Jesse Fuller - San Francisco Bay Blues (1968)
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2010
- Lone Cat Jesse Fuller - San Francisco Bay Blues (1968)
Jesse Fuller (March 12, 1896 - January 29, 1976) was an American one-man band musician, best known for his song "San Francisco Bay Blues". His nickname was "Lone Cat." - Hudba
Yes, I remember when I arranged for Jesse Fuller to come to Seattle, probably in the early 1960s. He stayed with us in our apartment near University of Washington. Someone complained about the "noise". So after Jesse left we rented a small house.
Absolutely superb
HOW DID YOU NOT FREAK OUT? MAYBE THE TIMES? BUT NOTHING IVE EVER SEEN IS AS IMPRESSIVE. THE FACT THAT HE PLAYED HIS OWN BAND BUT WAS VERY GOOD. HE COULD PLAY GUITAR EXTREMELY WELL. HE HAS RECORDINGS OF JUST GUITAR. IVE NEVER ENJOYED A KAZOO
@Mary Fowler - wonderful memory and thank you for sharing Mary.
Wow
Such a great thing to have done. Thank you for sharing.
So glad to see the "fotdella" in action. What an amazing combination of instrument sounds!
I've been playing the guitar for over 50 years, and this is my favorite song to play. Today is the first time I "saw" Jesse Fuller himself playing and singing. Truly amazing!
SAME HERE!! aside the 50 years part. came here from the jim croce version i wanted to hear today that gave recognition to this fella!
I'm in da same club Bob. Many hours of joy knockin' this great classic out for more than half a century!
I sang & played this wonderful song on my Vega Tenor Banjo, with The Bucket 3 (Guitar, Gut Bucket Bass & Banjo), in 1966 on The Ted Mack Show in Hollywood @ CBS Television City Studios… we lost to a circus bicycle riding act called The Whirling Wheels!
I'm a bit embarrassed; I arrived in Berkeley (UC) in 1958, and some friends took me to see Jesse playing on the sidewalk in Oakland on, I think, College Avenue, not far from an Armenian restaurant. He was everything the commenters say and more, but believe it or not, I had no idea of his larger significance in the music world. On the CBS news tonight there was a short piece on a bluesman who may be up for a Grammy and a small voice said something like "He reminds me of Jesse Fuller," not quite certain whether I remembered something real or not. To the poster: Thanks for a snippet of the real, amazing then and amazing still.
This man was an absolute GENIUS and musician!!!
"Well, I think even if you've seen a one-man band before, you've never seen one like Jesse Fuller." - Noel "Paul" Stookey, Peter Paul & Mary.
I met Jesse in 1962. He was in Portland, OR. playing at the 13th Avenue Gallery and staying at a friends (Jeffrey Lane) apartment on Osage Street for about 3 or 4 days. I was Jeffrey Lane's neighbor. Jessie was a very quiet man. And had a dry sense of humor. He lived in Oakland, CA.
Saw him do this live several times. Wonderful song, wonderful musicianship, wonderful man who radiated warmth and gentle kindness. RIP dear soul.
I saw him several times and still have his debut album. An icon!
Wonderful, and in this version a fast song, but really sad lyrics, with, perhaps a ray of hope at the end?
Incredible to think in the 60's some "folkies" turned their noses up at Jesse because he used an electric guitar! I think it was Big Bill Broonzy who was asked if his music was folk music..he answered "I thought all music was folk music..leastwise I never heard no hosses singing any of it" Amen to that!
And Duke Ellington is supposed to have said something similar Louis Armstrong too.....
And Michael Cooney said, "If it takes more than two trips to get your gear from the van to the stage, it ain't folk music."
And Catfish Willie said, "It's a 4 letter word that starts with F and ends with K and if you use it, they won't play your songs on the radio."
But many feel that it's not folk if you know who wrote it.
