Thanks Fil for getting around to Jerry Jeff Walker. a great song by a great artist. as you know this year has claim the lives of so many great and legendary artists. Rest in Peace Jerry Jeff Walker and thanks for being a great storyteller.
Best live music moment of my life Jerry Jeff Walker Walker live in a small bar in Ambergris Caye Belize with the Caribbean Sea as the back drop and maybe a hundred fans loving every moment played for 2 plus hours pure magic.
❤Thank you Fil. I spent 7yrs of my childhood in Texas my dad dragged me to Jerry Jeff, and many other county/folk/outlaw performers and I dragged him to Pantera and the like I did not always fully appreciate his taste in music but I do now.
I saw Jerry Jeff and the _Lost Gonzo Band_ live at Texas Tech University in 1976. It was a great show. One thing happened that got a big laugh from the audience. Gary P Nunn was singing _London Homesick Blues_ into one of those big chrome microphones they used back then when he got too close and it zapped him in the lips with a jolt of electricity. He moved backwards about 5 feet instantly and shouted several words that were not in the lyrics. Jerry Jeff, Gary and the band performed great....without the horrid high volume that concerts have now.
Now I'm curious is the curator of this a Brit or an aussie and why not review the London Homsick blues truly one of my favorites I'd like to know what that big eyed girl wanted to meet him for ? Bet she has regrets. Bye.
I was just watching Jerry Jeff doing this song many years back and I remembered this video. He's playing here in a much faster tempo than he did on the earlier video. Both of them are excellent.This one seems more spontaneous. Thanks Fil!
First time I heard this song was by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Lots of people doing it in the seventies. I believe Jim Stafford was the second version I heard--if I remember correctly Sammy Davis, Jr's was afterwards. No dissing any of the versions, they all have merit, it was just to my experience and ear I was most familiar with the NGDB version--didn't know for some time that it was Jerry Jeff Walker song. At the time I wasn't big into his kind of music, so I never delved into his work in general, but it's obvious from this one song he was an astute songwriter.
Fil--THANKYOU FOR PLAYING THE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. His timing is so appropriate for the song and his voice. Nice chords, as well. The timing is, in itself, "dancing" and, after all, is that not what the song speaks?
FIL--thank you for reading my comment. You may also see me as "Mike," a nickname my parents chose the very day I was born. Because my name is so distinctive, I rarely, in the world as it is today, publish my full name. Enjoyed last night's live stream very much. I envy your talent, and applaud your hard work.
I took Jerry Jeff’s songs on the road with me in 1976 and played them for people in clubs in Illinois, Wisconsin, and other places in the northern US who didn’t have a clue who he was. After I came in off the road, I moved back to Austin and caught Jerry Jeff in concert on the UT campus. Just Jerry Jeff and his guitar.
I live up north and trust me all us Yankees were not blind or dead to JJW. Talents at least not me and my bros. Not saying that the disco dummies didnt have the air time up here so you bought the good stuff and shared with friends never had one bitch about it either. 69 pushing 70 and I ain't giving up for pop ,rap, or crap
Oh you said Illinois and Wisconsin sorry Tim but that's not the midwest you have to cross the Mississippi river to be west Chicago and Milwaukee. That's not country MO.IA.MN.KS.SD.ND. THATS midwest then you cross Missouri river now yer heading west no wonder you were let down by the crowd heck I been there I felt the same big city's suck and trust me I've been to 95% of the s__tholes in this country as the old song said I been every where man I've been every where look it up google it old trucker killing time. .no harm intended hope your career is well and if not hope your life is.
JJW was an amazing country songwriter, and he always plays with the timing in his vocal delivery like Willie Nelson does. Always dancing around the beat vocally.
Doesn't he drop down out of the melody to a low note, like Willie Nelson often does at the end of a phrase? He was reminding me of Willie, too, but for a different reason!
Jerry Jeff performed his songs the way he felt at the moment and sometimes he and the Gonzo Band could take the timing or the riff somewhere else for a bit then swing right back around.
Thanks so much for covering this, Fil! Jerry Jeff had so many great songs, and was a huge influence on me. I play a lot of his songs, and his death has devastated me like nobody since John Denver.
45 years of being a fan. Never been a fan of nobody else like I was Jerry Jeff. I turned on lots of people to him, in other countries too. Jerry Jeff was his music, and his music was him. He lived it his way.
When I was in USAF ROTC in college in the late 70's, had several officers as guest speakers, describing their different career fields during my sophomore year. One of the officers said that before the Air Force he worked in the music industry. He worked with NGDB on their arrangement of "Mr Bojangles."
NGDB did a great job. I liked where they had the old man talking to his dog "Teddy". A masterful version, of course NBDB were fabulous musicians, I had their "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album, & of course Dirt Silver & Gold.
Sad to hear about Jerry Jeff passing. I'm out of Austin but never met him. I knew his friend Rusty Wier ("Don't It Make You Wanna Dance?"). Rusty used to say, "Good night. If you liked it, I'm Rusty Wier, if you didn't I'm Jerry Jeff Walker!" Rusty was also an "Outlaw".
I have never heard a version of this wonderful song that I didn't love. Prolific country songwriter Harlan Howard described a good country song as, "Three chords and the truth."
First I've heard of him. Part of the reason I like this channel. Opens my eyes to new musicians. Love his voice. Reminds me of Mark Knofler. Dont think I spelled that right. Forgive me.
Thank you for this. Been listening to Jerry Jeff for more than fifty years, and hearing of his passing was heartbreaking. I got to work with him a few times, and he was really one of the good ones.
His eponymous studio album is one of my favorites. Every song on it so touching or sweet or funny. He was a great story teller. Sorry to hear he's gone.
Thanks once again for breaking it all down, Fil, got so much out of it. Wasn't his voice so easy to listen to. I've been noticing the "staircase" you mention in so many songs----does it come especially naturally to writers who are guitarists? (Studying your Fundamentals power chords....)
The song Mr Bojangles is a great example of the beauty of music and how a song can touch us. Jerry Jeff Walker wrote a song that would touch the great Sammy Davis Jr, who himself identified with the song Mr Bojangles - Sammy Davis Jr once said in an interview he feared becoming Mr Bojangles. That’s the beauty of music, it’s universal appeal.
