78 RPM - Robert Johnson - 32-20 Blues / Last Fair Deal Gone Down - Vocalion - USA

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
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PRICE GUIDE

$8620

Track	Artist	Title	Composer	Rating
A	Robert Johnson	32-20 Blues	Robert Johnson	Rate
B	Robert Johnson	Last Fair Deal Gone Down	Robert Johnson	Rate

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

Number: 446484

THUMBNAIL
Uploaded By: Oteb13
Edited By: fixbutte
Description: Vocalion 78 RPM A Side : 32-20 Blues

Number: 446882

Uploaded By: fixbutte
Description: B Side Label (from John Tefteller's Museum 78's)

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.