70 “Expressman Blues” by Sleepy John Estes

10

March 19, 2013 by gadaya

“Expressman Blues”, recorded in Memphis, TN, on may 17, 1930

with Sleepy John Estes on guitar, Yank Rachell on vocal and mandolin and Jab Jones on piano.

I said expressman, expressman, lord, 
You have parked your wagon wrong.
Lord, you have parked your wagon wrong.
You took and moved my good gal, 
When I was a long long way from home.

Don’t a woman make a man do things, 
And she know darn well that’s wrong.
Lord, she know darn well that’s wrong.
Lord that’s why you hear poor James,
Singin’ these lonesome song.

Babe if you never, 
You never hear me any more.
Lord, hear me any more.
Lord you can ‘member one morning baby, 
When I walked up on your porch.

Well I’ll sing this song. 
Jim ain’t gon’ sing no more.
Lord, ain’t gon’ sing no more.
I’m gonna put this mandolin under my arm, 
To the North Memphis Cafe I’ll go

The unique and exciting sound of “Expressman Blues”, with its mandolin/piano/guitar combo and plaintive vocals is the result of the meeting of three great Tennessee Blues musicians, “Sleepy” John Estes, Yank Rachell and Jab Jones (called themselves the “Three J’s”). John Estes had a long career as a Blues guitarist and singer, starting at the end of the 1920’s and kept on playing and performing until his death in 1977. (

The unique and exciting sound of “Expressman Blues”, with its mandolin/piano/guitar combo and plaintive vocals is the result of the meeting of three great Tennessee Blues musicians, “Sleepy” John Estes, Yank Rachell and Jab Jones (called themselves the “Three J’s”). John Estes had a long career as a Blues guitarist and singer, starting at the end of the 1920’s and kept on playing and performing until his death in 1977. (Full bio here). Yank Rachell (1910-1997) was one of the greatest mandolin Blues player and, like his friend John Estes, with whom he recorded a lot, had one of the longest career in the Blues world. (Go and read more on this tribute page). He was the singer on “Expressman Blues”. Jab Jones, piano and jug player for the Memphis Jug Band, played piano with them for a few recording sessions in 1929 and 1930.

-“Illustred Discographies” of “Sleepy” John Estes and Yank Rachell.

–A nice article about Sleepy John

Here are the early recordings of “Sleepy” John Estes and Yank Rachell, from 1929 and 1930. (You’ll find them and plenty of other great recordings on a 4cd box set from JPS records)

1. The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair
2. Broken-Hearted, Ragged And Dirty Too
3. Divin’ Duck Blues
4. Little Sarah
5. Black Mattie Blues
6. T-Bone Steak Blues
7. Milk Cow Blues
8. Street Car Blues
9. Expressman Blues
10. Watcha Doin?
11. Poor John Blues
12. Stack O’Dollars 
13. My Black Gal Blues
14. Sweet Mama

Click on Harry!