Original Songs By Terry Blade

Excerpts from part 2 of an interview with famous Chicago blues pianist, Jimmy Walker in May 1977 in Chicago, Illinois.

--Track Credits--

Beverly Robinson: (Collector)

Jimmy Walker: (Interviewee)

Instrumental Music By: Lobo Loco, excerpt of "Free Guitar Riding Blues F 014", Free Music Archive

Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade

Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Excerpts of interview with Chicago blues guitarist and singer Walter Williams (Lefty Dizz) outside Checkerboard Lounge in Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1977.

--Track Credits--

Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector

Lefty Dizz: Interviewee

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade

Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Original version of what later became Terry Blade's 2023 single "Won't Be Around." The original version is faster in tempo and much shorter in duration, as it was intended as a demo. The song is about leaving abusive relationships (of all kinds), and never returning to them again.

--Lyrics--

Who you gon’ lie to?

I won’t even hear you

Who you gon’ rescue?

I won’t even need you

Cuz I won’t be around

Cuz I won’t be around

Who you gon’ plead to?

I don’t have to keep you

And who you gon’ weep to?

I’ve no more to give you

Cuz I won’t be around

Cuz I won’t be around

I won’t be behind you

I won’t be beside you

I’m gonna leave you

And I won’t even miss you

Cuz I won’t be around

--Track Credits--

Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade

Instrumental Music By: Bobby Cole

Produced by: Terry Blade and Bobby Cole

That's Alright is a cover of "That's All Right," which is a song written and originally performed by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Father of "Rock 'n' Roll"). Crudup recorded the song in Chicago in 1946. "That's All Right" later became the debut single recorded and released by Elvis Presley in 1956. Although Crudup was credited as the composer on the single of Presley's label, he never received any royalties.

--Lyrics--

Well, now that's alright, mama

That's alright for you

That's alright mama

Anyway you do

That's alright

That's alright

That's alright now mama

Anyway you do

Mama she done told me

Papa told me too

They love you leavin' son now

We'll be there for you

That's alright

That's alright

That's alright now mama

Anyway you do

Yeah man

Baby one and one is two

Two and two is four

I love that man

But I've got to let him go

That's alright

That's alright

That's alright now mama

Anyway you do

Baby now you don't want me

Why not tell me so?

You won't be bothered with me

'Round you have me no more

Baby that's alright

That's alright

That's alright now mama

Anyway you do

--Track Credits--

Written and Originally Performed By: Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

Licensed By: Warner Unichappell Music Inc.

Original Song Copyright and Publishing By: Warner Chappell Music Inc.

Instrumental Music By: Carl Bludts

Vocals By: Terry Blade

Lyrical Variations By: Terry Blade

Excerpts from interview with Chicago blues musician Willie Monroe outside Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1977.

--Track Credits--

Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector

Willie Monroe: Interviewee

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade

Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Excerpts from interview with Theresa Needham (Godmother of the Chicago Blues) on May 25, 1977. Needham was the owner of the famous blues club "Theresa's Tavern," located at 48th and Indiana Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

--Track Credits--

Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector

Theresa Needham: Interviewee

Instrumental Music By: Kevin Macleod, excerpt of "Porch Blues", Free Music Archive

Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade

Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Inspired by the notorious Harlem crime boss, Madame Stephanie St. Clair. Her infamy was the subject of articles published in the Chicago Defender (and throughout the country) through the 1920s and 1930s.

--Lyrics--

Hello mama

How you been?

I hear you in trouble

Once again

All you say

And all you do

No wonder they done left you

Black and blue

I say hey little mama

I think they gettin’

Tired of you

Mama it’s your actions

The venom you speak

You pick on the small

And you prey on the weak

Yeah mama

You lie until you think it’s true

I say hey little mama

I think they gettin’

Tired of you

Well you mean and you nasty

You big and your strong

Know you ain’t right

But you keep on doin’ wrong

Yeah mama

Some day you gonna pay

Well mama you’re so rotten

You must decay

Well mama you lived

A whole life of crime

Now you’re here

And you’re out of time

Oh mama

What you gonna do?

I say hey little mama

I think they gettin’

Tired of you

--Track Credits--

Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade

Instrumental Music By: Jason Shaw, excerpt of "Acoustic Blues," Free Music Archive

Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution.

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade and Jason Shaw

Excerpts of interview with Chicago blues singer-songwriter James Williams (Muddy Waters Jr.), at his home in Chicago, Illinois on May 31, 1977.

--Track Credits--

Ralph H. Metcalfe: 1948 - Present (Collector)

Muddy Waters Jr.: 1936 - Present (Interviewee)

Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade

Photograph By: Jonas Dovydenas

Special Credit Contribution: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Inspired by the stories of:

-Cyntoia Brown (first verse)

-William “Marc” Wilson (second verse)

-Isaiah Brown (third verse)

--Lyrics--

Tell my sista’

To stay strong

Remember tell my sista’

To stay strong

Cuz I know the system

Done my sista’ wrong

Tell my brotha’

Always watch your back

Tell my brotha’

Always watch your back

Cuz I know the system

Won’t give my brotha no slack

Tell my people

That I will die for them

Tell my people

That I will die for them

Just so they can be free

Of the system

--Track Credits--

Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade

Instrumental Music By: Neil Cross

Photograph By: Matt Richmond

Produced By: Terry Blade and Neil Cross

Inspired by the many lives lost at the hands of gun violence on the southside of Chicago. The song is also a dedication to the lesser-known history of African-American cowboys, using "Wild West" duels as a metaphor for modern-day gun violence in Chicago.

This song is the unreleased original version of Blade's rearranged "Black Cowboys," containing an capella introduction, and a musicical arrangement quicker in tempo.

--Lyrics--

Bow your head

Bow your head

Bow your head

Bow your heads

For your son

Draw your gun

Shuffle your feet

Can't cut and run

It's death you'll cheat

You a black cowboy

In your cattle boot

You walk ten paces

Then you turn and shoot

Now bow your head

For your sons

Bow your head

For your son

Bow your head

Bow your heads

For your son

Oh this life

In the wild west

One too many son

Been laid to rest

Take his body

To the river, stream

Hold your heartache

One day you'll scream

Now bow your head

For your sons

Bow your head

For you son

Bow your head

Bow your heads

For your son

That's how it's done

In the great Midwest

Down in Chitown

Be my guest

That's how it's done

In the great Midwest

Down in Chitown

Be my guest

Now bow your head

--Track Credits--

Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade

Additional Songwriting By: Ryan Jenkins

Instrumental Music Composed By: Antonio Di Giovanni

Produced By: Terry Blade and Sleeping Ghost