Mississippi John Hurt — Salty Dog Blues
Album: Best Of Mississippi John HurtAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 377
Length: 3:04
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At long last! One of the better bluesmen ever! Great to hear some Mississippi John Hurt on RP. Rock on, Bill!
Greetings from London
A Cuban In London.
Greetings from London
A Cuban In London.
"Salty dog?" I thought the President's doctor told him to cut back on the sodium intake! 
skyguy wrote:
exactly.
exactly.
fredriley wrote:
What? A blues song with barely-concealed overtones of sexuality? Shocked. I am shocked.
This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.
What? A blues song with barely-concealed overtones of sexuality? Shocked. I am shocked.
cc_rider wrote:
I can assure you Mr. Hurt had his guitar tuned exactly the way he wanted it. Not everybody's cuppa, sure, but when you become a legend, you can tune your guitar any way you want, too.
nagsheadlocal wrote:
Yep. Comes from "sea dog" which was a term for a sailor on shore leave looking for a little loving.
As well as:- salty dog has an older sexual meaning. For example, in the traditional song "Salty Dog Blues", the lyric "Honey, let me be your salty dog" translates to "Let me be your sexual partner."
Yep. Comes from "sea dog" which was a term for a sailor on shore leave looking for a little loving.
As well as:- salty dog has an older sexual meaning. For example, in the traditional song "Salty Dog Blues", the lyric "Honey, let me be your salty dog" translates to "Let me be your sexual partner."
RCLMusician wrote:
I don't wanna be your salty dog. But I DO wanna be the guy who tunes your guitar! Tune your guitar!!! Yikes. Close enough for the blues, I guess.
I can assure you Mr. Hurt had his guitar tuned exactly the way he wanted it. Not everybody's cuppa, sure, but when you become a legend, you can tune your guitar any way you want, too. fredriley wrote:
Yep. Comes from "sea dog" which was a term for a sailor on shore leave looking for a little loving.
This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.
Yep. Comes from "sea dog" which was a term for a sailor on shore leave looking for a little loving.
This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.
Now I want a philly cheese steak from the Salty Dawg Pub & Deli in Tallahassee, FL
So bad it's awesome.
my first song this day on RP, can't be better!
I don't wanna be your salty dog. But I DO wanna be the guy who tunes your guitar! Tune your guitar!!! Yikes. Close enough for the blues, I guess.
stkman wrote:
You ever hear Doc do "Columbus Stockade Blues"? Now, there's some guitar playing!
John Hurt contributed so much to the blues scene, many blues musicans were influenced or played with John also greats like Doc and Merle Watson known more for their bluegrass but Merle was a smokin ass blues player sure do miss him
You ever hear Doc do "Columbus Stockade Blues"? Now, there's some guitar playing!
John Hurt contributed so much to the blues scene, many blues musicans were influenced or played with John also greats like Doc and Merle Watson known more for their bluegrass but Merle was a smokin ass blues player sure do miss him
skyguy wrote:
Or J.B. Hutto?
Howzabout some John Fahey?
Or J.B. Hutto?
cc_rider wrote:
How cool! Definitely needed to bring some soul/charisma back into the music industry
The Armadillo in Austin did similar things. And The Grey Ghost played Austin right up until his death. Pinetop Perkins lives near here too: Antone's had a big b'day bash for him recently.
Sort of like the story of Buena Vista Social Club: finding these great artists, long since retired (or more likely quit playing to get 'real' jobs), and sharing their talent with a world that's finally ready to appreciate them!
c.
Sort of like the story of Buena Vista Social Club: finding these great artists, long since retired (or more likely quit playing to get 'real' jobs), and sharing their talent with a world that's finally ready to appreciate them!
c.
How cool! Definitely needed to bring some soul/charisma back into the music industry
Howzabout some John Fahey?
"fats and skinny went to bed
fats rolled over now skinny's dead
honey let me be your salty dog"
/my dad used to sing this to me with that verse
fats rolled over now skinny's dead
honey let me be your salty dog"
/my dad used to sing this to me with that verse
MrSpaz wrote:
I came just to mention this. Glad to see someone else picked up on it.
Anyone else remember what song lifted the "little fish big fish swimming in the water" line? It was an angry-chik song, maybe late '90s.
Edit: Found it. PJ Harvey's "Down By the Water."
Edit: Found it. PJ Harvey's "Down By the Water."
I came just to mention this. Glad to see someone else picked up on it.
steeler wrote:
The Armadillo in Austin did similar things. And The Grey Ghost played Austin right up until his death. Pinetop Perkins lives near here too: Antone's had a big b'day bash for him recently.
Sort of like the story of Buena Vista Social Club: finding these great artists, long since retired (or more likely quit playing to get 'real' jobs), and sharing their talent with a world that's finally ready to appreciate them!
c.
When I lived in Chicago, I would go to the Chicago BluesFest each summer. Often, they would bring back "rediscovered" old black bluesmen (and sometimes women). They would track them down, sometimes deep into the piney woods, in some rural setting, and whisk them to Chitown. Sometimes these elderly musicians would have to be helped onstage, but when they got to, say the piano, they would just wail. Amazing stuff.
