9/17/10 – The “Stagger Lee” Cat Fight!
Posted: September 17th, 2010 | Author: Matt The Cat | Filed under: Blues, R&B, Rock n' Roll | Tags: Friday Night Cat Fight, Lloyd Price, Matt The Cat, Podcast, Stagger Lee | 18 Comments »Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast
Stagger Lee (Stack O Lee)
This week, a true story (Lee Shelton shot Billy Lyons in 1895) comes to life in song. I’ve been wanting to do a Friday Night Cat Fight on “Stagger Lee” or “Stack O Lee” for a very long time.
The story comes to life in the form of the Delta Blues of Furry Lewis and Mississippi John Hurt, the New Orleans R&B of Archibald and Lloyd Price (who’s version topped both the R&B and pop charts) and many others along the way. Listen to the podcast and then VOTE for your favorite version of “Stagger Lee” below.
Leave a comment on this page and let everyone know why you voted for one version of “Stag” over the others.
Loading ...
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
[…] Click Here To Listen To The Cat Fight Podcast on “Stagger Lee” […]
Welcome Back Matt !! It’s Been TOOOO Long !! Lloyd Price has this followed but not to close by Mr. Kansas City Wilbert Harrison ! Matt Friday is not Friday without The Cat Fight and The Newsletter !! So great to have you back but did you have to put Pat Boone in there so every one could make their nasty comments about one of Rock N Rolls biggest Stars !! When He Did his own material he was awesome !! Yum Yum
Matt This is great. I started The Navy Blue Community Roots Band about a year ago. Our focus song has been Stagger Lee. Even this morning I sent out an email for Navy Blue to do there homework and listen to Stagger Lee by Wilson Picket and Wilbert Harrison a lot. This is even before I knew about your show. Just wednesday night at rehearsal I told everyone from Navy Blue that there has to be five thousand versions out there. How many do you think there are. Please friend me Alan Arena and Martha Coughlan, Alan Muir and Stephen Craft on Face-Book. Before I pick with verision I like I will listen to them all. But I’ve listened to a lot of them and I’m leaning towards Wilbert. But I’ll give everyone a shot. Love the formatt Matt. We would love to see something posted from this email, It would give Navy Blue a boast. Thanks Alan Arena
Loved this Cat Fight! Voted for Archibald with the sparkling piano.
Pat Boone sucks.
I had had had to go with Lloyd Price. I listened to all the versions, but I’ve always loved the Lloyd Price version and the others couldn’t quite best it for me. Great show Matt!
I love the old country blues. I finally settled on Mississippi John Hurt over Furry Lewis.
Lloyd Price, Lloyd Price and Lloyd Price – Lloyd owns the song. We are also proud here in Seattle that based on what he told Matt in an interview, it was a Seattle DJ that told him to turn the Stagge Lee 45 over and promote the B side which was amazingly Stagger Lee. How they didn’t choose that as the A side is beyond me.
Well, this Cat Fight presentation has soothed my ruffled fur! It was just great! I had no idea there were so many versions of this song! Of course, for me Lloyd Price’s version is, by far, the best! However, I really enjoyed listening to Furry Lewis’ version. Although it was fun to hear Pat Boone sing this song, I have to agree with Yum Yum. Pat Boone’s rich, beautiful voice and this song do not go together, at all.
Love the lilt in Archibald’s voice along with the swingin’ honk-tonk piano sound…..
After several listens it was a tough decision, but I voted for Wilbert Harrison. As always thank you Matt for the entertainment you provide for us.
Yeah….what CCK said. She summed it up rather well.
For anybody intersted follow the link to a pretty definitive listing of Stagger Lee covers up through 2007 – 229 in total! http://www.jass.com/tom/next/stag.html
Interesting is the word that best describes my take this week. I voted for Lloyd Price; I agree that he owns the song. I’m happy, MTC, that you have found paid work and are doing productive projects that you enjoy. It seems to me that if you did a 10-minute cat fight each week with 2 songs, using the original format from XM, that perhaps you would still have time. However, I will look forward to a cat fight whenever you can bring one to us, and thank you for almost 3 years’ great shows on the Web.
Hey Sierra, I think it will only be TWO years next month, it just seems longer. When I compiled a list of all the music Matt has supplied for us since then, I discovered I have 136 CD’s of music. All his labor of love for us his fans, can you imagine the value there? He deserves to get a really good paying job SOON, he has certainly earned it.
I voted for Mississippi John Hurt. . There was actually another version in the 20s by Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards-it was a two parter on a Columbia 78
Lloyd had the biggest hit that still gets the most crossover airplay, and deservedly so, and he was going to get my vote until I got down to the new-to-me Wilson Pickett cover. And as often is the case with Wilson and a cover song, I thought he really captured the essence of this song the best. What an amazing artist Wilson Pickett was. Lloyd’s version was pure 50s time capsule, but Wilson has the most timeless version for me.
To Virginia: I have already stated I’m very happy MTC has a paid job. I wish him all the best, and the comment is there for everyone to see.
Always liked the Lloyd Price version best, but don’t think I’ve ever heard the Wilson Pickett version. Have to vote now for the wicked Mr. Pickett . BTW, thanks so much MTC for keeping all your devoted fans happy with the internet gig. It’s not the same as listening every night, but it will have to do for now. Glad you now have a “real job” too.