Absolutely. Jerry Jeff would frequently recount how the 2 men met in the "drunk tank" of the 13th precinct jail in New Orleans, a city where Jerry Jeff spent years singing in bars before moving to Texas. Many people believe the man Jerry Jeff met in jail was an African American. This is incorrect as even jails were segregated on racial lines at this time. Thanks for your efforts in researching his music and life in general. He has left behind a greatlegacy of music.
Jerry Jeff considered himself and rightly so a folk singer/guitarist. When he had a band behind him it would take on a different sound. I saw him twice in Luckenbach Texas and once here in Colorado. I greatly admired his guitarists Jon Inmon and Lloyd Maines. Jerry Jeff played in a duo with David Bromberg years ago and felt nobody could play this tune better than Bromberg. The style JJW played was similar to many Texas musicians which is not country or rock but music of their own. Joe Ely was one as well and employed a great guitarist name of David Grissom after Jesse Taylor passed on.
While more country music is in 4/4 there is a lot that is in 3/4 - my father taught me a basic 2 step (4/4) and a basic waltz (3/4) and told me that as long as I could dance those, I could dance anything 😉
Thanks much Fil... you're much appreciated... Jerry Jeff is the reason I got into the business... I met him a few times and unwittingly wound up in the foyer of his house early one morning... I still can't believe he's gone.
After seeing your analysis here Fil, I checked out your analysis of Sammy Davis Jr. You are still new to me.. Didn't know Jerry wrote Mr. Bo Jangles.Of course I saw Sammy's performance before (classic). I can't add anything to what you said about Jerry, except what a great songwriter and guitarist can give to humanity: a story about life☮️
My comment here was not meant to compare Jerry Jeff and Sammy Davis Jr.; just how a great song could be interpreted by another artist, and make it greater than anyone thought it could be☮️♥️
This is also a song that can fit any genre. t's been covered by multiple artists, including Bob Dylan, John Denver, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jr., and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
@@musicairplanes4884 There are many of us who know who David Bromberg is, it's just that we are all getting a bit long in the tooth, LOL. He is still actively performing at 75 years of age and as good as ever. He's truly a national treasure and a musician's musician.
I love that song. And R.I.P. Jerry Jeff Walker Lovely voice..❤❤😎 Brilliant 😢His guitar has been played a lot. Old musicians and old ships make me sad .and nostalgic .May sound stupid, just can't it. I have digressed.💙
agreed... from up tempos to ballad "Mississippi, you're...mind" I played that album so much I know every lyric on every song. I can't say that about any other album I owned back then. RIP. Mr Walker... genius.
Absolutely!! Ive been a JJW fan for 25 years!! Growing up in Southern Texas his music was ALWAYS on and around!! Ridin High is a FANTASTIC album!! Jaded Lover and Pissin' in the Wind are such amazing songs!!! RIP Jerry Jeff!! We will miss the hell outa ya!!!
@@glenntate7570 25 yr fan ,welcome aboard where were you for the 30 yrs prior? To 1995 I first saw JJW. In the 70's at Willie's 4th of July picnic in Tulsa ok. After tx. Didnt want him to picnic in tx. 300,000 fans went to Tulsa and hot as hell partied all day . JJW. Was a master story teller and will be missed by many .wish you had been there. I drove all the way from ia. After closing time and attended that afternoon too bad Tx. Had such a hard on for willie all that lost revenue got them back in line tho. Asleep at the wheel waylon kris k. Merle H. Bocefus, and many others my 69 yr old mind cant name other than jerry jeff. God bless him and happy trails. Till we meet again. Good luck to you
its a Texas waltz lol his folk song back ground. i can actually see this guy dancing in the cell and telling his story.Saw him often even one time openig up for SoulHat a local rock band lol not his crowd but he owned that place that night.
Wow. SoulHat. Haven't thought of them in a while. I just looked them up and I guess they are still around, but I haven't seen them in ages.... I can't imagine him opening for them. Wow.
@@sallyatticum it was a mini festival at waterloo park in austin i think they had a little of everybody playing that day.we dropped acid to go see soulhat and ended up 2 stepping with JJW for an hour. wonderful night lol
@@lynndow3185 I feel lucky for living in Colorado and having Red Rocks. I saw many concerts up there and the acoustics are great. Not to mention sitting under the stars! It was Amazingly beautiful.
Thanks, Fil for finding this particular performance of Jerry Jeff's. Incidentally I'm a major fan. I thought I had found a perfect live performance from that era. Yours is better. He still sang those pretty bass notes, as he was not able to in recent years. Big hero of mine! Kills me how all my hero's were friends. Thanks, Fil for the guitar tips. Great historical info well researched! For the memory of Jerry Jeff, I'd pull my guitar out! ❤️
Not sure where else to put this so... Fil, how about an analysis of this performance: Amy Winehouse: One Shining Night. Irish TV music series. 2006. Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland. "Tears Dry on Their Own"
I didn't know he wrote it, or much else about him, save save for one song. Nor, alas, did I know he had died, but, I wasn't sure he was still alive. Now I wish I knew more.
Thanks Fil for this...I lived in San Antonio in the 70's, saw Jerry Jeff play live many times in and around San Antonio and Austin. Hearing of his passing brought back many fond memories...it sucks growing old...thanks again!
Amen brother. Now I know what the old folks, used to say "If I'd known, I was going to live this long, I'd have taken, much better care of myself." Is absolutely true. Of course we all know Keith Richards will never die.
It's a great song. The story being told is actually tragic. A man of renown, reduced to nothing, after years of adulation. Very sad indeed. It brings back so many memories. Another jam that brings tears to my eyes is Leon Russell's "Song For You". Donnie Hathaway did an outstanding version.(of course Leon is a homeboy, so maybe I'm prejudiced.)
GREAT song by The man who wrote it. RESPECT.♥️ Still the BEST version by far in my opinion. Love this song. Great performance here. Thanks for reacting to this Fil. Great analysis Fil! 🎼🎶🇨🇦
I love this song. This version's even better than Sammy Davis' version. Also, as a Marty Robbins fan, I'm a little puzzled by the idea of 3/4 time not sounding country.
