James "Stump" Johnson

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James "Stump" Johnson
File:Stump ducks.jpg
cover of The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas
Background information
Born (1902-01-17)January 17, 1902
Clarksville, Tennessee, United States
Died Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Genres St. Louis blues
Occupation(s) Musician, singer
Instruments Vocals, piano
Labels QRS, Bluebird, Paramount

James "Stump" Johnson (January 17, 1902 – December 5, 1969)[1] was an American blues pianist and singer from St. Louis.

Biography

James "Stump" Johnson was the brother of Jesse Johnson, "a prominent black business man," who around 1909[2] had moved the family from Clarksville, Tennessee, to St. Louis, where he ran a music store and was a promoter.[3] James, a self-taught piano player,[4] made a career playing the city's brothels.[5] He had an instant hit with the "whorehouse tune"[2] "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas," "a popular St. Louis party song."[6] The song's title is explained by quoting the lyrics more fully: "Shake your shoulders, shake 'em fast, if you can't shake your shoulders, shake your yas-yas-yas."[2]

He made a number of other recordings (some mildly pornographic) under various pseudonyms.[7] One of the more obscene tunes was a version of "Steady Grinding", which he recorded with Dorothea Trowbridge on August 2, 1933;[8] the song has the "defiant, sexually aggressive lyrics" early blueswomen were noted for,[9] "grind" being slang for copulating.[10]

Discography

James "Stump" Johnson (1929–1964)

James "Stump" Johnson (1929–1964)
File:Stump johnson.jpg
Compilation album by James "Stump" Johnson
Recorded 1929–1964
Genre St. Louis blues
Label Document

"Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order," on Document DOCD-5250, CD.[11]

  1. "The Duck Yas-Yas-Yas"
  2. "The Snitcher's Blues"
  3. "Bound to Be a Monkey"
  4. "My Babe Blues"
  5. "Jones Law Blues"
  6. "Transom Blues (Bury That Thing)"
  7. "Soaking Wet Blues"
  8. "Kind Babe Blues"
  9. "What You Do What I Asked You To"
  10. "Heart Is Right Blues"
  11. "Low Moanin' Blue"
  12. "Snitcher's Blues"
  13. "Baby B. Blues"
  14. "You Buzzard You"
  15. "Sail on Black Sue"
  16. "Barrel of Whiskey Blues"
  17. "Steady Grindin'"
  18. "Money Johnson"
  19. "Don't Give My Lard Away"
  20. "Snitcher's Blues No. 2 [#]"
  21. "Bound to Be a Monkey [#]"
  22. "Duck Yas-Yas-Yas [#]"

The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas

Compilation/reissue on Agram Blues AB-2007, LP.[12]

Side A

  1. "The Duck-Yas-Yas-Yas"
  2. "The Snitchers Blues"
  3. "My Babe Blues"
  4. "My Babe Blues"
  5. "Transom Blues (Bury That Thing)"
  6. "Soaking Wet Blues"
  7. "Kind Babe Blues"
  8. "Would You Do What I Asked You To"

Side B

  1. "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas"
  2. "Heart is Right Blues"
  3. "Snitcher's Blues"
  4. "You Buzzard You"
  5. "Sail on Black Sue"
  6. "Money Johnson"
  7. "Snitchers Blues"
  8. "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas"
  9. "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas"
  10. "Snitchers Blues"

References

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External links

  • Bibliography on James "Stump" Johnson, in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Biddle Street Barrelhousin' review

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