If you’ve ever wondered where the legendary 1960s British blues-rock power trio Cream found “I’m So Glad” one of the key songs they reinterpreted and reinvigorated so masterfully on “Fresh Cream“, their highly influential debut December 1966 LP, look no further than the final track on Skip James album “Today!”, this amazing 1966 album . While James originally recorded many songs in the 1930s (including those for the Paramount label), the takes found on “Today!” technically, his second-ever album! are re-recordings performed mostly solo on guitar and piano. On “Today!”, James’ voice is curiously, and interestingly, reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield.
Three original pressings of “Today!” are currently on Discogs, ranging in price from about $70 to $150. So, again, a good-quality, reasonably priced reissue of this key blues album was long overdue. Kudos to the folks at Craft Recordings for also recreating the hard-to-find original, bright orange Vanguard Stereolab label for the LP sides in this edition.
One of eighteen songs recorded by Skip James during his legendary 1931 session for Paramount Records, is “Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues” (1931) the track became James’ best-selling record. Though largely overlooked at the time of release, the song gained renewed recognition during the 1960s blues revival and has since become a cornerstone of acoustic Delta blues.
Nehemiah Curtis “Skip” James. James was a precise fingerpicker who played in an eerie open D-minor guitar tuning. The song describes a life of hardship, and the term “killing floor” may refer to a slaughterhouse. Recorded in 1931 in Grafton, Wisconsin for the Paramount label. James later re-recorded the song in 1966 for his Vanguard label debut,
The song covered by Chris Thomas King, playing the role of bluesman Tommy Johnson in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000, and then went on tour with a group of musicians who had contributed music to the film. Rory Block, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, and many more also have recorded versions of the track.
The Fat Angel Sings 