A true message always gets through.
Songs that speak truthfully to the ebbing and flowing tides of our lives take on a life of their own cutting distinctive channels in our hearts.
Such songs as Bob Dylan says ‘get up and walk’ away from their composers and become community treasures.
Treasures cherished by what I still think of as the ‘record buying public’ and perhaps even more so by fellow songwriters who recognise a classic song with such lyrical and melodic grace that it seems to demand new interpretations.
The song taking pride of place on The Immmortal Jukebox today is an absolute Peach – ‘Tennessee Blues’ written and first performed by the late, great, Bobby Charles.
I can imagine brows being furrowed at the name – Bobby Charles?
Now, you may not be a fully paid up, got the T Shirt and the Box Set, fan like me but believe me you know and can croon along to several Bobby Charles songs.
How about, ‘See You Later Alligator’ or ‘Walking To New Orleans’ not to mention ‘Before I Grow Too Old’ or ‘I Don’t Know Why I Love You, But I Do’ for starters.
Bill Haley, Fats Domino and Frogman Henry had the Chart hits but they all came from the pen and piano of Abbeville La native Robert Charles Guidry – Bobby Charles.
Bobby’s own versions of his songs are uniformally lovely with, ‘Tennessee Blues’ from his glowing 1972 album produced by The Band’s Rick Danko winning the garland for the most lovely of all.
From the ‘Trust us, we’ll take our own sweet time with this one’ opening bars you just know Tennessee Blues is gonna be a Keeper!
There’s a free flowing lazy certainty to the way the song proceeds.
Everything feels natural, unhurried, ripe and right.
Listening you feel like you’re gently rocking to and fro, deliciously half asleep, in a summer hammock.
By now, having lived with this song for decades, as soon as the song starts I can feel the tears welling up and my Boot Heels get ready to go wandering once again round the dance floor with my Darling.
And as we twirl, lost in the Music, we find a place where we don’t have to worry.
A place where we feel loose.
A place alive with the sound of running water and the trills of birds in the trees.
A place to forget all those regrets.
A place where we can settle and stay.
A place to be at peace.
To be at peace.
Oh, a place where you lose all those blues.
All those Blues.
Those Tennessee Blues.
Here, Bobby Charles has written and sung a Song that enchants.
A Song that’s balm for the bruised heart, the weary mind and the thirsty soul.
I’m not 100% certain of the musician credits but that’s surely Amos Garrett (of Midnight At The Oasis fame) playing the tender guitar licks and The Band’s instrumental maestro Garth Hudson playing the heartbreaking Accordion.
N. D. Smart on Drums and Jim Colegrove on Bass.
Violin courtesy of Harry Lookofsky (the Father of ‘Walk Away Renee’ writer Michael Brown.
The sense of ancient sway they create together is truly magical.
A magic that was recognised by one of the most good hearted of all musicians San Antonio’s own favourite Son – Doug Sahm.
Doug cuts deep, imbuing Tennessee Blues with tender Texas Soul.
Doug’s vocal takes us up to the Mountain Tops and down to the lapping lake side waters where we might bathe and be born again.
Born again.
Across the wide Atlantic Ocean Mark Knopfler, taking time out from his leadership responsibilities with Dire Straits, found peace and nourishment returning to the Americana sounds that had first inspired him to take up the Guitar and search out the chords for the songs he would write himself.
His companions, collectively The Notting Hillbillies, were Steve Phillips and Brendan Crocker.
In their hands Tennessee Blues takes on the character of aching night prayer – a compline service for lost saloon souls.
We are all searching for that place.
That place of shaded valleys and cool reviving streams.
That place where our regrets and worries dissolve in the warm breeze.
That place of peace.
Bobby Charles’ Tennessee Blues takes us there and gives us the strength to carry that peace within us as we travel on.
Notes :
Tennessee Blues can be found on the Rhino Encore CD ‘Bobby Charles’ – unreservedly recommended!
I also love:
The Bear Family compilation, ‘See You Later Alligator’
‘Last Train To Memphis’ from Rice and Gravy
‘Home Made Songs’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’
Bobby Charles died in 2010
His songs will endure.
The Immortal Jukebox 
Aha, the Tennessee Blues…much more gratifying than the Tennessee Waltz…deeper, richer, calling us all to the universal longing of our lives: home.
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Thanks Sheila. You’re so right. Thom
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Fabulous music today, Thom. We just watched a documentary about Doug Sahm last week, so it was nice to hear him again. Thanks for the links to Bobby Charles’ music.
Ω
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Thanks Allan. Doug sure to feature again.
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I look forward to what you have to share about him, Thom. Thanks.
Ω
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Hadn’t heard Doug Sahm take on it before – lovely, thanks Thom. Do you know Geoff Muldaur’s version with his daughter on vocals and Richard Thompson on guitar. Very sweet.
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Hi Martin, Geoff Muldaur has actually recorded Tennessee Blues twice,
on his second solo album, 1975’s “Is Having A Wonderful Time”, and more recently with Jim Kweskin on “Penny’s Farm” from 2016, as well as of course
being present at the recording of the original version from Bobby
Charles great first album, although as Thom said, there is even at this
late stage, some doubt as to who exactly played on what at those
sessions.
You’re probably already aware of this, but have you also checked out
the two great albums Geoff recorded on the Hightone label a few
years back, “The Secret Handshake” from 1998 and “Password”
from 2000.
Regarding Tennessee Blues, to me one of the greatest songs ever written, and good as some of the other versions are, Bobby Charles rendition is superior to any of the covers, (Garth Hudson’s contribution alone on the accordion is worth the price of admission).
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Apologies for the breaks in the text, really don’t know what happened there.
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You’re right, Steve. And I really like those two records. I picked up a two-disk best of after seeing Geoff play in Islington a couple of years ago which has some of the harder ti find Geoff & Maria Muldaur stuff – Shiver Me Timbers… And I’m with you on “Tennessee Blues” – the blend of Garth’s accordian and Amos’ guitar is to die for…
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Hi Steve .. thanks for such a well informed comment. Regards Thom
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Good to hear from you Martin. I had a feeling this one would be up your street!not heard Geoff Muldaur .. will check it out. My own introduction to the song as through many inebriated evenings listening to The Balham Alligators with Geraint Watkins at the old Hare & Hounds in Islington.just a fabulous song and the original still the one. Best regards Thom.
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Thom, your reference to the Balham Alligators had me running upstairs to where the vinyl is kept. As I write this I have in my hands “The Balham Alligators” from 1987 on The Special Delivery label, (SPD1002). Forgot I had it, from memory it would have been acquired from Projection Records in Leigh On Sea, probably early 1988. (The shop and warehouse was owned and run by Dave Hatfield, (he of the Kursaal Flyers fame), who used to put on amazing concerts at The Grand Hotel in Leigh with the likes of Peter Rowan and Flaco Jimenez.
As you say, Geraint Watkins was always the main man although on the album Ron Kavana and The Panic Brothers, (featuring the great Reg Meuross) also make an appearance. “Tennessee Blues” is on side 1, track 5, sandwiched between “Eddie Shuler’s “Sugar Bee” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”.
Off to give it a spin now, this copy can’t have seen a turntable for about 30 years!
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Great that I’ve encouraged you to seek out The Alligatorsyoull See there are posts here featuring Geraint (Promised Land) and on Sugar Bee. Regards and keep commenting! Thom. again!
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You put me to shame Martin, never seen Geoff (or Maria) Muldaur live, and I’m only an hours drive from Central London, must make more effort to see some of these guys, none of us are getting any younger.
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