Papa Lightfoot - Wine, Women, Whiskey
Papa Lightfoot, also known as Papa George Lightfoot (March 2, 1924 – November 28, 1971), born Alexander Lightfoot, was an American blues singer and harmonica player. (read more at Wikipedia)
Links to Peel[]
In 1968 tracks by Papa Lightfoot appeared on a series of compilation LPs of post-World War Two blues recordings, entitled "Rural Blues" and issued on Imperial Records in the US and Liberty in Britain. This was at the height of the British blues revival, in which Liberty had played a role by recording British artists and issuing LPs by the popular white American blues band (and Peel favourite) Canned Heat. One of their singles, "On The Road Again", had been a surprise Top 5 hit in the UK charts after Peel had played it on Top Gear, so when Peel began to enthuse over Papa Lightfoot's "Wine, Women, Whiskey" (he played it on the Night Ride of 11 December 1968) Liberty issued the track, originally released in the US in 1954, as a single in early 1969. It did not make the charts but its rough-edged sound may well have influenced Dandelion artists Medicine Head. "Wine, Women, Whiskey" subsequently appeared on several blues anthology collections and was revisited by Peel in both 1991 and 1999.
Shows Played[]
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and may be incomplete. Please add more information if known.)
- 11 December 1968: Wine, Women, Whiskey (v/a album - Rural Blues Vol 2: Saturday Night Function) Liberty LBL 83214
- 29 December 1968: Wine, Women, Whiskey (7") Liberty LBF 15176
- 23 August 1979: Wine, Women & Whiskey
- 20 September 1991 (BFBS): 'Wine Women & Whiskey (Compilation LP-Story Of The Blues - Harmonica Blues 1)' (Negro Art)
- 22 September 1991: 'Wine Women & Whiskey (Compilation LP-Stompin')' (Stompin')
- 31 March 1999: Wine, Women & Whiskey (LP: Harp Blues) Ace