Elmore James-"Dust My Broom"

Selected viewer comments from http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments=1&v=aKo80b-QfK0&page=2

Posted in 2008:

buskerbuoy - Simply the best version ever of Robert Johnson's classic. Thanks for posting

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HIGHBURYA - WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT SHEER QUALITY GENIOUS AND WHAT HAS NOT YET BEEN WRITTEN FOR THE GODFATHER OF THE BLUES Long live it

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jt123egypte- A TRUE MASTERPIECE by the KING OF BLUES.

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miceandmen7- Elmore James - words fail me. Such a master of the guitar...and that voice, so clear, so haunting.

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andyinoregon - Thanks for a priceless piece of blues history.

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charliebrockett- A timeless classic and perfection in playing the slide guitar

Close to perfection.

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twoslices - Priceless! gives me goosebumps every time.

Selected viewer comments from http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments=1&v=aKo80b-QfK0&page=1

Posted in 2008:

jt123egypte - The  song of Robert Johnson inspired Elmo and Elmo certainly was the greatest Bluessinger ever and by this great cover Johnson became not forgotten.This tune is a MASTERPIECE!

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Posted in 2009:

RockinGhostTown- i think it's not too much to say that The Slide bar guitar starts w this guy and ends w this guy.

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th3ston3dimmaculat3 - Sometimes its hard not to cry when I hear his voice. Elmore James, truly a legend!

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nicodagger - Brilliant! This man tears my heart out whenever I hear it. But what does it mean, "Dust My Broom"? I'm serious, if someone can tell me, I appreciate it, I'm not US-speaker. thanks.

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2menace - well the broom is a symbol of mariage. A common explain is, that hes dusting hes broom to get a new girl for mariage

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aardappelneez - From what i've heard it means 'leaving (town)' I believe wikipedia has a page of dust my broom, you should check it

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TomHendricksMusea - Best version of a great classic!

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gothamrat- Oh man... I can listen to this music all day!

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jt123egypte- PERHAPS THE BEST BLUESNUMBER BY THE BEST BLUESSINGER EVER!

Elmore R.I.P. we will never forget you, you were the greatest!

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WobblingBaby- This must be the blues greatest riff - if you count the number of times it has been imitated

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whoareyou342 -One of the greatest licks in music.

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ElKuryos - I'm a portuguese dud but i love this. in Portugal we don't have the blues culture, but i learned myself about true meaning of the word BLUES. They were all a bunch of sad guys...

I love them all...But for me the greatest one was Sonny Boy Williamson... in spite i love Elmore James

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azizip17-@ElKuryos Hello ElKuryos. All Blues isn't sad. For example, there's Willie Dixon's "Wang Dang Doodle". And of course there were and are also women Blues singers. :o) [Posted in 2010]

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suziemcalister - Es muy rico

Ha Ha ha! j/k Yo Habla Espanol muy Poquito

Whatever y'all speak this music is like Universal, comprende?

Classic Jammin' Dancin Groovin Blues MUSIC!

Let's Party Let's Boogie!

Love to you all, "Suzie"

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coiners-actually, it is Robert Johnson's song originally and has become a blues standard. so James' version is a "mere" cover. but I think it's one of the best songs ever ;) btw, if you want to know more about the song(s) check wiki - they've got some serious info there :D

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cricketbat08 - This is the Blues alright!

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Beefgog - This is the definition of BLUES!

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cricketbat08- Elmore rocks!!

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beauwalker23 - i learned slide, because of him

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OriginalShirker - Man i wish I could play the blues like that....

Guess Ive got something to work towards...lol

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miceandmen7 - Don't give up.....so many have tried, from the Stones to Clapton, but even they will admit no-one, no-one ever comes within light years of Elmore......the voice, the band, the sound - even his look.

It is the orginal and best blues. Period.

Pure genius.

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d820m - This song is actually Dust My Blues from 1955...which was yet another takeoff of the original Dust My Broom which Elmore recorded in 1951 for Trumpet Records...Dust My Blues was recorded for the Bihari's Flair label..."I Believe" was recorded for Meteor Records, Please Find My Baby, and Wild About You Baby all have the Dust My Broom riff

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nicodagger - I love the pics of him wearing the black-rimmed glasses...like a black Buddy Holly, but with more SOUL and power and brilliance in one nail of his little finger than Holly had in his entire career. No offense, Buddy Holly-lovers.

