Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a 1971 Blues concert featuring Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, and George "Harmonica" Smith that was filmed by people associated with the hit American television Western Gunsmoke.
Selected comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all the artists featured in this film for their musical legacy and thanks to the film crew of Gunsmoke for documenting this concert. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Gunsmoke blues - Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, George "Harmonica" Smith
musadiggari. Mar 30, 2015
During a production hiatus of the popular TV Show "Gunsmoke", the film crew decided to take off and film a barnstorming blues revue making it’s way across the country and they ended up in Eugene, OR with cameras rolling to film Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and George "Harmonica" Smith as they performed in a music hall. Date: October 20, 1971.
Setlist:
1. Big Mama Thornton - Early One Morning
2. Big Mama Thornton - Ball And Chain
3. George "Harmonica" Smith - Juke
4. George "Harmonica" Smith - Leaving Chicago
5. Big Joe Turner - Hide And Seek
6. Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle And Roll
7. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
8. Muddy Waters - Long Distance Call
9. Muddy Waters - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
10. Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working
11. Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, George "Harmonica" Smith - So Long
12. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog
13. Big Mama Thornton - Rock Me Baby
14. Muddy Waters - She's Nineteen Years Old
15. Muddy Waters - Walking Thru The Park
Muddy Waters Band:
Muddy Waters: guitar, vocals
George "Harmonica" Smith: Harmonica
"Pinetop" Perkins: Piano
Sammy Lawhorn: guitar
Pee Wee Madison: guitar
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones: bass
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith: drums
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Jim Danger, 2015
"This is Fantastic - Thanks so much! Had me from the first second, all the way through, nonstop. Pure gold. Greatest thing i've seen in a long time."
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2. Doc Stonez, 2015
"CHUUCH ON THA MOVE..CAN U DIG IT"
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REPLY
3.Stacey Kersting, 2015
"@Doc Stonez Can I get an amen on that one?!!!"
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REPLY
4. Doc Stonez, 2016
"amen.chuuch"
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5. RAMLIA1, 2015
"❤️❤️❤️"
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6. snakehips81, 2015
"Do you know what year this was recorded ?
And do you know the names of the other musicians ?
Thanks !"
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REPLY
7. cary passeroff. 2015
"@snakehips81 19711"
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REPLY
8. musadiggari, 2015
"+snakehips81 Yes, cary passeroff is correct. Muddy Waters had a gig in the University of Oregon in Eugene (where this was shot) in October 20, 1971. There is also an audio release of the Muddy Waters' part of the concert under the name "Muddy Waters - The Lost Tapes" (BPCD 5054)
Muddy Waters band members at that time were:
Muddy Waters: guitar, vocals
George "Harmonica" Smith: Harmonica
"Pinetop" Perkins: Piano
Sammy Lawhorn: guitar
Pee Wee Madison: guitar
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones: bass
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith: drums
Not sure about the members of the other band."
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REPLY
9. Pauline Brassey, 2016
"+snakehips81 It looks like Donald "Duck" Dunn on Bass"
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REPLY
10. m. saint, 2016
"It is."
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11. Thomas De Lello, 2015
"Is that Sammy Langhorn at 46:56 on the time dial...? Is that Calvin Jones with the white Fender bass guitar in Muddy's band...? Is that Pee Wee Madison at 1:25:15 ...?"
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REPLY
12. johnny ace, 2016
"+Thomas De Lello YES..."
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13. Tom Howland, 2016
"This is the real Deal Blues. Big Mama & Muddy are killing it."
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14. Wayne Russell McClanahan, 2016
"If you like great ole right-down southern blues, this is worthwhile watching and sharing."
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15. Tom Howland, 2016
"Muddy Band.
Willie "Big Eyed " Smith-Drums. Calvin "Fuzzy" Jones Bass. "Pinetop" Perkins Piano."
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REPLY
16. Steven Allen, 2018
"I thought that was Pinetop - such a great player!"
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17. DowntheGlen, 2016
"Big Mama wonderful; but at 32:58 the bumps begin for real! Ooooh Yeeeeah ."
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18. SIC66SIC66, 2016
"Why is big mama Thornton already called big? She got a lot bigger in the years to come :D"
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REPLY
19. Aiche Jaye, 2017
"She was a lot bigger in the 1960's."
