Louisiana Red, alias Iverson Minter, was born in 1936 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His mother died one week later from pneumonia. Five years later his father was slain by the Ku Klux Klan. He was in various orphanages for three years until his grandmother took him to live in Pittsburgh.
She bought him a guitar when he was eleven, and an old man named Crit Walters got him started on it. At fourteen he was in the streets playing for change with Orville Witt (one-string tub bass) and Frank Flowers (harmonica).
After being arrested as a member of a youth gang and spending a year in a reformatory, he joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea.
After his discharge, he continued drifting and hanging around clubs, studying the blues greats of the day and developing his own style. He became a typical example of the lone bluesman ("just me and my guitar"), and many of his songs are rooted in his own personal experiences.
(NB these notes were adapted from Kent Cooper's liner notes to his album "The Blues Purity of Louisiana Red" on Blue Labor)
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
on the death of his wife Ealase, in 1973, at the age of 30, from cancer. From the LP "The blues purity of Louisiana Red" (Blue Labor 104), recorded in January 1975.
Death of Ealase Well it was early on Friday evening, that's when my Ealase passed away Early on Friday evening, that's when my Ealase passed away She was taken away by 'r ol' cancer, and ol' Red could do nothin' for 'r that day I know the kids gonna miss you honey, and you know Red gonna miss you too The kids gonna miss you honey, and I know I'm gonna miss you too When they took your flowers out your room, ain't nothin' more none of us could do All right son, I'm gonna play it... (guitar solo) Now you know I loved you Ealase, that's why I went down and dug your grave You know I loved you Ealase, I went down and dug your grave If I live right and be right honey, I'll join you somewhere someday One more time boy... (guitar solo) Well you know I loved you Ealase, that's why I went down and dug your grave You know I loved you Ealase, that's why I went down and dug your grave If I do right and live right honey, I'll join you up there someday
On this song (on the Blue Labor LP "The Blues Purity of Louisiana Red"), Louisiana Red used the well-known riff from Elmore James's "Dust my broom".
First Degree (Louisiana Red & Kent Cooper) A crime's in motion, won't somebody call the law A crime's in motion, won't somebody call the law I know my baby is with someone, layin' out there in the raw Break the doors all down, get everybody on the street Break the doors all down, get everybody on the street Let's get organized people, arrest everybody that you meet I wanna see a line-up, just as long as this old town I wanna see a line-up, just as long as this old town Get a warrant right out, for whomever ain't around (I gotta get one out boy) Just as soon as we catch them, they gotta hang in the first degree Just as soon as we catch them, they gotta hang in the first degree For all the suffering, suffering they caused poor me
From the Blue Labor LP "The Blues Purity of Louisiana Red" (recorded in White Plains, N.Y., January 1975). Here Red employs a not-so-subtle method to keep his women from running away... no false sentiments here, Red just tells it like it is.
Here is an excerpt from this song in RealAudio format.
Sweetblood Call (Louisiana Red & Kent Cooper) I have a hard time missing you baby, with my pistol in your mouth Mmmm have a hard time missing you baby, with my pistol in your mouth You may be thinking 'bout going north, but your brains are staying south Just roll your pretty eyes, if you intend to stay Just roll your pretty eyes, if you intend to stay Close 'em up again, and I blow your world away I see your eyes are rollin' Must mean your love for me has come back Must mean you're satisfied again With our little wooden country shack I have a hard time missing you baby, with my pistol in your mouth You may be thinking about going north woman, but your brains are staying south Even if you sneak away I'll find you before nightfall You're tied to me girl I can feel your sweetblood call Even if you sneak away I'll find you before nightfall Caused you are tied to me girl I can feel your sweetblood call
From the Blue Labo'r LP "The Blues Purity of Louisiana Red", this song was credited to Louisiana Red & Kent Cooper. Kent Cooper was one of the producers - the other was Heiner Stadler.
Thirty Dirty Women Thirty dirty women, have made a mess of my life Thirty dirty women, have made a mess of my life Thirty dirty women, none ain't good enough for my wife My life is bad luck, with losin' on top of that My life is bad luck, and I'm losin' on top of that I'm in so much misery, I'm just like a starvin' cat (Lord have mercy!) Thirty dirty women, have worn me down to one last thread Thirty dirty women, have worm me down to one last thread My feet are dragging, and I can't hardly lift my head
Also an original Louisiana Red number from the Blue Labor LP "The Blues Purity of Louisiana Red".
Too poor to die Last night I had a dream I dream I died The undertaker came To carry me for the ride I couldn't afford a coffin Embalmin' kinda high I jumped off my death bed Cause I too poor to die I's in trouble And I'll tell you the reason why I'm just too poor people I'm too poor to go lay down and die I dream at the cemetery I couldn't afford enough To pay the gravediggers To cover me up It cost a lot of money Cause they was union men I guess before I die I better think again I'm in trouble And I'll tell you the reason why I'm just too poor people I'm too poor to go lay down and die Dream I met the devil He is waitin' at the gate Say "come on in Red You ain't a minute late" Said he lead me to his kingdom Lead me by my arm But he wouldn't move my body Less I grease his palm I's in trouble And I'll tell you the reason why I'm just too poor people I'm too poor to go lay down and die
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