CARELESS LOVE

Created on 17/09/2007
Latest update on 27/07/2023

Artist: A visiting singer
Author: traditional
Year: 1911

On a black folk collection from Newton Co., GA. Other title: Kelly's Love. Probably one title is a corruption of the other. Kelly's Love might have been a tune associated with Chris Kelly, New Orleans trumpet player who like Buddy Bolden never recorded. 'Father of the blues' W.C. Handy claimed he first heard the tune in 1892. It's dubious he wrote all the blues songs he is credited for. Handy was just 'handy' enough to be the first to publish them. In this case in 1921 under the title Loveless Love, A Blues Ballad.

Covers:

1921:

Noble Sissle [as Loveless Love with extra lyrics written by W.C. Handy]

1921:

James P. Johnson [piano roll]

1922:

W.C. Handy's Memphis Blues Band [idem; see note]

1923:

Alberta Hunter [idem]

1925:

Bessie Smith [with new words by Martha Koenig and Spencer Williams; Louis Armstrong on cornet]

1925:

Original Tuxedo Jazz Band [with Papa Celestin as Careless Lover]

1927:

Fats Waller [as Loveless Love]

1927:

Ma Rainey [as Blues Oh Blues]

1928:

Lonnie Johnson

1928:

Ernest V. Stoneman

1930:

Jimmie Tarlton

1931:

Jack Teagarden

1931:

King Oliver

1934:

Milton Brown [as Loveless Love]

1937:

Blind Boy Fuller

1938:

Bob Wills

1939:

Lonnie Johnson

1940:

Josh White [first sang it as a gospel]

1941:

Big Joe Turner

1950:

Fats Domino

1958:

Nat King Cole & Eartha Kitt [in film St. Louis Blues, based on W.C. Handy's life story]

1959:

Dave Van Ronk

1962:

Ray Charles

1962:

Champion Jack Dupree

1969:

Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash

1978:

Sam Chatmon [Lomax recording]

1992:

Dr. John

1994:

Duo Magit

1999:

Odetta

2004:

Madeleine Peyroux

2007:

Harry Connick Jr.

2007:

Pines

2008:

Eden Brent

2010:

Preservation Hall Jazz Band [vocal: Del McCoury]

2010:

Brendan Croker & Bruno Deneckere [live]

2011:

Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton

2013:

Hugh Laurie

2013:

Kermit Ruffins

2019:

Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson

2019:

Duke Robillard

2023:

Van Morrison

See also: St. Louis Blues.

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)

info@originals.be

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