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dimesy94 - Elmore James is without doubt in my mind the greatest slide player who has ever lived. Just like Robert Johnson was king of the Delta Blues Elmore James is the King of The Slide Guitar

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simplytony2 - The man reaches deep down the soul of man. Blues is not just music but life and how hard it can be. So play that song and let it roll.

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rosesredvioletsblue- OH, WOW!

Amazing artist.

Some great blues here!!!!

10/10

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miltmonkey - Ole Elmore James is still giving guitar lessons, Alas and what is it I see Stevie Ray Vaughan running to fetch Mr. James a glass of water, Eric Clapton copying everything he can get his hands on still unable to carry the jockstrap of a true legend..... and Keith Richards fetching a towel to wipe the brow of one of his idols again and again and again. Elmore James true legend, king of the slide guitar along with Homesick James underpaid and robbed blind by you know who! Play the blues James !

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davidsmokeybonghit - Whatever happened to great guitarists like him, Robert Johnson, BB King, Leadbelly, Lightning Hopkins and John Lee Hooker, new music sucks.

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shootcocacola73- I couldn't agree more.

Don't forget Blind Lemon Jefferson

the father of texas blues

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tinytody- I agree....the passion is gone!

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mrgoodvibrations - This is My fav of dust my broom, Elmore James! Yeah!

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cricketbat08- Great slide guitar and a great bluesy voice. Perfect!

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kernreactie - Elmore James is the inventor of the guitar riff that every child all over the world who takes guitarlessons will learn in the beginning, he is the grandfather of the modern guitar

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TheLove4Christ - James is in a league of his own. Just look at his music then at the music of those who came after, Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Cream, Clapton, Stevie Ray, The Allmans, the Stones and the Beatles. You really can't compare him to anyone else because he got it all started.

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thebluesrockers- well this song was written by Robert Johnson

he was the one who in fact started it all, but Elmore James put it to electric In the most perfect way. Bo Diddley did something just as ground breaking when he came up with his own strum. I can see though you have very good taste in music my friend. I like everyone you mentioned.

you didn't just name bands and people, but a true part of music history. I do agree he was in a league of his own.

as were all you mentioned. rock on my Christian brother..

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colorod0- this riff is everywhere in rock and blues. Thats enough to remember Elmore, alone.

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moosekarloff - To comment on recent posts: Elmore James usually played an acoustic Kay guitar with a pick-up attached. He was always adjusting his instrument to get the sound he apparently wanted. His style is appealing to contemporary audiences because it's so crisp and clear. The Allmans should have been sending royalties to his estate from the get-go, as much of their work is a direct lift from The Great Man. Next to Muddy Waters, this guy is the greatest of the postwar guitar-playing bluesmen.

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ipings - One of my favorite singers ever besides being obviously one of the guitar greats. What a voice!

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MrPozzoz- Simply amazing !!!!

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SoberGeorge - Great post! Elmore James was so ahead of his time, and true icon. His take on this Robert Johnson classic just knocks me out.

Thank You.

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Bucket1Head3 - WOW!

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cricketbat08 -Brilliant blues music!!

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wildcboy- Have Mercy!

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solidarity4 - What year did he record this version of this song?

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GOLDBAND45 - Probably during his stints in the Chicago clubs approx 1960.His band at the time

comprised Homesick James guitar,Johnny Jones piano,J.T Brown

sax and Odie Payne on drums.All can be heard on this recording

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fallenangels999 - robert johnsons version is better

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vinylman4533- can't compare them

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edslides- actually, robert and elmo covered this one.

the origin is "kokomo blues".

nobody knows who WROTE it.

"nuthin new under the sun". elmore did pretty much "invent" distortion. he used to take a straight razor to his paper speaker cone, and it was the original distortion.

dont do this to your vintage silvertone amp, but elmo did.

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zevcha- Still so powerful after all this time..nothing these days can touch that time..Music was right from the core..the sound was dirty, the lyrics solid and the gut feelings all there in his hands...

