Weeping Willow
STCD 010
Stella Records is proud to announce the release of ‘Weeping Willow’ (STCD 010) from 23-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist Abie Budgen. A follow-up to the highly acclaimed ‘Chakori’ album (STCD 008), ‘Weeping Willow’ is an all blues release that showcases Abie’s exceptional guitar and vocal skills. The title track is from a 1937 recording by the North Carolina songster, Blind Boy Fuller. Other classics from Memphis Minnie’s ‘Nothing In Ramblin’ to Big Bill Broonzy’s ‘Just A Dream’ round out a stellar performance from the talented Abie Budgen.
Tracks (click on 'Download' to hear a sample)
1). Weeping Willow – Blind Boy Fuller 3:40 Download...
2). Spike Driver Blues – Mississippi John Hurt 4:16 Download...
3). What’s The Matter Blues – Frank Stokes 3:09 Download...
4). Nothing in Ramblin’ – Memphis Minnie 3:22 Download...
5). Crow Jane – Carl Martin 3:05 Download...
6). Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning – Blind Willie Johnson 3:21 Download...
7). Stack O Lee Blues – Mississippi John Hurt 3:15
8). Make Me A Pallet On The Floor – Mississippi John Hurt 4:37
9). Bill Bailey – Big Bill Broonzy 2:48
10). Just A Dream – Big Bill Broonzy 3:09
11). Last Kind Words – Geeshie Wiley 3:44
12). Cairo Blues – Henry Spaulding 2:47
About the Songs
Track 1). Weeping Willow – Blind Boy Fuller. Fulton Allen (1907 – 1941). He recorded this track in 1937. Blind Boy Fuller was a popular blues singer/guitarist in the Winston Salem, Raleigh and Durham areas of North Carolina.
Track 2). Spike Driver Blues – Mississippi John Hurt. John Hurt (1893 – 1966). Spike Driver Blues, the first of three tracks by John Hurt, was 1st recorded in 1928. Hurt lived in Avalon Mississippi when he was rediscovered and he inspired a generation of folk musicians in the 1960s with his engaging manner. Here, Abie uses her creativity and incorporates African guitar elements to give Spike Driver a fresh sound.
Track 3). What’s The Matter Blues – Frank Stokes (1888 – 1955). Frank Stokes was a songster who defined the sound of guitar blues in Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded ‘What’s The Matter Blues’ in 1928. Dan Sane accompanied him on 2nd guitar and they were also known as the ‘Beale Street Sheiks’. On this recording, Michael Roach is the 2nd guitarist. Abie is the lead guitarist.
Track 4). Nothing in Ramblin’ – Memphis Minnie. Lizzie Douglas (1897 - 1973). Nothing in Ramblin’ was recorded in 1940. Memphis Minnie was a great blues singer/guitarist who first recorded in 1929 and by the time of her retirement in 1953, she had made over 200 titles. Here, Abie is joined by Johnny Mars on harmonica and Michael Roach on guitar.
Track 5). Crow Jane – Carl Martin (1906 - 1979). Crow Jane was recorded in Chicago in 1935 for Bluebird Records. Born in Virginia, Carl Martin was a member of a Black string band that first recorded in 1930 called the Tennessee Chocolate Drops. As on the original recording, Abie mastered the difficult task of snapping her fingers in between picking the guitar.
Track 6). Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning – Blind Willie Johnson (1897-1945). Born in Texas, Johnson recorded this track in 1928. His music drew from both sacred and blues traditions and the lyrics to his songs were religious. He is considered to be one of the greatest slide or bottleneck guitarists. Here, Abie plays slide guitar and is accompanied by Johnny Mars on harmonica.
Track 7). Stack O Lee Blues – Mississippi John Hurt. First recorded in 1928, this is a track from the songster tradition about the legendary ‘bad man’. As in ‘Spike Driver Blues’, Abie’s imaginative guitar skills ‘breathe new life’ to an old classic song.
Track 8). Make Me A Pallet On The Floor – Mississippi John Hurt. During his rediscovery, Hurt recorded this track in 1966 on an album called ‘Mississippi John Hurt Today’ on Vanguard Records.
Track 9). Bill Bailey – Big Bill Broonzy. William Lee Conley Broonzy (1893 –1958). This is the first of two tracks by one of the most influential blues singer/guitarists of all time. He recorded over 350 compositions. Broonzy was one of the first artists to make the transition from country style to small group combo. Along with Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, Broonzy defined Chicago blues. Abie learned this track from an album called ‘Big Bill Sings Folk Songs’ released on the Smithsonian Folkways label in 1956.
Track 10). Just A Dream – Big Bill Broonzy. Recorded in Chicago 1939 for the Vocalion label. Here, Abie adds her own dream lyrics to personalize the song.
Track 11). Last Kind Words – Geeshie Wiley. Geeshie Wiley may well have been one of the greatest female blues singers. Almost nothing is known of her. She recorded ‘Last Kind Words’ in 1930 for Paramount Records.
Track 12). Cairo Blues – Henry Spaulding. Little is known of Henry Spaulding. He was from St. Louis and recorded ‘Cairo Blues’ in 1929.
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