"St. James Infirmary Blues" or "Gambler's Blues" is based on an 18th-century traditional English folk song called "The Unfortunate Rake" (also known as "The Unfortunate Lad" or "The Young Man Cut Down in His Prime"), about a soldier who uses his money on prostitutes, and then dies of a venereal disease. Variations typically feature a narrator telling the story of a young man "cut down in his prime" (occasionally, a young woman "cut down in her prime") as a result of morally questionable behavior. For example, when the song moved to America, gambling and alcohol became common causes of the youth's death. There are numerous versions of the song throughout the English-speaking world. And while "St. James Infirmary Blues" or "Gambler's Blues" is more like a jazz or blues song, with a melody, that was derived from "Charleston Cabin", another version evolved into the American standard "The Streets of Laredo", which is more like a folk ballad or waltz, with a different melody, that was derived from the Irish tune "The Bard of Armagh"
The roots of "St. James Infirmary" (aka "The Gambler's Blues") lay in the 1920's.
In her book "On The Trail Of The Negro Folk-Songs" (1925) Dorothy Scarborough wrote down a song with a striking lyrical resemblance to "St James Infirmary".
The second verse from "St James Infirmary" (the "Let Her Go, Let Her Go, God Bless Her") verse) is literally lifted from "How Sad Was The Death Of My Sweetheart" (which is on page 94 of that book)
And the 1st and the 3rd verse from "St James Infirmary" is literally lifted from a version published in January 1925 !!
This version is credited to Phil Baxter and Carl Moore and was also was copyrighted.
And published in Little Rock, Arkansas
Phil Baxter and his Texas Tommies had the song also on their repertoire.
Carl Sandburg collected a few versions in his American Songbag (1927):
In 1927 "Gambler's Blues" was re-published (for national distribution) as featured by Carl Moore's Virginians.
On page 2 of the re-published sheet music it says it was introduced by Fess Williams.
SEE: IIIF Image Viewer -
Fess Williams also recorded the first version.
(c) Stanley “Fess” Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra (1927) (as "Gambler's Blues")
accompanied by David “Jelly” James (tb), 2 unknown (as,ts), Otto Mikell (bar), Henry “Hank” Duncan (p), Clinton Walker (bb). One of the saxophonists also plays oboe.
Recorded on February 25, 1927 in New York
Released on Vocalion 1087
Listen here:
Part of the SJI-tune is clearly quoted in an instrumental song called Charleston Cabin (composed by Roy Reber)
This version was recorded by
(c) Whitey Kaufman's Original Pennsylvania Serenaders (1924) (as "Charleston Cabin")
Recorded on March 21, 1924
Released on Victor 19304
Listen to Whitey Kaufman here:
This version was also recorded by
(c) The Carolina Club Orchestra (with Hal Kemp) (1924)
Recorded in August 1924
(c) Saxi Holtsworth's Harmony Hounds (1924)
Recorded on July 6, 1924
(c) Ray Miller's Orchestra (1924)
Recorded on July 22, 1924
Ray Miller's version is here: (the SJI part starts at 59 seconds)
Recorded July 22, 1924.
Released on Brunswick 2666.
Listen here:
(c) Buell Kazee 1928 (as "Gambling Blues")
Recorded January 16, 1928 in New York City
Released on Brunswick 218
Listen here:
Or here:
While on most versions, the composer for "St James Infirmary" is listed as Joe Primrose (a pseudonym for Irving Mills), there is no doubt that the Louis Armstrong version was plucked from the tree of "The Unfortunate Rake" folk-song and is a first cousin to "Streets of Laredo".
Before Irving Mills copyrighted the song in 1929, Louis Armstrong had already recorded the song on December 12, 1928 for the Okeh-label (credited to Don Redman !!).
Don Redman played clarinet in the Savoy Ballroom Five.
Listen here:
(c) Hokum Boys (1929) (as "Gambler's Blues (St. James Infirmary Blues)")
Recorded October 1929 in Chicago
Released on Paramount 12897
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Hokum Boys 1929 (as "Gambler's Blues no 2")
Recorded October 1929 in Grafton, Wisconsin
Released on Paramount 12919
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Kansas City Frank (=Frank Melrose) and his Footwarmers (1929)
(as "St. James Infirmary Blues (Gambler's Blues)")
Recorded November 1929
Released on Paramount 12898
This record was issued on Broadway records as Harry’s Reckless Five.
Listen here:
(c) George E. Lee and his Orchestra (1929)(as "St. James Infirmary)")
Recorded in Kansas City on November 6, 1929
Released on Brunswick 4684
Listen here: st-james-infirmary.mp3
Or here:
(c) Goebel Reeves (The Texas Drifter) (1930) (as "Blue Undertaker's Blues")
Recorded on January 3, 1930
Released on Okeh 45408
Listen here:
(c) Rube Bloom and his Bayou Boys (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary")
When you consider the lineup, it is kind of a supergroup. Along with Rube on the piano, he engaged Manny Klein on trumpet, Tommy Dorsey on trombone, Benny Goodman on clarinet, Adrian Rollini on bass saxophone, Stan King on drums and vocalist Roy Evans at the microphone.
Recorded January 16, 1930
Released on Columbia 2103-D
Listen here:
(c) Mattie Hite 1930 (as "St. Joe's Infirmary")
Recorded January 27, 1930 Mattie Hite
Released on Columbia 14503-D
Credits on this version go to the above mentioned E.V. Body (meaning everybody - author unknown).