RIP Jerry Jeff. You'll be missed. When I was a teenager the Top 40 stations played the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version...over and over and over and over and over
Love his version.. I don’t think I’m very familiar with this guy, but I enjoy the song.. thank you , Fil.. you did another analysis of someone singing this song, if I remember right. All unique... oh yeah, Sammy Davis, Jr.
My first recollection of this song is seeing Sammy Davis Jr singing-and dancing to it-on television. Although The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had the big hit with it, my favourite version is Neil Diamond's. Still, all those, and this by Jerry Jeff himself are very enjoyable.
The true mark of a great song writer is the number of legendary singers that cover their songs. The art of song writing is not what it used to be. Current songwriters do not bother to tell a story.
Great point. My daughter bought a book,with listings of major & Indie labels (She & her sister are great singers). One label, in their description of what type of artists they were looking for wrote "We are seeking talented singers, musicians, & song writers. Today it seems most people are writing songs about things, they should keep between themselves & their therapists."(paraphrasing) but it's so funny & there's more than a grain of truth in the observation. IMO
Jean, I’m sure JJ would have appreciated that compliment. Funny thing - I was working with him on some public service announcements in Texas about school bus safety, and right in the middle of it, out of the blue, he started playing Woody’s “Take me for a ride in the car-car.”
Great review and demo Fil. Many thanks. He had that "star quality" that could hold an audience with his talent. I saw him in Oklahoma in the early 80s and he was fantastic. When he sang Redneck Mother the audience went mad.
I always liked Derby Day, the chorus "And it must've been one hell of a starry night. Yea the moon was bright, I guess it must've knocked out all of your lights. I guess that's the night that you fell for my silvery line", is an absolute killer!!!! I love that jam!
Here’s an interesting video of Whitney Houston doing MR BOJANGLES as. Tribute to Michael Jackson! Maybe you can do an analysis? I know it’s no comparison to Jerry Jeff Walker or Sammy Davis but I thought it was interesting as Michael was 1 of the last song & Dance men!! There’s a video somewhere of Sammy doing a tribute to Michael. I’ll link it if I find it!! Also, I’m sure you remember Bromberg also did Bojangles!!! LOVE your analyses!! THANKS for this channel!! 👍🏻👏🏻❤️. 🙏🏻🌎✌🏻❣️🇺🇸🇺🇸
Please watch this duel - Don't know if you've watched Eric Gales, plays upside down and does Hendrix covers, but this duel is something else, and Joe Bonamassa's blues - th-cam.com/video/Y4VmOaH3848/w-d-xo.html
What a beautiful synopsis / review of that tune, It's a special song and hits hard slap bang into the human condition. For all the jokes about C&W (american Folk) got re dogs dying etc, " after 20 years he still greives......" is a hellova line that taps into deeper things. I love the man he describes, very cool Of Jerry to document such a honored encounter with Mr Robinson. Reminds me of a Kerouac descriptions of his encounter of a railroad bum/hobo. Pure beauty....longe live jerry Jeff Walker and Jack Kerouac :)
Bit late to the party but - yeah, loved it, Fil. It does sound like country to me, but then formative rockabilly is my default setting. I can appreciate all sorts of music through to orchestral but if I play, that's how it'll come out. I remember the old duffer trying to teach me guitar when I was very young; I did that upward strum accidentally - and he suggested I wanted to be a jazz guitarist. No, I might have been impressionable and prone to bullying but I knew where I stood artistically: country guitar. To be fair, he was a useless teacher. I punted a search enquiry for 'bluegrass mr bojangles' and, all-too-predictably, most tributes are ladled with concentration camp violin. It's taken the composer here to give a refreshing rendition. My favourite: The Tar River Boys. Best of the rest: Bob Dylan. Honourable mention: Fil's instructional vignette. It's better than most.
From the time I first heard JJW in about 1976 I knew he was singing my life. I met him in 1985 after a show in Atlanta. We talked and he found out I had played BB in college and pro. He was a very good high school player and loved the game. We became friends and the next time he came to Atlanta he stayed at the house. For a few years he had trouble getting bookings as he had a habit of showing up too intoxicated to play. I booked him into my favorite bar in Decatur, although the manager made me buy 300 tix up front. Sold 330. He played sol for 31/2 hours. I still got the tape.
i hate the sound of those jangly "ovation" type guitars... and his delivery of the song is so blah... lol.. but, what a great song... amazing that this guy wrote it... to be honest... but, i love his perfomances of other songs...
At last some one who agrees with me. I've never liked them, plus a plastic bowl, for the back!(no discount for the lack of wood either.) Of course a lot of people like them. A lot of people liked Slim Whitman too, I did not. However guitars like music bring truth to the old axiom "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I thought I was the only person on earth who didn't gush over Ovations.(you've restored my faith in humanity) I'd take my old $5 Egmund I bought at Woolco when I was 15, over an Ovation. It actually sounded pretty good, so I bought 2. They're somewhere in the ethereal days of my past. LoL I am a huge Jerry Jeff fan, though. I agree to some aspects of your criticism, I think he was rushing it, just trying to get it over with. When I saw him live, in 79 he did it at a slower tempo.(the band pissed me off though. But hey JJW hired them...)
When Jerry Jeff wrote the song, he was a folkie. He played with David Bromberg- an accomplished blues player and also folk aficionado. David Bromberg played guitar on the original recording and does this version I am posting, where he explains how Jerry Jeff got to write the song. Jerry Jeff went to Austin, Texas and became more Texan than the Texans. th-cam.com/video/muG8kDYbZ5Q/w-d-xo.html
Very nice. Very informative. A JJW compilation album by various artists would be most welcome. I'm a JJW fan going on 40 years; my first 2 albums were It's A Good NightFor Singin' and Cow Jazz. I bought them on cassette, for $1 each, at Tower Records (true.) For $2 I was introduced to the artist whose work would transform my whole outlook... just 2 bucks, but he was worth millions to my psyche. Thanks.
