Big Joe Turner was born, in Kansas City, on the same day as yours truly, only a few years earlier, i.e. on 18 May 1911. He was a barman when he met boogie pianist Pete Johnson in 1935. They teamed together for 13 years, recording a.o. "Roll 'em Pete" in 1938. After World War II the big blues shouter scored successes in the R&B ("Honey Hush") as well as the Rock 'n' Roll ("Shake, Rattle and Roll") fields.
He continued to perform until shortly before his dead on Nov. 24, 1985.
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
Recorded 13 November 1944 in Chicago with the Pete Johnson Trio On the LP: "Out came the blues" (Coral CP 58, 1970)
LITTLE BITTIE GAL'S BLUES (Joe Turner) I wake up every morning Honey with the risin' sun I wake up every morning Baby with the risin' sun Thinkin' about my honeydripper And all the wrong she's done When you see my baby Tell her I said hurry home If you see my baby Tell her I said hurry home I ain't had no real good lovin' Since my gal been gone She's a little bitty girl And they call her Vita Lee She's a little bitty girl And they call her Vita Lee Well the poor girl's gone But she shure was good to me I don't mind cryin' baby But I hate to sleep all by myself Don't mind cryin' baby But I hate to sleep all by myself When the little girl I'm in love with She's lovin' somebody else
(Lyrics kindly provided by Wayne Garvin, of Waterloo, Canada.) written by Charles E. Calhoun, and recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1954. This rhythm and blues classic also contributed to the early development of rock and roll when it was covered by Bill Haley (with "watered-down" lyrics for the white audience) and gave the latter his first top hit. But let's not forget who was there first!
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots 'n pans Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through I can't believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you I believe to the soul you're the devil and now I know I believe to the soul you're the devil and now I know Well, the more I work, the faster my money goes I said shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul Yeah, blow Joe! ----- saxophone ----- I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store Well I can look at you till you ain't no child no more Ah, shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul I get over the hill and way down underneath I get over the hill and way down underneath You make me roll my eyes, even make me grit my teeth I said shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do nothin' to save your doggone soul Shake, rattle and roll!
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