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Talking blues
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Talking blues was a style of rhythmic speech or near-speech where the melody is free but the rhythm is strict. The music genre or technique developed in the blues in the early 20th century from influences including African music, British folk song, and the music-hall stage (as put by English politician Robert Somers: "Sambo is a natural-born cockney"). (van der Merwe 1989, pp. 146–148)
It typically consisted of a repetitive guitar, utilizing the same three chord pattern as blues, as well as a large portion of folk music and even punk, ska, "pop", and "rock", sometimes accompanied by a melodic line with rhythmic, rhyming speaking over it. Tex Williams was most well known for his talking blues, and Woody Guthrie popularized the style. Several sources (including the Almanac Singers) cite Guthrie as the creator/innovator of Talking Blues, or at least the modern form it has involved into. Bob Dylan also utilized this style and brought life back to it in the 1960's, in light of the strong influence Guthrie had on him. It came to be a trademark of country music (ibid), and can be considered an early predecessor to rap.
A few notable examples of the Talking Blues include: "Talking Union," written by Pete Seger, Lee Hays, and Milard Lampell. "Talking Fishing Blues" and "Talking Hard Work" by Woody Guthrie. "Talking World War III" and "I Shall Be Free" by Bob Dylan (from the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan).
- van der Merwe, Peter (1989). Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth-Century Popular Music. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-316121-4.
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