Chauffeur Blues

"Chauffeur Blues"
Song by Jefferson Airplane
Released 1966
Format Vinyl record (7") 45 RPM
Recorded February 25, 1966
Genre Rock, Blues
Length 2:25
Label RCA Victor
Writer Lester Melrose
Chronology
  1. "Blues From An Airplane"
  2. "Let Me In"
  3. "Bringing Me Down"
  4. "It's No Secret"
  5. "Tobacco Road"
  6. "Come Up The Years"
  7. "Run Around"
  8. "Let's Get Together"
  9. "Don't Slip Away"
  10. "Chauffeur Blues"
  11. "And I Like It"

"Chauffeur Blues" is a song originally performed by Memphis Minnie as "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" in 1941,[1] and subsequently covered by many other artists.

It was originally recorded in 1941 and credited to Memphis Minnie's husband and performing partner Ernest "Little Son Joe" Lawlars, though it is thought she wrote the song herself.[2] The song is also sometimes credited to its producer Lester Melrose, which allowed him to collect royalties on it without actually having written it.

The Jefferson Airplane version of this song is on the Jefferson Airplane Takes Off album with Signe Anderson as the lead vocalist. It is performed at a faster tempo and uses only three of the four verses. Anderson performs this song with strong contralto vocals. According to Jeff Tamarkin, author of Got A Revolution! The Turbulent Flight Of Jefferson Airplane, "Chauffeur Blues" was picked by Anderson off an album by South African folk singer Miriam Makeba.[3] It was not included among the repertoire of Jefferson Airplane's early gigs and was performed only occasionally. It was last performed by the Airplane on October 15, 1966, at the concert recorded as "Signe's Last". An extended version of the song is included on the remastered version of Jefferson Airplane Takes Off.

Blues writer and historian Thomas Millroth claims Memphis Minnie received no royalties from Jefferson Airplane.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 13. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  2. ↑ Garon, Paul, and Beth Garon, (1992). Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues. New York, New York: Da Capo Press. p. 51ff. – ISBN 0-306-80460-3
  3. ↑ Got A Revolution! The Turbulent Flight Of Jefferson Airplane, Jeff Tamarkin, Atria, 19 July 2005, ISBN 978-0671034047
  4. ↑ Garon, Paul (2014). Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-87286-621-8.

External links


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