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20. egd daly, 2016
"Who is that playing harp around 15:00? Never heard anything like it!"
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REPLY
21. JawboneandJolene, 2016
"+egd daly That was George "Harmonica" Smith, father of West Coast Swing harmonica. He influenced a lot of guys like Rick Estrin, William Clarke, James Harman, and a host of others. Even worked a bit with Little Walter from what I hear."
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22. m. saint, 2016
"Check out Muddy's natural toupe'! Never seen one before."
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REPLY
23. Naught 4Sale, 2019
"Why do you say that? That's his real hair as far as I know. He used to wear the same style as a sort of pompadour, then he apparently just decided to go natural."
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24. shaserv, 2017
"Man, she could blow that harp. Pisses me off when I think of all that was stolen from them."
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25. Jon Conway, 2017
"Here you have black people, white people, young people, old people, women and men, all I can say is DAMN diversity sure sounds good to me!"
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REPLY
26. Dfw Fqdefqw, 2019
"Yes and no... Look in the room only white people. Big names black performers were playing for white audience with white unionized backing bands. Don't dream."
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REPLY
27. B0BBYD1G1TAL, 2019
"Without African-Americans there would be no great music imo. without western Europeans i wouldnt be able to hear it right now.. imo. So all who were involved in creating and time travelling this from 1971 to my ears.. i thank you, whoever you are."
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REPLY
28. Upper Left Coast Chelsea Fan, 2019
"@Dfw Fqdefqw Muddy's band were not unionized white flunky's. Look at the room? It's freakin' Eugene Oregon in 1971, there were like two black people in the entire state. We do love & appreciate the blues in the NW. Wonder if fifteen year old Robert Cray & Curtis Selgado were in attendance, Eugene was their old stompin' grounds in those days."
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REPLY
29. Kat Masterson, 2019
"African Americans moved on to other forms of music"
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REPLY
30. Richard Branton, 2019
"@Upper Left Coast Chelsea Fan muddy wasnt a "big star" he was a big blues star big difference,no black muscian has ever derived any great wealth or major recognition from the blues not even BB hence you have Clapton being called the greatest blues guitarist which is bs"
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31. Mark Curran, 2017
"This is a fantastic piece of blues history. So cool these guys decided to document this on their hiatus from shooting GUNSMOKE!"
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32. thesmithselvis, 2017
"What a truly magical piece of musical history captured on celluloid. I discovered Big Mama Thornton through being an Elvis fan. Since discovering her I bought some for her albums too. The performances captured here of all the artists is absolutely spellbinding. I loved the interviews on the tour bus too, they were fascinating. They must've had some parties on the road on that tour. Thanks so much for posting this film. I watched it from start to finish, it was sheer bliss."
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33. Bob Condon, 2017
"Muddy is on fire here. His vocals are very strong, and his average night is miles above most others."
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34. 1-Shot slinger, 2017
"And that's why they call him George "Harmonica" Smith, blowing that big chromatic like nobody else [ except maybe Carrie Bell haha]. This is a you tube treat right here Oh yeah!"
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35. Jola Harvel, 2017
"A few months ago, I had the great privilege of going to an outdoor concert put on in our little town featuring Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of Muddy Waters. He's the spitting image of his father and that concert just blew me away. I would encourage everyone to follow him and support him"
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36. LawdyMissClawdyMEDIA, 2018
..."The white guys playing behind Mama Thornton are The Hound Dog Band - Big Mama's band, which I learned from I can't remember where. But ever since I found this video I have been trying to find out who the personnel were of her band. I did find this info on Wikipedia, and I dont know if the two guitar players behind Big Mama here are Doug Macleod, Bee Houston or Steve Wachsman - - - - but maybe this Wiki quote will spark a memory from someone:
"In the 1970s, years of heavy drinking began to damage Thornton's health. She was in a serious auto accident but recovered to perform at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival with Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (a recording of this performance, The Blues—A Real Summit Meeting, was released by Buddha Records). Thornton's last albums were Jail and Sassy Mama for Vanguard Records in 1975. Other songs from the recording session were released in 2000 on Big Mama Swings. Jail captured her performances during mid-1970s concerts at two prisons in the northwestern United States.[10] She was backed by a blues ensemble that featured sustained jams by George "Harmonica" Smith and included the guitarists Doug Macleod, Bee Houston and Steve Wachsman; the drummer Todd Nelson; the saxophonist Bill Potter; the bassist Bruce Sieverson; and the pianist J. D. Nicholson.""
