Gin House Blues
Encyclopedia
"Gin House Blues" is the title of two different blues
song
s, which have become confused over the years. Both songs were first recorded by Bessie Smith
.
The song originally titled "Gin House Blues" was written
by Fletcher Henderson
and Henry Troy in 1925, and recorded
by Bessie Smith with Henderson on 18 March 1926. It has the opening lines "I've got a sad sad story today / I'm goin' to the gin house when the whistle blows..."
However, the song now most usually called "Gin House" or "Gin House Blues" - with the opening lines "Stay away from me 'cause I'm in my sin / If this place gets raided, it's just me and my gin..." - is an entirely different song. It was originally entitled "Me and My Gin", and was recorded by Bessie Smith on 25 August 1928 and released on Columbia
14384-D. It was written by "Harry Burke", which may be a pseudonym of the pianist and songwriter James C. Johnson
. It is this song which has been recorded by many musician
s over the years under the title "Gin House Blues" (see listing below), with authorship usually credited to Henderson and Troy, apparently in error.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, which have become confused over the years. Both songs were first recorded by Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s...
.
The song originally titled "Gin House Blues" was written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
and Henry Troy in 1925, and recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
by Bessie Smith with Henderson on 18 March 1926. It has the opening lines "I've got a sad sad story today / I'm goin' to the gin house when the whistle blows..."
However, the song now most usually called "Gin House" or "Gin House Blues" - with the opening lines "Stay away from me 'cause I'm in my sin / If this place gets raided, it's just me and my gin..." - is an entirely different song. It was originally entitled "Me and My Gin", and was recorded by Bessie Smith on 25 August 1928 and released on Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
14384-D. It was written by "Harry Burke", which may be a pseudonym of the pianist and songwriter James C. Johnson
James C. Johnson
Jay Cee Johnson , usually known as J. C. Johnson and in some sources, mistakenly, as James C. Johnson Jay Cee Johnson (14 September 1896 - 27 February 1981), usually known as J. C. Johnson and in some sources, mistakenly, as James C. Johnson Jay Cee Johnson (14 September 1896 - 27 February 1981),...
. It is this song which has been recorded by many musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s over the years under the title "Gin House Blues" (see listing below), with authorship usually credited to Henderson and Troy, apparently in error.
Recorded versions of 'Me and My Gin' under the title 'Gin House Blues'
- Bessie SmithBessie SmithBessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s...
- first recorded under the title 'Me and My Gin' on 25 August 1928, in New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and issued as Columbia 14384-D. She also recorded a different song called 'Gin House Blues', with Fletcher Henderson, on 18 March 1926. - Nina SimoneNina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
- different versions appear on her albums, Forbidden Fruit and 'Nuff Said!; plus in a live recording format on her The Great Show Live In ParisThe Great Show Live In ParisThe Great Show Live In Paris is a live album by American singer-songwriter and pianist Nina Simone recorded in 1968. The album was first released in 1975.-Track listing:#"Intro & Devil's Workshop"#"Just in Time"#"When I Was a Young Girl"...
collection. - Amen CornerAmen Corner (band)Amen Corner were a successful Welsh rock group, formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales.-Career:The band was named after The Amen Corner, a weekly disc spin at the Victoria Ballroom in Cardiff, Wales, where every Sunday night Dr...
- released the song as a singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1967; it reached Number 12 in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. - The AnimalsThe AnimalsThe Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
- it appeared on their albums AnimalismsAnimalismsAnimalisms is the third British album by British group The Animals. It has a track listing generally similar to the American version Animalization that would be released two months later....
(UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
release) and the corresponding AnimalizationAnimalizationAnimalization is the fourth American album by British R&B group The Animals. It has a track listing somewhat similar to the British album Animalisms...
(U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
release) in 1966. - Beverley MartynBeverley MartynBeverley Martyn is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.While still a student, she was picked to front The Levee Breakers, a jug band who played the folk circuit in South East England...
- unreleased - Buster BaileyBuster BaileyWilliam C. "Buster" Bailey was a jazz musician specializing in the clarinet, but also well versed on saxophone...
- Paul BanksPaul BanksPaul Julian Banks is an English American musician, best known as the lead singer, lyricist and guitarist of the rock band Interpol. He is also a solo artist under the name Julian Plenti. As a singer, Banks' voice lies in the baritone range.-Early life:Banks was born in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England...
- Cuby & the BlizzardsCuby & the BlizzardsCuby + Blizzards – also known as Cuby & the Blizzards – are a Dutch blues group that formed in 1964 around Harry Muskee and Eelco Gelling...
- Cow Cow DavenportCow Cow DavenportCharles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport was an American boogie woogie piano player. He also played the organ and sang.-Career:...
- Andy Fairweather Low
- Little Brother MontgomeryLittle Brother MontgomeryEurreal Wilford "Little Brother" Montgomery was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and blues pianist and singer....
- Duffy PowerDuffy PowerDuffy Power is an English blues and rock and roll singer, who achieved some success in the 1960s and has performed and recorded intermittently since then.-Career:...