Old Blue (song) explained

"Old Blue" (also known as "Old Dog Blue") is an old folk song, believed to have originated from the minstrel shows of the late 19th century.^[1] A 1928 version by Jim Jackson, entitled "Old Dog Blue", appears on the Anthology of American Folk Music album. Since this early recording, a number of covers and variations of this song have been recorded. In his 1985 play, Fences, August Wilson uses Jim Jackson's version as a leitmotif, and the play's central character (who had a dog named Blue as a boy) says his father originated the song.

Various versions

• Joan Baez, Joan Baez, Vol. 2 (1961)
• The Byrds, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969)
• Furry Lewis, Shake 'Em On Down (1961)
• Guy Carawan, Songs with Guy Carawan (1950)
• Ramblin' Jack Elliott, I Stand Alone (2006)
• David Wiffen, David Wiffen At The Bunkhouse Coffeehouse, Vancouver BC (1965)
• Johnny Duncan, Vintage Rock Nº 23 - EPs Collectors "Johnny Duncan's Tennessee Song Bag" (1957)
• Cisco Houston, Songs to Grow On, Vol. 3: This Land Is My Land (1951)
• Bill Staines, One More River (1998)
• Anne Hills, Never Grow Up (1998)
• The Dillards, Live!!!! Almost!!! (1964)
• Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, Bob Gibson and Bob Camp at The Gate of Horn (1961)
• Sam Hinton, Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts (2006)
• Pete Seeger, American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 3 (1957)
• Lonnie Pitchford, The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute To The Anthology Of American Folk Music (1998)
• Dave Van Ronk, Somebody Else, Not Me (1980)
• JJ Cale, Guitar Man (1996)
• Georgia Ruth, Week of Pines (2013)
• Appears on Disney Children's Favorite Songs 2 (1979) by Larry Groce as a children's song.
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Greg Lake in live versions performances of "Take a Pebble" (1971)
• Ian & Sylvia^[2]
• Charlie Parr, I Ain't Dead Yet (2016)
• Peter, Paul & Mary, In Concert (1964), as "Blue"
• Frankie Laine, Balladeer (1959)
• Shawn Phillips, Shawn (1966)
• Grandpa Jones, Old Blue (1953)

External links

• Old Blue at Keefer's Folk Music Index

Notes and References

1. Web site: Old Dog Blue by Jim Jackson. Oldweirdamerica.wordpress.com. 17 May 2010 .
2. Web site: Ian & Sylvia - "Old Blue". 20 June 2010. 30 November 2018. YouTube.