to do with that sound he’s producing, he had a good voice too. Great song, great performance.
@f.w.20542 жыл бұрын
Big Joe! Amazing player, amazing singer, amazing guitar! A teenage Muddy Waters was his surrogate son!
@juarezmendes67442 жыл бұрын
Blues legítimo swou de bola nota 10 🇧🇷🎸🎤🥁🤘👏
@deltabilly13 жыл бұрын
My first blues record I bought in high school in the 80s was Blues Bash w Williams, Lightning Hopkins and Brownie & Sonny. Four very distinct blues voices making some beauty together
@davisworth511410 ай бұрын
I've got that record!
@deltabilly110 ай бұрын
@@davisworth5114so good
@timmcinnes2594 Жыл бұрын
I've only known Big Joe as a singer. This is great guitar playing on a nine string guitar!
@juniortwunai95283 жыл бұрын
Bao demais esse Big Joe . ja pirei quando comprei um DVD Amercan Folk e Blues.que ele canta Baby please dont go
@Destin65 Жыл бұрын
This gentleman is awesome! Now I know where Eddie Van Halen learned to play and customize his guitars, from legends like this.
@beatricefarmer67539 жыл бұрын
love it !
@eduardocarrochio63266 жыл бұрын
so rockin'!
@doctorclarkable3 жыл бұрын
Just pure raw talent
@ecwwwrasslin7663 Жыл бұрын
Absolutely contagious energy!
@perrynay153311 ай бұрын
Love it
@romienomie4 ай бұрын
These songs remind me of my grandfather 's and uncle's generation
@jaygold4467 Жыл бұрын
This is REAL music.
@David-jv7ot2 жыл бұрын
what a line gonna send my baby a green back twenty dollar bill if that don't bring her back home I'm sure my shotgun will ,,,,,, Brilliant
@beatricefarmer67539 жыл бұрын
I love this. "This is what up"
@Nottalottasleep6 жыл бұрын
CBC - the Canada's national broadcaster - brought Muddy Waters and Otis Spann withthe very young James Cotton, along with legendary writer/producer/bassist Willie Dixon, pianist/singer Sunnyland Slim, Big Joe Williams, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Booker(Bukka)T. White and a host of others to Toronto in January of 1966 in order to record performances for broadcast. It all took place in the old Studio 4, on Yonge just below Shaftesbury - and was shot over 3 days in January of 1966. After recording 27 hours of performances, the original broadcast was then edited into the 60-minute "Special" entitled, rather starkly, "The Blues," consisting of some utterly brilliant performances by almost all of those noted above. (Most of the rest of those who hadn't made the first edit, made it into the second, which was expanded to 90 minutes) The programme was such a hit that it was re-broadcast, in it's expanded form a third time, during the summer season of repeats in 1967. After that however, those reels of 2" videotape were cataloged and archived. And there they remained untouched until, 29 years later, they were given to a producer, Chris Paton, in 1995. Chris remembered my mentioning a life long passion for the blues, jazz and "roots" music of all kinds and asked me a simple question: "Was there anything worth salvaging among those old 2" tapes?" Chris knew the performances were good but were these songs in which their fans would be interested? In order to prevent this story from getting any longer - and because there is no short way to tell it all - let me say only two things: (1) In the first place, I'm always happy when I see another of these performances appear. These should be a real find for the fans, the folks who love the sound. You aren't likely to run into anyone like the man you'll hear as Bukka White( born Booker T. Washington White). (2) I am mystified as to how this made it out of the vault. It appears in the form that resulted from the initial transfer from the 2" Ampex to the 1" digital Chris and I sat in on. Our show was eventually sold for distribution to Rhino Records under the title "The Bluesmasters" ( the re-mixed, re-broadcast selections from 1996 as hosted by guitarist Colin James, each song I re-mastered on a Dyaxis DAW) What we have here is something from the tunes that didn't make the cut - if you can believe it. But I don't know how you got your hands on it - but |I'm glad you did. Cheers for the posting.
@Django446 жыл бұрын
Wow. Is there, then, hours and hours still on 2" sitting somewhere?
@alangordon348 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the history love the blues!
@angklungeds9 жыл бұрын
'can i relax n have a lil bit of a smoke or somethin?' :))))
@lalojmenez11 жыл бұрын
wow! genio absoluto
@rickydicky10011 жыл бұрын
what a perfomance from an old timer, top notch
@circlecloud116 жыл бұрын
Old timer and inventor ; )
@charleshendrix2325 ай бұрын
Thank God somebody filmed this
@5400bowen Жыл бұрын
Boy, Alvin Lee must have been listening to this guy from the gitgo o. A lot of early rocknroll in there for sure.
@juniortwunai9528 Жыл бұрын
Júnior Twunai. De Minas Gerais Brasil é Atlético Mineiro E Cantor é muito bom
@georgesheinkopf96416 ай бұрын
Willie Dixon played all over the place! Best Blues bass player ever!
@charleshendrix2325 ай бұрын
And maybe the best songwriter the Blues and Rock ever had
@brianhackert85136 жыл бұрын
BOOYAH!! anybody notice that this is rock'n'roll?
@Django446 жыл бұрын
It all started here didn't it?
@harpgrinder31498 сағат бұрын
The Beast of early rock n roll. Could you imagine that sound with a tube reverb bouncing off the walls?! JD Short, Big Joe's cousin, of St Louis born in 1902 you should check out. Harmonica rack player and guitar player. JD Short: The Sonnet Years. Every song has a short story like a woman crossing him up 😂
@tonydfixertonydfixer91132 жыл бұрын
Almost Brings me to tears.
@James-vv9fr Жыл бұрын
I've never heard of Big Joe but I can see he's the sort of guy you want to be around with.