Fred McDowell was actually a contemporary of Robert Johnson ---- yet Fred wasn't discovered ( by apparently Lomax Jr.) until 1959, in late middle age, but for those of us who know, Fred is every bit as important as Robert Johnson though Johnson was laudably far more ambitious and played all over the region, even going as far north as Chicago and Canada. Yet Fred's voice is even more pained and powerful as RJ's, and his song writing ability has really never been acknowledged for its greatness. We are so lucky to have the recordings we do, and God Orpheus only knows how many others of RJ's or Fred's talent went unrecognized due to the stupidity and brutality of the Jim Crow era, which extended far beyond the old Confederacy.
@@jasonlynn1017 Here's Fred on a National steel resonator. I assume he'd have had one back in the 30's. ruclips.net/video/Qpr4vgyc_Eo/видео.htmlfeature=shared
@@tobiasautoglassaz Robert made people, and even himself, cry during Come On In My Kitchen. He recorded only twice, in studio conditions. Still played the shit out of those songs and his guitar. I love Fred's voice and lyrics but they were mostly collections of long time public domain blues verses. Robert composed and arranged his stuff, covering older artists who'd been recorded. Both spent time in Memphis but I'm not aware they met. Is there a good biography on Fred? For Robert, read this trilogy: Up Jumped The Devil, Biography Of A Phantom, and Brother Robert to gain the best understanding of the man. Forget the liner note fictitious versions of his life. He was a musical giant and could play anything. The record companies wanted blues so that's what he recorded. He wrote Hot Tamales on a lunch break, having seen vibrant markets with food while wandering the streets.
@jimsliverootsculturemusic Fred was better. The bodies of work don't compare. Listen to the front end of this track again and listen to what he's explaining. He had an original covered by the rolling stones so I'm not sure what you mean. It's just an opinion anyway. But Fred was better so there's that.
I’ll admit, I’ve studied my share of self-help books, pursued in college a degree in psychology in the desire of counseling others, and in the desire to help myself, have gone to my own share of counselors. And I say, the hell with all of it,, because none of it matches the introduction here. Nothing reaches you like a person who you ABSOLUTELY KNOW has the true answer simply from the sheer experience that only a Mississippi black man could have experienced. Thank you so much Mississippi Fred your introduction here helped me out today, I so needed to hear that - God bless you and I hope to see you one day-I just want to hear you tell me “ you jam OK for a white boy”
Fred explains herein his entire cosmology of the blues and tells exactly why he does what he does and how he can accomplish this like none other in Mississippi blues history though surely there were players never recorded never discovered and they reinforced the life and energy of the music keeping it alive and even to us folk now. You listen, understand, sit down to play and you'll never be Fred. That's because while you can learn the piece and play it well, even singing perhaps. But you will never be inside Fred's authentic life experience and times and thus cannot know just would Fred would do at any particular moment in any song. You can imitate But only admire, trying to offer your take on a guy's sound instead.
I could listen to him speak all day. He talks about the things I know. Things I knew growing up. This gentleman didn't mind explaining these things. He is blessed. His spirit is still here. Very much so.🌹
Amazing how his guitar sings..pure blues...a man and his guitar..a true American treasure...one of the very best...Thank you Mr Macdowell...thank you for leaving us your deeply intense blues..what I would give to have seen him live..
In 1967 I was sixteen years and had been assigned by my church to teach Vacation Bible School at our church on the south side of Chicago for the summer. Church was actually fun to attend at our church there.
It's taken YEARS, but I FINALLY Found it! I was Capitol Records Regional Promotion Man, & I was BIG TIME Blown Away with "Mississippi" Fred Mc Dowell ... KFML (Trunnell / Ashford / Kreizenbach, et al) was TOO! I had the pleasure to Meet & Greet, Doing the "Promo-Man" FAN ... We gave him the Royal Treatment for his Denver Gig ... NOW: Listen to THIS BOTTLENECK Slide Guitar ... YES! Gonna make me RE-Learn The Gee-Tawrr! I have the TIME now ...
