Trouble in Mind (song)
Encyclopedia
"Trouble in Mind" is a slow eight-bar blues song written by jazz pianist Richard M. Jones
. The song was recorded in 1924 by singer Thelma La Vizzo with Jones providing the piano accompaniment. The song became an early blues standard, with versions by Bertha "Chippie" Hill with Louis Armstrong
on cornet and Jones on piano (1926 OKeh 8312), Georgia White
(1936 Decca 7192), Victoria Spivey
(as Jane Lucas) (1936 Vocalion 3346), and Bob Wills
and His Texas Playboys (1936 Vocalion 3343). Later, "Trouble in Mind" was a Billboard R&B chart hit for Dinah Washington
(#4 in 1952) and Nina Simone
(#11 in 1961 and #92 in the pop chart).
In many versions of "Trouble in Mind", several new verses are added. However, the songs usually include the opening:
Richard M. Jones
Richard M. Jones, born Richard Marigny Jones, was a jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and record producer. Numerous songs bear his name as author, including "Trouble in Mind"....
. The song was recorded in 1924 by singer Thelma La Vizzo with Jones providing the piano accompaniment. The song became an early blues standard, with versions by Bertha "Chippie" Hill with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
on cornet and Jones on piano (1926 OKeh 8312), Georgia White
Georgia White
Georgia White was an African American blues singer, most prolific in the 1930s and 1940s.Little is known of her early life. By the late 1920s she was singing in clubs in Chicago, and she made her first recording, "When You're Smiling, the Whole World Smiles With You," with Jimmie Noone's...
(1936 Decca 7192), Victoria Spivey
Victoria Spivey
Victoria Spivey was an American blues singer and songwriter. She is best known for her recordings of "Dope Head Blues" and "Organ Grinder Blues", and Spivey variously worked with her sister, Addie "Sweet Pease" Spivey, and with Bob Dylan, Lonnie Johnson, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Clarence...
(as Jane Lucas) (1936 Vocalion 3346), and Bob Wills
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
and His Texas Playboys (1936 Vocalion 3343). Later, "Trouble in Mind" was a Billboard R&B chart hit for Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
(#4 in 1952) and Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice 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...
(#11 in 1961 and #92 in the pop chart).
In many versions of "Trouble in Mind", several new verses are added. However, the songs usually include the opening:
- Trouble in mind, I’m blue
- But I won’t be blue always
- 'Cause I know the sun's gonna shine in my back door someday
Other versions
"Trouble in Mind" has been recorded by numerous artists, including:- 1941 - Sister Rosetta TharpeSister Rosetta TharpeSister Rosetta Tharpe was an Amercian pioneering gospel singer, songwriter and recording artist who attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll accompaniment...
with Lucky MillinderLucky MillinderLucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
& His Orchestra (Decca 48053). - 1944 - Jay McShann's Kansas City StompersJay McShannJay McShann was an American Grammy Award-nominated jump blues, mainstream jazz, and swing bandleader, pianist and singer....
with Julia LeeJulia Lee (musician)Julia Lee was an American blues and dirty blues musician.-Biography:Born in Boonville, Missouri, United States, Lee was raised in Kansas City, and began her musical career around 1920, singing and playing piano in her brother George Lee's band, which for a time also included Charlie Parker...
(Capitol 10030). - 1955 - Eddy ArnoldEddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
(RCA 47-6365). - 1959 - Duane EddyDuane EddyDuane Eddy is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he had a string of hit records, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including "Rebel Rouser", "Peter Gunn", and "Because They're Young"...
from Especially for YouEspecially for You (Duane Eddy album)Especially for You is the second album by guitarist Duane Eddy. It was released in 1959.- Track listing :All songs written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood unless noted#"Peter Gunn" - 2:30 #"Only Child" - 3:34...
. - 1962 - Cannonball Adderley from Cannonball in Europe!Cannonball in Europe!Cannonball in Europe! is a live album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley recorded at the Comblain-la-Tour in Belgium and released on the Capitol label featuring performances by Adderley with Nat Adderley, Yusef Lateef, Joe Zawinul, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes...
