I've just been figuring out how to play the opening bars of this song. (If I can copy Butterfield I must be almost up there with the elites like sharpharp...)
This may be a stupid question but does anyone know what the song is actually about? Are his friends being killed or sent to prison? And is it pure fiction or is it at all biographical? Wikipedia tells me that both Nick Gravenites and Paul Butterfield were indeed born in Chicago, but neither of them in 1941. 1938 and 1942 don't rhyme with gun...
Also, a noob question, what is the note in bar 10 after 2'', 2? Is it 23 double stop? It doesn't quite sound the same when I play it.
I'm working on that tune as well, Ollie. I'm using the video below from EXCELLENT player/teacher Tomlin Leckie. Perusing this video may answer your bar 10 question. As far as the meaning of the song, you've actually done more checking on that than I have, and while like you I pay attention to the lyrics and ask myself what they mean, I wasn't really concerned on this one whether Butterfield was being literal, fictional or he's was just covering someone else's tune. But I like that you're trying to nail that down. I'm interested in the answer now myself. I'm sure somebody on the forum knows
Wow, Light bulb moment! I started a thread a few days ago highlighting some of my frustrations and then went back a few steps in my practice to better grasp some licks and riffs. I wanted to learn a complete song and try to get comfortable moving through various licks leading eventually to creating better more tasty licks of my own. I couldn't really think of a song to work on and yesterday I recorded myself to ...Once again....Help Me. The only difference is that this time I played it different from the original and tried to come up with more of my own thing then worked it to death. I played the whole song over and over and recorded each one. About 60 or more repetitions.
After reading this I thought...what the? Of coarse! Paul Butterfield. I love his playing and sound and he played "his own versions" but stuck close enough to be recognizable to the original. Right up my alley. And this is a great tune. I would rather his version of Blues With a Feeling as I find it a bit more tasty, but I can't seem to find the tab or a youtube lesson.
Alright, this is what I got Ollie. It was Gravenites song. The article below talks about how Butterfield came to record it after inviting Bloomfield to join him. Bloomfield had played with Gravenites. The article doesn't talk much more about the lyrics though. It does mention that Gravenites hung out where Muddy and the rest of the Chicago blues scene did. I'd say the 1941 thing is as you've guessed it, he wanted a rhyme. I'd chalk up any other inconsistencies with lyrics and Gravenites actual life to poetic license. Until someone gives you better info that is. I'm as informed as I feel I need to be. However, I did learn it wasn't Butter's song originally. I'd always assumed it was. Butter sure did make it his own though, didn't he?
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/06/16/born-in-chicago-vocalist-nick-gravenites-reunites-with-blues-greats/
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Aug 02, 2017 11:32 AM
Thanks for the links to youtube lessons. Both very good. Hakan certainly tries to get more of the nuances but I do love Tomlin's slick lessons with the music and tab downloads. Having said that, I've enjoyed the experience of trying to work out as much I can myself (using "Transcribe!" to slow it down etc.)
Hakan seems to be playing in his bathroom which I might try! There is a fantastic stairwell where I work with amazing reverb but people think I'm a bit strange standing by the stairs playing blues when I should be working...
I think in the end it's to take that Butter Spirit and put it into other tunes. Mr. Burke does a nice job of carrying it on. Here's a tune that I did with Diggs Blues that begged for a Butter feel. ----------