Saw Jerry Jeff in 1979 in Reno. No seats, so the 1st wife & I ended up with our elbows on the stage. Jerry was in great form, the band were excellent musicians. Jerry looked at the band & said "Bojangles." The guitarist & bassist looked at each other & rolled their eyes! I said (& I know they heard me because they both gave me a "f*ck you" look.)"Hey, we didn't pay to see you, we paid to see Jerry Jeff. What's up with your attitude?" Then my 1st wife (who was always mouthing off) said "My husband's a better guitar player than you!"(I was not.) But this song is a classic. Dylan recorded it, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had a huge hit with it, a great version btw). One thing I've come to realise, a great song, is a great song, you can arrange them, change tempo, etc, & they're still GREAT songs. (Many of Bill Withers tunes come to mind) they're hits regardless of the time they're released. Simply great songs.(I figured the song out in high school, did it in C. Regular "cowboy chords" no capo.) Jerry Jeff has another song I dearly love called "Derby Day", great song, the chorus is a real killer for me. He also wrote a regular Country Bar & Beer joint staple "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother"(He's 34 & drinking in a honky tonk. He's kickin' hippies asses & raising hell" absolutely love Jerry Jeff. I was NEVER a real C&W fan, but Jerry Jeff was such a great song writer. So sad, he's gone, John Prine is gone, etc. My heroes are dropping like flies. Of course we all know Keith Richards will probably live forever (perhaps he got the 300 year extension on his life, when/if he sold his soul. Joking of course.)
Fil, try reacting to "Consolação" - Rosinha de Valença, 1966. Incredible flamingo guitar and the interaction between Rosinha and percussionist Rubens Bassini (of Brazil 66) is very interesting to watch.
The way Bromberg told it, " Bojangles " was a New Orleans street performer who would dance and pantomime to songs on the jukebox. JJW ended up in jail for public intoxication with Bojangles who told the story about how his dog died. Another guy in jail complained about having to listen depressing stories while in jail. So Bojangles started dancing.
Check out his live album from ‘73 called Viva Terlingua recorded in the dance hall at Luckenbach, Texas. A marvel of the time that I think is still a quite good record today.
Sorry but that's not the how Walker met Bojangles. According to Bromberg's recording from the 70s who toured with Jerry Jeff, he wound up in the drunk tank because he propositioned the right woman at the right time and her husband the bartender took exception to it.
Thanks Fil for getting around to Jerry Jeff Walker. a great song by a great artist. as you know this year has claim the lives of so many great and legendary artists. Rest in Peace Jerry Jeff Walker and thanks for being a great storyteller.
Best live music moment of my life Jerry Jeff Walker Walker live in a small bar in Ambergris Caye Belize with the Caribbean Sea as the back drop and maybe a hundred fans loving every moment played for 2 plus hours pure magic.
From what I know of him, he would rather play there than on a big stage in front of thousands, and wouldn't care much if he was being paid for it.
❤Thank you Fil. I spent 7yrs of my childhood in Texas my dad dragged me to Jerry Jeff, and many other county/folk/outlaw performers and I dragged him to Pantera and the like I did not always fully appreciate his taste in music but I do now.
💖👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💖
I love Bojangel's... Bringing a tear to my eyes... I had some great dog's .. They always are so hard to say goodbye too.
Brotherrrrrrr - 🎸 rock 🎸
I'll always remember him for London Homesick Blues (The Armadillo Song) which was the original theme for Austin City Limits.
Thank you for your this excellent and respectful review of Jerry Jeff Walker. He brightened the world during his brief time upon it.
I saw Jerry Jeff and the _Lost Gonzo Band_ live at Texas Tech University in 1976. It was a great show.
One thing happened that got a big laugh from the audience. Gary P Nunn was singing _London Homesick Blues_ into one of those big chrome microphones they used back then when he got too close and it zapped him in the lips with a jolt of electricity.
He moved backwards about 5 feet instantly and shouted several words that were not in the lyrics.
Jerry Jeff, Gary and the band performed great....without the horrid high volume that concerts have now.
What a fun memory. Jerry Jeff and Gary together - it had to be memorable.
Now I'm curious is the curator of this a Brit or an aussie and why not review the London Homsick blues truly one of my favorites I'd like to know what that big eyed girl wanted to meet him for ? Bet she has regrets. Bye.
TIME STAMPS -
0:47 Performance
4:28 Analysis Start
5:39 Not Quite Country!
7:12 Guitar Rhythm/Chords
8:45 Rhythm Upstrokes
10:45 Musical Staircase
14:08 Song Background
15:37 History/Career
I was just watching Jerry Jeff doing this song many years back and I remembered this video. He's playing here in a much faster tempo than he did on the earlier video. Both of them are excellent.This one seems more spontaneous. Thanks Fil!
First time I heard this song was by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Lots of people doing it in the seventies. I believe Jim Stafford was the second version I heard--if I remember correctly Sammy Davis, Jr's was afterwards. No dissing any of the versions, they all have merit, it was just to my experience and ear I was most familiar with the NGDB version--didn't know for some time that it was Jerry Jeff Walker song. At the time I wasn't big into his kind of music, so I never delved into his work in general, but it's obvious from this one song he was an astute songwriter.
Fil--THANKYOU FOR PLAYING THE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. His timing is so appropriate for the song and his voice. Nice chords, as well. The timing is, in itself, "dancing" and, after all, is that not what the song speaks?
FIL--thank you for reading my comment. You may also see me as "Mike," a nickname my parents chose the very day I was born. Because my name is so distinctive, I rarely, in the world as it is today, publish my full name. Enjoyed last night's live stream very much. I envy your talent, and applaud your hard work.
I took Jerry Jeff’s songs on the road with me in 1976 and played them for people in clubs in Illinois, Wisconsin, and other places in the northern US who didn’t have a clue who he was. After I came in off the road, I moved back to Austin and caught Jerry Jeff in concert on the UT campus. Just Jerry Jeff and his guitar.
my mom forced us as young kids to listen to viva terligua 8 track on road trips . he was our soundtrack to adventure lol
I live up north and trust me all us Yankees were not blind or dead to JJW. Talents at least not me and my bros. Not saying that the disco dummies didnt have the air time up here so you bought the good stuff and shared with friends never had one bitch about it either. 69 pushing 70 and I ain't giving up for pop ,rap, or crap
Oh you said Illinois and Wisconsin sorry Tim but that's not the midwest you have to cross the Mississippi river to be west Chicago and Milwaukee. That's not country MO.IA.MN.KS.SD.ND. THATS midwest then you cross Missouri river now yer heading west no wonder you were let down by the crowd heck I been there I felt the same big city's suck and trust me I've been to 95% of the s__tholes in this country as the old song said I been every where man I've been every where look it up google it old trucker killing time. .no harm intended hope your career is well and if not hope your life is.
