Play It For Atlanta

Seen the arrow on the door post saying “This land is condemned”
All the way from New Orleans to Jerusalem.
I traveled through East Texas where many martyrs fell
And I know one thing, nobody can sing them blues like Blind Willie McTell.

Bob Dylan, “Blind Willie McTell”

I seem to be quoting Dylan a lot lately but, in this instance I was thinking about Blind Willie McTell.

Not a cloud in the sky today and I needed to take a morning drive so, I re-loaded the six C.D. changer.

I usually try to get a diverse selection in there. The first one I grabbed was “Pig ‘n Whistle Red” by Blind Willie McTell. Actually, it’s really a duo record with Curly Weaver on guitar and vocals also. They are a full sounding unit for two guys. McTell was a deft 12 string player and there is a lot of harmony singing throughout. The story is that the two had a regular gig at a barbecue place in Atlanta called the Pig ‘n Whistle.

Recorded in 1950 for the Regal label it sounds to me like it was probably a reflection of their live shows with a variety of blues, ragtime and gospel songs. A lot of themes that get people worked up in rap and hip hop, such as booze, drugs, misogyny, and fast cash are represented. Nothing new under the sun.

I first became aware of McTell when I heard the Allman Brothers version of his “Statesboro Blues”. All that I know of any historical music genre came from working my way backwards. If you ever hear Ronnie Van Zant on a live recording at some point he usually says, “play it for Atlanta”, he must have heard this record.

There is not a lot of biographical detail about McTell, or Weaver for that matter, but the music speaks enough.