So Young, So Cold , So Fair : The Saint James Infirmary Blues
April 20, 2009 9:10 AM Subscribe
121 different versions of
The Saint James Infirmary Blues
*more*. Via Blake Leyh of The Wire and
The Ten Thousand Things who does his own haunting, Tom Waits tinged version of the song
here.
This is awesome. Would it be possible to have an early post without saying that one of my favorite versions isn't on this highly exhaustive list, though? Snakefarm.
posted by The Bellman at 9:29 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by The Bellman at 9:29 AM on April 20, 2009
Wow.
Another one I like is this live version from The Devil Makes Three.
posted by expialidocious at 9:45 AM on April 20, 2009
Another one I like is this live version from The Devil Makes Three.
posted by expialidocious at 9:45 AM on April 20, 2009
This is great, though I've always been partial to the related ballad, The Unfortunate Rake.
posted by The White Hat at 9:46 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by The White Hat at 9:46 AM on April 20, 2009
IIRC, Lily Tomlin performed it on Saturday Night Live back when.
posted by Joe Beese at 9:48 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by Joe Beese at 9:48 AM on April 20, 2009
Also, the uncredited rewrite by Iggy and The Stooges.
posted by Joe Beese at 9:51 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by Joe Beese at 9:51 AM on April 20, 2009
IIRC, Lily Tomlin performed it on Saturday Night Live back when.
With Howard Shore and his All-Nurse Band!
posted by Spatch at 9:54 AM on April 20, 2009 [3 favorites]
With Howard Shore and his All-Nurse Band!
posted by Spatch at 9:54 AM on April 20, 2009 [3 favorites]
I really like Blake's version! Sounds great through my headphones.
I saw Doc Watson play it live once. Gave me chills.
posted by vronsky at 9:55 AM on April 20, 2009
I saw Doc Watson play it live once. Gave me chills.
posted by vronsky at 9:55 AM on April 20, 2009
Mr. Bartender, would you kindly pass me a bottle of Wild Turkey whiskey? Because I'm a chronic alcoholic.
posted by decagon at 9:56 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by decagon at 9:56 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Betty Boop in Snow White, with a version by Cab Calloway.
posted by archagon at 10:07 AM on April 20, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by archagon at 10:07 AM on April 20, 2009 [4 favorites]
And when I say "version", I mean "mind-bending animated music video".
posted by archagon at 10:09 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by archagon at 10:09 AM on April 20, 2009
Wow. I have 7 versions and the only one of them that that site's missing is by James Booker.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:17 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:17 AM on April 20, 2009
For the record, Saint James Infirmary previously on MeFi: June 11, 2004, August 3, 2005, August 30, 2005.
posted by languagehat at 10:17 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by languagehat at 10:17 AM on April 20, 2009
hot damn. as a serious cab calloway fan, this is awesome. my three favorite versions (2 of which are on there) are the louis armstrong/calloway collab, the white stripes version, and the one missing from this list:
ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Danny Elfman and The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo. (from the documentary feature on the DVD of The Forbidden Zone.
posted by shmegegge at 10:28 AM on April 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Danny Elfman and The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo. (from the documentary feature on the DVD of The Forbidden Zone.
posted by shmegegge at 10:28 AM on April 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
Hmm. Gotta donate money to get access to his collection of 80 different versions of Stagolee? Probably saving up for a brand new Stetson hat.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:32 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:32 AM on April 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Hey, I just noticed that this is *SUPPOSED* to be password protected (click The St. James Infirmary link in the corner). I bet he's not gonna be able to afford the download bill and I suggest the mods close this up.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:36 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:36 AM on April 20, 2009
I really like Blake's version! Sounds great through my headphones.
Blind or Norman? I didn't see either one on the site.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:41 AM on April 20, 2009
Blind or Norman? I didn't see either one on the site.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:41 AM on April 20, 2009
From the first link:
"Notes:
...
4. Please share the page, not the links."
Although I do note the this link
http://prewarblues.org/the-st-james-infirmary/
is PW protected. Who knows.
posted by mwhybark at 10:44 AM on April 20, 2009
"Notes:
...
4. Please share the page, not the links."
Although I do note the this link
http://prewarblues.org/the-st-james-infirmary/
is PW protected. Who knows.
posted by mwhybark at 10:44 AM on April 20, 2009
For Passwords.
4
Posted in Post-War on 01.07.08
I’m sorry for the confusion about passwords, but I don’t know of any way to edit the password page to explain how the password system works. The way it works is you click here and it takes you to my donate page - where you can donate some money me out with increasing server costs and I send you a password that allows you to access the videos and the stagolee files among other things. This week I should have reviews of the new Dust To Digital releases, Art of Field Recording and Victrola Favorites.