The Armadillo in Austin did similar things. And The Grey Ghost played Austin right up until his death. Pinetop Perkins lives near here too: Antone's had a big b'day bash for him recently.
Sort of like the story of Buena Vista Social Club: finding these great artists, long since retired (or more likely quit playing to get 'real' jobs), and sharing their talent with a world that's finally ready to appreciate them!
c.
OUT -freakin'- STANDING!
c.
c.
What a class act and cool cat John Hurt was. His stylings influenced so many. More Mississippi John, please 
So many fine tunes on this 'twofer' album.
Seems a pity to select only three.
More Miss'ssippi John, puleez!
Seems a pity to select only three.
More Miss'ssippi John, puleez!
Ruff! Ruff! Pant, slobber. Arroooo! 7 from the Nottingham kennels.
wow. something new for me. i must investigate Mississippi John Hurt. 
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Here's where it becomes obvious I don't know my musics: This sounds like it has a lot more to do with Django Reinhardt than what I think of as "blues."
Before WWII there were lots of regional styles. This style incorporated ragtime and included more intricate picking than say, Delta blues which was more percussive.
Please Bill, just once let us hear this man singin' 'Nearer My God to Thee'!
John Hurt's influence spans several music genres including blues, country, bluegrass, folk and contemporary rock and roll. A soft-spoken man, his nature was reflected in the work, which remained a mellow mix of country, blues and old time music to the end.
(click here)
Here's where it becomes obvious I don't know my musics: This sounds like it has a lot more to do with Django Reinhardt than what I think of as "blues."
Great to hear some Piedmont blues from one of the originals. It would be great to hear some songs by Rev. Gary Davis or Blind Willie McTell too.
Johnny Cash covered this tune -- great stuff, as usual. He sounded like he had a blast recording it.
Arlo Guthrie would fit nicely into this wonderful set somewhere?
BIll has Candy Man from the same album. He hasn't played it yet. How about it Bill?
maLeFunKtion wrote:
I could have sworn when this started that it was Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album.
More than a striking resemblance. Still.. good stuff
Wow, Bill just put that song on to follow Salty Dog today!
Listen up... R&B class is in session at RP.
Keep up the good work!
A real classic from a real classic bluesman. This should be played every day, without fail.
Now this is a boppin' little ditty - just a pickin' and a grinnin' - everybody now
maLeFunKtion wrote: Maybe Fleetwood Mac sounds like him.:)
I could have sworn when this started that it was Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album.
More than a striking resemblance. Still.. good stuff
I could have sworn when this started that it was Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album.
More than a striking resemblance. Still.. good stuff
Wonderful, but unlike David Lindley & Hani Naser - Tijuana, played a little earlier, this does not grow on me during the song
More of this kind of blues-y roots kind of music, please. So good for the soul. Most excellent.
Nice song very bluesy
Buzzardcheater wrote:
Ahhh. Mississippi John Hurt! Awesome. I just love the image of the "rediscovered" (by a white guy) John Hurt, playing "Salty Dog" in a University auditorium and getting standing O's from the all-white audience. What do you suppose went through his mind?
He probably thought, wow, this is just like 1928 when I used to play with white musicians for white audiences.
Black blues musicians often played for white audiences back in the day, and Hurt in particular often played with white musicians. He got his recording contract at the recommendation of a white musician he often played with.
Ah, assumptions....
Thanks RP - another GREAT Blues track!!
Buzzardcheater wrote:
Ahhh. Mississippi John Hurt! Awesome. I just love the image of the "rediscovered" (by a white guy) John Hurt, playing "Salty Dog" in a University auditorium and getting standing O's from the all-white audience. What do you suppose went through his mind?
buzzardcheater.
When I lived in Chicago, I would go to the Chicago BluesFest each summer. Often, they would bring back "rediscovered" old black bluesmen (and sometimes women). They would track them down, sometimes deep into the piney woods, in some rural setting, and whisk them to Chitown. Sometimes these elderly musicians would have to be helped onstage, but when they got to, say the piano, they would just wail. Amazing stuff.
Anyone else remember what song lifted the "little fish big fish swimming in the water" line? It was an angry-chik song, maybe late '90s.
Edit: Found it. PJ Harvey's "Down By the Water."
Even if I was the last person to make a comment, I feel compelled to add more. This song, and this artist, makes me happy. I am sad that some person elected to break into my car in Vancouver and relieve me of this and perhaps 10 other CDs. I wonder how much heroin that translates into.
srbarry wrote:
This whole album is killer. Uplifting blues!
Yeah, this is the album with "C-H-I-C-K-E-N. That's the way you spell Chicken".
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...Salty Dog!................Aurghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" =P~
thanks RP
This whole album is killer. Uplifting blues!
Railbird wrote:
It just don't get better than this!
I second that!
It just don't get better than this!
Ahhh. Mississippi John Hurt! Awesome. I just love the image of the \"rediscovered\" (by a white guy) John Hurt, playing \"Salty Dog\" in a University auditorium and getting standing O\'s from the all-white audience. What do you suppose went through his mind?
buzzardcheater.
ooohhhh, maaaaaAAAA-tronnnnn....