Doug Quattlebaum - Don't Be Funny, Baby!

From the Drove From Home Blues... http://www.wirz.de/music/quattfrm.htm Doug Quattlebaum, also put of the Blind Boy Fuller mold, grew up in South Carolina and later moved to Philadelphia. Another influence on this artist was his stepfather's brother, Arthur Crudup. Much of his musical career was involved with the Church, having toured with many Gospel groups and worked as a preacher. "I Have News For You" was first recorded in Philadelphia in 1953 as "Don't Be Funny Baby" - a pared-down, 2½ minute version of this epic 5' 8" offering. The style of this tune is more "folky" than either Blind Boy Fuller or Arthur Crudup. The "fat", strummed chords rounded off by bluesy single-line playing represent a patterned approach which is clearly song-like rather than freely improvised. The message is somewhat terrifying, as if we were overhearing the writing of a threating letter or the delivering of a death-threat sermon. He sings: "Trouble is a thing I don't like, baby, I don't have it for sale. But when I kill the both of you, baby, I know I'll wind up in some jail." ~ Larry Hoffman, March, 1992 (from the liner notes) Photo: Doug Quattlebaum in front of his ice-cream van by Pete Welding, source: eBay auction of photograph similar to the one used on the front cover of Bluesville BVLP 1065

Added 9 Apr 2026