Dirty blues

Dirty blues encompasses forms of blues music that deal with socially taboo subjects, including sexual acts and/or references to drug use of some kind. Due to the sometimes graphic subject matter, such music was often banned from radio and only available on a jukebox. The style was most popular in the years before World War II and had a revival in the 1960s.^[1]

Many songs used innuendo, slang terms, or double entendres, such as Lil Johnson's^[1] "Press My Button (Ring My Bell)" ("Come on baby, let's have some fun/Just put your hot dog in my bun"). However, some were very explicit. The most extreme examples were rarely recorded at all. Lucille Bogan's obscene song "Shave 'em Dry" (1935) being a rare example. It was noted by one music historian as "by far the most explicit blues song preserved at a commercial pre-war recording session".^[2]

The more noteworthy musicians who utilised the style included Bo Carter, Bull Moose Jackson,^[1] Harlem Hamfats, Wynonie Harris, and Hank Ballard and The Midnighters.

Notable songs

"Bow Wow Blues" – The Allen Brothers, 1927 "It's Tight Like That" – Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, 1928 "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas" – James "Stump" Johnson, 1928 "I Had to Give Up Gym" – The Hokum Boys, 1929 "Rock That Thing" and "You'll Never Miss Your Jelly Until Your Jelly Roller Is Gone" – Lil Johnson, 1929 "Bumblebee" – Memphis Minnie, 1929 "Please Warm My Weiner" – Bo Carter, 1930 "Good Grinding" – Irene Scruggs, 1930 "Must Get Mine in Front" – Irene Scruggs, 1930 "Pin in Your Cushion" – Bo Carter, 1931 "Banana in Your Fruit Basket" – Bo Carter, 1931 "My Pencil Won't Write No More" – Bo Carter, 1931 "My Girl's Pussy" – Harry Roy, 1931 "Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl" – Bessie Smith, 1931 "Tom Cat and Pussy Blues - Jimmie Davis, 1933 "The Coldest Stuff in Town" – Whistling Bob Howe & Frankie Griggs, 1935 "Shave 'Em Dry" – Lucille Bogan, 1935 "Let Me Roll Your Lemon" – Bo Carter, 1935 "Get 'Em from the Peanut Man (Hot Nuts)" – Lil Johnson, 1935 "Anybody Want to Buy My Cabbage?" – Lil Johnson, 1935 "Press My Button (Ring My Bell)" – Lil Johnson, 1935 "Trucking My Blues Away" – Blind Boy Fuller, 1936

"Sam the Hot Dog Man" – Lil Johnson, 1936 "My Stove Is In Good Condition" – Lil Johnson, 1936 "They're Red Hot" – Robert Johnson, 1937 "Meat Balls" – Lil Johnson, 1937 "If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It)" – Lil Johnson, 1937 "Southern Whoopee Song" – The Anglin Brothers, 1938 "Don't You Feel My Leg?" – Blue Lu Barker, 1938 "I Want Some of Your Pie" – Blind Boy Fuller, 1939 " Let Me Play With Your Poodle" - Tampa Red, 1942 "Salty Papa Blues" – Dinah Washington, 1944 "Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got" – Julia Lee, 1946 "Snatch and Grab It" – Julia Lee, 1947 "Mother Fuyer" – Dirty Red, 1947 "Lolly Pop Mama" – Wynonie Harris, 1948 "King Size Papa" – Julia Lee, 1948 "I Want A Bowlegged Woman" – Bull Moose Jackson, 1948 "Long John Blues" – Dinah Washington, 1949 "Mountain Oysters" – Eddie Lockjaw Davis, 1949 "Cadillac Baby" – Roy Brown, 1950 "Butcher Pete" – Roy Brown, 1950 "My Man Stands Out" – Julia Lee, 1950 "I Like My Baby's Pudding – Wynonie Harris, 1950 "Sittin On It All The Time" – Wynonie Harris, 1950 "I'm a Hi-Ballin' Daddy" – Tiny Bradshaw, 1950

"Silent George – Lucky Millinder, 1950 "Rocket 69" – Todd Rhodes, 1951 "Sixty Minute Man" – Billy Ward and His Dominoes, 1951 "Lemon Squeezing Daddy" – The Sultans, 1951 "The Walkin' Blues" – Fluffy Hunter, 1951 "It Ain't the Meat" – The Swallows, 1951 "Keep on Churnin'" – Wynonie Harris, 1952 "Pedal Pushin' Papa" – Billy Ward and His Dominoes, 1952 "Big 10-Inch Record" – Bull Moose Jackson, 1952 "Nosey Joe" – Bull Moose Jackson, 1952 "Little Girl Sing Ding-A-Ling" – Dave Bartholomew, 1952 "Saturday Night Daddy – Little Esther Phillips, 1953 "Wasn't That Good" – Wynonie Harris, 1953 "Laundromat Blues" – The 5 Royales, 1953 "Work with Me Annie" – The Midnighters, 1954 "Shake, Rattle and Roll" – Big Joe Turner, 1954 "Big Long Slidin' Thing" – Dinah Washington, 1954 "Baby Let Me Bang Your Box" – The Toppers, 1954 "Rotten Cocksuckers' Ball - The Clovers, 1954 "Toy Bell" – The Bees, 1954 "Sexy Ways" – Hank Ballard, 1954 "Can't Do Sixty No More" – Billy Ward and his Dominoes, 1955 "Salty Dog" – Blind Willie McTell, 1956[3]

• According to AllMusic, this list of dirty blues songs also included "What the Blues Is All About" by Chick Willis, "Cigarette" by Backwards Sam Firk, and "Georgia Grind" by Louis Armstrong.^[1]

See also

• Hokum
• List of dirty blues musicians
• Dirty rap

References

1. "Dirty Blues | Music Highlights". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
2. Elijah Wald, The Dozens: A History of Rap's Mama, Oxford University Press, 2012, p.60. ISBN 0-19-989540-6
3. "Risque Blues, Vol. 1 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 1998-09-16. Retrieved 2016-05-06.