This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.

"Salty dog?"  I thought the President's doctor told him to cut back on the sodium intake! 

This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.

I can assure you Mr. Hurt had his guitar tuned exactly the way he wanted it. Not everybody's cuppa, sure, but when you become a legend, you can tune your guitar any way you want, too.

Yep. Comes from "sea dog" which was a term for a sailor on shore leave looking for a little loving.

I don't wanna be your salty dog.  But I DO wanna be the guy who tunes your guitar!  Tune your guitar!!!  Yikes.  Close enough for the blues, I guess.

This might be my dirty mind, but is 'salty dog' another blues euphemism for, erm, a sweaty male appendage? Blues is so chock-full of sexual euphemisms (jelly roll, honky-tonk, hoochie-coochie, etc) it's like a Carry On film at times, though with the levels of censorship in those puritan days euphemism was pretty much mandatory. Great song.

John Hurt contributed so much to the blues scene, many blues musicans were influenced or played with John also greats like Doc and Merle Watson known more for their bluegrass but Merle was a smokin ass blues player sure do miss him

Howzabout some John Fahey?

The Armadillo in Austin did similar things. And The Grey Ghost played Austin right up until his death. Pinetop Perkins lives near here too: Antone's had a big b'day bash for him recently.

Sort of like the story of Buena Vista Social Club: finding these great artists, long since retired (or more likely quit playing to get 'real' jobs), and sharing their talent with a world that's finally ready to appreciate them!

c.

Anyone else remember what song lifted the "little fish big fish swimming in the water" line? It was an angry-chik song, maybe late '90s.
Edit: Found it. PJ Harvey's "Down By the Water."

When I lived in Chicago, I would go to the Chicago BluesFest each summer. Often, they would bring back "rediscovered" old black bluesmen (and sometimes women). They would track them down, sometimes deep into the piney woods, in some rural setting, and whisk them to Chitown. Sometimes these elderly musicians would have to be helped onstage, but when they got to, say the piano, they would just wail. Amazing stuff.

Here's where it becomes obvious I don't know my musics: This sounds like it has a lot more to do with Django Reinhardt than what I think of as "blues."

John Hurt's influence spans several music genres including blues, country, bluegrass, folk and contemporary rock and roll. A soft-spoken man, his nature was reflected in the work, which remained a mellow mix of country, blues and old time music to the end.

I could have sworn when this started that it was Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album.

More than a striking resemblance. Still.. good stuff

I could have sworn when this started that it was Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album.

More than a striking resemblance. Still.. good stuff

Ahhh. Mississippi John Hurt! Awesome. I just love the image of the "rediscovered" (by a white guy) John Hurt, playing "Salty Dog" in a University auditorium and getting standing O's from the all-white audience. What do you suppose went through his mind?