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jahnnedoe- I LOVE these recordings. His voice is so powerful the mic can barely take it! RIP Elmore.

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Bumblebee38 - Pianist was the great Little Johnny Jones

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ENVocalist - Awesome vocals and guitar! Truly a legend.

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jdzzle- what does it mean to dust my broom?

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ElmoLewiss- when a guest would stay over night, they would sweep up before they left, then dust out the broom so booth broom and room are clean....

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xxstiletto- Sorry U are wrong!. I had to know what ( dust my broom) was all about so I did some research checked blues definitions ,black slang,etc.. Dust my broom is to ask who ever u spent the night with to leave. or who ever is around and u do longer want its company

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TREYOLDHIPPIE- yes its time to dust my broom. I am up soon in the morning.. and its clear what I need to do. no downtown - -man.. a great share, thanks for this!

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Posted in 2010:

ogdroadsong - "Dust my broom" is ghetto-slang for wank, this song is about him getting rid of the woman cos she's giving him the blues then having a swift one off the wrist.

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MyGoldenBicycle- A great Bluesman. Nuff said.

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makalavena- I love this. this song tells it all, about cleaning house after the one you love has left.

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richardpeej - This is a classic-I never tire of listening to it!

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wildcboy- Maybe not be the best blues song ever but close to it. Ask all the great artists who have done covers.

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rogeliorulo - Let's just enjoy one the great blues legends! Its too bad there's no video of him performing live. Does anyone know why not?

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jaikwillis-@rogeliorulo because at the time Elmore James was working, and in the places he was working, people couldn't afford video cameras. He died relatively young and before affluent white audiences took serious notice of the blues.

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sixnationriders - a true artist of his craft!!! GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!!!

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casu3- this song is an original of robert johnson or elmore james?

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Musicplayful- This is an RJ original, but Elmore can be credited for making it the hit it became with his version.

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GypsySun1969- @casu3

Robert Johnson, most agree, though Elmore James claimed to have written in before Robert Johnson recorded it.

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MysteryHunterz- He claimed to, though nobody really knows who wrote it.

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GypsySun1969- @MysteryHunterz

Yup.

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dudadede - There are a question, please, Is Sonny Boy Williamson II or Elmore James??

I remeber have seen that picture in other web site as Sonny Boy Williamson II, please answer me, have a good time.

long live to the blues, brothers!

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dudadede- 1:22

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dommiamm- Sure that's not Elmore James

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bevdee1234- yeah, that's Sonny Boy II. The graphic of Sonny Boy on the king biscuit corn flour (or whatever the product was that he promoted at the Helena Ark. radio station) may have come from this photo.

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bizzle1783- yeah you're right dude that is sonny boy williamson II (rice miller)

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kerribubba - my favorite all time BLUES song ever...listen to the sax too...too too too much love it

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mta415 - Robert Johnson first recorded this in 1936 right here in San Antonio, TX. It was recorded then as "I believe I'll dust my broom". The lyrics are the same. Not taking anything away from E. J., he hammers it out like nobodys business!!

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noudthe3rd- what do you mean 'taking anything away from EJ'? This is a blues standard, of course its a cover! Besides, johnson copied the melody himself, just listen to 'I Believe Ill Make A Change'

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mta415- Little Joe McLerran's version of it has a couple of similar notes but you can easily distinguish between the two. I prefer the Delta sound over the Piedmont style(except Terry & McGhee) of blues . Like I said, "Not taking anything away from E.J., he hammers it out like nobodys business!!"

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48755003 - OOhh this is sooo good!! I can´t live without my blues!!

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Gallagherfreak100 - The more I listen to Elmore James, the more I am convinced he was the true father of blues rock. Listen to Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Duane Allman, Brian Jones, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn; hear the influence of Elmore James. I know some people think Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, or Elvis (WRONG) were the "fathers" of rock. I say is was Elmore James. Sadly, under appreciated and unknown, except among fans of Duane Allman.

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whisky2roxy- @Gallagherfreak100

Hi, I believe there's a big difference between people that call themselves "rock fans" because they may like the Monkees, Madonna, or Lady Gaga, and those knowledgeable about rock history. To the latter group, legendary bluesmen like Elmore James and the great Rory Gallagher are true rock giants!

