Hard Time Killing Floor Blues

May 21, 2011  Skip James - Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues Nehemiah Curtis 'Skip' James (June 9,1 1902 - October 3, 19692) was an American delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. From the movie O' Brother Where Art Thou, this is the song Hard Time Killing Floor Blues, by Chris Thomas.

Nehemiah Curtis 'Skip' James (June 9, 1902 – October 3, 1969)^[1] was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter.

Pirates of the caribbean 5 google drive. IMDB:. Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales 2017. RunTime: 129 Mins. YouTube:.

His guitar playing is noted for its dark, minor-key sound, played in an open D-minor tuning with an intricate fingerpicking technique. James first recorded for Paramount Records in 1931, but these recordings sold poorly, having been released during the Great Depression, and he drifted into obscurity.

After a long absence from the public eye, James was rediscovered in 1964 by blues enthusiasts, helping further the blues and folk music revival of the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, James appeared at folk and blues festivals, gave concerts around the country and recorded several albums for various record labels. His songs have influenced generations of musicians and have been adapted by numerous artists. He has been hailed as 'one of the seminal figures of the blues.'^[2]

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

James was born near Bentonia, Mississippi.^[1] His father was a bootlegger who reformed and became a preacher.^[3] As a youth, James heard local musicians, such as Henry Stuckey, from whom he learned to play the guitar, and the brothers Charlie and Jesse Sims. James began playing the organ in his teens. He worked on road construction and levee-building crews in Mississippi in the early 1920s and wrote what is perhaps his earliest song, 'Illinois Blues', about his experiences as a laborer. He began playing the guitar in open D-minor tuning.^[4]

1920s and 1930s[edit]

In early 1931, James auditioned for the record shop owner and talent scout H. C. Speir in Jackson, Mississippi. Speir placed blues performers with various record labels, including Paramount Records.^[3] On the strength of this audition, James traveled to Grafton, Wisconsin, to record for Paramount.^[3] His 1931 records are considered idiosyncratic among prewar blues recordings and formed the basis of his reputation as a musician.

As was typical of his era, James recorded various styles of music – blues, spirituals, cover versions and original compositions – frequently blurring the lines between genres and sources. For example, 'I'm So Glad' was derived from a 1927 song, 'So Tired', by Art Sizemore and George A. Little, recorded in 1928 by Gene Austin and by Lonnie Johnson (Johnson's version was entitled 'I'm So Tired of Livin' All Alone'). James's biographer Stephen Calt, echoing the opinion of several music critics, considered the finished product totally original, 'one of the most extraordinary examples of fingerpicking found in guitar music'.^[4] Several other recordings from the Grafton session, such as 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues', 'Devil Got My Woman', 'Jesus Is a Mighty Good Leader', and '22-20 Blues' (the basis of Robert Johnson's better-known '32-20 Blues'),^[5] have been similarly influential. Very few original copies of James's Paramount 78 rpm records have survived.

The Great Depression struck just as James's recordings were hitting the market. Sales were poor as a result, and he gave up performing the blues to become the choir director in his father's church.^[3] James was later an ordained minister in Baptist and Methodist churches, but the extent of his involvement in religious activities is unknown.^[3]

Rediscovery and legacy[edit]

For the next thirty years, James recorded nothing and performed sporadically. He was virtually unknown to listeners until about 1960. In 1964, blues enthusiasts John Fahey, Bill Barth, and Henry Vestine found him in a hospital in Tunica, Mississippi. According to Calt, the 'rediscovery' of both James and Son House at virtually the same time was the start of the blues revival in the United States.^[4] In July 1964 James and other rediscovered musicians appeared at the Newport Folk Festival.^[3] Several photographs by the blues promoter Dick Waterman captured this performance, James's first in over 30 years. After that James recorded for Takoma Records, Melodeon Records, and Vanguard Records and performed at various engagements until his death from cancer in 1969.^[3][6]

More of James's recordings have been available since his death than were available during his lifetime. His 1931 recordings and several of his recordings and concerts from the 1960s have been reissued on numerous compact discs, in and out of print. His songs were not initially recorded as frequently as those of other rediscovered blues musicians. However, the British rock band Cream recorded 'I'm So Glad',^[2] providing James with $10,000 in royalties, the only windfall of his career.^[1][7] Subsequently, Cream's adaptation was recorded by other groups. James' '22-20' inspired for the name for the English group 22-20s and the British post-rock band Hope of the States released a song partially about the life of James, entitled 'Nehemiah', which reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.^[8] Only 15 copies of James' original shellac 78 recordings are still in existence, and have become extremely sought after by collectors like John Tefteller.

