Contact
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Skip James
Author: Skip James
Label: Paramount
Year: 1931
The song he auditioned with for H.C. Speir, A&R man from Jackson, MS, landing him a first session for Paramount. Also his first song at Newport '64, freshly re-discovered and a late addition to the line-up. Prominently in 2001 film Ghost World.
Covers:
Joe McCoy [as Evil Devil Woman Blues]
Johnny Temple [as Evil Devil Blues]
Robert Johnson [as Hellhound On My Trail, not to be confused with Funny Paper Smith's Hellhound On My Trail ('31)]
Rising Sons [B-side of Candy Man, their only single]
Fleetwood Mac [as Hellhound On My Trail]
Alexis Korner [idem]
John Martyn [as I'd Rather Be The Devil on Solid Air]
Rory Block [as Devil Got My Man and in '06 as Hellhound On My Trail]
Del Rey [as Devil Call Your Name, following Rory Block's version]
Beck [outtake Odelay]
Bonnie Raitt [in film Soul Of A Man]
Eric Clapton [as Hell Hound On My Trail]
Sting [idem]
Dion [on his Son Of Skip James album]
Robert Johnson never heard or met Skip James personally. Go-between was Johnny Temple (see Lead Pencil Blues) who once was Skip James' protégé. Robert also recorded Skip's 22-20, be it as 32-20 (see there). Hellhound On My Trail is also related with Jack Owens' It Must Have Been The Devil. Jack was from Bentonia, MS. So was his pal Skip.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)