Скачать или смотреть BRICKS IN MY PILLOW - BUMBLE BEE SLIM (1935) on Vocalion 78RPM

Bricks In My Pillow is lyrically a woeful summary of the many things plaguing the personal enjoyment of the night and day, with impressions of bad luck and misfortune lingering all around. The song contains the trademarks of many other similar songs of the era that drew far more attention and lasting recognition than Bricks In My Pillow managed to earn.

Written by Bumble Bee Slim, Bricks In My Pillow is gauged by some to be his most popular song, released on the Vocalion label as the A-side to the flip; If Blues Was Whisky.

Despite the popularity of this particular Bumble Bee Slim song, it wasn't sustained enough to garner lasting enduringness over the decades although it was initially covered by Big Bill Broonzy in 1936 and later by Robert Nighthawk in 1978.

Ultimately, there were a few other renditions of the song released in the 1990's. Both Houston Stackhouse's guitar-based rendition and King Biscuit Boys' live rendition were released some 10 years after having been recorded. A third cover version performed by historic Delta bluesman David 'Honeyboy' Edwards was released by Earwig Records in 1991, having been retitled and sung as Rocks In My Pillow.

'Bumble Bee Slim' was born Admirl Amos Easton in May, 1905. His father died when he was four and his mother remarried. At the age of nine, Easton first left home, setting up a stand selling peanuts and cutting hair before his family found him and brought him home. In his mid-teens, Admirl joined the Ringling Circus. He returned to his home in Georgia before heading to Indianapolis in 1928 where he was influenced by the great song-writing and performing team of Scrapper Blackwell and Leroy Carr.

It was after he relocated to Chicago in 1931 that he began recording songs as Bumble Bee Slim. His first record, 'Yo Yo String Blues', was released on Paramount Records that same year. Within just five years, Bumble Bee Slim had made over 150 recordings on the Decca, Vocalion and Bluebird labels, including his work with artists such as Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie to name a few.

Bumble Bee Slim was a prolific song writer and has been credited by some as being key to having developed the Chicago Blues sound. He recorded his last album in 1962 and continued to perform until his death in 1968 at the age of 63.

I recorded this video of my original Bumble Bee Slim 78 RPM release on Vocalion Records playing on my turntable to share the experience of playing 78s with those who also enjoy the hobby and history of vinyl records, especially of early and original blues. I do not claim or own, nor imply ownership, of the song or music recording in any way.


Lyrics

I've got bricks in my pillow
And my head can't rest no more
I've got bricks in my pillow, Mama
And my head can't rest no more
Spiders crawlin' on my walls
Black snakes lyin' 'round on my floor

I've got mud in my water
I've got drugs all in my tea
I've got mud in my water, Mama
I've got drugs all in my tea
I've got bugs in my bed
And they keeps on biting me

I've got grounds in my coffee
Big boll weevils in my meal
I've got grounds in my coffee, Mama
Big boll weevils in my meal
I've got tacks in my shoes
Keeps on stickin' in my heel

I've got holes my pockets
Great big patches on my pants
I've got holes my pocket, Mama
Great big patches on my pants
I'm behind with my house rent
Still they wants it in advance

Well, I feel like walkin′
And I feel like lyin' down
Yes, I feel like walkin′, Mama
And I feel like lyin' down
Well I feel like drinkin′
But there ain't no whisky 'round

Can't you hear that bell ringin′
Can't you hear that whistle blow
Ya that bell ringin′, Mama
Can't you hear that whistle blow
Well, I feel like leavin'
But I don′t know where to go