caldonia

 Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five had a rocking and rolling hit with this hilarious hard headed jump blues boogie.  Jordan had already had four number one singles on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade  ( "What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again)", "Ration Blues", "G.I. Jive", and "Mop! Mop!" ) when he recorded this rave up on January 19, 1945 for Decca Records with producer Milt Gabler.   Jordan credited the song to his wife at the time, childhood sweetheart Fleecie Moore in an effort to get around his publishing deal; but it would backfire.  Their marriage was short lived (she was the second of what would be five wives) and tempestuous; with Moore allegedly stabbing Jordan on more than one occasion.  "Caldonia" spent seven weeks at the top of the Harlem Hit Parade and as "Caldonia Boogie" reached number six on the US pop chart.  'King of the Jukebox' Jordan would later relate:   "Fleecie Moore's name is on it, but she didn't have anything to do with it. That was my wife at the time, and we put it in her name. She didn't know nothin' about no music at all. Her name is on this song and that song, and she's still getting money."





http://www.louisjordan.com/









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs9x9iqGdi8



Walkin with my baby she's got great big feet
Shes long, lean, and lanky and ain't had nothing to eat
Shes my baby and I love her just the same
Crazy 'bout that woman 'cause Caldonia is her name
Caldonia
Caldonia
What makes your big head so hard?
I love her. I love her just the same
Crazy bout that woman 'cause Caldonia is her name

You know what mama told me? Mama said son...
Keep away from that woman - she's gonna take all your money
Hey, hey, hey boy.... Don't laugh about my mama - you hear that?
Hey man I told you man....
You don't know what you doin boy - don't laugh about my mama
Caldonia
Caldonia
What makes your big head so hard?
I love her. I love her just the same
Crazy 'bout that woman 'cause Caldonia is her name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diCdzy14kds


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgOge7N3U3s

Erskine Hawkins also did a version in 1945 that Billboard magazine described as "right rhythmic rock and roll music", the first time "rock and roll" was used in print to describe any style of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AblIeUmlU-U






Woody Herman did a new arrangement, with a five trumpet chorus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkLqzDH5mZM





Muddy Waters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RZ-_jjffM




James Brown




Van Morrison

choo choo ch'boogie

Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five had a huge crossover hit with this jump blues locomotive that prefigured rock and roll. Jordan was known as "The King of the Jukebox" and 'Choo Choo Ch'Boogie' blended country and blues music, making him popular with black and white audiences. Denver Darling and Vaughn Horton co-wrote the song with Milt Gabler, vice-president of Decca Recordsand and Louis Jordan's record producer. The song spoke to the excitement of veterans returning from World War II and the ensuing disappointment over the lack of available work. 'Choo Choo Ch'Boogie' peaked at number seven on the pop chart and holding the number one spot on the R&B chart for a record eighteen weeks.

Headin' for the station with a pack on my back,

I'm tired of transportation in the back of hack,

I love to hear the rhythm of the clickity clack,

And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack,

And pal around with democratic fellows named Mac;

So, take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

You reach your destination, but alas and alack!

You need some compensation to get back in the black,

You take your morning paper from the top of the stack,

And read the situation from the front to the back,

The only job that's open needs a man with a knack,

So put it right back in the rack, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Gonna settle down by the railroad track,

Live the life of Riley in a beaten-down shack,

So when I hear a whistle I can peak through the crack,

And watch the train a rollin' when they're ballin' the jack,

I just love the rhythm of the clickity clack,

So, take me right back to the track, Jack!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Woo woo, ooh ooh, ch'boogie!

Choo choo, choo choo, ch'boogie!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!

Take me right back to the track, Jack!