I don't know I haven't got a clue ..this guy was well coordinated .everything going at once. ha ha ..I dunno what folk music is ..music of the folk ..if it's wrong to play an electric guitar to sing folk than it must be wrong to listen to it on the radio and television ..and drive a van to a concert as they're all electric..and they should use candle light ..and heavens forbid if they use a microphone ..I mean it's not folk unless they walk or ride a horse to the venue ...they're not real soldiers unless they use hand held weapons..and fight hand to hand .guns should be banned in warfare ..they're cowardly ...
Folks playing music.....
I have a vague memory that when he played the Club 47 in Cambridge, Mass. he had a problem plugging in. I don't remember if it was the fixtures or what.
Jesse Fuller played at the first gig I ever went to. At the Il Rondo ballroom in Leicester (England) in about 1963 or thereabouts.
Was with my classmate Pete Metcalfe, who later became magic guitar player and teacher.
This gig changed our lives.
Saw the mural of Jesse today in Jonesboro GA where he hailed from. Been singing and playing this one many years. A pleasure to visit his hometown after all this time. SFBB always feels kind of ragtimey to me. Same wellspring as Bobby D visited for the original melody that morphed into Don't Think Twice.
I was a guest on Studs Terkel's radio show out of Chicago in 1961. The other guest was Jesse Fuller. In those days, he still have his acoustic 12 string guitar - bigger than he was. This video shows his "Footdella" bass and the headset he wore when busking.l It included a harmonica, a kazoo, and a very cheap microphone (unfortunately). The whole thing had a loose ground connection somewhere, so the thing buzzed when it was turned on. I was afraid he would electrocute himself when he bit into it! Great for street performance, bad for concert appearances. :-)
I find it hard to believe nowadays that I actually saw Jesse Fuller live many years ago. I suppose it must have been in the 60's, he was at the Marquee Club in Soho, London. I seem to remember seeing quite a few of these famous blues men back then: Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Champion Jack Dupree, Bukka White, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, etc. Most of the latter when they toured with the Folk Blues Festival. But they occasionally played the more intimate clubs like Ken Colyer's and Les Cousin's.....Happy days!
Yes indeed. Industry performer myself for the last twenty years or so practically a full-time, this song that I learned from my brother Raymond, allowed me to make a good living. My brother had just got back from San Francisco where he knew many of the up-and-coming rockstars. He had an incredible memory. And he could hear the song once and if he liked it, he could sing it in no time and not miss a single word. He introduced me to the music of so many of the great ones, like Fred McDowell, Woody Guthrie, all the blind bluesmen and women. When he was barely seventeen he was selling drugs to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and so many others from the California scene. He loved Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams, doc Watson. We would be driving down the road and he would say ''-oh turn that up" and start singing along with the song. And then he would tell me the history that went with the song.
On the other hand I did not have his ability to remember songs. So when I began learning songs, I would write them out in longhand and then struggle to memorize them.He was never much of a Dylan fan although he recognized Dylan's greatness,but he revered Ramblin Jack Elliott. I think he must have been well aware and probably even know him on a personal level as he knew the Bay area like the back of his hand! When it came to music, he would tell me:"Johnny, if it ain't got the swing it ain't got a thing!"Again, we were almost total opposite.
The first time I heard Gordon Lightfoot, I fell in love with his music. he could never understand my fevotion to Dylan,Phil Ochs and that I feveloped a songwriting style more akin to the great crooners. He would flinch whenever he heard a Frank Sinatra song. I tried to get him to listen to me doing"I Did it it my Way and he practically threw me out of his house and said that if I ever sang that song within his ear shot,he would disown me as a brother. He had a vinyl collection of the best rock and rollers of our era. He loved Little Richard and he would snap his fingers like the best jazzman ever. Oh, he loved jazz! He had a terribly nasal voice, but that never stopped him. He always told me that if I wanted to succeed there's a street performer then I would have to keep it up. Damned if he wasn't right.!Jesse Fuller is a keystone to many blues musicians success,I would wager.. I never knew my brother was gay until I was nearing 50 years. Of course, I must have ignored the obvious.. he wants told me I was homophobic and I had to go and look it up in the dictionary!. Anyhow, I just wanted to weigh in on Jesse Fuller.😊
Good on him ❤
A lot of us have hare gay genes in us ❤
I like west coast blues and east coast blues
Have gay
Have
In probably 1964 I saw him play someplace like Gerde's Folk City. I was in NYC. During the set some cowboy hatted guy walked right in , down the aisle and went right up on stage and sat by Jesse... It was Jack Elliott! Jack had his guitar with him and Jesse asked him to play a song or two. (We were happy with that, we got a twofer!). So for his first tune he told us he was gonna sing on of his (JACK'S) tunes... "San Francisco Bay Blues". Both of these guys and enough of the audience were "hip to the joke" there were great smiles all around! We were al almost laughing through the whole tune. Jack really elevated the mood. Great night. And Jesse was playing an acoustic 12 wired up , and with eleven strings, as usual. He always thought a single high E string was clearer. Mark Spoelstra also got a bunch of lessons from Jesse (I was jealous!!) and Mark is a great part of my love of 12 strings and the reason my FIRST
guitar was a 12.
