The value of recordings like this is beyond measure.

Back in 1972, Mance was playing at Tulagi's in Boulder. Somehow my friend and I were running his lights. Not much to do when you're when you are doing the lights for a bluesman. I didn't know shit about lights and I wanted to do something, so when he started playing an up-tempo "happy" blues number, I brought up the lights. Of course, he thought he was getting the signal to wrap it up. He was very offended as he should be. He got up and said "Cut me? I got my knife. I'll show you how to cut somebody." The manager of the club ran to the stage and calmed him down. I'm sure he told him the lights guy was an idiot. Thank you, Vance for your enormous talent and teaching me a little about theatrical lighting.

@MENFUSSMIKE

Жыл бұрын

"Cut me?" That's hilarious...not at the time though

"Everthin but lovin leaves rust on yo soul" is a deeply inspiring sentence attributed to Mance Lipscomb. May I reach 1% of his gracious courage

Iam a rap artist from Grimes county TX they have a statue of mr mance lipscomb near downtown Navasota and a moral on blues alley of all the blues artist that come from my area thanks for uploading this

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

There's no such thing as a rap "Artist".

@936bigpop

4 жыл бұрын

What do u mean I make hip hop music I infused elements of blues and zydeco in my music I travel around the south performing in small juke joint like clubs and venues

@oldschoolboxing6048

Жыл бұрын

@@murphroberts4891 come on man, why be so bitter about somebody else’s music?

@teesa59

Жыл бұрын

@@murphroberts4891 Uncallled for comment.

@richmoran7916

11 ай бұрын

​@@936bigpopgood on ya for using as many types of music to make it your own. Music is the same as your voice, as you are recognized by what you say and sing while playin your instrument.

With his broke old finger And his bandaged hand This tune gonna linger Longer than a rock'n'roll band.

@TANTRUMGASM

5 жыл бұрын

got me a bad picker and this here ol six string no time to fuss or bicker jus gon' a strum and sing

@onkeljakob2454

4 жыл бұрын

mind if I steal that, Ossiandog?

@MENFUSSMIKE

Жыл бұрын

WORD!

@PutItAway101

Жыл бұрын

I got them three finger blues, but I still can't lose, Can still open my booze then I take me a snooze hell wit' y'all foo's

I met Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins on the same day. It was back in 1963, if memory serves. A group called "The Texian Boys" were playing a concert at the Cullen Auditorium at the University of Houston. These were mainly members of the Houston Folklore Society. The ones I can remember were John Lomax, Jr., Ed Badeaux, Howard Porper, and Ed (?) McConnell. Lightnin' and Mance were featured acts. I was supposed to bring my Martin 00-18 for Mance to play, and I was also supposed to be Lightnin's transportation to make sure he didn't drink too much to be able to play, but drank just enough that he felt like playing. Lightnin' was a rather amazing fellow. But he played everything in the key of E. Mance could play in any key without using a capo. I learned a lot about both of those men. I also worked for a while at H&H music co. in Houston. Lightnin' used to drop by there from time to time. He was a big benefactor to his less financially blessed neighbors.

After being a Sam Ligtnin fan for over 55 years I am just introduced to Mance.. Thank you all I shall be forever indebted for this priceless advice Regards :)))

This KZread channel is a service to humanity. Thank you for doing what you do. Thank God for modern recording equipment. I think of all the technological developments of the Industrial Revolution and the sheer marvel is we can see and listen to concerts from all these dead 20th Century masters as a result. What an amazing time to be alive.

@JustinLeatherwood

9 жыл бұрын

Brad Linzy Indeed it is. Unbelieveable

@Mark8395217

8 жыл бұрын

+Brad Linzy (The Guitologist) You took the words right out of my mouth, in fact I recall saying almost exactly the same just the other day. We are very fortunate, the internet is a wonderful thing, especially for us music lovers.

@jimihd1

8 жыл бұрын

+The Guitologist It was keith richard's dream back in the early stones, no only richards, but you know, we can watch anything from any of the old blues' heros and we can study it. Thank you 21st century, sometimes you're not so bad...