I’ve been in wonderful Nashville for the past week, and I picked a collection of Ike Turner’s Chicago Sessions - recorded for Cobra and while I think that his best work without Tina was compiled on the wonderful Ike’s Instrumentals on Ace, this compilation features Ike with some great vocalists like Betty Everett and the underrated and seldom heard Tommy Hodge. This track was recorded by Ike and a stellar band in 1958 and features the aforementioned Tommy Hodge on vocals singing his heart out in one of the best electric blues performances I’ve heard. Ike passed away late last year and I was saddened that many of the bloggers who chose to pay homage to Ike’s legacy (and not just for his abusive relationship with Tina) no one I read post anything about Ike’s early rock and roll years.
Ike Turner - Down and Out (1958)
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:47 AM on April 20, 2009
4
Posted in Post-War on 01.07.08
I’m sorry for the confusion about passwords, but I don’t know of any way to edit the password page to explain how the password system works. The way it works is you click here and it takes you to my donate page - where you can donate some money me out with increasing server costs and I send you a password that allows you to access the videos and the stagolee files among other things. This week I should have reviews of the new Dust To Digital releases, Art of Field Recording and Victrola Favorites.
I’ve been in wonderful Nashville for the past week, and I picked a collection of Ike Turner’s Chicago Sessions - recorded for Cobra and while I think that his best work without Tina was compiled on the wonderful Ike’s Instrumentals on Ace, this compilation features Ike with some great vocalists like Betty Everett and the underrated and seldom heard Tommy Hodge. This track was recorded by Ike and a stellar band in 1958 and features the aforementioned Tommy Hodge on vocals singing his heart out in one of the best electric blues performances I’ve heard. Ike passed away late last year and I was saddened that many of the bloggers who chose to pay homage to Ike’s legacy (and not just for his abusive relationship with Tina) no one I read post anything about Ike’s early rock and roll years.
Ike Turner - Down and Out (1958)
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:47 AM on April 20, 2009
Is missing the memorable Koko Taylor/Willie Dixon collaboration called (simply) Insane Asylum.
posted by grounded at 10:53 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by grounded at 10:53 AM on April 20, 2009
Jazz singer Lou Rawls does a great rendition too. This is a live version on YouTube.
posted by fuse theorem at 10:58 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by fuse theorem at 10:58 AM on April 20, 2009
That live Lou Rawls record is one of my favorites. Terrific, terrific album.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 11:13 AM on April 20, 2009
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 11:13 AM on April 20, 2009
Hey, I just noticed that this is *SUPPOSED* to be password protected (click The St. James Infirmary link in the corner). I bet he's not gonna be able to afford the download bill and I suggest the mods close this up.
I donated when this went up originally and the password protected page is different from the blog post. I think this is okay but if someone wants to drop Peter a note, that might be decent. I also suggest everyone donate because the site is totally awesome.
posted by jessamyn at 11:50 AM on April 20, 2009
I donated when this went up originally and the password protected page is different from the blog post. I think this is okay but if someone wants to drop Peter a note, that might be decent. I also suggest everyone donate because the site is totally awesome.
posted by jessamyn at 11:50 AM on April 20, 2009
There was a Louis Armstrong version on a sound effects LP of the wonders of Hi-Fi that I listened to over and over as a kid. I always thought he was singing "I went down to St. James in February."
posted by stargell at 12:52 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by stargell at 12:52 PM on April 20, 2009
This is one of those bandwidth bills that bittorrent was designed to help him avoid.
posted by Luddite at 1:07 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by Luddite at 1:07 PM on April 20, 2009
Hmm, one of the versions missing is this fine one from Dr. John and Eric Clapton.
posted by schleppo at 2:20 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by schleppo at 2:20 PM on April 20, 2009
It's interesting the differences in interpretation:
Cab Calloway's recordings seem to be pivotal in their slow tempo, and for setting the tone of machismo vs. mortality.
I have to admit, I'm rather fond of Lois Armstrong's take. I think it's about the slowest tempo I've ever heard him play, and he handles the black comedy of the song well.
The Taylor/Dixon version is psychedelic, trippy, harsh, disturbing, and at least a decade ahead of its time.
Arlo Guthrie wraps it up in a fame narrative.
Dr. John and Eric Clapton make it sound like, well like just about every other blues song released in the last decade.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:19 PM on April 20, 2009
Cab Calloway's recordings seem to be pivotal in their slow tempo, and for setting the tone of machismo vs. mortality.
I have to admit, I'm rather fond of Lois Armstrong's take. I think it's about the slowest tempo I've ever heard him play, and he handles the black comedy of the song well.