I, too, loved to hear Mark Spoelstra play.
Jesse was an icon to those of us boomers that appreciated fine folk music talent. He wrote this amazing song and others beside being a one man band!!
Loved seeing Jesse play at the Ash Grove years ago, still a great memory for this 90 year old, going there often and loving the blues!
THIS is the way to hear this great song, from the man who wrote & performed it as a one-man band! Much homage has been paid by many other musicians...
Linda West Well said, I was
blessed with seeing him back in the 60's.
+TheQuicksilverdog your were,i mist him in Sutton.i think it was the red lion?
+Linda West ..........just another good musician.................
+Linda West .......just another good muscian.................
"just another good muscian" Better than that, although imo this performance isn't the place to hear that. "Cincinnati Blues" was one of his best.
WOW. This guy was a flippin' genius!
depuis le début des années 60,j'ai ses 33 tours de 1959 couverture cartonnée.. J'adore
Wow! First time hearing this. This guy is loaded with talent! Love it.
Absolutely wonderful film, and I hope there are a thousand fotdellas being built ... In 1963 something purporting to be Ramblin Jack Elliott's guitar arrangement was in the $2.95 "Young Folk Song Book" ... Cover pictures of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Jack Elliott, the Greenbrier Boys, the New Lost City Ramblers and Peggy Seeger on the cover. Introduction by Pete Seeger, arrangements by Earl Robinson, and articles about each performer by Robert Shelton, Nat hentoff, Alan Lomax and Irwin Silber. The Ramblin Jack intro didn't mention Jesse Fuller, but it did put his name on the song page... the others were either traditional or Woody Guthrie songs... I didn't have Ramblin Jack's record or one by Jesse, but I did have Tom Rush's version of this song and between the book and the record managed to learn the song in time for my high school hootenanny in '64 or '65. The emcee saw me with a guitar and a harmonica in a rack and told the audience I sounded like Dylan before he had ever heard me sing. Oh well.
I finally got to see this film clip many years later, and appreciate your sharing it with, as the book title said, young folk.
This brings back so many memories. I was lucky to see Jesse, purely by accident, in the Cavern (Yes! that one) in 1959/1960. He was unknown to most of us at the time, but he just captivated the whole audience. Not only did he sing and do his "one man band", he actually got up and did a dance while playing. We loved him. In 1967 I caught him again at the "Basset" near Southampton , he was just as good. Thank you.
wow, what a tale! thanks for sharing
This is one of the first songs I learned to play on guitar back in the early 60's. I worked at Sam Goody's on the East Side of Manhattan (the flagship store). It was one of their only stores with a real music department. We sold Guild and Epiphone guitars. We also carried a couple of nylon string "folk" guitars.
Now mind you- he may have had some tricks n whatnot but I have seen others play this and I was so young and impressionable and so happy to learn it on my own in some way. Even if its basic stuff. Bless ya Jesse ♥
Always loved going to hear Jesse sing and play at the Ash Grove in LA. Long live the Lone Cat Jesse's music and the sounds from Ed Pearl's Ash Grove!
Jesse Fuller playing his footdilla I saw him play when I was a kid He had such a difficult childhood
I saw Jesse just the once, in Bristol England, about 1965.
