Sonny Hotchkins - Changes (Tugboat Jackson Cover)

 Since Tugboat Jackson, one of our recording artists, released his song Changes, some of our other artists have expressed interest in making their own versions of the song. The first to do this was Tugboat's fellow Blues man, Sonny Hotchkins.  

Sonny's version follows the word close to verbatim, but he changes the tune and background to the words. We still don't understand how Sonny can play the guitar so well when he has to wear splints on both hands due to carpal tunnel and neuropathy, but he sure can!  Tugboat has managed to write lyrics that seem to speak to other artists and inspires them. We have other versions from other artists in the works. And Tugboat gives his permission to use his song any time. He's honored that the song has touched his peers in  that way.

The way the world is can be troublin’ 

Yeah, it shore as hell can be troublin’ 

Ya gotta take a side, but keep it in stride 

Or your own troubles you’ll be doublin’ 

 

 There is a great need for big change

 But remember we all are resistant 

Keep all your desires in range 

Try your be to be persistent 

 

 If you think that change is needed

 Really think that change is needed 

Whatever you do, change pertains to you 

Things to bring it about heeded! 

 

 Make every effort for compassion 

Sometimes it’s very hard to do

 Isn’t always the trending fashion 

With some no matter what you do 

 

Gotta do what you can to be stable

 Make the effort to keep yourself stable

 Passion is fine, but keep it in line 

Do it the best that you are able 

 

On occasion, say to hell with it all! 

Yeah, just say to hell with it all! 

Keep it understood, that life still is good 

Cherish things in your life that are small 

 

Every generation has its ills 

For sho, generations all have their ills 

You’ll wonder what for, we still fightin’ war

 After history shows all that it’s killed 

 

 Keep fightin’ on for things that are right

 But take a break from all of the trends 

Enjoy whatever gets you through the night

 And your family, neighbors , and friends

Sonny Hotchkins - Break Up Blues

 Sonny Hotchkin's latest Break Up Blues has the possibility of becoming a blues standard. Has the subject of ending a romance, and how it' so difficult to get over it. Match the subject matter with some fine guitar playing and singing, it amounts to a classic of blues.

Sonny is still on the road playing blues clubs, mostly on the East Coast, so we don't see him much in the studio. He's doing more song writing, so maybe he'll be recording more often. We're glad to report that his efforts to remain alcohol free have been successful. He tells us that he only drinks water most of  the time, but allows himself to drink Diet Pepsi when he's playing a gig!

I woke up feelin' sick with the flu 

My heart is sad, feelin' blue 

Can't seem to get free 

You're an addiction to me 

What am I gonna do without you? 

 

 Go out with some of my friends 

Ain't tryin' to make no amends 

It's all over, I know 

Try my best to grow 

Use it to change all the trends 

 

Break up blues got me in it's grip 

It's all I can do to survive 

My emotions are startin' to slip 

And I feel all used up inside 

 

We quit each other mutually 

Really wasn't up to me 

Your love for me was dead 

Tried to break up nice instead 

Of havin' a shoutin' spree 

 

Try to think of ways I can let 

Myself relax and forget 

Booze only makes it worse

Takes money from my purse 

So I ain't gonna relent 

 

Break up blues got me in it's grip 

It's all I can do to survive 

My emotions are startin' to slip 

And I feel all used up inside 

 

So I suppose I'll just suffer 

Without you as my lover 

But it haunts me evry day 

Turns me ever which way 

Most everthing is just a big bother 

 

 I tell ya, Break up blues got me in it's grip 

It's all I can do to survive 

My emotions are startin' to slip 

And I feel all used up inside

 

Sonny Hotchkins - The Runny Nose Blues

 First time we heard this recording, we thought Sonny Hotchkins did a good job of imitating someone with a cold. Turns out he wasn't faking, he really did have a bad cold when he recorded it! He was coerced into making the recording session by his recently hired manager. Said manager has since been fired, and Sonny has gone back to what he's always done, been a free lancer that has  done all of his own bookings and agreements.  Despite feeling under the weather, Sonny does his usual fine job. And the song contains the best line we at Big And Tall Records have heard in a while!: Feel like I been shot at and missed, shit at and hit!

