Sweetwater - motherless child

[mr sayers]

I know this song but not their version who else does it? It's been bugging me all week.

Thanks in advance.

[Tom B]

A few versions come to mind:

Kathleen Emery (the first Jazzman 45)
Harmonica Paul (I think this was on one of the perfect-toy comps)
Luis Gasca
Brother Ah (lovely version - thanks for the tip Folkishienne)
Clarence Smith

...that is, if the Sweetwater track is the same song - don't know their version

[Viva Chiba]

Carmen Maki & Blues Creation - scorchin' rendition.

[mr sayers]

A few versions come to mind:

Kathleen Emery (the first Jazzman 45)
Harmonica Paul (I think this was on one of the perfect-toy comps)
Luis Gasca
Brother Ah (lovely version - thanks for the tip Folkishienne)
Clarence Smith

...that is, if the Sweetwater track is the same song - don't know their version

Sweetwater wrote the song....

The jazzman seems to ring a bell.

[Sie-Fly]

didn't know sweetwater wrote it ?


thought it was an old folk song....richie havens does a nice version

[BoneyVotel]

This is surely an trad composition/spiritual??

The one on Cadet - Operation Bread Basket or similar is a cool one, sure it's been done many times by old timers like Rosette Sharpe & the like

[mr sayers]

didn't know sweetwater wrote it ?


thought it was an old folk song....richie havens does a nice version

Think you might be right Sie mate i didn't read the credits properly.

It Say's "adopt & arr - by Fred Herrera & Nansi Nevins" on the label.

[mr sayers]

This is surely an trad composition/spiritual??

The one on Cadet - Operation Bread Basket or similar is a cool one, sure it's been done many times by old timers like Rosette Sharpe & the like

Thanks ive always wondered about that lp. What's the rest of it like?

[Tom B]

here's what Wikipedia has to say on the subject:

""Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (or simply "Sometimes I Feel") is a traditional Negro spiritual. The song dates back to the era of slavery in the United States when it was common practice to sell children of slaves away from their parents. An early performance of the song dates back into the 1870s by the Fisk Jubilee Singers."

[d7bohs]

Sweetwater didn't write it - the label says Adapt. and Arr. by Fred Herrero and Nansi Nevins; with trad material, the arranger gets all the performing and mechanical royalties which is why people always claim to have arranged it even if 'it' is a work chant copied note for note from your dad.

The other version I could find quickly is by O.V. Wright where its credited to 'Deadric Malone', Don Robey's Nom de Crime.

[mr sayers]

here's what Wikipedia has to say on the subject:

""Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (or simply "Sometimes I Feel") is a traditional Negro spiritual. The song dates back to the era of slavery in the United States when it was common practice to sell children of slaves away from their parents. An early performance of the song dates back into the 1870s by the Fisk Jubilee Singers."

That seems to settle it then thanks.

[Sie-Fly]

Thanks ive always wondered about that lp. What's the rest of it like?

mate - you'll love it -some proper nice psych arrangements....recommended !!

[mr sayers]

mate - you'll love it -some proper nice psych arrangements....recommended !!

Thats all i need to hear......Thanks im on the case Sie mate.

[Sie-Fly]

for me the best track is 'my crystal spider' - its on a bit of a mix cd i did - will burn you one off for byker

[mr sayers]

for me the best track is 'my crystal spider' - its on a bit of a mix cd i did - will burn you one off for byker

You,ve got me confussed here mate are you on about the "Sweetwater" or "operation bread basket"?

[Sie-Fly]

You,ve got me confussed here mate are you on about the "Sweetwater" or "operation bread basket"?

sweetwater -sorry - as for operation bread basket...only know motherless child - and its a great version -apologies craig mate - its been a bad day

[wickerman]

for me the best track is 'my crystal spider' - its on a bit of a mix cd i did - will burn you one off for byker

also on a taste 45

[mr sayers]

sweetwater -sorry - as for operation bread basket...only know motherless child - and its a great version -apologies craig mate - its been a bad day

No problem mate...I like that track a lot one of the highlights of the lp for me.

[folkishienne]

If anyone fancies a listen to Sweetwaters version..
motherless child.mp3

N.B: I cut some of the intro out here when I recorded it due to a good old blim burn

[IAN]

You,ve got me confussed here mate are you on about the "Sweetwater" or "operation bread basket"?

Breadbaskets a decent lp too...all the top chess guys like phil upchurch etc are on it. There's some nice funky gospel on there, can't remember the titles at the moment though!

[mr sayers]

Breadbaskets a decent lp too...all the top chess guys like phil upchurch etc are on it. There's some nice funky gospel on there, can't remember the titles at the moment though!

Thanks mate.

[emperor tomato ketchup]

Great version on Hawkwind Friends & Relations Vol. 1.

That's where I heard it first. Pfah to your soul and blues versions. Spacerock or die!

[cellardweller]

hehehehe... nice thread. lots of news & lots of versions.

btw, craig, you've heard me play versions by fats waller (the gothic organ instru thing on red vinyl, on jazz treasury in '40s) & lena horne (bravo 45)... but then, you don't like jazz

[wickerman]

Tom Jones version is good, from 1998 or something (based on the Kathleen Emery version, with some help from Portishead)

[mr sayers]

hehehehe... nice thread. lots of news & lots of versions.

btw, craig, you've heard me play versions by fats waller (the gothic organ instru thing on red vinyl, on jazz treasury in '40s) & lena horne (bravo 45)... but then, you don't like jazz

As well as not being to keen on straight up Jazz i struggle with stuff pre 1965 too.

[Rich Hero]

Monica 'Freedom' on Toxsan

[Opiated-Black]

Also on the flip of Malcolm's Lock's 'Get Up Stand Up' 45 on Old Town