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37. ljswack, 2018
"Thank You 3x for this Gem, Sister can blow the Harp"
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38. hedge685, 2018
"Muddy's got the high-top fade long before Kid'n'Play made it popular."
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39. daniel combs, 2018
"He did have Paul Oscher on harmonica , great player. He was the only white musician in the band. It just goes to show Muddy was color blind all that mattered was the music. God rest his soul , I loved his music he was a master."
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40. Olabode Lakoja, 2018
"Big Momma Thorton from 1:01 getting into her signature tune 'hound dog' my my oh my,[thougt id DIED & GONE HEAVEN Bwoy!] did i see her do 'the Ali Shuffle'/Attempt a Moon Walk,When it hadnt been done on SOUL TRAIN,he he he...
Her Howling Singing Voice,Grab hold of her Microphone Stand,
and then let it Go...Hot Sheet!"
[thought ONLY James Brown OWN THAT move] Lordy Lordy If you TRULY LOVE, Black Soul/BLUES MUSIC ? You gotta dig this Stuff RIGHT HERE mehnn!
Big Mama Band No Slouches too,then SHE get on that Mouth Organ...and Blows!
1:06...
To think Elvis and his record company,got away without PAYING HER A DIME?
For Hound dog...As she clearly states in her interview with Muddy @ the top menn.
Thats it Settled..im off to New Orleans for my 50th...Big Easy Blues Rocks!
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41. augie748, 2018
"Plus Big Joe Turner hittin’ it!"
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42. Mary Willis, 2018
"Some days I get Lucky. I found this. Lucky day.
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43. NORTH AV, 2018
"Muddy was the man"
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44. Alex Swage, 2018
"Please keep the blues alive and living on for many generations to enjoy the blues"
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45. Lasting Cause, 2018
"What an amazing show!! Woke up at 3:08a and came across this... Just a shout out to Pinetop Perkins!!! Great great show!! Thx so much for sharing!!"
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REPLY
46. ElCapinyoazz, 2019
"Pinetop Perkins on piano here was still playing shows at 96 years old! I saw him in New Orleans sometime around the mid 1990s when he was in his 80s and he was still gittin' it."
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47. John-Paul Jones Group TV, 2019
"Wow the difference in the two bands. The backup musicians for the other musicians were good, but Muddy's Band has that "it""
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REPLY
48. Richard Branton, 2019
"More than likely the others bands where just pick up bands (in whatever town they where in)and paid the minimum and had little or no time to rehearse whilst muddys band was muddys band and they knew the drill"
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49. Jarret Jordan, 2019
"Did Muddy usually play a fender?"
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REPLY
50. musadiggari, 2019
"He bought that '58 Tele new and it was his main guitar for the rest of his career."