I knew Fred McDowell when I was a concert promoter for The Seattle Folklore Society around 71-72, Fred was a true gentleman and was fun to be around. We tried to get as many gigs as we could for him in the area, usually the bluesmen would go home with a few thousand dollars, that was good money then, esp. in the South, and in those years of the country blues revival, the original bluesman were playing at clubs and college campuses all over the country and in Europe. Fred is in a class by himself.
Re: reel. These old-timers from the Jim Crow south used a lot of outdated vocabulary. Most could not afford a radio, and if you could, you were listening to people who spoke like you did. Most had no access whatsoever to the movie houses. Most were illiterate and could not read a book or newspaper. They pretty much had no connection to the outside world. They commonly used vocabulary that dates back to the days when America was a colony of Britain. It is presently defined in the USA as music that has a dominating tremulous effect. Or, to put it more simply, an emphasis on the emotions, not the notes. Today, the term reel is most commonly used in opera to describe a singer's performance. In Scotland and Ireland, a reel is fast paced melody. Another old timer, RL Burnside, composed a song called "See My Jumper Hanging Out On The Line." The song doesn't make sense to Americans. Because Burnside is using British Colonial vocabulary. Jumper is a British term meaning sweater. Burnside did not know what "sweater" means. NOTE: They did not have telephone service in the Northern Mississippi Hills. Back then, a woman would place a particular jumper/sweater on the clothes line to signal her paramour. It meant that the coast was clear, her husband was not in the house and would be away for a while.
I've lived in W. Tennessee for most of my 62 years and can understand every word he says in context. I can however see how it would be hard for you to understand.
My granny spoke what she called the queens English...very southern but very proper with a distinct southern accent and words not used today ...I also understand every word he says
Blues songs were widely considered to be examples of reels among black blues musicians about Fred's age and older. As you go back towards the 1890s blues music becomes less and less popular (but exists) among Southern black musicians, and a reel could be anything fairly related such as a bad man ballad like "Railroad Bill" or a song less closely related to blues like "Crawdad Song," which was widely known among blacks. Black musicians about Fred's age and older tended to know how Southern blacks and whites used folk musical terms in the 19th century and there's nothing particularly strange or mysterious about any of it.
somewhere around 20-25 sec. he says: My home was in 'tenessee' ok what we call the blues in that time we call ?????? What is the word ..... Amaria?? Could anybody help me ?
In 1967 I was teaching Vacation Bible School for the summer on the south side of Chicago. I was assigned an assistant the most beautiful gal on the block a 14 year old gorgeous, affectionate, loving, wonderful perfect beautiful 14 year old female a 16 year old male straight off the farm could hope for. My first girlfriend. My first serious love. See page 53 of Muhammad Ali memorial magazine for the exact look-alike. Imagine escorting that arm -in-arm up the church steps every Sunday and down the church aisle arm-in-arm every Sunday?
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
True legend. Unmatched. His gutiar is a freight train. His voice is the conductor. Sounds like three people playing.
Thank God these older artists were at least partially captured on vinyl or tape before they were gone. What a treasure.
This will be the only lesson in the blues that you will ever need.
Fred McDowell was actually a contemporary of Robert Johnson ---- yet Fred wasn't discovered ( by apparently Lomax Jr.) until 1959, in late middle age, but for those of us who know, Fred is every bit as important as Robert Johnson though Johnson was laudably far more ambitious and played all over the region, even going as far north as Chicago and Canada. Yet Fred's voice is even more pained and powerful as RJ's, and his song writing ability has really never been acknowledged for its greatness. We are so lucky to have the recordings we do, and God Orpheus only knows how many others of RJ's or Fred's talent went unrecognized due to the stupidity and brutality of the Jim Crow era, which extended far beyond the old Confederacy.
Fred blows rj out of the water. It's not even close.
