Depending on who you ask, Blind Boy Fuller either lost his sight to an ocular condition, or some low-down, no good woman threw chemicals in his eyes. While the former is more probable, the latter is infinitely more bluesy. However, if these ribald songs are any indication, Fuller's handicap didn't hamper his playing, songwriting, or insatiable appetite for warm poon (or "pig meat" as he called it). In fact, almost every cut here is about getting ball-deep in down-home succubi and the perils that come with doing so. Essential blues.
11 comments:
The cover is an interesting instance of one of Crumb's realist bluesmen portraits coexisting with one of his (frequently misunderstood) appropriations of 1930's racial caricature.
While this cover doesn't have the panel structure that made the Big Brother and the Holding Company sleeve so unique, it's definitely a memorable Crumb piece for its jarring combination of styles.
Good to see it posted on the Hearse!
-The Natch
Awesome! I have to say my blues file is full. But, then again, I have his recorded catalog.
Normally I don't go for blues, but after reading your description I gotta listen for the pig meat.
Yer thinking Blind Willie Johnson. His Momma got in a fight with his Daddy and threw lye soap at him. The soap missed his daddy and wound up in little Blind Willie Johnson's eyes. Later in life Blind Willie's house burned down and he and his wife lived in the burned out shell. Not so healthy for Blind Willie as he soon caught pneumonia and died as the hospital at the time refused to treat blind people. Not sure what this has to do with Blind Boy Fuller but it's an interesting bio. Blind Boy Fuller played in a completely different style than Blind Willie Johnson. Blind Willie played hardcore slide blues and all of his songs were about God coming back to kick all our asses. Blind Boy Fuller played in the smooth east coast Piedmont style (Blind Boy was from North Carolina) more akin to Tampa Red and Bind Blake. And he sang about the holiest of holies[sic]. Dig the Bakshi cover as well. Good choice today Aesop
Blind Boy Fuller is fantastic. for more of his music, here's an anthology made of his songs: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5G16349T
Sorry, cover by R. Crumb
I think Blind Willie McTell and Blind Lemon Jefferson are still my favorite of the "blind"s. Will check out this poonhound, though.
Haha "Sweet Honey Hole" indeed!
Another great blind bluesman, along the lines of Willie McTell and Lemon Jefferson. Thanks. Pre-chicago blues is the berries.
I have heard a lot of versions of meat shakin' woman, by ironic skinny white guys, and it's nice to hear a version where the singer fucking means it.
This guy worked out a truly wicked style. It may be of interest that due to his appetite for pig meat he suffered from syphilis. life's not fair.
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