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51. Jesse Griffin, 2018
"Music that makes you tap your toes, snap your fingers, clap your hands, stomp your heels, and move your body. Just gotta love them BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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52. JustVinnyBlues, 2018
"I saw Big Mama Thornton ten years prior to this, at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles. She was a lot heavier then, and fortunately she lost a lot of weight, stopped smoking and added years to her life. But what a performer she was; she commanded the stage. I will never forget her opening, as they darkened the entire room and the stage. All you saw was this cigarette being lit, the glow of the cigarette, then some smoke wafting through the air, a dim red back light and the enormous profile there; and she was tall too, a commanding presence. In that relatively small room she blew the roof off that place. This generation of performer knew how to command a stage and bring it all; they had done thousands of one night stands; they lived on that stage. And they knew how to put on a show. In this decade, the blues became popular with white audiences; but black audiences had stopped listening to it in favor of more modern forms of urban music. In 1969 I saw Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker on the same bill in a small club in Detroit, and they played until about 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, alternating sets. The greatest show I have ever seen in my life. They played like there were 50,000 people in the audience, not 50. Muddy Waters had been in a motorcycle accident and played all night on crutches. In a small venue these performer's musical charisma was awe inspiring. Muddy Waters, when he sang, I still remember thinking - wow, this is like the Moon singing - that face - the resonance - it was so powerful. Hooker was also amazing, with a completely different performance style. He got too drunk to play the guitar, so started singing A Capella sitting on the edge of the stage - and it was even better. When I left that club, I thought - "that was it, it will never get any better." "
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REPLY
53. Steve Mendelson, 2018
"Vinny, saw her at Ashgrove about 1965 or 66, maybe we at same show. Also saw there the Johnny Otis show with little esther, big joe turner, think big mama and bunch of others Johnny O had a DJ gig every Sat morning on the radio in the 1980s and 1990s, think on KPFA in Berkeley, broadcasting out of Sebastopol CA. He was a great cat, someplace I had a 3 record set of him leading his revue with a bunch of these folks, maybe Pee Wee Crayton and Eddie Cleanhead VInson. He helped keep a lot of these 1940s to 1960s folks alive. So glad she dropped some weight and looked so healthy."
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REPLY
54. Andy McWilliams, 2018
"JustVinnyBlues I saw them in a small club (Tulagi’s) in Boulder, Colorado about the same time. Big Mama was the same. That’s when I first met Muddy and his band. I was a long way from home, Clarksdale, Mississippi, and I told Pinetop my name and where I was from. He said, “Oh LAWD! You ole man Gary’s boy!” I was shocked. We talked all the next day, and I got real homesick. This started a lifelong friendship with Pinetop, Mojo Buford and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. I saw Willie at Pine’s funeral 30 years later when he sang, “How Long?” beside Pinetop’s casket. Powerful."
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REPLY
55. Snide Pete, 2018
"She might of quit smoking, but she sure's hell din't stop SMOKIN'! 8-)"
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REPLY
56. sam..., 2019
"@JustVinnyBlues It was the Chessmate coffee house across the way from the University of Detroit. I saw everyone from Joni Mitchell to John Koerner, Paul Butterfield, and JL Hooker, drunk, more than once and many others. Drinking age was 21 in MI at that time and it was the only place younger folks could hear folk/blues music. Folks did BYO tho. The smoke was thick outside the entrance too... Many fond memories..."
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57. peter betts, 2018
"Hats off to the Gumsmoke crew for makin what might be the best bootleg ever made! Gunsmoke n muddy Waters , man u cant lose with that combo."
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58. mrstanbmw, 2019
"This woman was a force of nature and she should have been a Monster Star as far as publicity, Mama was bad mother shut your mouf"
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59. Jeff Reese, 2019
"I can't believe how well Big Mama plays harmonica"
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REPLY
60. Maya, 2019
"She is a bad ass on the harmonica just the same as vocalist. Long live big mama Thornton!
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61. Shiva Ho, 2019
"What a fabulous piece of music history. So amazing to See such legendary musicians in their prime. Kudos to those who were there to capture this moment for us all to enjoy. My friend Doug MacLeod got to play guitar with these guys."
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62. Steven Mull, 2018
"Old school no rule these people set the way for rythem and blues which set way for rock and roll that being said y'all been schooled"
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63. minso collins, 2019
"Never seen another woman blow a harp like her yet besides.. big rosetta tharpe"
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64. Jay Sewall, 2019
"Wow! Never heard and saw George Harmonica Smith like this. Always knew he was a great player-but man, he is performing here. THANK YOU again for such a fine movie Gunsmoke Blues!"
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65. Brian Jones, 2019
"That's the real good feel good thang about them blue's!!! Peace from the Delta!!"
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66. Rokula lala, 2019
"Yessss amaizing footage. Thanks for letting us get there to what the real thing was."
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67. JustVinnyBlues, 2019
"By the way, for those of you not familiar with Big Joe Turner, a giant really and credited with creating jump blues and really the onset of rock and roll. Played with Count Bassie, in Carnagie Hall, great piano player, and his songs covered by people like Bill Haley - Shake Rattle and Roll. These great piano playing singers don't get much attention any more but they were fantastic."
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