Freddie Spruell
Freddie Spruell (December 28, 1893 – June 19, 1956) was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer.
He was variously billed as Papa Freddie or Mr. Freddie, and he is generally regarded as the first Delta bluesman to be recorded ("Milk Cow Blues", 1926). However, both Mamie Smith (1920) and Blind Lemon Jefferson (1925), pre-dated him in waxing the first 'blues' records. Details of his life are sketchy and sometimes contradictory.
Biography
Spruell was probably born in Lake Providence, Louisiana, United States, but relocated with his family to Chicago, Illinois, as a small child. His Social Security records gave his birth date as December 1893. His recordings, although classed as Delta blues, were noted for reasons of his musical styling, rather than any geographical accuracy regarding his long-time place of residence.
On June 25, 1926, Spruell cut "Milk Cow Blues" in Chicago. The track was released by Okeh Records, alongside "Muddy Water Blues" which was recorded in November that year, both sides using the Papa Freddie name. His second single release included "Way Back Down Home" and the same "Muddy Water Blues" track. He recorded two more songs in 1928, one of which was "Tom Cat Blues", and were issued by Paramount Records as by Mr. Freddie Spruell. Five further songs were recorded in April 1935, and released under the shorter Mr. Freddie name on the Bluebird Records label. This latter recording session saw him cut "Let's Go Riding", his best known number. Carl Martin played second guitar behind Spruell, on the track.
Podcasts:
Freddie Spruell
ALBUMS
- Definitive Delta Blues released: 2012
- When the Levee Breaks: Mississippi Blues, Rare Cuts 1926-41 released: 2007
- Mississippi Blues:Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1926-1935) released: 1994
- Lonesome Road Blues: 15 Years In The Mississippi Delta: 1926-1941 released:
Definitive Delta Blues
Released 2012- Delta Blues
- Country Blues
- Stagolee
- Death Valley Blues
- Black Spider Blues
- Highway No.51
- Candy Man Blues
- Hellhound on My Trail
- Early in the Morning
- Hobo Jungle Blues
- Motherless and Fatherless Blues
- Blue Harvest Blues
- Aberdeen Mississippi Blues
- Banana Your Fruit Basket
- My Black Mama, Part 1
- Left Alone Blues
- Nobody's Fault But Mine
- 1951 Blues
- Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
- Rockin' Chair Blues
- Something Gonna Happen to You
- Joe's Jump
- Cool Drink Water of Blues
- Rootin' Ground Hog
- Cross Road Blues
When the Levee Breaks: Mississippi Blues, Rare Cuts 1926-41
Released 2007- My Buddy Blind Papa Lemon
- Snatch It Back Blues
- Machine Gun Blues
- Revenue Man Blues
- Mr. Freddie's Kokomo Blues
- Over to My House
- Barefoot Blues
- Jumpin' and Shoutin' Blues
- Look Who's Coming Down the Road
- Traveling Mama Blues
- Leavin' Here Blues
- Got the Blues About Rome
- Young Heifer Blues
- Skippy Whippy
- Yellow Dog Blues
- You Can't Keep No Brown
- Tallahatchie River Blues
- Stered Gal
- Motherless and Fatherless Blues
- Don't Misuse Me, Baby
- I'm Gonna Train My Baby
- Out on Santa Fe Blues
- It's Hard Times
- Your Good Man Is Gone
- Cold Woman Blues
Mississippi Blues:Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1926-1935)
Released 1994- Two Time Blues
- Out On Santa Fe-Blues
- That Won't Do
- Good Boy Blues
- Quarrellin' Mama Blues
- Revenue Man Blues
- Milk Cow Blues
- Muddy Water Blues
- Way Back Down Home
- Tom Cat Blues
- Low-Down Mississippi Bottom Man
- 4a Highway
- Don't Cry Baby
- Your Good Man Is Gone
- Let's Go Riding
- Mr. Freddie's Kokomo Blues
- It's Killin' Me
- Poor Boy Blues
- Jake Leg Blues
- My Mean Baby Blues
- Dirty Mistreater
- Rainy Day Blues
- Beer Garden Blues
- Dark Road Blues
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
-
by Freddie Spruell
Muddy Water Blues
by: Freddie SpruellI know you heard the story : listen now people I know the
song
I mean I drink muddy water : I mean sugar now the whole
night long
I'd rather drink muddy water : rather sleep in a real
hollow log
Baby now before I'd stay with you : let you treat me like
your driving dog
Now daddy daddy daddy listen : turn your lights down low
I got something good to tell you : she *holler* daddy
just before you go
Put your hat on my dresser : put your shoes daddy now
under my bed
You yearn for my pillow daddy : just to hold your little
old worried head
Listen mmm : baby now how long how long
I mean I'd rather drink muddy water baby : because you
know you sure have done me wrong
I'd rather drink muddy water : I'd rather wade in muddy
water too
Now before I'd stay with you : and take these lowdown