Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been

by "Spider" John Koerner

Overview

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been contains classics from the American Songbook like "Cotton-Eyed Joe," "The Leather-Winged Bat," "Froggy Went A-Courting" and "Shenandoah." Spider John Koerner sings and plays (12-string guitar) with a knowing but commanding casual authority that brings this material to life brilliantly. The music jumps out of the speaker so effortlessly you can appreciate the fun and dark side of these old songs. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been is an excellent example of contemporary interpretations that don't treat the songs like academic artifacts. "The Leather-Winged Bat," for example, is a courting song that sounds cute and innocent in most interpretations. Koerner brings out, and seems to delight in, the licentious innuendo as each verse leads to the advice that for a girl to catch the boy she should keep him up both day and night. Blood, love and murder are at the heart of many songs so familiar that we have forgotten to even listen anymore while we sing along. A record like this is a wake-up call to all interpreters. The fact that it was impeccably recorded live to two-track in one day with killer musicians only adds to its reputation. ~ Richard Meyer

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/1992
Label:	Red House Records
UPC:	0033651001225
Rank:	92050

Tracks

1. Cotton-Eyed Joe
2. Sail Away Ladies
3. Acres of Clams
4. Black Dog
5. Froggie Went A-Courtin'
6. The Old Chisholm Trail
7. The Leather-Winged Bat
8. Red Apple Juice
9. Worried Rambler
10. What's a Matter with the Mill
11. Shenandoah
12. The Roving Gambler
13. St. James Infirmary
14. Irene
15. Cotton-Eyed Joe (Reprise)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

"Spider" John Koerner   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica
Tony Glover   Guest Artist,Harmonica
Butch Thompson   Guest Artist,Piano
Peter Ostroushko   Guest Artist,Mandolin
Willie Murphy   Guest Artist,Bass
John "Mr. Bones" Burrell   Percussion
Dakota Dave Hull   Guitar
Chip Taylor Smith   Fiddle

Technical Credits

Dan Corrigan   Photography
Traditional   Composer
Steve Wiese   Engineer
Irving Mills   Composer
Lead Belly   Composer
John A. Lomax   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
John Hanson   Design
Dakota Dave Hull   Producer
"Spider" John Koerner   Composer
Eric Peltoniemi   Executive Producer
Joe Primrose   Composer
Public Domain   Composer
Marge Ostroushko   Assistant Producer
Gregg Vershay   Photography
George Ostroushko   Design,Artwork