Topic: Seminal Influences - Tribute
In the United States today, the ultimate tribute for an artist is a reference in a film. Lightnin’ Hopkins’ "Needed Time" was played during the opening credits of Sounder in 1972. At the end, a banjo version by Taj Mahal was played while the final credits scrolled across the screen. During the film, it was alluded to several times.
Mahal began learning blues guitar from friends when he was an adolescent, but developed what he called his "basic building blocks" when he heard the older bluesmen play at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles. In 1964 he formed the Rising Sons with Ry Cooder and Jessie Lee Kincaid. While their single did not sell well, it led to their becoming an opening act for some of the older men. [1] By 1970, he was touring with Hopkins. [2]
One artist who was inspired by Sounder was Eric Bibb, the son of folk-revival musician Leon Bibb. He paid his first tribute to Mahal in 1994 when he recorded "Needed Time" with a backup group he called Needed Time." [3] Once, when he as touring in France with Clive Barnes, [4] he had a chance to play "Needed Time" with Mahal. The video posted by Barnes showed how tradition was perpetuated: Mahal had worked with Hopkins, Bibb had worked with Mahal, and Barnes was working with Bibb.
The three were sitting backstage and had just finished playing something referred to as "Cool on John." One of them suggested "Needed Time." After debating whether to use the key of E or E flat, Mahal played the melody through once in E. Then the other two began playing an accompaniment with Bibb sometimes singing some lines. During the instrumental breaks, the men took turns playing lead, but during the verses, Mahal transposed the music into jazz and then blues variations.
Mahal said when they started, he had never heard Hopkins play "Needed Time." I haven’t seen anything that indicated why it was selected as the theme song for Sounder, or, for that matter how Mahal became involved in the project. Another composer, Alex North, wrote an initial score that was rejected. [5]
Performers
Vocal Soloist: Eric Bibb
Vocal Group: none
Instrumental Accompaniment: Taj Majal, Eric Bibb, acoustic guitars; Clive Barnes, acoustic slide guitar.
Rhythm Accompaniment: none
Credits
None provided
Notes on Lyrics
Language: English
Verses: fragments of "come if you don’t stay long" and "now is the needed time"
Notes on Music
Opening Phrase: Lightnin’ Hopkins
Tempo: moderate
Basic Structure: repetition of basic melody with variations
Notes on Performance
Occasion: Clive Barnes was touring with Eric Bibb in France.
Location: back stage following a performance
Microphones: none
Clothing: casual
Notes on Movement
The three were seated on folding chairs. Taj Mahal either tapped his left foot or nodded his head to mark time.
Audience Perceptions
Sounder introduced Hopkins and "Needed Time" to a new audience. Marc Nerenberg, a Toronto banjo player, wrote:
"learned this from Taj Mahal’s playing of this tune in the soundtrack of the movie ‘Sounder’ in 1972. His version showed up on the radio for a few days. Imagine that: clawhammer banjo on pop music radio! I actually learned it from the radio - the only song I’ve ever done so with." [6]
A couple people who learned the song from Daddy Stovepipe commented they were motivated by Sounder, [7] [8] while another discovered the song was more widely known than a film tribute. He remembered:
"First heard this on the ‘Sounder’ film soundtrack. Much later, playing it on a blues harp on a late night Cambridge MA subway platform, a Bahamian preacher approached me, telling me he knew that tune (with different words) from his own gospel tradition. Amen!" [9]
Notes on Performers
Mahal was born in 1942 in Harlem. His father, Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, was a West Indian jazz musician who moved his family to Springfield, Massachusetts. Young Fredericks adopted his stage name around the time he entered the University of Massachusetts to study agriculture. [10]
In 2008, Jimmy Leslie asked him what was "the most interesting guitar culture?" He responded
"Recordings by Lightnin’ Hopkins, Skip James, and John Lee Hooker are amazing because two-thirds of what they’re playing is in the African mold, and one-third articulates the American experience. The density of African music without blues notes is incredible, because it wasn’t disconnected by slavery." [11]
When Leslie asked him how he felt about becoming an elder statesman for the blues, he answered:
"None of that means anything. What matters is that I can pick up my instrument and use it to go wherever I want with the music. There was a time when some nights the music would play me, and I couldn’t do anything wrong. There were other nights when I couldn’t buy a vibe. Now it’s consistent. The instrument sings every time I pick it up because I stopped wrestling over who’s in charge. It’s the music. She is in charge." [12]
Availability
Film: Sounder. Directed by Martin Ritt. Twentieth Century Fox. 24 September 1972.