He smashed his finger right before this was recorded. Mance only used his right palm to damping the bass chord only. An amazing man all around! What a great treasure that most (99%) people have never heard of or even tried to find the TRUE history of music.

Its amazing to watch Mance play "Baby please don't go", and then watch Lightnin Hopkins version of the same song ... what a lesson in playing styles. Both fabulous!

He used to be my grandma's neighbor when she was a kid, living in the good old navasota, tx

@Tibor19921

2 жыл бұрын

Amazing

@jamesdean1757

2 жыл бұрын

One of his grandsons was my p.e. teacher

@vowkix9003

9 ай бұрын

how is everyone but me related to him 😔@@jamesdean1757

There no one who can play like Mance. He was so amazing. God bless you Mance.

Thanks to FolkSeattle for posting this. This man never got the recognition nor the $ that he so well deserved. This is the real deal people! Don't let it die; pick up a guitar and learn Mance's style and his songs. Give him the credit and honor he should have.. Pass it on to posterity and when you learn it; teach it to all those who want to learn it.

@thebrazilianatlantis165

5 жыл бұрын

Mance Lipscomb trivia: When a fan asked him who he should listen to in 1972, Mance said Buddy Guy.

@JayPFrancis

3 жыл бұрын

He absolutely got recognition. He was well loved here in Texas.

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

Mance was a lot more savvy than some of his contemporaries. He copyrighted all of his material. So he was actually paid royalties for the music he wrote and recorded. This was in contrast to some of the fellows who wrote songs that became R&B hits that they sold to record companies and/or disreputable agents for $5 - $15. There was a big settlement about this during the 1990's. When Frank Sinatra bought Folkways records, Mance got a rather hefty royalty check that was signed by Mr. Sinatra, himself. The bank in Navasota didn't want to take it for deposit, because of the signature on the check. So the manager of the bank to get the check verified. Mr. Sinatra chewed him out over the phone. Mance told me the story. His renditions of personal experiences were quite revelatory and often hilarious.

@mrhoolie

3 жыл бұрын

@@Three_Eyed_Willy I must confess that Mance knew nothing about copyrights - I did this for him and tried to treat him right as much as I was able!

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrhoolie -- I don't want to embarrass you, but Mance told me something back in 1965 that had a huge impression on me. He said that he had learned from his dealings with you and Mack, to never judge a person by the color of his skin, but by the way they treated you. He felt that you and Mack had done right by him, and he had nothing but appreciation for the way you brought him to a position of prominence in the folk/blues movement.

Mance's guitar playing was remarkable. He got as much out of an acoustic guitar as any man ever did. A remarkable talent.

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

I knew Mance pretty well. I visited him in his home in Navasota several times. He told me a lot of stories about his career. He actually preferred to play an electric guitar, but he played that Harmony, because it was part of the image Chris Strachwitz and Mack McCormick wanted him to project. I had a Martin D-18 that he really liked. When he would come into Houston, he would call me and ask me to bring my guitar to the concert so he could use it.

@annonymost9318

3 жыл бұрын

@@Three_Eyed_Willy wow, think of the things he could have done with that electric if those sponsor folks would have fostered that......grateful they did save these guys' work for us......but.....now that I know ....they were using these guys too....just like everything else....kinda makes me bummed.. Lipscomb is one of my favorites...even better than Rev. Gary... must've been amazing to hear him play yours.....dang...learn any tricks?

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

@@annonymost9318 Actually, he understood what they were doing. I've been in the entertainment business for a very long time, and I understand the symbiotic relationship between the agent-manager and the entertainer. If it had not been for Strachwitz and MacCormick, Mance's fame would not have spread very far. He understood why it was important for him to foster the image they had him use. It worked well, because it actually was true. Remember, when Mance passed away, he was well respected because he did most of his work with an acoustical instrument. He got a LOT out of that humble Harmony Sovereign Jumbo.