RIP Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver
Great choice. You are batting 1000. Thanks also for the guitar breakdown
Yes , I agree with you Paul ☮️
Jerry Jeff Walker was a gift. His style was always recognizable always as his own. Tears in my heart. Thank you for featuring this gifted man.
JJW was an amazing country songwriter, and he always plays with the timing in his vocal delivery like Willie Nelson does. Always dancing around the beat vocally.
Doesn't he drop down out of the melody to a low note, like Willie Nelson often does at the end of a phrase? He was reminding me of Willie, too, but for a different reason!
Jerry Jeff performed his songs the way he felt at the moment and sometimes he and the Gonzo Band could take the timing or the riff somewhere else for a bit then swing right back around.
Thanks so much for covering this, Fil! Jerry Jeff had so many great songs, and was a huge influence on me. I play a lot of his songs, and his death has devastated me like nobody since John Denver.
It's so hard when the loss of an especially beloved artist hits like the death of a close family member. I'm sorry, Mick McGrath.
Losing the man who gave us Charlie Dunn so soon after the man who gave us Sam Stone has been wrenching. 😪
45 years of being a fan. Never been a fan of nobody else like I was Jerry Jeff. I turned on lots of people to him, in other countries too. Jerry Jeff was his music, and his music was him. He lived it his way.
And Jimmy Buffett, two of my all-time favorites. Both are missed.
My favorite version of Bo Jangles was done by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Can't agree there. Jerry Jeff both wrote and owns this song.
Apparently, his favourite cover is the version by Nina Simone.
Mine too !
I like the Nitty Gritty Band version too. Plus they had someone act out Mr. Bojangles.
When I was in USAF ROTC in college in the late 70's, had several officers as guest speakers, describing their different career fields during my sophomore year. One of the officers said that before the Air Force he worked in the music industry. He worked with NGDB on their arrangement of "Mr Bojangles."
NGDB did a great job. I liked where they had the old man talking to his dog "Teddy". A masterful version, of course NBDB were fabulous musicians, I had their "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album, & of course Dirt Silver & Gold.
Sad to hear about Jerry Jeff passing. I'm out of Austin but never met him. I knew his friend Rusty Wier ("Don't It Make You Wanna Dance?"). Rusty used to say, "Good night. If you liked it, I'm Rusty Wier, if you didn't I'm Jerry Jeff Walker!" Rusty was also an "Outlaw".
I have never heard a version of this wonderful song that I didn't love. Prolific country songwriter Harlan Howard described a good country song as, "Three chords and the truth."
First I've heard of him. Part of the reason I like this channel. Opens my eyes to new musicians. Love his voice. Reminds me of Mark Knofler. Dont think I spelled that right. Forgive me.
Jerry Jeff Walker was a favorite of my late husband Jerry. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for this. Been listening to Jerry Jeff for more than fifty years, and hearing of his passing was heartbreaking. I got to work with him a few times, and he was really one of the good ones.
Can you believe Jerry Jeff was in a band called Circus Maximus?
Been waiting on this!!!
His eponymous studio album is one of my favorites. Every song on it so touching or sweet or funny. He was a great story teller. Sorry to hear he's gone.
Thanks once again for breaking it all down, Fil, got so much out of it. Wasn't his voice so easy to listen to. I've been noticing the "staircase" you mention in so many songs----does it come especially naturally to writers who are guitarists? (Studying your Fundamentals power chords....)
2 major Outlaw Country men gone within just a few days of each other. RIP Jerry Jeff and Billy Joe!
Texas has been hit pretty hard lately.
The song Mr Bojangles is a great example of the beauty of music and how a song can touch us. Jerry Jeff Walker wrote a song that would touch the great Sammy Davis Jr, who himself identified with the song Mr Bojangles - Sammy Davis Jr once said in an interview he feared becoming Mr Bojangles. That’s the beauty of music, it’s universal appeal.
Thanks, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece on Jerry Jeff. Sorry to hear of his passing. 😪✌
Wait -- you mean to tell me that this is a true story?? About Mr. Bojangles???😭😭😭
Hi Michele! Yep! Amazing, huh?
Listen to David Bromberg tell the story
@@bobsteinzig First time I ever heard it was from Dave Bromberg.
@Mike Hegarty Story of my life too.
Absolutely. Jerry Jeff would frequently recount how the 2 men met in the "drunk tank" of the 13th precinct jail in New Orleans, a city where Jerry Jeff spent years singing in bars before moving to Texas.
Many people believe the man Jerry Jeff met in jail was an African American. This is incorrect as even jails were segregated on racial lines at this time.
Thanks for your efforts in researching his music and life in general.
He has left behind a greatlegacy of music.
One of my favorite JJW tunes. Such a storyteller. Great choice, Fil. And RIP, Jacky Jack, you will be missed.
Hey Bruh!! Id love to see you do " YOUR LOVE" by the Outfield
In Honor of Tony Lewis
RIP TONY
Jerry Jeff considered himself and rightly so a folk singer/guitarist. When he had a band behind him it would take on a different sound. I saw him twice in Luckenbach Texas and once here in Colorado. I greatly admired his guitarists Jon Inmon and Lloyd Maines. Jerry Jeff played in a duo with David Bromberg years ago and felt nobody could play this tune better than Bromberg. The style JJW played was similar to many Texas musicians which is not country or rock but music of their own. Joe Ely was one as well and employed a great guitarist name of David Grissom after Jesse Taylor passed on.
