SEE SEE RIDER BLUES

Created on 07/03/2001
Latest update on 22/02/2024

Artist: Ma Rainey
Author: Gertrude Rainey/L. Arant
Label: Paramount
Year: 1924

Is credited for being the first to record it, with Louis Armstrong (cornet) and Fletcher Henderson (piano). See See or C.C. Rider was the black denomination for a country circuit preacher (C.C.), half errand entertainer half outlaw. Words were borrowed from I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone (see Yellow Dog Rag).

Covers:

1928:

Tommy Johnson [in Maggie Campbell Blues (see there)]

1934:

Big Bill Broonzy [see footnote]

1935:

Lead Belly [as C.C. Rider]

1943:

Bea Booze

1949:

Ray Charles

1957:

Chuck Willis

1959:

Jimmy Smith

1960:

Wilbert Harrison

1960:

Charlie Rich

1960:

Chubby Checker [as The CC Rider Stroll]

1961:

Freddie King [as See See Baby]

1962:

LaVern Baker

1962:

Joey Dee & The Starliters

1963:

Johnny Rivers [Live At The Whisky A Go-Go in medley with Got My Mojo Working]

1964:

Janis Joplin

1965:

Alexis Korner

1965:

Johnny Kendall & The Heralds

1965:

Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels [in medley with Jenny Take A Ride; top 10 US]

1966:

Robert Parker

1966:

Animals

1966:

B.B. King

1967:

Joe Tex

1969:

King Curtis

1970:

Elvis Presley

1971:

Boots Randolph

1971:

Muddy Waters [as C.C. Woman]

1972:

Jerry Lee Lewis

1975:

Roy Buchanan

1978:

Rockin' Dopsie

1986:

Delmonas

1998:

Joe Beard

2004:

Guy Davis

2009:

Caroline Herring

2018:

Mitch Woods [with Van Morrison and Taj Mahal]

Big Bill Broonzy claimed he met the real See See Rider, a contemporary of his uncle Jerry Belcher and of Stonewall Jackson. C.C. never spent a cent on transportation, food or lodging. This blew young Bill's mind, who was raised in a family with 21 children. Big Bill told this same story to Alan Lomax. See his book The Land Where The Blues Began (Pantheon).

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