@mrhoolie

3 жыл бұрын

@@Three_Eyed_Willy that is not quite correct - when we first met Mance in Navaota I was carrying this guitar with me in my car because John Lundberg here in Berkeley had told me to buy this guitar since he figured that I might encounter musicians who did not have a playable instrument and he was absolutely right - thanks John for making my trip in 1960 a success!

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrhoolie Thanks for clarifying that. I met Mance when he played a gig with John Lomax Jr., Lightning’ Hopkins and the Texan Boys at Cullen Auditorium. I had a Martin OO-18 that one of the guys thought he might like to play, somI brought it to the show. Mance liked it, so sometimes he would call me when he had a local gig, and I’d bring it to him.

saw this man live in kansas city 1972. loved him then and still get goosebumps hearing this today. thank you so much for this!!

One of the greatest folk bluesmen , I remember he was one of the first I learned from along with Mississippi John Hurt , Gary Davis, I remember the day in 1976 Mance died it came over the radio news on our Local Rock station , Just try doing that thump thump of the thumb while playing the upper strings , once you get it ,it comes in handy for other songs . One song of Mance did was Charlie James great song .....RIP Mance & Thanks

Discovered Mance Lipscomb from a documentary video by Les Blank. It's on Hulu Plus/ Criterion Collection paired with another about Lightning Hopkins. Have since read & listened to a lot of stuff about & by him. Master stylist. Beautiful singing guitar. Does great slide (seems to usually use a Buck knife.) Got discovered & played in 21 states but always returned to his home town in Texas. When I was a kid heard Mississippi John Hurt in person. Another time, Doc Watson. If I could of heard Lipscomb it would have been all of my 3 favorites.

@timhitt5934

7 жыл бұрын

I remember when Les Blank made that film.He was in Tulsa making a film about Leon Russel.Some friends of mine were Leon's caretakers and I got to meet Les.

@mrhoolie

3 жыл бұрын

that film is called "A well spent Life" and is my favorite les Blank film!

I started listening to Mance when I was 19 (in 1986). It began when I bought Exile on Main Street when i was 17 & started working my way backwards to the blues. I moved to Dallas after college and immersed myself into Texas Blues. Good times! My favorite Mance song is "Tom Moore Blues". It's kind of autobiographical. Also, check out Jimmie Vaughan's "Little Son, Big Son". His playing has a heavy Mance influence. Both are on KZread and my channel.

Excellent musician and player,..marvelous kept rhythm at the same time...!!!

First time i am hearing this guy & for me this is a DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY .FABULOUS STUFF! i must learn some of his songs!

@treponemapalidum

3 жыл бұрын

ME TOO

Had the great fortune to see this man play and sing at the Ash Grove in LA in 1965 or maybe the following year. I was still just learning to finger pick and I watched Mance's hands like a hawk the whole show.

A treasure. What a discovery for me. Thank you for posting.

at the top of my list for country blues artist

He is phenomenal.

Thank you for this pure simple heart felt sound, so honest. I am very grateful that I can appreciate these true founding fathers! Wow they just sound amazing and truly real. A true service to humanity and shining light!!! Bless them for a healing feeling.... Love always. The production is excellent too!

@francklegon1529

7 жыл бұрын

Please someone know what happened his finger of right hand ?

Es oro puro, como alguien mencionó. Que bueno, gracias por publicar estos grandes hombres, genios de verdad.

Wow..what a picker. Very fluid and melodic. I have heard the name, but never before have I heard the man. These performances are brilliant. I watched the Son House recording from the same series yesterday. Blew my damn head off! I hear a lot of Mance's licks and stylings in John Renbourn's playing straight of the bat...and the third song! Donovan anyone? "Hey Gyp" stole the whole damn thing!

The Lucinda Willimas book brought me here today. Thank you, Lucindia.

Met at The Freight and Salvage club in Berkeley, Ca...heard Jimmy Reed first but Mance live was ,too me, untouchable...amazing..

I sadly had never heard of Mance Lipscomb before yesterday. So glad to to see this wonderful performance now! Thanks to Tim Lerch for speaking highly of this wonderful musician!