@@jasonlynn1017 Here's Fred on a National steel resonator. I assume he'd have had one back in the 30's.
ruclips.net/video/Qpr4vgyc_Eo/видео.htmlfeature=shared
@@tobiasautoglassaz Robert made people, and even himself, cry during Come On In My Kitchen. He recorded only twice, in studio conditions. Still played the shit out of those songs and his guitar. I love Fred's voice and lyrics but they were mostly collections of long time public domain blues verses. Robert composed and arranged his stuff, covering older artists who'd been recorded. Both spent time in Memphis but I'm not aware they met. Is there a good biography on Fred? For Robert, read this trilogy: Up Jumped The Devil, Biography Of A Phantom, and Brother Robert to gain the best understanding of the man. Forget the liner note fictitious versions of his life. He was a musical giant and could play anything. The record companies wanted blues so that's what he recorded. He wrote Hot Tamales on a lunch break, having seen vibrant markets with food while wandering the streets.
Dim-o-kkk-rats are the party of slavery, kkk, jim crow, lynchings, poll taxes, fillibustering the civil rights act, etc.
@jimsliverootsculturemusic Fred was better. The bodies of work don't compare. Listen to the front end of this track again and listen to what he's explaining. He had an original covered by the rolling stones so I'm not sure what you mean. It's just an opinion anyway. But Fred was better so there's that.
I’ll admit, I’ve studied my share of self-help books, pursued in college a degree in psychology in the desire of counseling others, and in the desire to help myself, have gone to my own share of counselors. And I say, the hell with all of it,, because none of it matches the introduction here. Nothing reaches you like a person who you ABSOLUTELY KNOW has the true answer simply from the sheer experience that only a Mississippi black man could have experienced. Thank you so much Mississippi Fred your introduction here helped me out today, I so needed to hear that - God bless you and I hope to see you one day-I just want to hear you tell me “ you jam OK for a white boy”
"So many people ask 'How you make that sound?'... Look.."
*plays the riff*
God I wish I could see.
He's likely tuned to open E (E, B, E, G#, B, E) and slides on the fourth string from the 5th fret, lifting off near the third fret.
jesus christ...this guitar scorches my very soul...
There's a lot😢 people😮 who don't have a clue about life these days but they're gonna find out really soon.😮🎉
when he finally plays that first lick.... too good.
Fred explains herein his entire cosmology of the blues and tells exactly why he does what he does and how he can accomplish this like none other in Mississippi blues history though surely there were players never recorded never discovered and they reinforced the life and energy of the music keeping it alive and even to us folk now. You listen, understand, sit down to play and you'll never be Fred. That's because while you can learn the piece and play it well, even singing perhaps. But you will never be inside Fred's authentic life experience and times and thus cannot know just would Fred would do at any particular moment in any song. You can imitate But only admire, trying to offer your take on a guy's sound instead.
I could listen to him speak all day. He talks about the things I know. Things I knew growing up. This gentleman didn't mind explaining these things. He is blessed. His spirit is still here. Very much so.🌹
this is the stuff. I bought this record for .49 in 1978... changed everything for me.
same story as me... I mighta payed as much as 3.99 though
Unique amazing bluesman. Listen to his music often, he isn't forgotten!!!
He definitely knew how to play the blues old school ways long time ago when life was simple as pie.
Even Lee Mavers from The La's said "Three chords is all you need." People overcomplicate things and make them overly difficult.
Amazing how his guitar sings..pure blues...a man and his guitar..a true American treasure...one of the very best...Thank you Mr Macdowell...thank you for leaving us your deeply intense blues..what I would give to have seen him live..
This is a special one
Unique His arrangements are so simple yet so powerful with that incredible voice.
This is a true treasure. Thanks for sharing.
He's nothing but old school ways long time ago when life was simple as pie...
It wasn't simple. It was just damn hard.
Still listening
Oh my gosh this is so cool, Im speechless. I love the blues.
In 1967 I was sixteen years and had been assigned by my church to teach Vacation Bible School at our church on the south side of Chicago for the summer. Church was actually fun to attend at our church there.
