The Blues, The Whole Blues, And Nothing But The Blues Liner Notes

THE WHOLE BLUES & NOTHING BUT

–Notes by David Bromberg

Special thanks to Mark McKenna, who came up with the idea of this CD. Special thanks to Mark Cosgrove for work and time over and above anything I would have asked in making the CD. Special thanks to Jason Flair, our official archivist, for once again saving the day and finding a long-lost song. 

Special thanks to Bill Payne for his great keyboard playing. Thanks to Jim McGuire. Thanks to Mike Russo, the 6th member of the quintet. 

A while back I heard Willie Nelson repeat a quote by Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble: “There’s only two kinds of music – the Star Spangled Banner and the Blues.” That was our template as we approached making this album.

Walkin’ Blues: This is a fitting way to start a blues album. It’s a Robert Johnson tune. Son House recorded a couple of songs he called the “Walking Blues”, but one of them sounds more like Death Letter Blues, and the other has only the first verse in common with the Robert Johnson song which is my source for the lyrics. By the way, the reference to Elgin movements is a reference to Elgin watch movements which were quite good. The first solo is Mark Cosgrove playing, and it slays me.

How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round?: I put this title in a list of tunes I wanted to do for this CD. Larry thought I was referring to a song written in 1955 by Prince Patridge, which has been recorded quite a few times, most recently and wonderfully by Dr. John. Larry wanted to know how I did the song. The song I know is a completely different one which I learned from a lead sheet while choosing songs for an album in the ‘70s. I didn’t record it then, and apparently no one else did. With such a good song, that’s hard to believe, but I can’t find a trace of it online. There is at least one other song with the same title you can find online, but it’s not the one I know either. I could only remember the first verse, so I called Jason Flair who has a tape of nearly every show I’ve done that was taped. He knew where to find it right away and sent it to me. The only problem is that I don’t know who wrote or published it. If you know, please contact me.

Kentucky Blues: This is a song by (George) Little Hat Jones, and recorded c.1930. One of the things I love about it is the diminished chord that he uses as the 2nd chord of each verse. Some people who I respect think the chord is a mistake, but it’s harder to play than the more common chord, and gives a great musical dissonance. I also love the idea of leaving town under the radar (just like a submarine).

Why Are People Like That?:  This is a song by one of my favorite writers, Bobby Charles. I learned it from a Muddy Waters record. It’s a difficult sentiment to disagree with. Larry wrote the horn parts for this and all the other tracks with horns except “Good Ole Wagon.”

A Fool for You: This is a Ray Charles song that I love. The guitar part is my attempt to duplicate Ray’s piano playing. It’s in the 6/8 time feel most commonly found in black gospel music; part waltz and part march.

Eyesight to the Blind: This song was recommended to me by Andy Falco, the wonderful guitar player in the Infamous Stringdusters. It’s a Sonny Boy Williamson (II) tune, but we do it as a swing blues.

900 Miles: This is an old country song that we decided to play as if it was a Howling Wolf song. The lick sounds like the Wolf wrote it, but Larry Campbell came up with it.Yield Not To Temptation: I think the first recording of this was by Bobby Blue Bland, but Tracy Nelson, Marcia Ball, and Irma Thomas did an inspiring version on a great record they made together called Sing It. I highly recommend their CD.

You’ve Been A Good Ole Wagon: This is a Bessie Smith tune. I added a little introduction to clarify the gender status of the story. The horn arrangement is by Peter Ecklund. I think it’s great.

Delia: I’ve been singing this song for a long time. I recorded a version on my first record. I wanted to do a duet with Larry Campbell, and the way he plays on this kills me every time. The song is about a murder in Savannah, Georgia on Christmas Eve, 1900. The myth makes a better story than what the researchers found, so I’ll give you that. You can find the true story by googling “Delia Green murder.” Delia Green was shot to death by a man named Cutty or Curly or Tony. Delia was known and loved by all of Savannah, so when the news spread, everyone in that part of town took to the streets to get Cutty. He escaped the mob by going from house to house on the rooftops, but the police got him. The judge sentenced him to 99 years. Townes Van Zandt gave me the great verse about the judge telling Cutty that he would “rot in a stinking jail cell until Delia comes walking back”.

The Blues, The Whole Blues, and Nothing But the Blues: We thought that we’d finished recording the album, which was already titled “The Blues, The Whole Blues, and Nothing But the Blues” when Mark McKenna found this song by Gary Nicholson & Russell Smith. Of course we had to go back to the studio and record it.

This Month: I wrote this song at a blues jam in Wilmington, DE, where I live.

You Don’t Have to Go: I put together this version of a wonderful kind of blues you pretty much have to do, if you do anything in the Chicago style.

PRODUCED BY LARRY CAMPBELL

Recorded & Mixed by Justin Guip at Milan Hill Studio

Additional recording at The Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, NY and Marco Benevento Studio,  Woodstock, NY

Mastering: Greg Calbi/Sterling Sound

Art Direction: Jeri Heiden/SMOG Design, Inc.

Photography: Jim McGuire

Executive Producers: Delores Lowe & Robert F. Macchione

Management: Mark McKenna/Bandshell Artist Management

Thank you to everyone who generously contributed through Pledgemusic to the making of this album.

Special thanks to: Paul Astro, Kevin & Patsy Callaghan, David B. Chemidlin, ‘Tattoo’ Dan Gailey, Luke & Michelle Garvey, Bill Kappa, Richard J. Moylan, Steve & Betty Jo Murphy, MusicaIntus, Marcia & Ross Nickow, Tony & Elaine, Amanda “Goose” White, Matt “Whey” White, and our ‘courthouse cover crew’: Luke & Michelle, the honorable Bob Taylor, David Grondlund-Jacob, Esq., Bill Kappa, Bob & Delores, Christina Businsky, Ali Munday, Laura Sanbuichi and especially Tim Slavin and Ed Freel.