Album: Sounder. Columbia S31944. 1972.
YouTube: Sounder album. Lightnin’ Hopkins. "Needed Time." Uploaded by Sony Music Entertainment on 13 February 2017.
YouTube: Sounder album. Taj Mahal. "Needed Time (Hummin’ and Pickin’)." Uploaded by Sony Music Entertainment on 25 August 2016.
YouTube: Sounder album. Taj Mahal. "Needed Time (Guitar)." Uploaded by Sony Music Entertainment on 13 February 2017.
YouTube: Sounder album. Taj Mahal: "Needed Time (Banjo and Hand Clapping)." Uploaded by Sony Music Entertainment on 25 August 2016.
YouTube: Clive Barnes, Eric Bibb, and Taj Mahal. "Needed Time." Uploaded by Clive Barnes on 16 March 2010.
End Notes
1. Wikipedia. "Taj Mahal (Musician)."
2. Alan B. Govenar. Lightnin’ Hopkins: His Life and Blues. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2010. 194.
3. Eric Bibb and Needed Time. Spirit and The Blues. Opus 3 Records CD 19401. Recorded and released in Sweden in 1994. (Discogs website)
4. Clive Barnes was an Irish guitarist who worked with Bibb in 2005 and 2006. (Press release for Clive Barnes’ The Ghost Country. 2009.)
5. Alex North Music uploaded part of his score for Sounder to YouTube on 11 July 2014.
6. Marc Nerenberg. "Needed Time." Uploaded to YouTube on 20 September 2014
7. Pelu Maad commented on the first Daddy Stovepipe lesson discussed in the post for 4 February 2018. In 2011 he asked: "Didn’t anyone see ‘Sounder’ with Taj Mahal’s soundtrack? I’ve wanted to learn this song ever since. Thanks Daddy..."
8. In 2009, HOTROD74GremlinX wrote on Daddy Stovepipe’s first lesson "Fantastic sir.Thank you so much for posting this lesson.This is a song I’ve ALWAYS loved from the movie ‘Sounder’ and from one of my fav Blues musicians ‘Lightnin Hopkins’."
9. Comment by MrMusicguyma uploaded to this video in August 2017.
10. Wikipedia.
11. Taj Mahal. Quoted by by Jimmy Leslie. Guitar Player website. 31 October 2008.
12. Taj Mahal, quoted by Leslie.
Showing posts with label Stovepipe Daddy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stovepipe Daddy. Show all posts
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Daddy Stovepipe - Needed Time
Topic: Seminal Influences - Imitation
The influence of a seminal recording of "Come by Here" or "Kumbaya" can be seen in several ways. In the most obvious, a musician simply copies a performance note by note. This, after all, is how one learns the craft. All that’s changed in the last century is technology: Lightnin’ Hopkins was able to watch Blind Lemon Jefferson play in Texas, while those who learned after Hopkins and Jefferson died could only listen to their recordings. [1]
Later, musicians who had absorbed older performances, transcribed them. Their tablatures used six lines to represent the six strings on a guitar with numbers of the frets to indicate which chords were used. Other symbols were added to indicate rhythm and musical attributes, much like they were on musical staffs. Tyros still needed to hear a recording to grasp the style.
YouTube has restored the visual dimension that existed when one was watching a performer or had an instructor. Carl Bludts probably learned to play guitar from recordings, but now, using the name Daddy Stovepipe, he sells his tab books and uploads videos that illustrate the more difficult parts.
His two videos of "Needed Time" assumed a student already had studied his tab book. In the first one he played a line, then replayed part of it to illustrate how to hammer a string or slide a finger between chords. At the end, he replayed the first section slowly while singing a verse so the viewer could coordinate the two.
The second video was devoted to the instrumental break. At one point he repeated a section so the student could see how he damped the strings with his right hand. In another, he showed how he quickly moved his left rapidly between a chord high on the neck and one lower down.
Bludts’ pedagogical skill becomes obvious when his tab is compared with one produced by Eric Gombart. The latter’s rendition of Eric Bibb’s version added a transcription of the notes on the G-clef and the images of the chords. While this was useful information, it made the tab itself harder to read by a beginner. [2]
Bibb’s accompanying DVD had two videos of "Needed Time." One showed both hands playing the guitar, and the other used a split screen with close-ups of each hand. Again this was very good, but with no comments on technique it was up to the viewer to recognize things like hammering and damping.
