i think there is only that one photo of him, xhuxk ...the yazoo "friends of charley patton" thing is worth getting, not just for historical reference, but its a solid listen throughout. i think there's stuff on there that isn't anywhere else? i can't keep track. but yeah -- "funkier and more lively" sounds right. his version of the "blues" is not at all predictable. kinda like the rules hadn't really been written yet, so he just did whatever he wanted, in terms of rhythm/chord structure/meter ...
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
(this isn't very patton-related, but since this is the delta blues thread of the day, was just reading this: http://www.tdblues.com/?p=944)
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
the rules hadn't really been written yet, so he just did whatever he wanted
Yeah, the notes to Founder say he'd steal and shuffle verses from other music -- including British and Asian folk music -- at random, and he'd make a song out of anything, especially anything dirty.
― xhuxk, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
he does have some seriously dirty songs
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
definitely an interesting looking dude
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
and ... is that the way he played guitar? or is he just doing something weird with his left hand?
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
w/r/t his distinctive appearance -i think one of his grandparents was Cherokee
― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Monday, 24 May 2010 16:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
(or maybe Choctaw? which would make more sense considering where he was born)
― you hippies can keep yr gay socialist jesus (will), Monday, 24 May 2010 16:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
I think the consensus is that he was half white and a quarter Cherokee, though he used to be rumored to have been Mexican, iirc.
― xhuxk, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah, i remember reading that he had a very mixed heritage, incl. native american.
― tylerw, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
There are now two known photos of Charley Patton. The well-known one from the 1929 record catalogue and another one relatively recently discovered in the possession of a former spouse that dates from c. 1909 and appears, heavily retouched, in the Calt/Wardlow book about Patton.
It is true that there really is nobody else who sounds like Charley. Close listening reveals a deceptive sophistication in his arrangements, and his voice is a national treasure. It also appears that the form Patton worked in was better established than many folks realize, but he certainly carved a unique niche in it, taking liberties with established standards that hint at what was to come with jazz.
Son House generally dissed the heck out of Patton to the point where he really started to come off like a jealous whiny bitch. That said, they seem to have had a mutual influence on one another. I've always thought that Blind Lemon Jefferson sounds as much like Patton as anyone, which is odd since Jefferson was from Texas, not the Delta.
― ImprovSpirit, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
Yep. That's the 1929 foto. Thanks for posting!
He did play guitar like that some of the time, as well as between his legs & behind his head. Son House hated on him for his showboating. ;-)
― ImprovSpirit, Monday, 24 May 2010 16:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
The best sounding Patton cds are The Best of Charlie Patton and Primeval Blues Rags and Gospel Songs compilations by Yazoo. There is minimal amount of noise reduction used on these so the music really comes alive. However leaves about 13 songs out, which were left out because the few copies of these songs still around are in really bad shape, probably G rated at best. However if you are really into Patton you need them. Othen than going for the super expensive Revenant set go for either the JSP 5 disc set or the one I have- The Definitive Charley Patton on Catfish Records. He is worth the effort.
― Jim, Saturday, 11 September 2010 21:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
i stumbled on what is supposedly an early portrait of him. is this the one you're talking about? is this thing even real? he looks crazy.
yet to snag that book. really enjoyed calt's skip james bio, need this one, too.
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
found it here. not much info!
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
that's supposed to be a pic of him when he was 17?! barely looks like him, but who knows.
― tylerw, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
his hair and moustache look fake
― l0u1s j0rdan (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 30 April 2012 22:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
King of the Delta Blues: The Life and Music of Charlie Patton (Paperback)Stephen Calt (Author)3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews) | Like (0)
Available from these sellers.
6 new from $95.99 10 used from $81.42
>:-O
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
pic makes me think of this
― tylerw, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
& yeah, i've tried to find that Calt bio and run into the same problemos.
― tylerw, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:47 (1 year ago) Permalink
pic makes me think of dad
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 22:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
WOW, had no idea Calt's Patton bio was so scarce these days. got mine for like, less than half cover price? at a used bookstore here less than 5 yrs ago. i got the skip james one for a buck at the salvation army but haven't read it yet.
― one dis leads to another (ian), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
i would donate my calt bio to an ilx book swap program if i could be sure of getting it back at some point within, say, 2 years?
― one dis leads to another (ian), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
i mean, calt's patton bio. not a bio of calt. no one wants to read that.
definitely like the idea of an ilx book swap! dunno if i actually have anything that would be difficult for any ilxor to track down for a reasonable price, but that seems like a p good idea.
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 23:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
seriously guys (esp arby's) check the local library system! you'd be surprised how many crazy expensive rare books you can get!
― l0u1s j0rdan (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
arby's u in the TC right?
https://catalog.hclib.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1335828199W7J.483732&profile=elibrary&source=~!horizon&view=items&uri=full=3100026~!3841080~!5&ri=2&aspect=basic_search&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=charlie+patton&index=.TW&uindex=&aspect=basic_search&menu=search&ri=2#focus
― l0u1s j0rdan (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
otm re: libraries!
― one dis leads to another (ian), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
interlibrary loan!
oh wow, that's great. i'll definitely check that out when i get the chance. i'm actually in HSTNGS temporarily cuz of school but i might be back in the TC in the summer/fall.
― arby's, Monday, 30 April 2012 23:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
also the last copy to sell on ebay went for $36, which is still a lot, but not as awful as the prices on amazon.
― one dis leads to another (ian), Monday, 30 April 2012 23:36 (1 year ago) Permalink