Pony Blues Explained

Pony Blues
Cover:	Pony Blues.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Charley Patton
B-Side:	"Banty Rooster Blues"
Released:	Late
Recorded:	Richmond, Indiana, June 14, 1929
Genre:	Delta blues
Label:	Paramount (no. 12792-A)
Next Title:	"Prayer of Death" (Parts 1 & 2)
Next Year:	1929

"Pony Blues" is a Delta blues song recorded by blues musician Charley Patton.^[1] Patton recorded the song in June 1929 during his first session.^[2] The song was also the first song to be released by Patton on the Paramount label.^[1]

Recording and background

Patton wrote "Pony Blues" sometime around the age 19, and is one of the first songs Patton ever wrote. He would record another rendition of this song as "Stone Pony Blues" in 1934.^[1]

With the help of record store owner H. C. Speir, Patton obtained his first recording session, for Paramount Records, on June 14, 1929.^[3] He cut 14 sides, including "Pony Blues" (vocal and guitar).^[4] Patton's composition "Down the Dirt Road" was also recorded at this session.^[5]

Renditions

• Big Joe Williams: Classic Delta Blues (1966)^[6]
• Canned Heat: Living the Blues (1968)^[7]
• Son House: The Great Bluesmen at Newport (1976)^[8]
• Cephas & Wiggins: Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad (1998)^[9]
• Howlin' Wolf: The Best of Howlin' Wolf 1951-1958 (1990)^[10]
• Corey Harris: Between Midnight and Day (1995)^[11]
• Alvin Youngblood Hart: Big Mama's Door (1996)^[12]
• Duke Robillard: New Blues for Modern Man (1999)^[13]
• Paul Geremia: Love, Murder & Mosquitos (2004)^[14]

External links

• Interview with H.C. Speir

Notes and References

1. Web site: Illustrated Charley Patton discography. Wirz.de. May 25, 2021.
2. Book: Robert Palmer (American writer)

   . Deep Blues. Robert Palmer. 1981. Robert Palmer (American writer). Penguin Books. 63. 978-0-14-006223-6.

3. Book: Robert Palmer (American writer)

   . Deep Blues. Robert Palmer. 1981. Robert Palmer (American writer). Penguin Books. 77. 978-0-14-006223-6.

4. Dicaire, David (1999). Blues Singers, McFarland & Company. page 7. .
5. Larkin, Colin (1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness. page 3201. .
6. Web site: Classic Delta Blues - Big Joe Williams | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
7. Web site: Living the Blues - Canned Heat | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
8. Web site: The Great Bluesmen at Newport '59 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
9. Web site: Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad - Cephas & Wiggins | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
10. Web site: CD Album: Howlin' Wolf - The Best Of Howlin' Wolf 1951-1958 (2009). May 25, 2021. 45worlds.com.
11. Web site: Between Midnight and Day - Corey Harris | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
12. Web site: Big Mama's Door - Alvin Youngblood Hart | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
13. Web site: New Blues for Modern Man - Duke Robillard | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.
14. Web site: Love, Murder and Mosquitos - Paul Geremia | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 25, 2021. AllMusic.