I got a pain in my head, a scratchy throat, 

I said a pain in my head, an a scratchy throat 

I should a never come here, stayed home in bed 

 

 Got da runny nose blues, 

I be out a tissues, 

The snot is running down by lip and chin. 

The runny nose blues, 

Gotta remember to use 

My nose spray or I won't win! 

 

 It started a few days ago 

Yes, a few days ago 

Pardon me my nose needs blowed 

 

Why'd I have to come here, so miserable, 

My manager told me I had a song to record, 

They don't seem to know, that I ain't able, 

I can't sing very much, oh lord! 

 

I feel real hot, then I get a chill 

Dammit, feel real hot , then I get a shiverin' chill. 

And by nose continues to fill! 

 

 Feel like I been shot at and missed, 

Shit at and hit, 

Coughin' and moanin' all day long 

Nose won't quit flowin',

 feel worse bit by bit, 

 So I’m gonna finish up this here song. 

 

 My manager can kiss by ass! 

And I hope I done give them all my cold!

 

 

Sonny Hotchkins - A Little Drink Is Good, Another's Even Better

Sonny Hotchkins

At Big And Tall Records, we're always interested in the history and lives of all our artists, so when we got this new song by Sonny Hotchkins and saw the title, A Little Drink Is Good, Another's Even Better, we initially thought it might be a song that was positive about alcohol consumption...then we played it. 

There seems to be a disproportionate number of musicians, specifically blues artists, that have problems with alcohol. Mr. Hotchkins tell his story of the negative affects drinking had on him, and some of the problems it created. It's a hard-driving blues song, a testament to the resilience and courage of one man to defeat his addiction, and a warning to any that overly indulge.

Seen a lot of lives wrecked from booze, 

Drugs as well, but a lot of booze, 

You can't control it, yer gonna lose! 

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

 I used to drink it all up like a fish! 

Yeah, my mouth wide open like a fish, 

To get all I could was my only wish! 

 

I'd play in the juke joints every night, 

You know, I played a juke joint every night, 

I'd start out sober, end up tight!

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

It went that a way for many years, 

Yep, that's what I did for many years.

 Kept on playin', drinkin' too many beers. 

 

Then it got so, I couldn't remember, 

Goddammit all, I couldn't remember, 

The years I had left was pretty slender!

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

Then it all finally come to a head, 

Like a big ol' boil, come to a head, 

Woke up in a ditch, thought I was dead! 

 

 Don't remember how I got there, 

Don't remember what I done, 

But I slowly came aware, 

It sure wasn't any fun! 

 

A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later!

 

 A passerby helped me out, called an ambulance, 

A good Samaritan helped and called an ambulance, 

I couldn't say nothin', like I was in a trance. 

 

 In the hospital, they dried me out, 

Yes, the hospital would dry me out, 

It was then what I saw what booze was all about.

 

 Haven't had a drink in over ten years 

No booze at all, for over ten years, 

Drink sody pop and water, not even a near beer! 

 

 So 'member what alcohol will do if you let it. 

Once it gets a hold of you, can't hardly prevent it! 

It takes over, turns yer life upside down, 

Makes you lie, ya don't care, turns ya low down! 

 

A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later!

Sonny Hotchkins - No Slack

Sonny Hotchkins is an old blues man, and has heard all kinds of blues songs and laments in his life. His latest recording is one of these, and Sonny tells the story:

 I was on the road off and on playin' the juke joints and gin mills. One night this ol' dude come into a place I was playin' and asked to borrow my guitar, as he had a song to sing. I asked him where his was, and he gave me some long bawl baby story 'bout how his woman busted it over his head while they were havin' a disagreement that night. Usually don't let nobody manhandle my guitar, but I was curious what this ol' drunk had to say.  That's when I heard the song I play in this recording. He bitched 'bout his woman kickin' him out the house after he smacked her 'round. I'll tell ya, don't blame no woman for kickin' a guy to the curb what beats on her. Don't cotton to treatin' women or nobody else that way! Ain't got all the words exactly the way he sung 'em, but I come close. I 'member some of the licks he had too, and weave 'em into my own stuff. Only saw this guy but once. Probably came to a no good end, as he looked mighty rough that night.

