45worlds
78 RPM



78 RPM Record

Artist:Robert Johnson
Label:  Vocalion
Country:USA
Catalogue:03445
Date:10 Feb 1937
Format:10"
Collection:  I Own It     I Want It 
Community: 1 Owns, 3 Want
Price Guide:$8620
» Search eBay #AD  » Search Amazon #AD
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.
PRICE GUIDE
$8620


TrackArtistTitleComposerRating
ARobert Johnson32-20 BluesRobert JohnsonRate
BRobert JohnsonLast Fair Deal Gone DownRobert JohnsonRate


Notes

Vocal Blues with Guitar Accompaniment.
Recorded on November 26 & 27, 1936, San Antonio, Texas.
Also issued on Perfect 7-04-60 (900 copies) and Oriole 7-04-60 (60 copies) in April 1937.

Images



Comments and Reviews
 
BigBadBluesMan
18th Feb 2015
 
 
 
BigBadBluesMan
18th Feb 2015
 
 
 
fixbutte
25th Aug 2014
 "32-20 Blues" is not only based on Skip James' "22-20 Blues", it's a straight cover, only that Johnson adapted the original piano blues to his guitar and enlarged the caliber in the title. Actually there is no common handgun or pistol as a 22-20, and Skip James initially also refers to a .32 pistol in his song (and later he sings about a .44 caliber, like Roosevelt Sykes on his exemplary "44 Blues"):

If I send for my baby and she don't come
If I send for my baby and she don't come
All the doctors in Wisconsin, they won't help her none

And if she gets unruly and gets so she don't wanna do
My baby gets unruly and she don't wanna do
I'll take my .32-20, I'll cut her half in two

You're talkin' about your .44-40, buddy, it'll do very well
Talkin' about your .44-40, it'll do very well
But my .22-20, Lord, it's a burnin' hell

I had a .38 Special, buddy, it's most too light
Aw, that .38 Special, buddy, it's most too light
But my .22-20 make the camps alright

Aw, if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wanna do
She gets unruly and she don't wanna do
I take my .22-20, I cut her half in two

I, I, I and I can't take my rest
I, I, I, I, I can't take my rest
And my .42 layin' up and down my breast


Robert Johnson altered the lyrics only slightly (he amusingly shifted the location of the doctors from Wisconsin, where James had made his recording, to Hot Springs, a health resort), and at the end he refers to the old "In The Pines" (or "Black Gal") song ("where did you stay last night"):

If I send for my baby
and she don't come
If I send for my baby
man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs
sure can't help her none

And if she gets unruly
thinks she don't wan do
If she gets unruly
thinks she don't wan do
Take my 32-20 now and
cut her half in two

She got a 38 special but I believe its much too light
She got a 38 special but I believe its much too light
I got a 32-20, got to make the camps alright

If I send for my baby
and she don't come
If I send for my baby
man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs
sure can't help her none

I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my Gatlin gun
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gotta shoot my Gatlin gun
You made me love you
now your man has come

Ah-oh
baby where you stay last night
Ah-ah
baby where you stayed last night
You got your hair all tangled
and you ain't talkin right
Got a 38 special boys, it do very well

Apart from the unalteredly violent lyrics, Robert Johnson's recording is a thrilling rendition, versatilely sung to a steady rhythm beaten on the bass strings of the guitar.
 
 
fixbutte
31st Jul 2014
 A-side label edited, "unknown" B-side and its label image added, release date completed and notes added. This was the second single of Robert Johnson. Both sides were highlighted in Samuel B. Charters 1959 book The Country Blues and consequently included in Columbia's 1961 compilation LP King of the Delta Blues Singers. "32-20 Blues" is obviously based on Skip James' "22-20 Blues". "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", showing the wide range of Johnson's repertory, is influenced by hillbilly music, namely "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down", previously performed by Charlie Poole and Fiddlin' John Carson.

 

Add a Comment or Review about this 78


See Also

78 Record
Robert Johnson - Terraplane Blues / Kind Hearted Woman Blues - Perfect - USA - 7-03-56 (1937)
Next by Artist
78 Record
Robert Johnson - Terraplane Blues / Kind Hearted Woman Blues - Vocalion - USA - 03416 (1937)
Previous by Artist
78 Record
Blue Ridge Playboys - Rhythm In The Air / Swing Baby Swing - Vocalion - USA - 03460 (1937)
Next on Label
78 Record
Sharkey And His Sharks Of Rhythm - Old Fashioned Swing / Big Boy Blue - Vocalion - USA - 3450 (1937)
Previous on Label
This Record:  Price Guide  :  Add Valuation  :  Add Image  :  Add Video  :  Add Missing Info  :  Make Correction  :  Add to List  :  Add Linked Release  :  Add See Also  :  Add Tag  :  Edit Images  :  Show Image Data  :  Credits  :  BBCode
45worlds website ©2024  :  Homepage  :  Search  :  Sitemap  :  Help Page  :  Privacy  :  Terms  :  Contact  :  Share This Page  :  Like us on Facebook
Vinyl Albums  :  Live Music  :  78 RPM  :  CD Albums  :  CD Singles  :  12" Singles  :  7" Singles  :  Tape Media  :  Classical Music  :  Music Memorabilia  :  Cinema  :  TV Series  :  DVD & Blu-ray  :  Magazines  :  Books  :  Video Games  :  Create Your Own World
Latest  »  Items  :  Comments  :  Price Guide  :  Reviews  :  Ratings  :  Images  :  Lists  :  Videos  :  Tags  :  Collected  :  Wanted  :  Top 50  :  Random
45worlds for music, movies, books etc  :  45cat for 7" singles  :  45spaces for hundreds more worlds