"Corrine, Corrina"(sometimes spelled"Corrina, Corrina") is a12-barcountry blues songin the AAB form. "Corrine, Corrina" was first recorded byBo Carter(Brunswick7080, December1928).[3]However, it was not copyrighted until 1932 by Bo Carter (under his real name, Armenter Chatmon), along with his publishersMitchell ParishandJ. Mayo Williams.
| "Corrine, Corrina" | |
|---|---|
| SinglebyCharlie McCoyandBo Chatman | |
| B-side | "In the Gutter" (John Oscar) |
| Released | August 1929 |
| Recorded | November 1928[1][2] |
| Genre | Country blues |
| Length | 3:20 |
| Label | Brunswick(no. 7080) |
The song is familiar for its opening verse:
Corrine, Corrina, where you been so long?
Corrine, Corrina, where you been so long?
I ain't had no lovin', since you've been gone
TheMississippi Sheiks,as the Jackson Blue Boys withPapa Charlie McCoyon vocals, recorded the song in 1930 under the title "Sweet Alberta" (Columbia14397-D), substituting the wordsSweet AlbertaforCorrine, Corrina.[4]"Corrine, Corrina" has been recorded in a number ofmusical styles,includingblues,jazz,rock and roll,Cajun,andWestern swing.The title varies from recording to recording, but is most often spelled "Corrina, Corrina".
History
edit"Corrine, Corrina" may have traditional roots, however, earlier songs are different musically and lyrically. One of the earliest is the commercial sheet music song "Has Anybody Seen My Corrine?" published byRoger Grahamin 1918.Vernon Dalhart(Edison6166) recorded a vocal version in 1918,[5]andWilbur Sweatman's Original Jazz Band (ColumbiaA-2663), an instrumental version the same year. Graham's song contains sentiments similar to "Corrine, Corrina":
Has anybody seen my Corrine?
No matter where Corrina may be
Tell my Corrina to come right back to me
I want some lovin' sweetie dear
Blind Lemon Jeffersonrecorded a version of "C.C. Rider"in April 1926 entitled" Corrina Blues "which contains a verse in a similar vein:
If you see Corrina, tell her to hurry home
I ain't had no true love since Corrina been gone (3×)
TheMississippi Sheiksalso recorded "Sweet Maggie" in the 1930s:
Sweet Maggie sweet Maggie where you bin so long
Tell me sweet Maggie where you bin so long
There hasn't bin no lovin since you bin gone
Recordings
editBlues records
editNotable early singers to record the song includedBlind Lemon Jefferson(1926),Bo Carter(1928),Charlie McCoy(1928),Tampa Red(1929, 1930),James "Boodle It" Wiggins(1929),[6]Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon(1929),Walter Davis(1939),Johnny Temple(1940), andBig Joe Turner(1941). Veteran blues artists recorded for therevivalmarket includeMississippi John Hurt(1966) andMance Lipscomb(1968). Postwar-blues artists recording the song includedTaj MahalandSnooky Pryor.
Jazz recordings
editAmong the musicians to record the song wereWilbur Sweatman,Red Nichols(1930).Cab Calloway(1931),Art Tatum(1941),the Black Sorrows(1985), andNatalie Cole.
Early country recordings
editSeveral recordings were made for the country market by artists includingClayton McMichen(1929) and theCajun musicianLeo Soileau(1935).
| "Corrine Corrina" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinglebyBob Wills and His Texas Playboys | ||||
| B-side | "Goodnight Little Sweetheart" | |||
| Released | December 1941 | |||
| Recorded | April 15, 1940 | |||
| Studio | Burrus Sawmill Studio, Saginaw, Texas | |||
| Genre | Western swing,country blues | |||
| Label | Okeh06530 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bo Carter,Mitchell Parish,J. Mayo Williams | |||
| Bob Wills and His Texas Playboyssingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Western swing recordings
editIn 1934,Milton Brownand his Musical Brownies recorded the song under the title "Where Have You Been So Long, Corrinne," as aWestern swingdance song.[7]Shortly thereafter,Bob Willsadapted it again as "Corrine, Corrina," also in theWestern swingstyle. Following his recording withthe Texas Playboys(OKeh06530) on April 15, 1940, the song entered the standard repertoire of all Western swing bands, influencing the adoption of "Corrine, Corrina" byCajun bandsand later by individual country artists.[8]
"Corrine, Corrina" is also an important song related to Western swing's pioneering use of electrically amplified stringed instruments. It was one of the songs recorded during a session in Dallas on September 28, 1935, by Roy Newman and His Boys (OKeh 03117).[9]Their guitarist, Jim Boyd, played what is the first use of anelectrically amplified guitarfound on a recording.[10]
Cliff Bruner'sTexas Wanderers also recorded an early version of Chatmon's song on February 5, 1937 (Decca5350).
