Song:Baby Please Don't Go
Album:Complete Recorded Works In Chronolgical Order Vol. 1 (1935-1941)
No doubt you've heard Baby Please Don't Go by many rock bands. But you may not know that it's the signature song of legendary Mississippi bluesman Big Joe Williams. Fortunately Williams was around for the 60s folk revival so we get to see him in action. He was born Oct. 16, 1903 in Crawford, MS. He was a travelling busker at an early age and probably played his guitar just about everywhere in the south. He recorded with the Birmingham Jug Band in the early 30s. While in St. Louis in 1934, he met Bluebird Records producer Lester Melrose and signed a contract. He first recorded Baby Please Don't Go in 1935 and again in 1941. He recorded for Bluebird for ten years. This comp from the British label Document contains the 1935 version and is worth checking out. He continued to record in the 50s & 60s for labels like Delmark, Prestige & Vocalion. As you'll see in the video, he plays a nine string guitar that he modified himself. He was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 1992. Needless to say, Big Joe Williams is revered by guitarists and Baby Please Don't Go has been covered many times including by Them, AC/DC, Aerosmith and others. Big Joe Williams died Dec. 17, 1982 at age 79. Here's Big Joe Williams performing Baby Please Don't Go in 1963.
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