He was announced as Jesse Fuller . . . The Amazing One-Man Band.
Something I aspire to, playing all that in one go. Wow!
This is the original and the best.I remember singing this with my mate when I was in the Royal Navy in Portsmouth England brought back great memories
Очень давно советское телевидение показывало мельком таких музыкантов, человек-оркетров, Джесси Фулер интересный блюзмен. С другими Джесси не надо путать, Джесси всяких на всю американскую страну много наберётся, а этот Фуллер один и жил он нормально, так долго пожить хотелось бы многим, но жить хочется всегда ещё больше.
I was lucky enough to see him too .... at The Fairfield Halls in Croydon, Surrey. (UK) I was just in awe of the man, it was one of those concerts that I just didn't want to end. He was fascinating and so was his music. Am so glad that I had the opportunity to see him live.
😍😍 one of the 1st songs I learned -- from a friend -- and a fond memory. 50+ years later, hearing the man who wrote it perform for the 1st time. Thank you, Internet!
Most of us can't pat with one hand and rub with the other hand at the same time. And here he is, playing several instruments at once, and singing too.
Here from the documentary Two Trains Runnin' and realized I already knew this song from the Jim Croce cover!
@stellerquest -On his 1963 LP "San Francisco Bay Blues" Lester Koenig says "he called himself Lone Cat Fuller". His 1961 LP "Jesse Fuller 'The Lone Cat' Sings & Plays Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals & Blues" on Good Time Jazz label gives his address! It also says, "His business card reads "LONE CAT FULLER, ONE MAN BAND available for cocerts, house parties, schools & clubs". The writer was C H Garrigues 31 Jan 1961. At Cecil Sharp House '65 he allowed himself to be introduced as Lone Cat.
Richie Havens did a somewhat sophisticated version of this song on his “Mixed Bag” album.
I like how Jesse Fuller switches off from harmonica to kazoo.
And his low e string sounds like a tuba.
Great stuff.
Totally brilliant and creative. That's why so many good musicians love to play this song today.
Hankering for this song and this pure gold turns up. Thanks muchly.
This Guy was Great. How the hell have I missed him til now??? My Loss!
Thanks for share this unussually great mans talent!
Brought back wonderful memories,had great pleasure of speaking to Jesse when he performed at Aston polytecnic in the sixties, great times, thanks for posting
Absolutely phenomenal!!!! Pure pleasure to hear and witness such a talent! Made my entire day, definitely a new favorite video to keep on my list.
"Man, that's a killer-diller fid-iller..." is what he would say if you were to ask him what he played with....Great clip, never thought I'd see this...
When Eric Clapton plays the kazoo on "Unplugged", and the crowd cheers, Clapton is showing his respect for one of the greats.
The Clapton Unplugged album version is the best tribute you will find.
It’s just insulting to Jesse to even bring up can’t sing, just plays scales racist, rich Eric Clapton.
@@dreamkane ?
Andy Fairweather-Low (a famous session musician who also worked with The Who) played both guitar and harmonica on that rendition you mention, and simultaneously.
Listened to Bob Dylan's show TTRH and he was talking about Jesse and his special instrument!
Without Jesse fuller, big bill broonzy, Mississippi John hurt ,Elizabeth cotton thered be no music
Takes a lot of pain to write & sing a tender song like this.I am eternally grateful to you Jesse.hope God enjoyed it like we did
this song makes me happy - and of course there will never be another Jesse Fuller - can't tell you how many times I have watched this video -
Yea, always makes me feel good too - a happy "blues" song - go figure - I sort hear a connection to "What a Day for a Day Dream" - or do I ... 🙃
Great. Just exactly what I was looking for to show my guitar buddy. We like basing out songs on the original versions.
thanks james for steering me here!!
he's unbelievably brilliant.
Thanks for posting this. It's extraordinary. Loved it. R.
Thank you!
Knew it by Peter Paul and Mary
Love this original.
This has always been one of my favorite folk/country blues songs! Also one of the artists whose own version of the song, stands tall among the God knows how many recordings of this great song! THANKS for posting it!!!