The Taylor/Dixon version is psychedelic, trippy, harsh, disturbing, and at least a decade ahead of its time.
Arlo Guthrie wraps it up in a fame narrative.
Dr. John and Eric Clapton make it sound like, well like just about every other blues song released in the last decade.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:19 PM on April 20, 2009
Louis, not Lois. duh.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:28 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:28 PM on April 20, 2009
Agreed about Dr. John (as much love as I have for him) and Eric Clapton, KJS.
And the Cab Calloway version is the essence of the best Betty Boop cartoon ever.
I have played the song a hundred different ways on solo piano in public, (never recorded!), so I imagine there may be hundreds of thousands of versions of this song floating through the ethersphere. I wonder why this song has enraptured so many souls?
The chords and the melody are probably the main thing, but Edgar Allen Poe's statement (paraphrasing and possibly misconstruing from memory) that there is nothing as captivating as a young dying woman might have something to do with it.
posted by kozad at 8:27 PM on April 20, 2009
And the Cab Calloway version is the essence of the best Betty Boop cartoon ever.
I have played the song a hundred different ways on solo piano in public, (never recorded!), so I imagine there may be hundreds of thousands of versions of this song floating through the ethersphere. I wonder why this song has enraptured so many souls?
The chords and the melody are probably the main thing, but Edgar Allen Poe's statement (paraphrasing and possibly misconstruing from memory) that there is nothing as captivating as a young dying woman might have something to do with it.
posted by kozad at 8:27 PM on April 20, 2009
This is great; I love playing this song in our jug band, it's one of my favorites in our repertoire.
posted by Poagao at 8:40 PM on April 20, 2009
posted by Poagao at 8:40 PM on April 20, 2009
Holy crap.
I collect covers of "St. James Infirmary Blues."
I've got a big, fat midterm in two days, but after that I am going to gorge on this site. Ever seen a corgi left alone with a pan of meatloaf? That's me at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 11:38 PM on April 20, 2009
I collect covers of "St. James Infirmary Blues."
I've got a big, fat midterm in two days, but after that I am going to gorge on this site. Ever seen a corgi left alone with a pan of meatloaf? That's me at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 11:38 PM on April 20, 2009
I wonder though if Minnie the Moocher is sufficiently diverged from the core that it qualifies as a new song though.
The chords and the melody are probably the main thing, but Edgar Allen Poe's statement (paraphrasing and possibly misconstruing from memory) that there is nothing as captivating as a young dying woman might have something to do with it.
Lyrically it certainly has something of a timeless quality to it. A combination of guilt at having brought a loved one to death, turning to defiant bravado in the face of death, concluding with despair and alcoholic escapism, against a backdrop of poverty. It's a song that's as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 4:56 AM on April 21, 2009
The chords and the melody are probably the main thing, but Edgar Allen Poe's statement (paraphrasing and possibly misconstruing from memory) that there is nothing as captivating as a young dying woman might have something to do with it.
Lyrically it certainly has something of a timeless quality to it. A combination of guilt at having brought a loved one to death, turning to defiant bravado in the face of death, concluding with despair and alcoholic escapism, against a backdrop of poverty. It's a song that's as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 4:56 AM on April 21, 2009
Betty Boop in Snow White, with a version by Cab Calloway.
The section in the book The Fleischer Story about that cartoon contains a line which remains one of my favorite sentences ever:
"Calloway was then rotoscoped as the ghost walrus."
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 10:12 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
The section in the book The Fleischer Story about that cartoon contains a line which remains one of my favorite sentences ever:
"Calloway was then rotoscoped as the ghost walrus."
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 10:12 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
Earlier this year, I was involved in an animated music video for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band doing SJI. I ran into this site while researching it and pondering my suggestions for a narrative for the visuals. (fragmentary boards here, includes several 'put a gag here' gaps.)
(Unfortunately they wanted something more like an incoherent, random-shots eighties video than a short film that worked with and comments upon the music, and most of my ideas ended up on the scrapheap except for one gag involving Marie Laveau.)
Also note there are a couple more pages on prewarblues: a young Danny Elfman doing it with the Mystick Knights of Oingo Boingo, and a second set that includes some truly insane takes on the song.
posted by egypturnash at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2009
(Unfortunately they wanted something more like an incoherent, random-shots eighties video than a short film that worked with and comments upon the music, and most of my ideas ended up on the scrapheap except for one gag involving Marie Laveau.)
Also note there are a couple more pages on prewarblues: a young Danny Elfman doing it with the Mystick Knights of Oingo Boingo, and a second set that includes some truly insane takes on the song.
posted by egypturnash at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2009
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posted by lekvar at 9:15 AM on April 20, 2009