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whisky2roxy- @Gallagherfreak100

There were many black bluesmen including EJ that forged the path to rock n' roll.

Unknown? For anyone that knows anything about rock n' roll, Elmore James is a household name.

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sekhmetraptah - @whisky2roxy you're right about the r&rhf

just want future generations to be aware not only of the recordings, but background

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Samakar- Very true, Elmore was a huge influence, but the true father of this stuff is from Lead Belly man, he was where it started, and then it quickly shifted to Son House, the man who TAUGHT RJ to use a slide.

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chase14 - There's no question that Elmore James was influencial in the formation of R'n'R music but it is also arguable that Hank Williams influenced R'n'R just as much with the Rockabilly movement. R'n'R is a combination of lots of different styles. You can't say it's just blues because then you are leaving out the fact the country was just as big an influence or jazz for that matter. Chuck Berry thought of himself as more of Hillbilly player than bluesman because he grew up in White neighborhoods.

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killerkarl123- true...... but whats the point of mentioning it here??? who is talking about hank williams???

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SoberGeorge- I believe Elmore James first recorded this song in 1951, however this version is my favorite. I think it was recorded sometime between 1960 and 1963? It's interesting to me how the grainy sound quality of these early recordings only seems to enhance the special feeling of the music.

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lejaz- @SoberGeorge right on...it's got way more soul than the over produced stuff from today.

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flimbambo- @SoberGeorge I agree. This is the best version.

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JohnnyMindcrime- @flimbambo: Yep, I third that as well - of all the versions of this song by Elmore, this is the one where you feel him *REALLY* going for it... an absolutely crazy piece of blues for its time.

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50srockandroll -@SoberGeorge - Elmore James very first vinyl recording, "Dust My Broom" was cut by an independent record producer named Lillian McMurray in 1951, label unknown. At the time of the recording Elmore thought he was rehearsing and after finding out he had been tricked by the producers he refused to record a B-side and the single was released (without his permission) with a different artist on the flip side. "Dust My Broom" went to #9 R&B in 1952.

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SoberGeorge- @50srockandroll Thanks. I didn't know that it was released with a different artist on the B side. I had read somewhwere that Elmore James was shy in the recording studio, and that he was told by the producers that he was rehearsing.

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Bumblebee38 - This was the CHECKER version of January 17 1953 with Jt Brown on Tenor sax and Little Jonnie Jones at the Piano

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bigwillhenk - this is  the blues you all

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bakkis61- This is the ultimate call sound for any cell phone. Once Elmore strikes the first chords of this tune...everyone has his attention.

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fredblassie123- This man belongs on Mount Bluesmore alongside Muddy, Wolf, and Sonny Boy II....

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Bumblebee38 - There were so many Versions of this GEM........

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kemposoefi - I am suprised by the bad ratings, although there are only a few.

People who don't like blues at all, shouldn't rate blues artists like the fantastic Mr. Elmore James. If you like blues music, it is impossible to rate bad.

Peace to you all.

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AK1292 - wow so good. I am into heavy metal and 80s hard rock and I'm researching this for my guitar class. This is seriously the father of rock, and more people need to know about this music.

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TheJonhyWest - At 1:21

That men is Sonny Boy Williamson, not Elmore James....

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modemeyes - Wonder how many wanna-be blues guitarists cut their teeth on this one.

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Rowland108 - We can thank Bobby Robinson, an Elmore James fan & owner of NY's Fire Records who found Elmore, then in obscurity playing in a small club in 1959, signed him to his Fire record label & recorded some of his greatest work like Sky Is Crying, Look on Yonder Wall & Shake Your Moneymaker.

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Bezplin- Bought Elmore James after diggin around in an old record shop and Dust my broom kicked off and that was it for me fan forever

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reelden -One of the most played blues songs ever! great legacy!

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estderoma- 1) this song is by Robert Johnson

2) 1:25 that's Sonny Boy WIlliamson II

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jrasparagus - Why in the world do we have to praise one artist by being negative toward other artists? I appreciate them all!

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