Gordon, Jimmie – “Vol. 1 1934-41″ – [Story of Blues]

Gordon was a blues vocalist (probably born in 1906) who made these recordings from 1934 to 1941 with a variety of backing groups (see liner notes for particulars). Fine simply produced songs on usual blues topics such as money, booze, loving, cheating with some double entendre thrown in. Gordon’s warm direct singing style is said to have influenced many later blues singers. Track 4 stood out to me with its powerful lyrics “I work at the stockyard on the killing floor. Making 25 dollars and bringing you 24. I’m going to shoot you if you run, babe, and cut you if you stand. Then you’ll be through giving my money to your other man.”