45worlds
78 RPM



78 RPM Record

Artist:Robert Johnson
Label:  Vocalion
Country:USA
Catalogue:04108
Date:May 1938
Format:10"
Collection:  I Own It     I Want It 
Community: 3 Own, 3 Want
Price Guide:$7836
» Search eBay #AD  » Search Amazon #AD
This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.
PRICE GUIDE
$7836


TrackArtistTitleComposerRating
ARobert JohnsonMe And The Devil BluesJohnson6.0  Rate
BRobert JohnsonLittle Queen of SpadesJohnsonRate


Notes

Blues Singing with Guitar.
Recorded on June 20, 1937 in Dallas, Texas.



Images



Number: 446476  THUMBNAIL
Uploaded By: Oteb13
Edited By: fixbutte
Description: Vocalion 78 RPM A Side : Me And The Devil Blues


Number: 447091 
Uploaded By: fixbutte
Description: B Side Label (from John Tefteller's Museum 78's)


Comments and Reviews
 
BigBadBluesMan
30th Jul 2021
 
 

 
BigBadBluesMan
20th Feb 2015
 
 

 
fixbutte
11th Aug 2014
 A similarly unworried dealing with the devil you'll find on The Band's "The Weight", which was obviously influenced by Robert Johnson's song:
... I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."
She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around." ...
 

 
fixbutte
11th Aug 2014
 A-side label edited, "unknown" B-side added and its label image uploaded, release date and notes added.

"Me And The Devil Blues" is the only song in which Robert Johnson actually sings about the devil, thus his only traceable own contribution to the devil legend, saying that he became a genius on the guitar because he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads. Listening to the two takes of his recording, however, you can't find anything really haunted or tortured in them. On the contrary, the words and Johnson's delivery appear self-assured and rather jovial: "Hello, Satan, I believe it's time to go / Me and the Devil was walkin' side by side ...". Accompanied by the devil, however, he might do things that are evil: "And I'm goin' to beat my woman until I get satisfied". And the singer, not necessarily a portrayal of Johnson himself, realizes that he's a sinner: "It must-a be that old evil spirit so deep down in the ground / ... You may bury my body, ooh down by the highway side / So my old evil spirit can catch a Greyhound bus and ride", what includes a lot of black humour, too. All in all, this was one of Johnson's most striking recordings, notably showing the full range and versality of his singing.

"Little Queen Of Spades" is a less original song, derived from Peetie Wheatstraw's "King Of Spades", of which Johnson not only took the idea but also the melody. Different from that one, Johnson sings about a woman, a fair brown one, who seems to be a smarter gambler than himself: "Let us put our heads together, hoo, fair brown, then we can make our money green."

This was Robert Johnson's eleventh single, and the last one that was issued during his life. On August 16, 1938, at the age of 27, he died near Greenwood, Mississippi. He may have been poisoned as some putative witnesses told later, or he may have died of syphilis, as it was noted as a possible cause of death on Johnson's death certificate.


 


Add a Comment or Review about this 78


See Also

78 Record
Robert Johnson - Milkcow's Calf Blues / Malted Milk - Conqueror - USA - 8944 (1938)
Next by Artist
78 Record
Robert Johnson - Stop Breakin' Down Blues / Honeymoon Blues - Vocalion - USA - 04002 (1938)
Previous by Artist
78 Record
Frank Novak And His Rootin' Tootin' Boys - Till We Meet Again / Oh You Beautiful Doll - Vocalion - USA - 04117 (1938)
Next on Label
78 Record
Pinetop Burks - Sun Down Blues / Fannie Mae Blues - Vocalion - USA - 04107 (1938)
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  :  Hide 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