. - 1963 - Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
as a demo with the Tridents from 1991 BeckologyBeckologyBeckology by guitarist Jeff Beck was released in 1991 as a 3 CD career retrospective. Beckology covers the work of a guitarist widely acknowledged as one of the most influential and gifted exponents of the electric guitar, from early days with The Tridents through to his Guitar Shop album in...
. - 1963 - Janis JoplinJanis JoplinJanis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
as a demo from 1975 JanisJanis (1975 album)Janis is a collection of performances by Janis Joplin, issued in 1975 as a compilation album containing film soundtrack and live recordings. Disc one is subtitled "From the soundtrack of the motion picture Janis ". In addition to concert recordings from Toronto and Frankfurt, there are several...
. - 1968 - Ruth BrownRuth BrownRuth Brown was an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, composer and actress, noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and " He Treats Your Daughter Mean".For these...
with The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra from The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth BrownThe Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth BrownThe Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown, also released as Fine Brown Frame, is a 1968 Solid State Records recording of vocalist Ruth Brown with the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.-Track listing:...
. - 1975 - Tennessee Ernie FordTennessee Ernie FordErnest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
and Glen CampbellGlen CampbellGlen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
from Ernie Sings & Glen PicksErnie Sings & Glen PicksErnie Sings & Glen Picks is an album by singer Tennessee Ernie Ford and singer/guitarist Glen Campbell, released in 1975 .-Track listing:Side 1:# "Trouble In Mind" Ernie Sings & Glen Picks is an album by singer Tennessee Ernie Ford and singer/guitarist Glen Campbell, released in 1975 (see 1975 in...
. - 1985 - Marianne FaithfullMarianne FaithfullMarianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
from film soundtrack Trouble in MindTrouble in Mind (film)Trouble in Mind is a 1985 neo-noir film which follows an ex-cop just released from jail after serving time for a murder sentence as he returns to the mean streets of the fictional "Rain City"....
. - 1987 - Hank Williams, Jr.Hank Williams, Jr.Randall Hank Williams , better known as Hank Williams, Jr. and Bocephus, is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style is often considered a blend of Southern rock, blues, and traditional country...
from Hank LiveHank LiveHank Live is a live album by American country music artist Hank Williams, Jr. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in January 1987. The album reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.-Track listing:...
, Jerry Garcia Acoustic BandJerry García Acoustic BandThe Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band was a band formed by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. They played a number of concerts in 1987 and subsequently released two live albums.-Band members:*Jerry Garcia - guitar, vocals*David Nelson - guitar, vocals...
from "Ragged But RightRagged but RightRagged but Right is the second live album by the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band. It was recorded in October and December 1987 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City, the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, and the Warfield Theater in San Francisco...
"
- 1992 - Hot TunaHot TunaHot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
from Live at SweetwaterLive at SweetwaterLive at Sweetwater is a live Hot Tuna album recorded in 1992 at Mill Valley, CA. It was their first new recording made for Relix Records, although they had previously released older performances with Relix...
. - 2003 - Elkie BrooksElkie BrooksElkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
and Humphrey LytteltonHumphrey LytteltonHumphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
from Trouble in Mind. - 2003 - Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
from Unearthed. - 2003 - James Blood Ulmer from No Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady SessionsNo Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady SessionsNo Escape from the Blues: The Electric Lady Sessions is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in and released on the Hyena label in 2003...
. - 2006 - Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
from Last Man Standing; also live version with Ron WoodRon WoodRonald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
from Last Man Standing LiveLast Man Standing LiveLast Man Standing Live is an album recorded live 2006, by Jerry Lee Lewis in cooperation with other musicians...
. - 2007 - Magnolia Electric Co. from SojournerSojourner (album)Sojourner is Magnolia Electric Co.'s 2007 box-set release, comprising: three full-length albums, one four-song EP, one documentary movie on DVD, The Road Becomes What You Leave; a celestial map and a medallion; all within a wooden box...
. - 2009 - John GorkaJohn GorkaJohn Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement."-Biography:...
from So Dark You SeeSo Dark You See-Personnel:Musicians* John Gorka — vocals, fretless banjo, guitar, harmonium, keyboards and percussion* Marc Anderson — percussion* Dan Chouinard — accordion* Dick Freymuth — electric guitar* Rob Genadek — Percussion...
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