Discovered these folks some time ago, and I continue to be amazed. I've always liked the jazz from this era, and to see these musicians carry this music forward is a great privilege.
For those who enjoy a sing-along: Had a dream last night that I was dead; Had a dream last night that I was dead; Evil spirits were all around my bed. The devil came and he grabbed my hand; The devil came and he grabbed my hand; Took me down to that red hot land. Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Showing their teeth for they was glad I came. "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight. I started running 'cause it is my cup; I started running 'cause it is my cup; I ran so fast 'til someone woke me up. Demons with their eyelids dripping blood; Demons with their eyelids dripping blood; Dragging sinners to their brimstone flood. Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Showing their teeth for they was glad I came. "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight. Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight.
This tune is called "Mean Blue Spirits". Mean Blue Spirits, also known as Blue Spirit Blues, recorded by Bessie Smith (Erika sings something like these words, and sings some of the verses in a different order) Had a dream last night that I was dead Had a dream last night that I was dead Evil spirits all around my bed The devil came and grabbed my hand The devil came and grabbed my hand Took me way down to that red hot land Mean blues spirits stuck their forks in me Mean blues spirits stuck their forks in me Made me moan and groan in misery Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames Showing their teeth for they was glad I came Demons with their eyelash dripping blood Demons with their eyelash dripping blood Dragging sinners to their brimstone flood "This is hell", I cried cried with all my might "This is hell", I cried cried with all my might Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight Started running 'cause it is my cup Started running 'cause it is my cup Run so fast till someone woke me up
Tuba Skinny made a formidable recording of this on their 'Pyramid Strut' CD. As Erika says, it is also known as 'Blue Spirit Blues'. It is thought that Spencer Williams wrote it for Bessie Smith, who recorded it in 1929. Bessie recorded it in B flat minor, but Erika seems to opt for C minor, with the C minor chord predominant, and occasional G 7ths, right?
What a great performance. It been a while they gave played this tune. I think this performance is better than their recording on their album "Pyramid Strut".
This is another great performance and nice to see that they still have the Bessie tune at the ready. I have always liked Erica's early versions of this song, where she hits some higher notes in the chorus " this is hell I cried....." with some of the feeling of Bessie's style. Here is the link to that style from 2010 in New Orleans. Which is better?? ruclips.net/video/mXaXt6aOBRY/видео.html
Discovered these folks some time ago, and I continue to be amazed. I've always liked the jazz from this era, and to see these musicians carry this music forward is a great privilege.
For those who enjoy a sing-along:
Had a dream last night that I was dead; Had a dream last night that I was dead; Evil spirits were all around my bed.
The devil came and he grabbed my hand; The devil came and he grabbed my hand; Took me down to that red hot land.
Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Showing their teeth for they was glad I came.
"This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight.
I started running 'cause it is my cup; I started running 'cause it is my cup; I ran so fast 'til someone woke me up.
Demons with their eyelids dripping blood; Demons with their eyelids dripping blood; Dragging sinners to their brimstone flood.
Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames; Showing their teeth for they was glad I came.
"This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; "This is hell, " I cried cried with all my might; Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight.
Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight.
Elevate your soul to jazz!!! From Argentina ( down here) on the globe
Oh yeah! I know you down there, your the ones that got your butt kicked by the britts😃
Unusual interesting legato solo by Craig toward the end.
I was fortunate to be there. A great, but all too short, performance!
This tune is called "Mean Blue Spirits".
Mean Blue Spirits, also known as Blue Spirit Blues, recorded by Bessie Smith
(Erika sings something like these words, and sings some of the verses in a different order)
Had a dream last night that I was dead
Had a dream last night that I was dead
Evil spirits all around my bed
The devil came and grabbed my hand
The devil came and grabbed my hand
Took me way down to that red hot land
Mean blues spirits stuck their forks in me
Mean blues spirits stuck their forks in me
Made me moan and groan in misery
Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames
Fairies and dragons spitting out blue flames
Showing their teeth for they was glad I came
Demons with their eyelash dripping blood
Demons with their eyelash dripping blood
Dragging sinners to their brimstone flood
"This is hell", I cried cried with all my might
"This is hell", I cried cried with all my might
Oh, my soul I can't bear the sight
Started running 'cause it is my cup
Started running 'cause it is my cup
Run so fast till someone woke me up
Tuba Skinny made a formidable recording of this on their 'Pyramid Strut' CD. As Erika says, it is also known as 'Blue Spirit Blues'. It is thought that Spencer Williams wrote it for Bessie Smith, who recorded it in 1929. Bessie recorded it in B flat minor, but Erika seems to opt for C minor, with the C minor chord predominant, and occasional G 7ths, right?
Oh, ERIKA! You ARE SO FINE! Loved your rendition of Bessie Smith's ,"Mean Spirit Blues," Tuba Skinny RULES!
Thanks to you both for filling in all this information on the song.
What a great performance. It been a while they gave played this tune.
I think this performance is better than their recording on their album "Pyramid Strut".
Still there is an even better one on RUclips.
This is another great performance and nice to see that they still have the Bessie tune at the ready. I have always liked Erica's early versions of this song, where she hits some higher notes in the chorus " this is hell I cried....." with some of the feeling of Bessie's style. Here is the link to that style from 2010 in New Orleans. Which is better?? ruclips.net/video/mXaXt6aOBRY/видео.html