I'm in class with you guys go MC Mississippi jmj with you all south side of Dixie thanks 😊😊
It's taken YEARS, but I FINALLY Found it! I was Capitol Records Regional Promotion Man, & I was BIG TIME Blown Away with "Mississippi" Fred Mc Dowell ... KFML (Trunnell / Ashford / Kreizenbach, et al) was TOO! I had the pleasure to Meet & Greet, Doing the "Promo-Man" FAN ... We gave him the Royal Treatment for his Denver Gig ... NOW: Listen to THIS BOTTLENECK Slide Guitar ... YES! Gonna make me RE-Learn The Gee-Tawrr! I have the TIME now ...
I knew Fred McDowell when I was a concert promoter for The Seattle Folklore Society around 71-72, Fred was a true gentleman and was fun to be around. We tried to get as many gigs as we could for him in the area, usually the bluesmen would go home with a few thousand dollars, that was good money then, esp. in the South, and in those years of the country blues revival, the original bluesman were playing at clubs and college campuses all over the country and in Europe. Fred is in a class by himself.
A lot of people don't have a clue about life these days. Ain't never had to do without any food or water.
man, i love his playing
What a treasure
Chilling...so great.
Evidently they don't have a clue about what he says about life a long time ago when life was simple as pie.
That's how it used to be like. Music these days really sucks to listen to. Those were the good old days long time ago!
There’s still good music being made. Just gotta know where to look!
Git down! Early Sunday moanin' church ⛪
Re: reel. These old-timers from the Jim Crow south used a lot of outdated vocabulary. Most could not afford a radio, and if you could, you were listening to people who spoke like you did. Most had no access whatsoever to the movie houses. Most were illiterate and could not read a book or newspaper. They pretty much had no connection to the outside world.
They commonly used vocabulary that dates back to the days when America was a colony of Britain. It is presently defined in the USA as music that has a dominating tremulous effect. Or, to put it more simply, an emphasis on the emotions, not the notes. Today, the term reel is most commonly used in opera to describe a singer's performance.
In Scotland and Ireland, a reel is fast paced melody.
Another old timer, RL Burnside, composed a song called "See My Jumper Hanging Out On The Line." The song doesn't make sense to Americans. Because Burnside is using British Colonial vocabulary. Jumper is a British term meaning sweater. Burnside did not know what "sweater" means. NOTE: They did not have telephone service in the Northern Mississippi Hills. Back then, a woman would place a particular jumper/sweater on the clothes line to signal her paramour. It meant that the coast was clear, her husband was not in the house and would be away for a while.
The Mr. Jody sign.
I've lived in W. Tennessee for most of my 62 years and can understand every word he says in context. I can however see how it would be hard for you to understand.
If Fred calls it a reel then it is a reel...he should know he lived the life where you could only read about it
My granny spoke what she called the queens English...very southern but very proper with a distinct southern accent and words not used today ...I also understand every word he says
Blues songs were widely considered to be examples of reels among black blues musicians about Fred's age and older. As you go back towards the 1890s blues music becomes less and less popular (but exists) among Southern black musicians, and a reel could be anything fairly related such as a bad man ballad like "Railroad Bill" or a song less closely related to blues like "Crawdad Song," which was widely known among blacks. Black musicians about Fred's age and older tended to know how Southern blacks and whites used folk musical terms in the 19th century and there's nothing particularly strange or mysterious about any of it.
This is very cool...
7:58
👍👍👍❤❤❤
somewhere around 20-25 sec. he says: My home was in 'tenessee' ok what we call the blues in that time we call ??????
What is the word ..... Amaria?? Could anybody help me ?
He says a "reel" or a "real"
weevil3582 a rear
No, sir, he says a Reel.
weevil3582 OK
Reel. It's a form of music that has a tremulous quality to it.
In 1967 I was teaching Vacation Bible School for the summer on the south side of Chicago. I was assigned an assistant the most beautiful gal on the block a 14 year old gorgeous, affectionate, loving, wonderful perfect beautiful 14 year old female a 16 year old male straight off the farm could hope for. My first girlfriend. My first serious love. See page 53 of Muhammad Ali memorial magazine for the exact look-alike. Imagine escorting that arm -in-arm up the church steps every Sunday and down the church aisle arm-in-arm every Sunday?
What does this have to do with Mr. McDowell?
Music today sucks compaired to this