Folk music revival recordings
edit"Corrina, Corrina" entered the folk-like acoustical tradition during theAmerican folk music revivalof the 1960s whenBob Dylanbegan playing a version he titled "Corrina, Corrina". Although his blues-based version contains lyrics and song structure from "Corrine Corrina", his melody is lifted from "Stones in My Passway"(Vocalion3723) recorded byRobert Johnsonin 1937. Dylan's version, found on his second album,The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan,also borrows lyrics taken from Johnson's song:
- I got a bird that whistles, I got a bird that sings (2×)
TheRising Sons,featuring Taj Mahal andRy Cooder,recorded the song as "Corinna, Corinna" before breaking up in 1966. Taj Mahal then recorded another version in 1968 titled "Corinna".Michael Cooneyincluded it under the title "Weeping Willow (Corrina)" on his 1976 album on Front Hall Records,Singer of Old Songs.Joni Mitchellcovered the song in 1988 on her albumChalk Mark in a Rain Storm,with the title "A Bird That Whistles (Corrina Corrina)", and adding a flight-evokingWayne Shortersoprano sax solo. Other artists who have recorded the song includeEric Clapton,who sings it as "Alberta, Alberta",Willie Nelson,Steve Gillette,Leo Kottke,andConor Oberst.The English roots bandShow of Handsalso performed the song on their live albumAs You Were,released in 2005 under the duo's own labelHands on Music.The Band (featuringMiranda Sykesas a special guest for this part of the album) used the Dylan/Johnson version of the song.
Rock recordings
edit| "Corrine, Corrina" | |
|---|---|
| SinglebyRay Peterson | |
| from the albumThe Very Best of Ray Peterson | |
| B-side | "Be My Girl" |
| Released | November 1960 |
| Recorded | 1960 |
| Genre | Country blues |
| Length | 2:38 |
| Label | Dunes |
| Songwriter(s) | Bo Carter,Mitchell Parish,J. Mayo Williams |
| Producer(s) | Phil Spector |
Big Joe Turnerrecorded a rendition of the song forAtlantic Recordsin 1956.[11]Ray Peterson's 1960 version, produced byPhil Spector,reached number nine on theBillboardchart and number three inCanada.[12][13]Jerry Lee Lewisincluded a version on his 1965 album,The Return of Rock.[14]Bill Haley & His Cometsreleased a rock n' roll version onDecca Recordson their albumBill Haley's Chicksin 1959.Taj MahalandJesse Ed Davisperformed a live version onThe Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circuswhich became available upon release in 1996.Steppenwolfrecorded it as "Corina, Corina" forSteppenwolf Live,released in April 1970. A version byKing Biscuit BoywithCrowbarwas number 29 on theCanadiancharts in October 1970.[15]Rod Stewartrecorded a rendition between 2011 and 2013, and it is featured as a bonus track on hisTimealbum.Boz Scaggsincluded it on his 2013 albumMemphis.The rock bandPhishhas covered a version of the song in live concerts throughout their career (played first in February 1987).[16]
Country recordings
editDean Martin,better known as acrooner,included the song on his second country music album,Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again(1963). Country and blues singer/pianistMoon Mullicandid a version on his second last album in 1966.Asleep at the Wheelrecorded the song for their 1993 albumA Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills & the Texas PlayboyswithBrooks & Dunn.Their version peaked at number 73 on theBillboardHot Country Singles & Trackschart in 1994.[17]Country rocksingerGib Guilbeaurecorded a reworked version of the song entitled "Alberta Alberta" on his self titled 1973 album.Bill Monroedid abluegrassversion in 1977.
