Happy Birthday Jesse “Lone Cat” Fuller

 

 

 

 

San Francisco Bay Blues – 1968

 

 

 

 

Biography

 

” B. 12 March 1896, Jonesboro, Georgia, USA, d. 29 January 1976, Oakland, California, USA. A veteran of tent shows, Fuller fashioned himself a unique one-man band of six-string bass (played with his right foot), a combination of kazoo, harmonica and microphone fixed to a harness around his neck, a hi-hat cymbal (played with the left foot) and a 12-string guitar. Fuller was also known for preceding many of his songs with a spoken intro. He came to fame in the late 50s as a result of appearances on US television, where he followed Ramblin’ Jack Elliot’s lionization via his recording of ‘San Francisco Bay Blues’. In the 50s he made three albums of original and traditional material and by the mid-60s became a darling of the ‘coffee-house circuit’ after Bob Dylan cited him as one of his influences. Similar success followed in the UK resulting from Donovan’s performance of ‘San Francisco Bay Blues’ on UK Independent Television’s Ready, Steady, Go! music show in 1965. Although Fuller’s output was meagre, his influence has been considerable. Eric Clapton provoked renewed interest with an excellent version of ‘San Francisco Bay Blues’ on his MTV Unplugged album in 1992. Original Blues Classics have reissued his albums on CD with the original covers. Although often repetitive his originality is irresistible.”

 

 

 

Discography

 

Albums
  Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals & Blues 4 versions Good Time Jazz   1958    
  The Lone Cat 3 versions Good Time Jazz   1961    
  San Francisco Bay Blues 2 versions Prestige Folklore   1963    
  San Francisco Bay Blues 10 versions Good Time Jazz   1963    
  Jesse Fuller’s Favorites 6 versions Prestige, Prestige   1965    
  Move On Down The Line ‎(LP) Topic Records 12T134 1965    
  A Session With Jesse Fuller ‎(LP, Album) Fontana TL 5313 1966    
  Frisco Bound 2 versions Arhoolie Records   1967    
  Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals & Blues ‎(LP, Album, RE) Good Time Jazz S10031 Unknown    

Singles & EPs
  San Francisco Bay Blues 2 versions Good Time Jazz   1965    
  Runnin’ Wild ‎(7″, Single) Good Time Jazz GV.2427 1967    
  Going Back To My Old Used To Be ‎(7″) Fontana TF 821 1968    

Compilations
  Brother Lowdown ‎(2xLP, Comp, Gat) Fantasy 24707 1972    
  Railroad Worksong ‎(CD, Album, Comp) Lake Records LACD24 Unknown    

Videos
  Elizabeth Cotten And Jesse Fuller – Masters Of The Country Blues 2 versions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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