In 2004, Wim Wenders directed the film The Soul of a Man (the second part of The Blues, a series produced by Martin Scorsese), focusing on the music of Blind Willie Johnson, J.B. Lenoir and James.^[9] Because James had not been filmed before the 1960s, Keith B. Brown played the part of the young James in the documentary. James' song 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues' was featured in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and included on the soundtrack album.^[10]

James was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his hometown Bentonia.^[11]

Personality[edit]

James was described as aloof and moody.^[12] The musicologist Dick Spottswood commented, 'Skip James, you never knew. Skip could be sunshine, or thunder and lightning depending on his whim of the moment'.^[12]

Musical style[edit]

James as guitarist[edit]

James often played guitar with an open D-minor tuning (D–A–D–F–A–D), resulting in the 'deep' sound of the 1931 recordings. He reportedly learned this tuning from his musical mentor, the unrecorded bluesman Henry Stuckey,^{[citation needed]} who in turn was said to have acquired it from Bahamian soldiers during the First World War,^{[citation needed]} despite the fact that his service card shows he did not serve overseas. Robert Johnson also recorded in this tuning, his 'Hell Hound on My Trail' being based on James's 'Devil Got My Woman.'^[1] James's classically informed fingerpicking style was fast and clean, using the entire register of the guitar, with heavy, hypnotic bass lines.^{[citation needed]} His style of playing had more in common with the Piedmont blues of the East Coast than with the Delta blues of his native Mississippi.^{[citation needed]}

The 'Bentonia School'[edit]

James is sometimes associated with the Bentonia School, which is either a subgenre of blues music or a style of playing it.^[1] Calt, in his 1994 biography of James, I'd Rather Be the Devil: Skip James and the Blues, maintained that no style of blues originated in Bentonia and that the 'Bentonia School' is simply a notion of later blues writers who overestimated the provinciality of Mississippi during the early 20th century, when railways linked small towns, and who failed to see that in the case of Jack Owens, 'the 'tradition' he bore primarily consisted of musical scraps from James' table'. Owens and other musicians who may have been contemporaries of James were not recorded until the revival of interest in blues music in the 1960s. Whether the work of these musicians constituted a 'school' and whether James originated it or was a member of it remain open questions.^[1] One of the last living links to the original Bentonia school is Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes, the owner of the famous Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia, Mississippi. Holmes learned to play in this particular style directly from Henry Stuckey, who reportedly taught Skip James and Jack Owens himself. Accordingly, Duck is called the 'last of the Bentonia Bluesmen.'^[13]

Discography[edit]

Paramount 78-RPM records, 1931[edit]

Later recordings, 1964–1969[edit]

Despite poor health, James recorded several LPs from 1964 to 1969, mostly revisiting his 1931 sides, traditional music, and spirituals, but also including a handful of newly written blues meditating on his illness and convalescence. These five prolific years have not been thoroughly documented: recordings, outtakes, and interviews not released on James's LPs (which have been repeatedly cannibalized and reissued) are scattered among many compilations released by small labels. Previously unreleased performances continue to be found and released but have been left largely unexplained—sometimes hours' worth at a time. Original recordings and reissues are listed below.

• Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers (Melodeon, Biograph, 1964)
• She Lyin' (Adelphi, 1964; first released by Genes, 1996)
• Today! (Vanguard, 1966)
• Devil Got My Woman (Vanguard, 1968)
• I'm So Glad (Vanguard, 1978)
• Live: Boston, 1964 & Philadelphia, 1966 (Document, 1994)
• Skip's Piano Blues, 1964 (Genes, 1998)
• Blues from the Delta, with two previously unreleased recordings (Vanguard, 1998)
• The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James – 1930 (Yazoo, 1994)
• The Complete Bloomington, Indiana Concert, March 30, 1968 (Document, 1999)
• Skip's Guitar Blues, 1964(?), (Genes, 1999)
• Studio Sessions: Rare and Unreleased, 1967 (Vanguard, 2003)
• Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (Biograph, 2003†)
• Heroes of the Blues: The Very Best of Skip James (Shout!, 2003)
• Hard Time (Universe, 2003†)
• Cypress Grove Blues (2004)
• Hard Time Killin' Floor (Yazoo 2075, 2005)

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdefKoda, Cub. 'Skip James: Biography'. AllMusic.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
2. ^ ^ab''Blues' Out of Rhythm: Infinitely Rich Subject Matter Suffers from a Lack of a Thematic Line in the Hands of Seven Directors – Though Wim Wenders Gets It Right'. Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. September 28, 2003. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
3. ^ ^abcdefgRussell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 123. ISBN1-85868-255-X.
4. ^ ^abcCalt, Stephen (1994). I'd Rather Be the Devil: Skip James and the Blues. Da Capo Press. p. 88. ISBN978-0-306-80579-0.
5. ^Palmer, Robert (1982). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 116. ISBN978-0-14-006223-6.
6. ^'Nehemiah Skip James: Mississippi Blues Musician'. Mississippi Writers, Musicians, Actors, and Artists. June 9, 1902. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
7. ^'Skip James Biography'. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
8. ^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 259. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
9. ^'Festival de Cannes: The Soul of a Man'. Festival-cannes.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
10. ^Cater, Evan. 'O Brother, Where Art Thou? [Original Soundtrack] – Various Artists'. AllMusic. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
11. ^'Skip James'. Mississippi Blues Trail.
12. ^ ^abDahl, Bill (1997). Liner notes to D.C. Blues: The Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 1. Fuel 2000 Records.
13. ^Nash, J. D. (June 16, 2016). 'Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes - Treats Us to 'It Is What It Is''. Americanbluesscene.com. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

External links[edit]

• Works by or about Skip James in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

Chris Thomas King (born Durwood Christopher Thomas,^[1] October 14, 1962) is an American New Orleans, Louisiana-based blues musician and actor.

