Mtngoat - Posted - 11/24/2023:  04:03:13

TOTW 11/24/2023 Black Bottom/Deep Ellum Blues  

I’ve chosen Black Bottom/Deep Ellum Blues for this installment of TOTW.  

According to a 1998 Inside Bluegrass article by Bob Waltz "Black Bottom" was a generic place name for African American urban ghettos in the early twentieth century.  "Deep Elem" is more specific, it refers to Elm Street in Dallas, which for a long time was the heart of that city's red light district.  

The tune was first recorded in 1927 by The Georgia Crackers (aka The Coffer Brothers) as Georgia Black Bottom.  The title Deep Elem Blues comes from The Lone Star Cowboys, later known as The Shelton Brothers, who recorded it in 1933 and again in 1935, and probably reflects a marketing strategy by that Texas based band which broadcast its programs on Dallas radio stations.    The Prairie Ramblers, a Chicago based band also released a version in 1935.

The tune has a healthy internet presence and a few illustrative examples are presented below.  A Google search will return recordings by Country, Bluegrass, Jazz, and Rock artists.

Here’s the original 1923 Georgia Crackers recording:  youtube.com/watch?v=Ng3pcexbjZg

Here’s the 1935 Shelton Brothers recording:  youtube.com/watch?v=cQr5GMSsUgU

Here’s the 1935 Prairie Ramblers recording:  youtube.com/watch?v=OoEvU90vyMk

Here’s a 2011 OT recording: youtube.com/watch?v=nwJdAfqFQ7Y

Here’s a 2016 OT recording: youtube.com/watch?v=_sftbBX2QkA

Here’s a 2018 OT recording: youtube.com/watch?v=G6ilBcmb2eM

Here’s a fretless tackhead banjo performance:  youtube.com/watch?v=A2_7q7O90i0

Here’s an interesting version: youtube.com/watch?v=m4dK1Kblem8

The tune seems to be commonly played in both open G and double D tunings on clawhammer banjo and I’ve linked tabs and tutorials for each below. 

Here’s a performance and tab in open G by Jack Beuthin: banjohangout.org/archive/382274

Here’s a performance and tab in Double C from Josh Turknett: clawhammerbanjo.net/clawhammer...oos-nest/

Ken Perlman published a tab in Double C in the May 1995 Banjo Newsletter.

Here’s a tutorial in Double C by Hilarie Burhans:  youtube.com/watch?v=SVo8okRdn7M

Here’s a tutorial in open G by Steve Jeter:  youtube.com/watch?v=u18rvK59sV4

Here’s a tutorial by Clifton Hicks: youtube.com/watch?v=T7vk9AoX1yc

Readers are encouraged to post observations, opinions, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread. 

Edited by - Mtngoat on 11/24/2023 04:06:16

dbrooks - Posted - 11/24/2023:  11:38:37

Just a great presentation of a classic tune. Thanks. 

David

banjered - Posted - 11/24/2023:  13:35:00

Fun! I play/sing Key' Hall's version, "North Sangre Blues." "If you go down to North Sangre, keep your money in your shoes...... It lays out pretty easily in G tuning, bar the seventh fret for the high part for several notes. Great job! Thanks! banjered

Mtngoat - Posted - 11/24/2023:  15:44:49

David, thanks for the feedback.



Tom, I've also heard an instrumental version in G called Going to Alabama played by some folks in the northeastern corner of that state who don't sing any words.