While more country music is in 4/4 there is a lot that is in 3/4 - my father taught me a basic 2 step (4/4) and a basic waltz (3/4) and told me that as long as I could dance those, I could dance anything 😉
RIP Jerry Jeff.. I always sing pissing in the wind as a tribute to you
Remember how the intro is a spoof on Kris Kristofferson's Pilgrim: Chapter 33?
@@BOOMNERD51 i just wanna say THANK YOU!! That lead me to look up that song and I just wanted to thank you for that!!!
@@glenntate7570 You're welcome! ❤️ I listened to Kris from 72 on (making me discover JJW) and I love how the two intros are similar.
@@BOOMNERD51 Oh yeah its definitely a spoof or tribute!! JJW's sounds like he might be messing with Kris!! 🤣 Great song though!!
@@glenntate7570 From "Scamp" Walker both ! ❤️
Thanks much Fil... you're much appreciated... Jerry Jeff is the reason I got into the business... I met him a few times and unwittingly wound up in the foyer of his house early one morning... I still can't believe he's gone.
Fun story 👍
Not much of a country fan, but love Jerry Jeff Walker. RIP. Thanks for the analysis. Well done.
After seeing your analysis here Fil, I checked out your analysis of Sammy Davis Jr. You are still new to me.. Didn't know Jerry wrote Mr. Bo Jangles.Of course I saw Sammy's performance before (classic). I can't add anything to what you said about Jerry, except what a great songwriter and guitarist can give to humanity: a story about life☮️
My comment here was not meant to compare Jerry Jeff and Sammy Davis Jr.; just how a great song could be interpreted by another artist, and make it greater than anyone thought it could be☮️♥️
This is also a song that can fit any genre. t's been covered by multiple artists, including Bob Dylan, John Denver, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jr., and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Well done again, another sad loss but Jerrys’ songs particularly Mr Bojangles will live on for every thanks to guys like you. Cool x
I love David Bromberg's version which includes talking about Jerry Jeff.
Been asking Phil to cover David
@@bobsteinzig The best artist no one has heard of. Except you. LOL!!
@@musicairplanes4884 There are many of us who know who David Bromberg is, it's just that we are all getting a bit long in the tooth, LOL. He is still actively performing at 75 years of age and as good as ever. He's truly a national treasure and a musician's musician.
@@DaisyMae0929 I agree with everything you said. Got to see him a few years back and he was amazing as usual.
Fil, thanks again. I am enjoying every genre you analyze, like to see some western swing if possible. Keep up the good work!
I love that song. And R.I.P. Jerry Jeff Walker Lovely voice..❤❤😎 Brilliant 😢His guitar has been played a lot. Old musicians and old ships make me sad .and nostalgic .May sound stupid, just can't it. I have digressed.💙
His best album, in my opinion, was “Ridin’ High”. Not a bad song on it.
agreed... from up tempos to ballad "Mississippi, you're...mind" I played that album so much I know every lyric on every song. I can't say that about any other album I owned back then. RIP. Mr
Walker... genius.
I loved Viva Terlingua, but Mississippi, You're on my Mind" is a great cover of Jesse Winchester's song.
Absolutely!! Ive been a JJW fan for 25 years!! Growing up in Southern Texas his music was ALWAYS on and around!! Ridin High is a FANTASTIC album!! Jaded Lover and Pissin' in the Wind are such amazing songs!!! RIP Jerry Jeff!! We will miss the hell outa ya!!!
@@BOOMNERD51 I bought Viva Terlingua on vinyl yesterday!
@@glenntate7570 25 yr fan ,welcome aboard where were you for the 30 yrs prior? To 1995 I first saw JJW. In the 70's at Willie's 4th of July picnic in Tulsa ok. After tx. Didnt want him to picnic in tx. 300,000 fans went to Tulsa and hot as hell partied all day . JJW. Was a master story teller and will be missed by many .wish you had been there. I drove all the way from ia. After closing time and attended that afternoon too bad Tx. Had such a hard on for willie all that lost revenue got them back in line tho. Asleep at the wheel waylon kris k. Merle H. Bocefus, and many others my 69 yr old mind cant name other than jerry jeff. God bless him and happy trails. Till we meet again. Good luck to you
Thank you Fil. Very nice tribute to Jerry Jeff Walker.
its a Texas waltz lol his folk song back ground. i can actually see this guy dancing in the cell and telling his story.Saw him often even one time openig up for SoulHat a local rock band lol not his crowd but he owned that place that night.
Wow. SoulHat. Haven't thought of them in a while. I just looked them up and I guess they are still around, but I haven't seen them in ages.... I can't imagine him opening for them. Wow.
@@sallyatticum it was a mini festival at waterloo park in austin i think they had a little of everybody playing that day.we dropped acid to go see soulhat and ended up 2 stepping with JJW for an hour. wonderful night lol
@@bretthardin9239 God... Those were the days....
I loved Jerry Jeff. Saw him twice at Red Rocks in the 70's. the concerts were so much fun!
So jealous! That looks like an amazing venue!
@@lynndow3185 I feel lucky for living in Colorado and having Red Rocks. I saw many concerts up there and the acoustics are great. Not to mention sitting under the stars! It was Amazingly beautiful.
Sammy Davis Jr, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band I never have even heard a bad cover either. From the storyteller era.
Thanks, Fil for finding this particular performance of Jerry Jeff's. Incidentally I'm a major fan. I thought I had found a perfect live performance from that era. Yours is better. He still sang those pretty bass notes, as he was not able to in recent years. Big hero of mine! Kills me how all my hero's were friends. Thanks, Fil for the guitar tips. Great historical info well researched! For the memory of Jerry Jeff, I'd pull my guitar out! ❤️
You might like the version I have on my channel.. th-cam.com/video/keImuXtH7DU/w-d-xo.html
@@cravinbob Thanks, cravinbob!
(Mr. Bojangles) Bill Robinson 1877- 1949 performed shoe tapping with Shirley Temple
Just a guy and a guitar. That's all you need when the melody and lyrical content are so compelling.
Totally agree Donna!! That's what makes the world go round 👍☮️
Not sure where else to put this so... Fil, how about an analysis of this performance: Amy Winehouse: One Shining Night. Irish TV music series. 2006. Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland. "Tears Dry on Their Own"
The sound coming from his guitar is great!!