I did this song at karaoke once. Sang. One hand held the mic, the other hung awkwardly at my side. I felt pretty good about nailing all the lines.
excellent one man band. really dig.
classic song still popular in the folk clubs here in UK.
Oh wow! Just amazing! Great performance
Always loved that song and Jesse Fuller. Now I know I share my birthday with him.
Eric Clapton brought me here, really a nice song!
I just said that to myself!
I just wanted to finally learn the lyrics for this song after 17 years of listening to it, but now it turned out to be learning of the song's history :)
Same, such a great song.
Jim Croce brought me! Loved it !!!
Jesse Fuller ~ A classic singing a "happy" blues song!
Mississippi John Hurt specialised in them 🙂
I met Jessie in Portland in the 60's. He was playing at the 13th Avenue Gallery. Very nice man. He lived in the Bay area. He was a long longshoreman and traveled the music circuit. Every time I go to San Francisco I ask street musicians to play "San Francisco Bay Blues". None of them seem to know it?
Ramblin' Jack Elliott knows it...
@Gypsy
I learned it a long, long time ago from watching Jessie do it. Someone asked him what he called his act, and he said something like, "I'm the last of the red hot, west coast, one man blues bands." Fantastic showman!!!
I know it!
Fuller is a one-man jug band. Very well could have been a 4+ piece band playing this and he does it all himself. Amazing.
様々なアーティストがカバーしている、
このSan Francisco Bay Bluesが私は大好きです。
LOVE IT . LOVE TO PLAY THIS ONE , THANKS
I believe he invented that foot operated bass instrument...awesome video...thanks for this post!
The Fotdella
Yes it called a Fotdella, the name comes Jesse fuller wife's she original called it a footer diller after Killer diller
just great
Brilliant.
Thanks for this, I've had the LP since I was a schoolboy, a Merry Christmas to you.
Your welcome!
Perfect!
Right on, I like Eric Clapton & glad he stuck with the Blues! If not for him many would not even know the old greats like Jesse Fuller.
I saw him perform this (and other songs) at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco about that time. I seem to remember him wearing a hat and coat, though.
Brilliant. Wish I had a set-up like that.
Awesome!
looooveeee ittt
Oh, man!!!!!! I hope there's more than one album.
I saw him in Berkeley in the early 60s a couple times, I must’ve only been about 16 or 17. Also saw mance lipscomb there
Absolute brilliance
AMAZING!!!
@69frolic That's a great story, I was blessed with seeing him at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1967. After he finished his gig, he did a tap dance, the man was truly amazing. He was the original 1 man band.
Jonesboro, Ga has just had a mural painted in Jesse "Lone Cat" Fuller's honor. It is located at the corner of North and South Main Streets on West Mill. Come by and see it and enjoy the rest of Jonesboro while you are here.
So cool
just love it.
Reminds me of my grandfather
Oh, man! Great song for sing-alongs.
Este hombre fue extra como en cien películas de Hollywood, según cuentan en su biografía. Vaya.
I think there's sufficient data to note that's the best introduction to a song ever.
Wow!
great artist!
Music in its purest form--brilliant...
This is the anti-sadness. It's impossible to be in a bad mood when this song is playing.
and yet he's singing about how he wants to die
He played in The 1st Annual Buffalo Party Convention and Pig Roast. July 1970, Eatonville, Washington
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
❤❤❤ Love it
Kudos to him for not waiting around for a good backup band to fall in his lap.
a real "one man band" , he's mighty talented, I wish I could just play one at a time 😊
i love it! and i love how clapton did it . perfeckt.
Amazing this was filmed for posterity!
Guauûû!!!
Desde muy joven le veneraba,
pero ad+ poder verle
"en la actualidad",
es ya la REpanocha!!
N.B.: LecciON
para muchos 'modernitis' HiperTecnifica2
de cómo cON poquitos meDios,
hacer Muúûùchoõº{H} !!!
The lyrics are Killer!!!
I love you, Jesse Fuller!
ME TOO TO YOUR COMMENT: Various artists are covered,
I love this San Francisco Bay Blues.