yotochan
yotochan
Follow

Here you go Mousetrap, just for you!

Posted over 4 years ago
This cut is about 80 years old. Lonniewas a huge influence and electric guitarowes much of the direction of it's development to him.
0

Comments (7)

  1. Spike
    Spike says That had the great white jazz guitarist Eddie Lang as accompanist under the pseudonym Blind Willie Dunn. Here's a solo Lonnie Johnson instrumental from two years earlier (1926): ~0igcY9RD2wi.mp3~
    Permalink posted 05/29/2007
  2. yotochan
    yotochan says Spike Did you ever see him play, not in person but on video?
    Permalink posted 05/29/2007
  3. dermahrk
    dermahrk says Nice. I was going to ask who the second guitarist was - not necessary now.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2007
  4. Spike
    Spike says No, yotochan, I never saw him play.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2007
  5. yotochan
    yotochan says I'll get some video to you, I can't wait!
    Permalink posted 05/30/2007
  6. mousetrap
    mousetrap says [picking jaw up off floor] *Wow* - that is just some sweet playing!!! I'm sorry I haven't commented sooner - never having had a post specifically directed at me before, I sure feel like I should've been the first to respond. But MOG's been so slow - for me, anyway - over the last 24 hours that I just had to give up and try again later. The upside of my delay is that one of my key questions got answered already, about the second guitarist. I just love Johnson's playing here - it's so laid-back and fluid, beautifully inflected with accidentals and bends. And sure enough, the song changes key three times, true to its title - starts in D with Johnson soloing, switches to G, goes back to D where Lang solos, then up to G again, with Johnson soloing for the last chorus. Too cool. Do you know what kind of guitar Johnson's playing on this tune? It sounds to me like it might be a steel resonator; I can't think of anything else that would have that slightly detuned, almost chorused sound. (Clearly it's not electronically chorused.) Hearing this song and the _great_ solo piece Spike posted reminded me that I have a version of "Haunted House" recorded by Johnson with Elmer Snowden in 1960. Apparently Lonnie Johnson fell on hard times in the latter half of the '50s, and Elmer Snowden discovered him working as a janitor in Philadelphia! The "Blues and Ballads" album they recorded together spurred a major comeback for Johnson. Thanks, yotochan! I will be expanding my Lonnie Johnson collection posthaste!
    Permalink posted 05/30/2007
  7. yotochan
    yotochan says No, thank you MT, your knowledge and willingness to share really gives any post something special. The sophistication of your insights is edifying for me. I think I might be able to direct you to some video of Lonnie Johnson, if not send you a copy. All you guys really make music come alive for me. This is great.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2007

Comment on this Post

Login using email and password below.

Forgot Password?

OR login using Facebook Connect

Connect

Don't have an account?
Join MOG. It's Free!

 

© 2006-2012 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved