"Crawling King Snake" (alternatively "Crawlin' King Snake" or "Crawling/Crawlin' Kingsnake") is a blues song that has been recorded by numerous blues and other artists. It is believed to have originated as a Delta blues in the 1920s[1] and be related to earlier songs, such as "Black Snake Blues" by Victoria Spivey[2] and "Black Snake Moan" by Blind Lemon Jefferson.[3]
As "Crawling King Snake", it was first recorded by Big Joe Williams on March 27, 1941. The song is a country-style blues, with Williams on vocal and nine-string guitar and William Mitchell providing imitation bass[4] accompaniment. On June 3, 1941, Delta bluesman Tony Hollins recorded "a markedly different version",[5][6] which served as the basis for many subsequent versions.
John Lee Hooker versionsedit
John Lee Hooker began performing "Crawling King Snake" early in his career and included it in his sets after arriving in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1940s.[7] In an interview, Hooker explained that he adapted Tony Hollins' song: "I got that 'Crawling King Snake' from him [Hollins]".[8] Hooker first recorded the song in Detroit on February 18, 1949 for producer Bernard Besman.[9] When it was released by Los Angeles-based Modern Records, "Crawling King Snake" became one of Hooker's most successful singles, reaching number six on the Billboard R&B chart in 1949.[10] Hooker recorded several subsequent versions of the song, including one with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards for Hooker's 1991 album Mr. Lucky.
Other recordingsedit
"Crawling King Snake" has been recorded by numerous musicians[1] and the song "became a concert staple for dozens of blues-rock bands".[11] In 1971, the Doors recorded a rock adaptation of "Crawling King Snake".[12] Band drummer John Densmore recalled that the group often listened to the song during their early years; vocalist Jim Morrison suggested they record it, which the Doors eventually did for their sixth album, L.A. Woman.[13] For the recording, additional instrumentation was provided by Jerry Scheff on bass and Marc Benno on rhythm guitar.[14]
In April 2021, a version by the Black Keys was released as a single ahead of the release of their tenth studio album Delta Kream.[15] The group's singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach came upon it by way of a recording by Junior Kimbrough. He explained:
This is basically folk music on a certain level, and a lot of this music is like hand-me-downs from generation to generation... I’m singing lyrics that are like third-generation wrong lyrics. I’m singing a certain version that Junior recorded where maybe he messed up a line, but that’s the only one I know. So we were really just kind of flying by the seat of our pants.[15]
^Allen, Jim (April 19, 2016). "The Story Behind the Songs of the Doors' Last Hurrah, L.A. Woman". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman Q&A and Performance. Event occurs at 17:25. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
^Weidman, Richie (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 162. ISBN978-1617131141.
^ abStrauss, Matthew. "The Black Keys Blues Covers Album, Share "Crawling Kingsnake": Listen". Pitchfork.
January 01, 1970
crawling, king, snake, alternatively, crawlin, king, snake, crawling, crawlin, kingsnake, blues, song, that, been, recorded, numerous, blues, other, artists, believed, have, originated, delta, blues, 1920s, related, earlier, songs, such, black, snake, blues, v. Crawling King Snake alternatively Crawlin King Snake or Crawling Crawlin Kingsnake is a blues song that has been recorded by numerous blues and other artists It is believed to have originated as a Delta blues in the 1920s 1 and be related to earlier songs such as Black Snake Blues by Victoria Spivey 2 and Black Snake Moan by Blind Lemon Jefferson 3 Crawling King Snake Single by Big Joe WilliamsB side Meet Me Around the Corner Released1941 1941 RecordedChicago March 27 1941GenreBluesLength2 51LabelBluebirdSongwriter s Unknown As Crawling King Snake it was first recorded by Big Joe Williams on March 27 1941 The song is a country style blues with Williams on vocal and nine string guitar and William Mitchell providing imitation bass 4 accompaniment On June 3 1941 Delta bluesman Tony Hollins recorded a markedly different version 5 6 which served as the basis for many subsequent versions John Lee Hooker versions editJohn Lee Hooker began performing Crawling King Snake early in his career and included it in his sets after arriving in Detroit Michigan in the early 1940s 7 In an interview Hooker explained that he adapted Tony Hollins song I got that Crawling King Snake from him Hollins 8 Hooker first recorded the song in Detroit on February 18 1949 for producer Bernard Besman 9 When it was released by Los Angeles based Modern Records Crawling King Snake became one of Hooker s most successful singles reaching number six on the Billboard R amp B chart in 1949 10 Hooker recorded several subsequent versions of the song including one with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards for Hooker s 1991 album Mr Lucky Other recordings edit Crawling King Snake has been recorded by numerous musicians 1 and the song became a concert staple for dozens of blues rock bands 11 In 1971 the Doors recorded a rock adaptation of Crawling King Snake 12 Band drummer John Densmore recalled that the group often listened to the song during their early years vocalist Jim Morrison suggested they record it which the Doors eventually did for their sixth album L A Woman 13 For the recording additional instrumentation was provided by Jerry Scheff on bass and Marc Benno on rhythm guitar 14 In April 2021 a version by the Black Keys was released as a single ahead of the release of their tenth studio album Delta Kream 15 The group s singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach came upon it by way of a recording by Junior Kimbrough He explained This is basically folk music on a certain level and a lot of this music is like hand me downs from generation to generation I m singing lyrics that are like third generation wrong lyrics I m singing a certain version that Junior recorded where maybe he messed up a line but that s the only one I know So we were really just kind of flying by the seat of our pants 15 References edit a b Herzhaft Gerard 1992 Crawling King Snake Encyclopedia of the Blues Fayetteville Arkansas University of Arkansas Press p 443 ISBN 1 55728 252 8 OKeh Records 8338 1926 OKeh Records 8455 1926 Usually a jug or washtub bass Young Alan 1997 Woke Me Up This Morning Black Gospel Singers and the Gospel Life University Press of Mississippi p 292 ISBN 978 0 87805 944 7 OKeh Records 06350 Gioia Ted 2008 Delta Blues Norton Paperback 2009 ed New York City W W Norton p 240 ISBN 978 0 393 33750 1 O Neal Jim van Singel Amy 2002 The Voice of the Blues Classic Interviews from Living Blues Magazine Routledge p 208 ISBN 978 0 415 93654 5 Palmer Robert 1982 Deep Blues New York City Penguin Books p 244 ISBN 0 14006 223 8 Whitburn Joel 1988 John Lee Hooker Top R amp B Singles 1942 1988 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research p 194 ISBN 0 89820 068 7 Dicarre David 1999 Blues Singers Biographies of 50 Legendary Artists of the Early 20th Century McFarland amp Company p 42 ISBN 978 0 7864 0606 7 Allen Jim April 19 2016 The Story Behind the Songs of the Doors Last Hurrah L A Woman Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved April 19 2021 Mr Mojo Risin The Story of L A Woman Q amp A and Performance Event occurs at 17 25 Retrieved April 19 2021 via YouTube Weidman Richie 2011 The Doors FAQ All That s Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock Rowman amp Littlefield p 162 ISBN 978 1617131141 a b Strauss Matthew The Black Keys Blues Covers Album Share Crawling Kingsnake Listen Pitchfork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crawling King Snake amp oldid 1181239260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
