HESITATING BLUES

Created on 29/05/2008
Latest update on 10/01/2024

Artist: Prince's Orch.
Author: William Christopher Handy
Label: Columbia
Year: 1916

B-side to Handy's St. Louis Blues (see there).

Covers:

1916:

Victor Military Band [as Hesitation Blues, crediting Billy Smythe/Scott Middleton/Art Gillhan]

1919:

W.C. Handy's Memphis Blues Band

1923:

Sara Martin & Eva Taylor [as Hesitation Blues]

1924:

Uncle Dave Macon [as Hill Billy Blues, later as Hesitation Blues]

1925:

Art Gillham [coauthor]

1929:

Sleepy John Estes [as Divin' Duck Blues]

1930:

Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers [as If The River Was Whiskey]

1930:

Jim Jackson

1935:

Lead Belly [Lomax-recording]

1936:

Milton Brown [key version]

1938:

Jelly Roll Morton [for the Library of Congress]

1954:

Louis Armstrong & Velma Middleton

1957:

Rev. Gary Davis

1958:

Jesse Fuller

1959:

Dave Van Ronk

1964:

Holy Modal Rounders

1965:

Janis Joplin [with Jorma Kaukonen]

1965:

Rising Sons [as If The River Was Whiskey (Divin' Duck Blues)]

1968:

Taj Mahal [as Divin' Duck Blues]

1969:

Johnny Winter [idem]

1970:

Hot Tuna

1970s:

Earl Hines

1973:

Livin' Blues [as Divin' Duck Blues]

1984:

Rob Hoeke [idem]

1996:

Asylum Street Spankers

1996:

Murray Head

1996:

Pasadena Roof Orch.

2001:

Ian Whitcomb [in film The Cat's Meow]

2003:

Hans Theessink

2003:

Harry Manx & Kevin Breit [as Diving Duck Blues]

2005:

Marian McPartland & Steely Dan [most as Hesitation Blues]

2009:

Willie & The Wheel [Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel]

2017:

Frank Fairfield [as If The River Was Whiskey on American Epic]

The same year Smythe, Middleton & Gillhams' Hesitation Blues was published, W.C. Handy published his, using part of the same lyrics: "Honey how long will I have to wait? Oh won't you tell me now Baby, why do you hesitate?"

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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