A slice of a blues mans life as played and sung by Sonny Hotchkins.

My woman done throwed me out the house. 

Goddam, she throwed my ass out the house. 

Called me no good, drunken, stinkin' louse. 

 

She ain't much of a prize her self 

No, she ain't no damn prize her self. 

She got a fat ass, and stinkin' breath 

Sonny Hotchkins

 

What the hell she ‘spect me to do? 

What in the fuck she ‘spect me to do? 

Sleep on a park bench, get chilled through and through?

 

 Goddammit, I'm older than shit! 

You know, I'm just older than shit! 

To be out in this weather, I just ain't fit!

 

 Got just ‘nough to get me a jug, 

Cheap booze, but I can get me a jug, 

I gotta have somethin' to chug! 

 

 She'll be calmed down by then, I bet. 

She gets mad, calms down quick I bet! 

I'll give her some lovin' be all set! 

 

Ya know, it's my goddam house too! 

Who she think she is, my house too! 

Kick her ass out by the time I'm through! 

 

She ain't a good woman anyway. 

Got a shitty disposition anyway. 

Toss her out, tell her be on her way! 

 

She prolly did call the cops on me! 

Bitch done called the law on me! 

Only hit her but once, don't ya see? 

 

She deserve it, she's mean as hell! 

Goddammit, she's mean as hell!

 We ain't never got along too well! 

 

 I'll just sit here and drink my jug. 

It'll keep me warm, stuff in the jug. 

I'll snuggle up somewhere....snug as a bug....in a rug! 

 

 Fuck it!......Ain't goin' back. 

No way, I ain't goin' back! 

She don't never gimme no.....slack....

Sonny Hotchkins - In Between Blues

Sonny Hotchkins

 Sonny Hotchkins is another mostly unfamiliar blues man found by our associates that are blues aficionados. His guitar playing is fine blues music making, the lyrics are rather enigmatic and are the words of an old man feeling the closeness of death. His hands are a great concern, as he's diabetic and has peripheral neuropathy plus carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and other nerve damages brought about by manual labor he did for most of his life, plus the guitar has taken its toll on them as well. He wears carpal tunnel splints most of the time, even when he plays the guitar. 

The sun’ll shine tomorrow, 

But it won’t shine for me. 

I’m stuck in a doldrum, 

Like a ship stuck at sea. 

 

 I don’t know how I got here, 

But just look at my face, 

Got a stone expression, 

Cain't find my place. 

 

Not unhappy, but not happy too 

I just got the ol’ in between blues. 

 

 Gimme some guidance, 

Tell me what do I do, 

Don't wanna do nothin', 

but I'm bored and I'm blue. 

 

My fingers hurt and burn, 

Hands are tinglin' too. 

Got the ol' arthritis, 

really nothin' I can do. 

 

 Tell me the answers if there is some, 

I'm beginnin' to think that there ain't . 

 

All them things I used to like to do,

 Don't mean nothin' anymore. 

Look in the mirror, 

and all I see is a fool. 

 

My mind is goin',can feel it slip,

 Mem'ries clash in my head. 

It makes me wonder, oh lord, 

how long 'fore I'm dead. 

 

Ain't scared of dyin',least I say so, 

But it don't matter if I am or not. 

 

Around lots of people, 

yet still feel all alone. 

They all look so sad, 

With faces of gray stone. 

 

Wonder which one will it be? 

That starts my last breath. 

Got so many afflictions, 

Which one will give me rest? 

 

The in between blues, 

I don't give a damn, 

Take me now, take me late. 

The in between blues,

It don't matter a damn, 

In the end, it'll be the same fate.