@larrywheeler9073

Жыл бұрын

i'm 80 years old/ my first mance lipscombe album was in the mid 60's/it changed my musical life. i'm still tryin!

@hearpalhere

Жыл бұрын

@@larrywheeler9073 Wow, what an experience that must have been!

An overlapping of historic, memorable human beings - In 1908 Frank Hamer become the City Marshal of Navasota, Texas, a lawless boom-town wracked by violence; "shootouts on the main street were so frequent that in two years at least a hundred men died. Hamer moved in at age 24 and enforced law and order. Mance was a boy when they crossed paths on the positive side of the law.

@evillabrador1

3 жыл бұрын

I’m reading Texas Ranger. Frank Hamer autobiography. I hadn’t heard of Liscomb beforehand. So checked him out.

mance may be the greatest

@maplebones

Жыл бұрын

If you like his style you'll also like Big Bill Broonzy.

you guys have the best channel on youtube

Really great fingerpicking and blues. Thank you for sharing.

People really need to find these videos before the cut up crap that's up. The sound quality blows the other vids away. The video is spectacular. This man is my new hero.

Brilliant. Mr. Lipscomb has more talent in his broken finger than I have in my whole self ....

Damn, I wish I'd bought that $69 Harmony Sovereign back in the 60s...

It was probably 1987 or 88, my wife said go get us a good blues album. It was meant to be, the record store I walked into was playing Mance Lipscomb. Guess what I went home with! Loved him ever since.

PS: thank you for putting this up. It sounds so much better!

He gave so much to music. My country music loving dad played his technique

Great stuff! The guitar playing was awesome!

there were a bunch of these old guys that could play a good as the best

God Almighty! thank you for posting!!!

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think "God Almighty" posts on KZread.

this is golden

Absolutely superb and thanks for the uploads

This is where it started. Thank Lomax, etc. for saving these recordings. Thanks to the folks that uploaded it.

Mance Lipscomb was a very refined and elegant and gentlemanly bluesman. There was little in him resembling the (admittedly very soulful) harshness of the delta blues tradition. Both styles are wonderful, though - in their very different ways.

Wonderful!!! Thank you for this post!

Thank you so much for posting this and Lightnin’ Hopkins too. This is a really great channel and I just subscribed !!!🙏☯️🕉🙀🐾

@jamestillman5546

Жыл бұрын

I was lucky enough to find his music around 64 or 65 and never forgot him. Texans, what can you say...

"Nahh, that's alright, I don't need that finger."

Just simply wonderful

One of my favorites

I am the fellow that wrote and recorded the song grimes county prison my restraunt is between hempstead and navasota hill country bbq. I know mances friends and family

hot damn, what a player! Looks like have a few songs to learn.

thought id seen it all when i watched brownie mcghee an sonny,so good ,last song was incredible

That left hand remind me of a spider dancing on hot plate

its kind of funny given the intro that he's playing an alternating bass line in the first tune ...

The real thing. Long live Mance!

What a wonderful player

偶然に見つけて聞いています苦労人ですね、アメリカの原点

THE WARMTH OF ANALOG RECORDING GEAR CANNOT BE BEAT. You get out of it, what you put into it!!

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I especially love the pop and click part. My favorite.

Nice ol' Harmony... Soveriegn? and great video :)

The man's fingers are broken and he could still play better than anyone in today's time lol

This guy is great

The delta is in Mississippi....Mance was from Texas, completely different tradition.

Giant music!

Damn, I am not even 1/2 through this vid and cannot even think of how much this poor bastard has been robbed of his royalties.

@eliezerpennywhistler61

9 жыл бұрын

What on Earth makes you think he was robbed of any royalties?

@AnthonyMonaghan

5 жыл бұрын

@@eliezerpennywhistler61 Because most of these artists ended their days dirt poor considering the contribution they made to 20th Century music I guess.