RIP Jerry Jeff. Fortunate to see him several times in central Texas especially at my favorite place Luckenbach Texas. 🙏✌️
Saw the Western hat and omg..Fil is analyzing George Strait..no..it's Jerry Jeff Walker..thanks Fil
Hi Mark! When Fil gets around to George Strait, he'll have well over a hundred songs to choose from!
Look at the videos when he does Bojangles with Todd Snider and Jason Isbell. Even more poignant.
I didn't know he wrote it, or much else about him, save save for one song. Nor, alas, did I know he had died, but, I wasn't sure he was still alive. Now I wish I knew more.
Thanks Fil for this...I lived in San Antonio in the 70's, saw Jerry Jeff play live many times in and around San Antonio and Austin. Hearing of his passing brought back many fond memories...it sucks growing old...thanks again!
Amen brother. Now I know what the old folks, used to say "If I'd known, I was going to live this long, I'd have taken, much better care of myself." Is absolutely true. Of course we all know Keith Richards will never die.
This song always makes me cry, I don't know why:)
Me, too..
Me too!
me too...
I’ve been listening to this song for over 40 years and I still cry when it gets to the part where his dog up and died.
It's a great song. The story being told is actually tragic. A man of renown, reduced to nothing, after years of adulation. Very sad indeed. It brings back so many memories. Another jam that brings tears to my eyes is Leon Russell's "Song For You". Donnie Hathaway did an outstanding version.(of course Leon is a homeboy, so maybe I'm prejudiced.)
GREAT song by The man who wrote it. RESPECT.♥️ Still the BEST version by far in my opinion. Love this song. Great performance here. Thanks for reacting to this Fil. Great analysis Fil! 🎼🎶🇨🇦
The above show took place in 1983. Marvelous.
Rushed version. Not as melodic or instrumental as I've seen otherwise.
I love this song. This version's even better than Sammy Davis' version.
Also, as a Marty Robbins fan, I'm a little puzzled by the idea of 3/4 time not sounding country.
🏆🏆🏆🤗🙏
Thank you for sharing
RIP Jerry Jeff. You'll be missed. When I was a teenager the Top 40 stations played the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version...over and over and over and over and over
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did awesome
singing Mr. Bojangles too !!
RIP Jerry Jeff Walker, Thanks for sharing this and thanks for the guitar lesson!! This is one of my favorite songs and a great classic!!
This is not my favorite version... It's a bit fast. But I love the song.
Love his version.. I don’t think I’m very familiar with this guy, but I enjoy the song.. thank you , Fil.. you did another analysis of someone singing this song, if I remember right. All unique... oh yeah, Sammy Davis, Jr.
"LA FREEWAY."
I love that song!
My first recollection of this song is seeing Sammy Davis Jr singing-and dancing to it-on television. Although The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had the big hit with it, my favourite version is Neil Diamond's. Still, all those, and this by Jerry Jeff himself are very enjoyable.
Between Jerry Jeff train songs and Huge Berry rain songs Blue eyes crying in the rain 🌧️.
Always enjoyed the Jim Stafford version of Mr. Bojangles, too. It's a classic song that has made the rounds. Thanks for highlighting JJW.
Very good!
billy joe shaver, and now jerry jeff walker, whose next, willie nelson, loretta lynn or kris?
Never heard this version before, never realised who the writer was either. Much faster than most versions I've heard. Nice one.
Long song played FAST- Ugh. Good lord. Saw him live in Eugene OR with the Gonzos in '76 and they were FIRE.
Hi Fil! What a voice! He will be missed! Love this song....beautiful!
The true mark of a great song writer is the number of legendary singers that cover their songs. The art of song writing is not what it used to be. Current songwriters do not bother to tell a story.
Great point. My daughter bought a book,with listings of major & Indie labels (She & her sister are great singers). One label, in their description of what type of artists they were looking for wrote "We are seeking talented singers, musicians, & song writers. Today it seems most people are writing songs about things, they should keep between themselves & their therapists."(paraphrasing) but it's so funny & there's more than a grain of truth in the observation. IMO
This reminds of something Guthrie would come up
Arlo also recorded this
Jean, I’m sure JJ would have appreciated that compliment. Funny thing - I was working with him on some public service announcements in Texas about school bus safety, and right in the middle of it, out of the blue, he started playing Woody’s “Take me for a ride in the car-car.”
@@sharonmuzik arlos no dummies he never let's a good one go by. Just riding my motor cy cle.
Lord lord. Keep it close keep it safe.
Sammy Davis is still the best version. Sammy has the body movements that keep you enthralled. Not bad cover, though.
Uh, I believe you are a little confused! This is not a cover. The man wrote it.
Jim H. Thank you for educating/correcting me. As a Texan myself, I want all of our artists to receive credit for their works.
Great review and demo Fil. Many thanks. He had that "star quality" that could hold an audience with his talent. I saw him in Oklahoma in the early 80s and he was fantastic. When he sang Redneck Mother the audience went mad.
I always liked Derby Day, the chorus "And it must've been one hell of a starry night. Yea the moon was bright, I guess it must've knocked out all of your lights. I guess that's the night that you fell for my silvery line", is an absolute killer!!!! I love that jam!
Here’s an interesting video of Whitney Houston doing MR BOJANGLES as. Tribute to Michael Jackson! Maybe you can do an analysis? I know it’s no comparison to Jerry Jeff Walker or Sammy Davis but I thought it was interesting as Michael was 1 of the last song & Dance men!! There’s a video somewhere of Sammy doing a tribute to Michael. I’ll link it if I find it!! Also, I’m sure you remember Bromberg also did Bojangles!!! LOVE your analyses!! THANKS for this channel!! 👍🏻👏🏻❤️. 🙏🏻🌎✌🏻❣️🇺🇸🇺🇸
Please watch this duel - Don't know if you've watched Eric Gales, plays upside down and does Hendrix covers, but this duel is something else, and Joe Bonamassa's blues - th-cam.com/video/Y4VmOaH3848/w-d-xo.html
What a beautiful synopsis / review of that tune, It's a special song and hits hard slap bang into the human condition. For all the jokes about C&W (american Folk) got re dogs dying etc, " after 20 years he still greives......" is a hellova line that taps into deeper things. I love the man he describes, very cool Of Jerry to document such a honored encounter with Mr Robinson. Reminds me of a Kerouac descriptions of his encounter of a railroad bum/hobo. Pure beauty....longe live jerry Jeff Walker and Jack Kerouac :)
Bit late to the party but - yeah, loved it, Fil.