History[edit]

King was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. He is the son of blues musician Tabby Thomas. He has won awards including 'Album of the Year' for both Grammy Award and Country Music Awards. King has sold more than 10 million records in the United States. He is featured playing the part of Tommy Johnson in the Coen brothers' 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He is also featured in Down From the Mountain and More Music From Ray soundtracks.

Artistic career[edit]

King is known as the pioneer of rap/blues fusion.^[2] He conceived the first sample-based blues concept album in the early 1990s by writing and producing the first all-rap/blues album for RCA Records titled 21st Century Blues… From Da Hood.

As an entrepreneur King took control of his master recordings in the early 1990s, forming 21st Century Blues Records. He also established a publishing company, Young Blues Rebel, LLC. 21st Century Records signed the New Orleans Ninth Ward rap/blues duo the 21C-B-Boyz and the London, England-based NuBlues, to 21st Century Blues Records in 2003.

King's acting career includes prominent roles in several films, including two music-related films. In the Oscar-winning film Ray he plays band leader and blues guitar player Lowell Fulson. During production he collaborated with Ray Charles in scoring the film.^[3] In O Brother Where Art Thou?, he portrays a skilled blues guitarist who claims he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his skill on guitar. The character is based on blues musicians Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson, both of whom have been linked to selling their soul to the devil at a rural Mississippi crossroads.^[4][5] King also accompanies the film's band the Soggy Bottom Boys on guitar; his rendition of 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues' was recorded live during filming and included on the film's Grammy-award-winning soundtrack.

King also starred in the Wim Wendersart house film The Soul of a Man, as Blind Willie Johnson and Kill Switch as Detective Storm with Steven Seagal.

Filmography[edit]

• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), as Tommy Johnson
• The Soul of a Man (2003), as Blind Willie Johnson
• Ray (2004), as Lowell Fulson
• Kill Switch (2008) as detective Storm Anderson
• Imagination Movers (2010)
• Treme (2011) HBO series.

Documentary appearances[edit]

• Last of the Mississippi Jukes (2003)
• Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
• The Soul of a Man (2003)
• 22nd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards (2001)
• Down from the Mountain (2000)
• Inside Look: Down from the Mountain (2000)

Discography[edit]

• Blue Beat (1984) as Chris Thomas
• The Beginning (1986) as Chris Thomas
• Cry of the Prophets (1990) as Chris Thomas
• Help Us, Somebody (Single) (1993) as Chris Thomas (also on Just Say Da compilation)
• Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson (1990)^[6]
• Simple (1993) as Chris Thomas
• 21st Century Blues.. From Da Hood (1994) as Chris Thomas
• Chris Thomas King (1997)
• Red Mud (1998)
• Whole Lotta Blues: The Songs of Led Zeppelin (1999)
• Me, My Guitar and The Blues (2000)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• Down From The Mountain (2001)
• The Legend of Tommy Johnson, Act 1: Genesis 1900's-1990's (2001)
• It's a Cold Ass World: The Beginning (2001)
• Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues (2002)
• A Young Man's Blues (2002)
• The Roots (2003)
• Along the Blues Highway (2003) with Blind Mississippi Morris
• Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash (2003)^[7]
• Why My Guitar Screams & Moans (2004)
• Ray (soundtrack) (2004)
• Rise (2006)^[8]
• Live on Beale Street (2008)
• Antebellum Postcards (2011)
• Bona Fide (2012)

References[edit]

1. ^Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 211. ISBN978-0313344237.
2. ^Silky Johnson (February 11, 2011). 'Silky's Sunday Blues: Chris Thomas King Edition'. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
3. ^Joan Turner. 'Biography for Chris Thomas King'. IMDB. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
4. ^Orshoski, Wes (September 22, 2001). 'Chris King builds on 'O Brother''. Billboard: 11.
5. ^'Robert Johnson Gravesite – Greenwood'. Mississippi Blues Trail. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
6. ^Chris Thomas and Tabby Thomas, singing 'Postures (Leave Your Body Behind)', originally recorded by the 13th Floor Elevators on their Easter Everywhere album (1967).
7. ^King contributes his version of 'Rock Island Line'.
8. ^As described by King's own record label, 21st Century Blues Records,'New Orleans musician Chris Thomas King lost both a home and a recording studio when Hurricane Katrina had landfall at the close of summer in 2005, and it's hardly startling that his album Rise takes Katrina and the devastating aftermath of the storm as a central theme.' Description of RiseArchived February 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine; www.indiekazoo.com.

External links[edit]

• Chris Thomas King on IMDb
• Information and video Chris Thomas King speaks in an interview on the business pitfalls of music and how to avoid them.
• Listen or watch Woodsongs archived show 404 Chris Thomas King on his tragic experience with hurricane Katrina by performance and in interviews with Michael Johnathon before a live audience on July 17, 2006; video is 87 minutes.