Junco Partner
Encyclopedia
"Junco Partner" is a traditional American blues
song remarkable for being covered and revised by many artists over several decades. Some of them include Dr. John
, Professor Longhair
, James Booker
and The Clash
. It was played in different music genre
s such as blues
, folk
, rock
, reggae
and dub
. The song’s lyrics refer to needles, drugs, wishes, and to the notorious Louisiana
prison farm in Angola
.
and boogie-woogie
pianist
from New Orleans
, but he never recorded or credited it to himself. In 1940, Champion Jack Dupree
, an American pianist influenced by Hall and his friend, recorded the song for the first time on OKeh Records
.
Fats Domino
first attracted national attention with "The Fat Man
", a variation on this traditional New Orleans tune. Domino recorded the song for Imperial Records
in Cosimo Matassa
's J&M studio on Rampart Street
in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, 10 December 1949. This song is an early rock and roll
record, featuring a rolling piano and Domino doing "wah-wah" vocalizing over a fat back beat
. It sold over a million copies and is widely regarded as the first rock and roll record to do so.
The melody of "Junker's Blues" was used by Lloyd Price
in 1952 for his song, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy
", and by Professor Longhair
for "Tipitina", a song from his 1972 album, New Orleans Piano.
, a musical producer and owner of the “A&R at Mercury Records”, a company that worked with jazz
and blues, renamed and rewrote the song, and credited it to himself and Robert Ellen. Shad knew the song because of his work in the New Orleans music scene. Since then, most artists who have recorded the song have credited it to him and Ellen.
In 1952, many artists covered the song, such as the Richard Hayes & Edie Sauter band, and Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five for Decca (these two groups credited the song to Shad and Ellen). The first record of "Junco Partner" was made by James Wayne. Wayne's version became popular in the United States
, though actual artists affirm that it was already a classic in New Orleans.
Bob Dylan's 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded took its title from "Junco Partner" lyrics (not in the original "Junker's Blues")
and blues
musician, recorded two versions, the first in 1959 as "Preacher's Daughter", and the second in 1962 as "Down the Road". The Holy Modal Rounders covered the song as "Junko Partner" in 1965.
Better known covers were recorded in the 1970s and afterwards. In 1972, Dr. John
covered the song for his Gumbo album. In 1976, Professor Longhair
covered it for his Rock 'N Roll Gumbo album, and James Booker
did the same for his homonymous album. The Clash
covered the song on their triple album Sandinista!
, released in 1980. In this album, they recorded two versions: a reggae
version, "Junco Partner" and a dub
version, "Version Pardner".
Pre-dating the Clash cover, the group the 101'ers, of which Joe Strummer
was a member, did a cover as well.
In 1990, Willy DeVille
recorded it for his Victory Mixture
album.
Carlos del Junco
covered the song for his Big Boy album released in 1999.
The Hindu Love Gods
, which had Warren Zevon
as lead singer and included three members of R.E.M.
, also included this song under the title "Junko Pardner."
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
song remarkable for being covered and revised by many artists over several decades. Some of them include Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
, James Booker
James Booker
James Carroll Booker III was a jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues and soul musician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Biography:...
and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. It was played in different music genre
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
s such as blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
. The song’s lyrics refer to needles, drugs, wishes, and to the notorious Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
prison farm in Angola
Louisiana State Penitentiary
The Louisiana State Penitentiary is a prison farm in Louisiana operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. It is the largest maximum security prison in the United States with 5,000 offenders and 1,800 staff...
.
Junker's Blues
The song, originally named "Junker's Blues", was written by Willie Hall (also known as "Drive'em Down"), a bluesBlues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie has the following meanings:*Boogie-woogie, a piano-based music style*Boogie-woogie , a swing dance or a dance that imitates the rock-n-roll dance of the 1950s*"Boogie Woogie" , a song by EuroGroove and Dannii Minogue...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
from New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, but he never recorded or credited it to himself. In 1940, Champion Jack Dupree
Champion Jack Dupree
William Thomas Dupree, best known as Champion Jack Dupree, was an American blues pianist. His birth date is disputed, given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, in the years 1908, 1909, or 1910. He died on January 21, 1992.-Biography:...
, an American pianist influenced by Hall and his friend, recorded the song for the first time on OKeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
.
Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
first attracted national attention with "The Fat Man
The Fat Man (song)
"The Fat Man" is a rhythm and blues song co-written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew and recorded by Fats Domino. It is considered to be one of the first rock and roll records.-History:...