References
edit- ^"Brunswick matrix NOR761. Corrine Corrina / Bo Carter; Chas. McCoy - Discography of American Historical Recordings".adp.library.ucsb.edu.Retrieved2022-04-09.
- ^"BRUNSWICK Records - 7000" Race "series 78rpm numerical discography".www.78discography.com.Retrieved2022-04-09.
- ^Cheseborough, "Carter, Bo", p. 186: "Carter's [Bo Carter and the Mississippi Sheiks] 1928 recording of 'Corrine, Corrina' is the earliest known version of that song, which has become a standard of American music.
- ^Dixon,Blues & Gospel Records,p. 355.
- ^Seubert, "Has Anybody Seen My Corrine".
- ^"Illustrated James 'Boodle It' Wiggins discography".Wirz.de.Retrieved9 August2019.
- ^"Where Have You Been So Long Corrine by Milton Brown @ARTISTdirect".Artistdirect.com.Retrieved2014-05-21.
- ^Clayton,The Roots of Texas Music,p. 23: "For example, 'Corrine, Corrina,' now considered a Cajun standard, probably was originally an African American blues song. In the 1930s, it was adapted to western swing by Bob Wills, and, from there, worked its way into the standard Cajun repertoire, changing slightly with each transformation."
- ^Govenar,Deep Ellum and Central Track,p. 243: "Dallas, September 28, 1935... DAL 181, Corrine, Corrina, Vo/OK 03117."
- ^Dempsey,The Light Crust Doughboys Are on the Air,p.120: "[Jim] Boyd, who played bass and guitar in his on-and-off career with the Doughboys that continued into the 1990s, receives credit from some researchers with what may be the first recorded use of an electric guitar. It occurred in a September 1935 session with the group Roy Newman and His Boys, who played on Dallas radio station WRR. They recorded 'Shine On Harvest Moon,' Corrine, Corrina' and 'Hot Dog Stomp'."
- ^Turner, Big Joe."Corrine, Corrina by Big Joe Turner".Music.yahoo.com.Retrieved2016-07-17.
- ^"Corinna, Corinna (song by Ray Peterson) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".Musicvf.com.Retrieved2016-07-17.
- ^"CHUM Hit Parade - January 16, 1961".
- ^"The Return of Rock - Jerry Lee Lewis | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved2016-07-17.
- ^"RPM Top 100 Singles - October 17, 1970"(PDF).
- ^"Corinna Every Time Played - Phish.net".phish.net.Retrieved2021-03-22.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2013).Hot Country Songs 1944–2012.Record Research, Inc. p. 28.ISBN978-0-89820-203-8.
Bibliography
edit- Cheseborough, Steve. "Carter, Bo".Encyclopedia of the Bluespp. 185–186, edited by Edward M. Komara. Routledge, 2005.ISBN0-415-92700-5
- Clayton, Lawrence.The Roots of Texas Music.Texas A&M University Press, 2005.ISBN1-58544-492-8
- Dempsey, John Mark.The Light Crust Doughboys Are on the Air: Celebrating Seventy Years of Texas Music.University of North Texas Press, 2002.ISBN1-57441-151-9
- Dixon, Robert M.W.Blues & Gospel Records, 1902–1943.Storyville Publications, 1982.ISBN0-902391-03-8
- Ginell, Cary.Milton Brown and the Founding of Western Swing.Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1994.ISBN0-252-02041-3
- Govenar, Alan B.; Jay F. Brakefield.Deep Ellum and Central Track: Where the Black and White Worlds of Dallas Converged.University of North Texas Press, 1998.ISBN1-57441-051-2
- Seubert, David."Has Anybody Seen My Corrine.Donald C. Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara,Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.
- Waltz, Robert B; David G. Engle. "Corrina, Corrina".The Traditional Ballad Index: An Annotated Bibliography of the Folk Songs of the English-Speaking World.Hosted byCalifornia State University, Fresno, FolkloreArchived2008-04-17 at theWayback Machine,2007.