Traditional Blues - Tumblr Posts

Song of The Day

"Salty Dog Blues" Mississippi John Hurt, 1965 (?)

Salty dog Blues is a song that had existed comfortably in the public domain in the early 1900s (I couldn't find any research of it being a traditional song however) until it was first recorded in 1924 by Papa Charlie Jackson. Which was.. adapted for Broadway?

The Interesting thing about this song is its versatility. It has been performed in a plethora of related but distinct genres. Like:

Bluegrass (Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, 1967) Blues (Clara Smith 1926) Country 1 (Morris brothers 1937) Country 2 (Johnny Cash 2000) Jazz 1 (Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals 1926) Jazz 2 (Pat Hawes 2000)

The meaning of salty dog in this context is unclear. It could be a sexual innuendo, a term for a sailor who has been at sea for too long, or even a local beverage, maybe even a combination of all 3.

I like Mississippi John Hurt's cover the best, his voice is very relaxing and soothing which adds another layer to the fun song.