@stevenharrison488

5 жыл бұрын

Elizer Pennywhistler, Anthony Monahagn is quite correct if Manse wrote these songs, here a bit of irony for you the song Baby Please don't go if Manse wrote that, I remember Van Morrisons band recording it they would have got paid whatever as it was not penned by them the studio would have made the bulk now here's the kicker Van Morrison if I am correct wrote brown eyed girl a big hit but does not get royalties Bobby Womack wrote the Stones hit All over now what did he earn zilch nadda zero also black artists were not allowed to be played on the radio so the likes of Elvis got to record their songs without any financial restitution hence the comment from Anthony ROBBED.

@taurtue

4 жыл бұрын

@@stevenharrison488 Baby please don't go was written by Big Joe Williams

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

@ Nanc Jader- he ain't alone and he isn't lonely, then.

This guy reminds me of Stymie from the Little Rascals show.

time- 10:16 This is so beautiful....

Amazing

delightful!

Imagine if Jimmy Page or Keith Richards were just farming and playing for their family and friends for most of their lives... wonder no more

@joegarrison5911

3 жыл бұрын

This guy is undoubtedly a better finger picker than both of those guys.. But that's the thing about music, Sometimes the greatest of guitar players don't know how to produce great songs consistently like Richard's or Page did

@BaconFrisbee

3 жыл бұрын

@@joegarrison5911 Yeah, I just meant that Mance was a talent on par with anyone you care to name and he very nearly went completely unknown.

Thx from Hungary!😎

Thanks, Mance

Bellissimo.

Great technique variety

I heard that someone offered to buy him a proper guitar but he insisted on playing that Stella, I think that is what it is anyway. It could be a Harmony, I guess.

@genethemachine7169

4 жыл бұрын

Harmony Sovereign, top of the line model

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

What the fuck is a "Proper" guitar? You're some kind of elitist guitar asshole?

@banjochris

4 жыл бұрын

Someone did buy him a Gibson J-200, a beautiful guitar. He sounded much better on the Harmony, and HE thought he sounded better on the Harmony too. Nothing wrong with a Harmony Sovereign of that era. All solid wood, spruce top. Just have to be careful that the bridge doesn't belly up too much - ladder bracing, which is one of the things that makes it sound great for blues.

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

Chris Strachwitz (the owner of Arhoolie Records) and Mac McCormick gave him that Harmony. They wanted him to perform with that guitar, because it added to the credibility of his image. He actually wanted to wear a tuxedo and perform with an electric guitar, but they told him it wouldn't be good for his image. Before anyone gets upset with this, bear in mind that he was discovered roughly 1960 or so by Strachwitz and McCormick. At the time, he was running a road crew that operated the mowers that cut weeds on the sides of the highway. He owned his house, because of a settlement that was made between him and the company he worked for when there was an accident with a forklift. But he didn't have anything other than that. So here he was, 65 years old, with a house and whatever he could scrape together. He wanted to leave something behind for his family. I'd say he did a fine job of that by following the ideas that his agents laid out for him.

@MENFUSSMIKE

Жыл бұрын

@@Three_Eyed_Willy thanks for this and I concur

He used to play 8n front of my parents' store when I was a kid.

excelente

Black Ace, from MS?, was seriously atypical......he played with the guitar flat on his lap, Hawaiian style.

I can't believe he's doing all that only with his thumb and index finger. It's amazing how sophisticated delta musicians were in spite of all the hardships and exausting day jobs that they had.

@princeton08540

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with your praise, but Texas and the Delta are different regions and different styles. Robert Johnson is the essence of the Delta style. Mance and Lightnin' were the epitome of Texas.

@maplebones

Жыл бұрын

@@princeton08540 Big Bill Broonzy is probably the best known blues artist playing in the dead thumb style .

I play a Harmony just like this one. I live in Poulsbo!

@murphroberts4891

4 жыл бұрын

@ Pete Haselden- Did you forget the point you wanted to make?

