1969 Album Giant Step – De Old Folks At Home, Stagger Lee, Taj Mahal,
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Taj Mahal – Stagger Lee
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Killer version of this classic tune. Taj Mahal has the best ear in the business.
Samuel L Jackson does a kick ass updated version in the movie “Black Snake Moan”..
a bad man
My prefered version is on Eric Bibb’s 2008 cd (Spirit I am), wich is great all through.
i like the deads version
sweet
check out Lloyd price’s version too -
This is one of the best modern versions of this song imo. The Clash do a mini-version of it at the beginning of their song “Wrong ‘Em Boyo” from London Calling.
There are historically many versions of the name referred to in the song: “Stackolee”, “Stagolee”, “Stagger Lee”, “That Bad Man Stack-o-lee”, “Stack-o-Lee”, “Stagger Lee”
Correction
Stag O’lee not Stack O’lee.
The St. Louis, 1895, origin for this song is widely accepted. However, the original title was (“Stack” O’lee) and Billy Lyons name, in early versions, was Billy d’Lyons. Although there is no documentation. Many researchers believe that this song can be traced to New York circa 1865-1870. When a few French immigrants attempted to colonize the traditional Irish “Hells Kitchen” area of New York City.
Whatever. It’s a great song. I love Taj’s version on “An evening of Acoustic Music”.
Actually – “Stackerlee” Lee Shelton was a black cab driver and a pimp convicted of murdering William “Billy” Lyons on Christmas Eve, 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri. This version is very similar to one released by Mississippi John Hurt in the 20s, but is just an excellent cover.
I love this song been years since I heard it going up in the days listen to good music
Thanks for sharing
this song is a classic bard tale about a Chicago gangster.. and a bar fight. between a very bad man (staggerlee) a yong upcoming gangster and a gambler (billy deline) = – Staggerlle won a bunch of money from Billy a card game and billy didnt have the money –Staggerlee shot Billy.
OMG Stagger Lee, the bad man, I like the finger pickin’.
what is this song about?
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