", a variation on this traditional New Orleans tune. Domino recorded the song for Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
in Cosimo Matassa
Cosimo Matassa
Cosimo Matassa is an Italian-American recording engineer and studio owner responsible for many R&B and early rock and roll recordings....
's J&M studio on Rampart Street
Rampart Street
Rampart Street is a historic avenue located in New Orleans, Louisiana.The upper end of the street is in the New Orleans Central Business District...
in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, 10 December 1949. This song is an early rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
record, featuring a rolling piano and Domino doing "wah-wah" vocalizing over a fat back beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
. It sold over a million copies and is widely regarded as the first rock and roll record to do so.
The melody of "Junker's Blues" was used by Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price is an American R&B vocalist. Known as "Mr. Personality", after the name of one of his biggest million-selling hits...
in 1952 for his song, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" is a song by Lloyd Price. It was first recorded by Price at the New Orleans recording studio of Specialty Records in March 1952. It was released under the Specialty label in April and was number one on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart for seven weeks and stayed on the chart...
", and by Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
for "Tipitina", a song from his 1972 album, New Orleans Piano.
Junco Partner
In 1951, Bob ShadBob Shad
Bob Shad was an American music producer and record label owner. He produced the first album by Big Brother and the Holding Company...
, a musical producer and owner of the “A&R at Mercury Records”, a company that worked with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues, renamed and rewrote the song, and credited it to himself and Robert Ellen. Shad knew the song because of his work in the New Orleans music scene. Since then, most artists who have recorded the song have credited it to him and Ellen.
In 1952, many artists covered the song, such as the Richard Hayes & Edie Sauter band, and Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five for Decca (these two groups credited the song to Shad and Ellen). The first record of "Junco Partner" was made by James Wayne. Wayne's version became popular in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though actual artists affirm that it was already a classic in New Orleans.
Bob Dylan's 1986 album Knocked Out Loaded took its title from "Junco Partner" lyrics (not in the original "Junker's Blues")
Posterior covers
Roland Stone (born as Roland LeBlanc), a jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician, recorded two versions, the first in 1959 as "Preacher's Daughter", and the second in 1962 as "Down the Road". The Holy Modal Rounders covered the song as "Junko Partner" in 1965.
Better known covers were recorded in the 1970s and afterwards. In 1972, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
covered the song for his Gumbo album. In 1976, Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
covered it for his Rock 'N Roll Gumbo album, and James Booker
James Booker
James Carroll Booker III was a jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues and soul musician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Biography:...
did the same for his homonymous album. The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
covered the song on their triple album Sandinista!
Sandinista!
Sandinista! is the fourth studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side...
, released in 1980. In this album, they recorded two versions: a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
version, "Junco Partner" and a dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
version, "Version Pardner".
Pre-dating the Clash cover, the group the 101'ers, of which Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
was a member, did a cover as well.
In 1990, Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
recorded it for his Victory Mixture
Victory Mixture
Victory Mixture is a 1990 album by Willy DeVille. The album consists of cover versions of New Orleans R&B and soul classics by DeVille’s musical idols...
album.
Carlos del Junco
Carlos del Junco
Carlos del Junco is a renowned Cuban-Canadian harmonica musician.Mr. del Junco immigrated with his family when he was one year old. He started to play the harmonica at 14 years old. He graduated from college with honors at the Ontario College of Art majoring in sculpture.He specializes in...
covered the song for his Big Boy album released in 1999.
The Hindu Love Gods
Hindu Love Gods (band)
Hindu Love Gods was an American pop/rock and blues band that was, in essence, an occasional side project of members of R.E.M., with Warren Zevon and Bryan Cook.-History:...
, which had Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
as lead singer and included three members of R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, also included this song under the title "Junko Pardner."
Videos
- Junco Partner by Carbon/Silicon with Tymon Dogg, video 1
- Junco Partner by Carbon/Silicon with Tymon Dogg, video 2
- Junco Partner by Carbon/Silicon with Tymon Dogg, video 3
- Junco Partner by Carbon/Silicon with Tymon Dogg, video 4
- Junco Partner by The Clash, in Jamaica, in 1982
- Junco Partner by Lonnie Donegan in the '60s
- Junco Partner by Dr. John in Montreux Jazz Festival 1986
- Junco Partner by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, in Brixton Academy, 2001
- Junco Partner by The Midnight to Special in 1988
- Junco Partner by Phil&Hervé played around 1986
- Junco Partner played on banjo by Napoleon Washington