@ThePete1891

4 жыл бұрын

@@murphroberts4891 it has been several years since I made this comment, but my point was, probably, that I play a Harmony Just like Mance Lipscomb, and I live in Poulsbo, Wa. The video was posted by FolkSeattle. Seattle being about a an hour away, or less depending on ferry service, and traffic. Are you from the Seattle/Tacoma area? Have a super day.

I believe that he uses it to like dampen the sound a little bit. I rest my pink on the top when I fingerpick. Perhaps he's doing it to get a better rest on the guitar to add some length. I'm not really sure though. I've always wondered as well.

@Three_Eyed_Willy

3 жыл бұрын

I knew Mance very well. He showed me how he did this. He rested the base of his right thumb on the 5th and 6th strings to mute them and produce a thumping sound.

Is this Mance’s guitar or is it Chris Strachwitz ? With a broken finger, amazing

F#/B/E/A/C#/F#tune believe good sound xformer bluesman!(4:32

Travis picking with a thumb pick is the way brah..

Different approaches to guitar...Delta guys used Spanish tuning a lot.....Texas guys used standard tuning mostly and Vestapol for bottleneck. Texas guys liked thumping monotonic bass...Delta guys were a lot looser on the bass strings. You can find Charlie Patton, Son House (Delta), Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly(Texas) tracks on You Tube....compare them.

Did he also play banjo? His picking is right on for it. && there were way more banjo and mandolin players in the early 20th century than guitar players

@banjochris

4 жыл бұрын

Not that I've ever heard of, but he plays a couple of banjo-type songs on the guitar, usually stuck in the middle of other songs. Try listening to one of his recordings of Willie Poor Boy for instance.

I have a SeeDaN Ford. :-) lOVE IT

0:26 Sugar Babe 2:30 Ella Speed 4:24 I Want To Do Something For You 7:51 Baby Please Don't Go 10:18 Shine On Harvest Moon

@claudiosanna9833

4 жыл бұрын

there is always a hero out there, thanks Jim

@treponemapalidum

3 жыл бұрын

THANKS

@princeton08540

2 жыл бұрын

another thanks. some people are naturally helpful. looks like you might be one.

wow cool

I always thought this was an Elizabeth Cotton song

Was this recorded in Seattle at KCTS 9? I know the University of Washington recorded Bukka White, and Rev Gary Davis. Was Mance Lipscomb recorded in Seattle too?

@timhitt5934

7 жыл бұрын

I doubt it don't think he ever did anything outside of Texas

@banjochris

4 жыл бұрын

It's part of that same batch, for sure. Furry Lewis, John Lee Hooker and a bunch of others too.

The good side of KZread 👍

Using his right palm to damping the bass too. One of the lost TRUE pickers and a great man!

does anyone know what's the deal with the white thing over some of his right hand fingers?

@banjochris

4 жыл бұрын

Bandage or cast - he hurt his finger somehow. He was a farmer after all, did a lot of work with his hands.

Born the same year as Jimmie Rodgers, he sounds like amazing like Jimmie, or is it that Jimmie sounds like Mance?

I don't know. At first I thought it was his slide when he plays slide. But he could have easily injured it.

He was friends with Lightning Hopkins

@mr.theodore6489

7 жыл бұрын

+brandon ellis watch "Lightnin Hopkins documentary" on KZread. I think it's also listed as " The blues accordin to Lightnin"

if he played that well with a massive bandage on his picking hand how good wouldhe have been without it?

@BaconFrisbee

8 жыл бұрын

There's a video of him play Jack of Spades with a pocket knife for a slide. It's fantastic; but I'm guessing you looked for everything of his you could find after listening to this

@MrCameron9000

8 жыл бұрын

Most of the old country bluesmen and women only used their thumb, index, and middle finger--if not only their thumb and index--to pick, so it really wouldn't have much of a difference since the bandage was on his ring. Nonetheless, it's excellent stuff.

@Pon-farrLovin3

7 жыл бұрын

I love Acoustic African music . 99 percent of African guitar players use just the thumb and index finger...

@dadams4441

7 жыл бұрын

They're all American

@4f52

7 жыл бұрын

Damon You have the best photo in the world