It does sound like country to me, but then formative rockabilly is my default setting. I can appreciate all sorts of music through to orchestral but if I play, that's how it'll come out.
I remember the old duffer trying to teach me guitar when I was very young; I did that upward strum accidentally - and he suggested I wanted to be a jazz guitarist. No, I might have been impressionable and prone to bullying but I knew where I stood artistically: country guitar. To be fair, he was a useless teacher.
I punted a search enquiry for 'bluegrass mr bojangles' and, all-too-predictably, most tributes are ladled with concentration camp violin. It's taken the composer here to give a refreshing rendition.
My favourite: The Tar River Boys.
Best of the rest: Bob Dylan.
Honourable mention: Fil's instructional vignette. It's better than most.
From the time I first heard JJW in about 1976 I knew he was singing my life. I met him in 1985 after a show in Atlanta. We talked and he found out I had played BB in college and pro. He was a very good high school player and loved the game. We became friends and the next time he came to Atlanta he stayed at the house. For a few years he had trouble getting bookings as he had a habit of showing up too intoxicated to play. I booked him into my favorite bar in Decatur, although the manager made me buy 300 tix up front. Sold 330. He played sol for 31/2 hours. I still got the tape.
i hate the sound of those jangly "ovation" type guitars... and his delivery of the song is so blah... lol.. but, what a great song... amazing that this guy wrote it... to be honest... but, i love his perfomances of other songs...
At last some one who agrees with me. I've never liked them, plus a plastic bowl, for the back!(no discount for the lack of wood either.) Of course a lot of people like them. A lot of people liked Slim Whitman too, I did not. However guitars like music bring truth to the old axiom "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I thought I was the only person on earth who didn't gush over Ovations.(you've restored my faith in humanity) I'd take my old $5 Egmund I bought at Woolco when I was 15, over an Ovation. It actually sounded pretty good, so I bought 2. They're somewhere in the ethereal days of my past. LoL
I am a huge Jerry Jeff fan, though. I agree to some aspects of your criticism, I think he was rushing it, just trying to get it over with. When I saw him live, in 79 he did it at a slower tempo.(the band pissed me off though. But hey JJW hired them...)
@@bluesingmusic3443 the tinny sound of an ovation is horrible lolol...
When Jerry Jeff wrote the song, he was a folkie. He played with David Bromberg- an accomplished blues player and also folk aficionado. David Bromberg played guitar on the original recording and does this version I am posting, where he explains how Jerry Jeff got to write the song. Jerry Jeff went to Austin, Texas and became more Texan than the Texans. th-cam.com/video/muG8kDYbZ5Q/w-d-xo.html
Very nice. Very informative. A JJW compilation album by various artists would be most welcome. I'm a JJW fan going on 40 years; my first 2 albums were It's A Good NightFor Singin' and Cow Jazz. I bought them on cassette, for $1 each, at Tower Records (true.) For $2 I was introduced to the artist whose work would transform my whole outlook... just 2 bucks, but he was worth millions to my psyche. Thanks.
Fil - I would love for you to try and play"Cherub Rock" by the Smashing Pumpkins.💖🎸
Saw Jerry Jeff in 1979 in Reno. No seats, so the 1st wife & I ended up with our elbows on the stage. Jerry was in great form, the band were excellent musicians. Jerry looked at the band & said "Bojangles." The guitarist & bassist looked at each other & rolled their eyes! I said (& I know they heard me because they both gave me a "f*ck you" look.)"Hey, we didn't pay to see you, we paid to see Jerry Jeff. What's up with your attitude?" Then my 1st wife (who was always mouthing off) said "My husband's a better guitar player than you!"(I was not.) But this song is a classic. Dylan recorded it, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had a huge hit with it, a great version btw). One thing I've come to realise, a great song, is a great song, you can arrange them, change tempo, etc, & they're still GREAT songs. (Many of Bill Withers tunes come to mind) they're hits regardless of the time they're released. Simply great songs.(I figured the song out in high school, did it in C. Regular "cowboy chords" no capo.) Jerry Jeff has another song I dearly love called "Derby Day", great song, the chorus is a real killer for me. He also wrote a regular Country Bar & Beer joint staple "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother"(He's 34 & drinking in a honky tonk. He's kickin' hippies asses & raising hell" absolutely love Jerry Jeff. I was NEVER a real C&W fan, but Jerry Jeff was such a great song writer. So sad, he's gone, John Prine is gone, etc. My heroes are dropping like flies. Of course we all know Keith Richards will probably live forever (perhaps he got the 300 year extension on his life, when/if he sold his soul. Joking of course.)
Fil, try reacting to "Consolação" - Rosinha de Valença, 1966. Incredible flamingo guitar and the interaction between Rosinha and percussionist Rubens Bassini (of Brazil 66) is very interesting to watch.
Nice demo. I don't play guitar and I enjoyed it. I still prefer Sammy Davis, Jr's version.
The way Bromberg told it, " Bojangles " was a New Orleans street performer who would dance and pantomime to songs on the jukebox. JJW ended up in jail for public intoxication with Bojangles who told the story about how his dog died. Another guy in jail complained about having to listen depressing stories while in jail. So Bojangles started dancing.
Check out his live album from ‘73 called Viva Terlingua recorded in the dance hall at Luckenbach, Texas. A marvel of the time that I think is still a quite good record today.
This might be my favorite song of a time. The lyric/words and a descending melody give it a sad but somehow happy feeling in the song.
It's nice to hear the original version from the songwriter himself. They usually give it a more earnest sound. Still, TNGDB's version is my fave.
Sorry but that's not the how Walker met Bojangles. According to Bromberg's recording from the 70s who toured with Jerry Jeff, he wound up in the drunk tank because he propositioned the right woman at the right time and her husband the bartender took exception to it.