Country Blues suggested Bloudts’ importance by noting his website was viewed 3,000 times a day. [3] A more important measure is the videos posted by individuals who indicated they had learned "Needed Time" from him.
In one, a young man who called himself bostonteabagger had mastered most of Bludts’ arrangement but still had problems with small sections which he played a tad slower as he concentrated on them. Sometimes the tension in his left hand or a furrow in his brow indicated he still wasn’t completely sure of himself.
In another a teenager calling himself oggendoggen admitted he’s still learning, but "it’s getting better." He turned his head from side to side as he concentrated on one hand or the other, but only betrayed his difficult passages with facial grimaces.
Both were able to maintained the rhythm, but neither attempted to sing as he played.
Performers
Vocal Soloist: Carl Bludts
Vocal Group: none
Instrumental Soloist: Carl Bludts, acoustic guitar
Rhythm Accompaniment: none
Credits
Tab book: Lightnin’ Hopkins arranged by DaddyStovePipe.
Notes on Lyrics
In the first video, Bludts sang one verse with the lines "needed time" and "Jesus will you come by here."
Notes on Music
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: quarter note = 116 beats per minute
Tuning: standard
Key Signature: E
Guitar Chords: E-A-B7
Basic Structure: verse and break
Notes on Performance
Occasion: the camera was aimed at his hands, and showed nothing more. One reviewer noted "videos are professionally produced, with good lighting and clear sound." [4]
Clothing: tan slacks and ivory-colored mock turtle-neck shirt, with brown overshirt.
Notes on Movement
His left hand was on the neck of the guitar and his right over the sound hole, with the instrument resting on his right thigh. In the first lesson, his left knee moved up and down to mark the rhythm.
Audience Perceptions
Bludts must have monitored the comments he received on YouTube. One person wrote:
"One note: i was a little confused at first because flor some reason your your fret marker is on the 10th fret instead of the 9th ...you might want to mention this." [5]
The second video now appears with an added display box that says:
"I’m playing an old Supertone from the 1920ies. It has a FRETMARKER ON THE 10th FRET instead of the more current place, the 9th fret."
Notes on Performers
These two videos and his website provided no information about Bludts. A website it linked to indicated he was a "retired shopkeeper in Belgium," and more specifically that he was Flemish. [6]
His nom de plume was used by Johnny Watson who played guitar in a number of styles, from mariachi to cajun. Wikipedia said the Mobile-born African American "may have been the earliest-born blues performer to record." [7]
Availability
Daddy Stovepipe
Tab book: Lesson Pack TABS Volume 1, Part 1. PDF sold by his website.
YouTube: Guitar Lesson 1. Uploaded by daddystovepipe on 3 January 2008.
YouTube: Guitar Lesson 2. Uploaded by daddystovepipe on 3 January 2008.
Adolescent Student
YouTube: uploaded by oggendoggen2 on 29 January 2009.
Young Male Student
YouTube: uploaded by bostonteabagger71739 on 25 October 2009.
End Notes
1. Lightnin’ Hopkins version was discussed in the posts for 21 August 2017 and 23 August 2017.
2. Eric Bibb. Guitar Tab Songbook, Volume 1. Tab and standard notations by Eric Gombart. DixieFrog DFGCD8778. 2015.
3. "Carl Bludts (daddystovepipe)". The Country Blues website.
4. Country Blues.
5. Joseph LeBlanc. Comment posted to Lesson 2 in 2012.
6. Country Blues.
7. Wikipedia. "Daddy Stovepipe."
The influence of a seminal recording of "Come by Here" or "Kumbaya" can be seen in several ways. In the most obvious, a musician simply copies a performance note by note. This, after all, is how one learns the craft. All that’s changed in the last century is technology: Lightnin’ Hopkins was able to watch Blind Lemon Jefferson play in Texas, while those who learned after Hopkins and Jefferson died could only listen to their recordings. [1]
Later, musicians who had absorbed older performances, transcribed them. Their tablatures used six lines to represent the six strings on a guitar with numbers of the frets to indicate which chords were used. Other symbols were added to indicate rhythm and musical attributes, much like they were on musical staffs. Tyros still needed to hear a recording to grasp the style.
YouTube has restored the visual dimension that existed when one was watching a performer or had an instructor. Carl Bludts probably learned to play guitar from recordings, but now, using the name Daddy Stovepipe, he sells his tab books and uploads videos that illustrate the more difficult parts.
