(1952) Chess ''Decoration Day Blues'' Howlin' Wolf

STUDIO SESSION FOR HOWLIN' WOLF AT THE MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE FOR CHESS RECORDS 1952 SUN RECORDING STUDIO 706 UNION AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE STUDIO SESSION: THURSDAY APRIL 17, 1952 SESSION HOURS: UNKNOWN PRODUCER AND RECORDING ENGINEER - SAM C. PHILLIPS AND/OR MARION KEISKER "DECORATION DAY BLUES" Composer: - John Lee Williamson Publisher: - B.M.I. - Delta Music Incorporated Matrix number: - None - Not Originally Issued (3:14) Recorded: - April 17, 1952 Released: - 1976 First appearance: - Charly Records (LP) 33rpm CR 30102-A-7 mono SUN: THE ROOTS OF ROCK – VOLUME 2 – SAM'S BLUES Reissued: - 1989 Bear Family Records (CD) 500/200rpm BCD 15460-18 mono MEMPHIS DAYS - THE DEFINITIVE EDITION - VOLUME 1 Wolf turns his band to Sonny Boy Williamson his pre-war hit, which he latter has originally recorded back in 1938. As prolific as Sonny Boy was, he didn't originate the song. Teddy Darby aka Blind Darby recorded it first in 1935... although it's unclear if he wrote it. Curtis Jones recorded it next, but Williamson's was the version that Wolf and others copies nearly word-for-word. Following an exceedingly tenuous start - which suggests that Wolf knew exactly where he was off to, but neglected to tell the band - the accompanists struggle to find a point of access into this three-chord jungle. A shift in the recording level during the first verse indicates that not even Sam Phillips was sure what was going down. However, once Wolf gets into his vocal, things settle into a fairly conventional mid-tempo blues distinguished by some excellent harp heroics, and an impassioned vocal. (HD) (CE) "Decoration Day" Lord I got a woman, she nice lovin' in every way Lord I got a woman, she nice lovin' in every way You know she done died and left me, I have the blues on every Decoration Day So sorry see you to leave me, I hate to see my baby get away So sorry to see you leave me, I hate to see my baby get away I want you to bring me some flowers, about every Decoration Day Lord I was walkin' round her bedside, these were the last words my baby had to say Lord walkin' round her bedside, these were the last words my baby had to say She said bring me some flowers, be sure honey, on every Decoration Day Name (Or. No. Of Instruments) Howlin' Wolf - Vocal, Harmonica Willie Johnson - Guitar Unknown - Bass Willie Steele - Drums Bill "William" Johnson - Piano © - 706 UNION AVENUE SESSIONS - ©

Added 24 May 2026