Johnny Temple

July 5, 2008 10:29 PM

Those familiar with the plaintive falsetto of Delta blues great Skip James will surely hear Skip's influence in the much lesser-known Johnny Temple's Evil Devil Blues, recorded in 1935, which features some delightfully unexpected melodic twists. And though Johnny Temple "never achieved stardom", he does have a Wikipedia page.

The Johnny Temple YT clip is from PreWarMusic, who's posted several clips well worth your time and attention from early American music figures who aren't exactly household names. I really like this one, for example: Bed Spring Poker.

Skip James, of course, has been featured in a number of previous MeFi posts.

posted by flapjax at midnite (9 comments total)

One of the few links I could find on Temple was the record review from a site called Weeniecampbell.com. A little nosing around there turned up a cool pre-war blues lyrics resource. See here.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:43 AM on July 6

Loved that first clip, flapjax. The informality. The guitar's sensitive, unedited counterpoint to his voice.
A breeze of fresh air from the past, blowing the processed plastic doors off most of the crap I hear today.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:13 AM on July 6

Gotta make another coffee...
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:14 AM on July 6

Love this stuff. Thanks!
posted by sonofslim at 7:18 AM on July 6

And though Johnny Temple "never achieved stardom", he does have a Wikipedia page.

Ha! Nice, flapjax. If I strain, I think I can hear you sizzle.
posted by nosila at 7:18 AM on July 6

Any gear dorks out there happen to know what kind of mic they used in the first clip?
posted by nosila at 7:20 AM on July 6

There's an old CD from Starbucks called Night on the Delta that has lots more of this, if you can find a copy.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:27 AM on July 6

This Johnny should I know him does he have a Wikipedia entry? Ahhh I see he does, that is good I feel good about this * shoulders relaxing, butthole unclenching, eyes dilated, pores clogged, pants filled*

Oh hey there, really enjoyed the post.
posted by nola at 8:09 AM on July 6

Regarding Skip James
posted by y2karl at 8:59 AM on July 6 [1 favorite]