His two videos of "Needed Time" assumed a student already had studied his tab book. In the first one he played a line, then replayed part of it to illustrate how to hammer a string or slide a finger between chords. At the end, he replayed the first section slowly while singing a verse so the viewer could coordinate the two.
The second video was devoted to the instrumental break. At one point he repeated a section so the student could see how he damped the strings with his right hand. In another, he showed how he quickly moved his left rapidly between a chord high on the neck and one lower down.
Bludts’ pedagogical skill becomes obvious when his tab is compared with one produced by Eric Gombart. The latter’s rendition of Eric Bibb’s version added a transcription of the notes on the G-clef and the images of the chords. While this was useful information, it made the tab itself harder to read by a beginner. [2]
Bibb’s accompanying DVD had two videos of "Needed Time." One showed both hands playing the guitar, and the other used a split screen with close-ups of each hand. Again this was very good, but with no comments on technique it was up to the viewer to recognize things like hammering and damping.
Country Blues suggested Bloudts’ importance by noting his website was viewed 3,000 times a day. [3] A more important measure is the videos posted by individuals who indicated they had learned "Needed Time" from him.
In one, a young man who called himself bostonteabagger had mastered most of Bludts’ arrangement but still had problems with small sections which he played a tad slower as he concentrated on them. Sometimes the tension in his left hand or a furrow in his brow indicated he still wasn’t completely sure of himself.
In another a teenager calling himself oggendoggen admitted he’s still learning, but "it’s getting better." He turned his head from side to side as he concentrated on one hand or the other, but only betrayed his difficult passages with facial grimaces.
Both were able to maintained the rhythm, but neither attempted to sing as he played.
Performers
Vocal Soloist: Carl Bludts
Vocal Group: none
Instrumental Soloist: Carl Bludts, acoustic guitar
Rhythm Accompaniment: none
Credits
Tab book: Lightnin’ Hopkins arranged by DaddyStovePipe.
Notes on Lyrics
In the first video, Bludts sang one verse with the lines "needed time" and "Jesus will you come by here."
Notes on Music
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: quarter note = 116 beats per minute
Tuning: standard
Key Signature: E
Guitar Chords: E-A-B7
Basic Structure: verse and break
Notes on Performance
Occasion: the camera was aimed at his hands, and showed nothing more. One reviewer noted "videos are professionally produced, with good lighting and clear sound." [4]
Clothing: tan slacks and ivory-colored mock turtle-neck shirt, with brown overshirt.
Notes on Movement
His left hand was on the neck of the guitar and his right over the sound hole, with the instrument resting on his right thigh. In the first lesson, his left knee moved up and down to mark the rhythm.
Audience Perceptions
Bludts must have monitored the comments he received on YouTube. One person wrote:
"One note: i was a little confused at first because flor some reason your your fret marker is on the 10th fret instead of the 9th ...you might want to mention this." [5]
The second video now appears with an added display box that says:
"I’m playing an old Supertone from the 1920ies. It has a FRETMARKER ON THE 10th FRET instead of the more current place, the 9th fret."
Notes on Performers
These two videos and his website provided no information about Bludts. A website it linked to indicated he was a "retired shopkeeper in Belgium," and more specifically that he was Flemish. [6]
His nom de plume was used by Johnny Watson who played guitar in a number of styles, from mariachi to cajun. Wikipedia said the Mobile-born African American "may have been the earliest-born blues performer to record." [7]
Availability
Daddy Stovepipe
Tab book: Lesson Pack TABS Volume 1, Part 1. PDF sold by his website.
YouTube: Guitar Lesson 1. Uploaded by daddystovepipe on 3 January 2008.
YouTube: Guitar Lesson 2. Uploaded by daddystovepipe on 3 January 2008.
Adolescent Student
YouTube: uploaded by oggendoggen2 on 29 January 2009.
Young Male Student
YouTube: uploaded by bostonteabagger71739 on 25 October 2009.
End Notes
1. Lightnin’ Hopkins version was discussed in the posts for 21 August 2017 and 23 August 2017.
2. Eric Bibb. Guitar Tab Songbook, Volume 1. Tab and standard notations by Eric Gombart. DixieFrog DFGCD8778. 2015.
3. "Carl Bludts (daddystovepipe)". The Country Blues website.
4. Country Blues.
5. Joseph LeBlanc. Comment posted to Lesson 2 in 2012.
6. Country Blues.
7. Wikipedia. "Daddy Stovepipe."
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