What SMOKING music are you listening to? (2025)

Three plus one for Tuesday

An incomplete history of Hesitation Blues.

While W.C. Handy is credited with writing an instrumental version in 1916 the song already had many variation since it was based on a traditional folk tune. Lyrics changed over places and times with multiple versions gaining popularity over the years.

Here is Louis Armstrong from 1926

Jelly Roll Morton circa 1938

The Holy Model Rounders with the first use of Psycho-dillic on a popular record from 1964. Once you hear it you'll understand why it is spelled that way.

Of course, the Hot Tuna version of the Rev. Gary Davis' version circa 1970.

Bonus

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WW

Continuing on yesterday's theme, Janis Joplin hitch-hiked to San Francisco from her home in Port Arthur Tx in early 1963. While she didn't stay long she may have met Jorma Kaukonen at that time - Jorma isn't sure. He is sure that when Lanis returned in the fall of '63 they did start playing some gigs together, By the summer of 1964 they playing together enough that Janis would come to Jorma's house to rehearse. This would continue until early 1966 when both their careers started to take off.

During one rehearsal Jorma recorded 8 songs with Janis while his wife has typing away on the kitchen table. This became the famous Typewriter session passed along by collectors of both Janis and The Airplane for decades before being finally released with the permission of Jorma and Janis's estate in 2023 which brings us to this:

 
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