Mattie Delaney
Encyclopedia
Mattie Delaney was an American
delta blues
singer and guitarist
. She was active in the 1930s with only two known recordings
: "Down the Big Road Blues," and "Tallahatchie River Blues."
, she recorded two songs for the Vocalion Records
label
in February 1930. Her song "Down The Big Road Blues" was a variant of Tommy Johnson's "Big Road Blues". One music journalist
noted "Delaney issuing a matter-of-fact report in "Tallahatchie River Blues". She was unusual for a female performer of the time, in that she played guitar accompaniment and sang topical song
s. Nothing is known of her life after the recordings.
Two of Delaney's songs were featured on the Mississippi Girls (1928-1931) compilation album
, issued in September 1991.
s of Delaney's songs have been recorded over the years. These include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
singer and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. She was active in the 1930s with only two known recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
: "Down the Big Road Blues," and "Tallahatchie River Blues."
Career
Born Mattie Doyle in Tchula, MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, she recorded two songs for the Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in February 1930. Her song "Down The Big Road Blues" was a variant of Tommy Johnson's "Big Road Blues". One music journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
noted "Delaney issuing a matter-of-fact report in "Tallahatchie River Blues". She was unusual for a female performer of the time, in that she played guitar accompaniment and sang topical song
Topical song
A topical song is a song that comments on political and/or social events. These types of songs are usually written about current events, but some of these songs remain popular long after the events discussed in them have occurred...
s. Nothing is known of her life after the recordings.
Two of Delaney's songs were featured on the Mississippi Girls (1928-1931) compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, issued in September 1991.
Cover versions
Several cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of Delaney's songs have been recorded over the years. These include:
- "Travelin' Blues" - Rory BlockRory Block-Festival appearances:*Long Beach Blues Festival - 1993*San Francisco Blues Festival - 1999*Notodden Blues Festival - 2006-See also:*List of blues musicians*List of contemporary blues musicians*List of Austin City Limits performers-External links:****...
(High Heeled BluesHigh Heeled BluesHigh Heeled Blues is a blues album by American blues guitarist and singer Rory Block. It was released in 1981 through Rounder Records. It was produced by John Sebastian and engineered by Shep Siegel at Bearsville Sound Studio.- Track listing :...
) (1981) - "Tallahatchie River Blues" - Rory Block (When a Woman Gets the Blues) (1995)
- "Down the Big Road Blues" - Lucinda WilliamsLucinda WilliamsLucinda Williams is an American rock, folk, blues and country music singer and songwriter. She recorded her first albums in 1978 and 1980 in a traditional country and blues style and received very little attention from radio, the media, or the public. In 1988, she released her self-titled album,...
(Car Wheels on a Gravel RoadCar Wheels on a Gravel RoadCar Wheels on a Gravel Road is the 1998 album by singer-songwriter and guitarist Lucinda Williams, her fifth professional release. Issued by Mercury/Polygram Records, it was recorded in Nashville and Canoga Park, California...
) (1998)