Listen here:
(c) King Oliver (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary Blues")
Recorded January 28, 1930
Released on Victor 22298
Listen here:
(c) Gene Austin (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary")
Recorded January 28, 1930
Released on Victor 22299
Listen here: St.JamesInfirmary1930GeneAustin.mp3
(c) Ten Black Berries (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary")
Recorded January 29, 1930
Plaza recording session, New York City
This was in fact the Duke Ellington Orchestra
With vocals by Sonny Smith (=composer Irving Mills )
Listen here:
(c) Mills Merry Makers (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary")
Mills Merry Makers (created by composer Irving Mills for recording purposes only), with musicians including Charlie and Jack Teagarden, Harry Goodman (brother of Benny), and Ruby Weinstein, recorded a version on January 31, 1930 in New York.
Vocalist Buddy Edwards = Charlie Teagarden.
It was released the Harmony label (#1104) and Velvet Tone label (# 2104)
Listen here:
(c) Harlem Hot Chocolates (1930) (as "St. James Infirmary")
Recorded March 1930
This was in fact the Duke Ellington Orchestra
With vocals by the composer Irving Mills
Listen here:
(c) Jimmie Rodgers (1930) (as "Those Gamber's Blues")
Recorded in Los Angeles July 5, 1930
Released on Victor 22254
Listen here:
(c) Emmet Mathews (1931) (as "St. James Infirmary")
Recorded May 1931 in Grafton, Wis.
Released on Paramount 13087
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Cab Calloway (1931) (as "St. James Infirmary")
(credited to Joe Primrose=Irving Mills)
Recorded in New York on December 23, 1930
Released on Brunswick 6105 and Melotone 7-06-05
Listen here:
In 1933 Cab Calloway sang "St. James Infirmary" in the Betty Boop cartoon "Snow-White"
Cab sings "St. James Infirmary" in the rotoscoped guise of Koko the Clown.
SEE NEXT YT (after 4 minutes and 20 seconds)
"St. James Infirmary" was Cab's original signature tune, but he wanted something written specifically for himself, so he and Irving Mills wrote "Minnie the Moocher" to supplant "St. James Infirmary".
The two melodies are extremely similar.
SEE NEXT YT (after 1 minute and 35 seconds)
Both melodies also bear a close resemblance to "Prohibition Blues"
Missourians - Prohibition Blues (1930)
In 1940 Blind Willie McTell (under supervision of Alan Lomax) recorded "Dying Crapshooter's Blues", which is also a clear variant of "Gambler's Blues".
(c) Blind Willie McTell (1940) (as "Dying Crapshooter's Blues")
Recorded November 5, 1940
Released in 1965 on the next album:
Listen here:
McTell's "Dying Crapshooter's Blues" was also the inspiration for Bob Dylan to write "Blind Willie McTell" for the 1983 Infidels-sessions.
But "Dying Crapshooter's Blues" was already recorded 13 years earlier by at least 3 artists.
(c) Martha Copeland (1927) (as "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues")
The composer of "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues" (Porter Grainger) accompanies Copeland on piano on this recording !!
Recorded May 5, 1927
Released on Columbia 14227-D)
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Nannie McKinney (1927) (as "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues")
Accompanied by the composer of "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues" (Porter Grainger)
Recorded June 24, 1927 for Brunswick, but unissued
(c) Viola McCoy (1927) (as "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues")
Recorded August 26, 1927
Released on Cameo 1225,
Also released on Romeo 453 (as by Fannie Johnson)
Also released on Lincoln 2690 (as by Susan Williams)
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Rosa Henderson (1927) (as "Dyin' Crap-Shooter's Blues")
Recorded September 20, 1927
Released on Pathe Actuelle 7535 and Perfect 135
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Josh White (1944) (as "St James Infirmary Blues")
Recorded in 1944
Released on the Asch-label (Asch 358)
Listen here:
(c) Bobby Bland (1961) (as "Saint James Infirmary")
Listen here:
(c) Janis Joplin (1962) (as "St James Infirmary")
Featuring the Waller Creek Boys.
Recorded around 1962 in Austin Texas
Listen here:
(c) Johnny Kendall and the Heralds (1964) (as "St James Infirmary")
Listen here:
(c) Eric Burdon & The Animals (1968) (as "St James Infirmary")
Listen here:
(c) Joe Cocker (1972) (as "St James Infirmary Blues")
And on his album: "Joe Cocker on A&M:
Listen here:
(c) Bob Dylan 1983 (as "Blind Willie McTell").
As I said before Blind McTell's "Dying Crapshooter's Blues" was also the inspiration for Bob Dylan to write "Blind Willie McTell" for the 1983 Infidels-sessions.
Here's a live version (around 1997)
(c) The Band (1993) (as "Blind Willie McTell")
Listen here:
(c) White Stripes (1999) (as "St James Infirmary Blues")
On the next album: http://www.discogs.com/White-Stripes-The-White-Stripes/master/10338
Listen here:
(c) Hugh Laurie (2011) (as "St James Infirmary")
Listen here:
And here are more versions:
I first heard St James Infirmary, from an LP of a German band, in Berlin 1981. Wonderful version, but can't remember the name of the band.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHello Fionnula, you've looked here where you can listen to hundreds of versions ? https://secondhandsongs.com/work/7643/versions#nav-entity Joop greets
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