When it comes to blues and rock-n-roll standards to learn and play, "Baby, Please Don't Go" has got to be in the top 5 of all time.
The origin of song has been speculated for many years. It is widely believed that it's theme is taken from the folk tale "Long John" and then reconfigured many times until Bill Joe Williams did it under it's best known title in 1935.
Since then song has been done billions of times and probably will be a billion more. One of the things about it though is how it has been again rearranged and reconfigured ever since. One of the most stripped down and interesting pre-Rock 'n' Roll and Blues-Rock versions of it to these ears is Rose Mitchell's version recorded in 1953. Somehow, Rose even ended up getting the songwriting credit for it (according to the label on the original 45 at least.)
Since it is Valentine's Day weekend and in the spirit being a contrarian sometimes, I'm bringing it to the Late Nite Music Club this evening.
What are you listening to tonight?
