James Booker - "True" ᴴᴰ

[@jimdixon3470]

For anyone curious about the history of this song by Louis Cottrell, Don Albert, and Lloyd Glenn (which has the actual title "You Don't Love Me"), listen to the recordings of it from 1936, the original by Don Albert and His Orchestra, and another by Frank Tanner & The Rhythm Kings. (All the recordings mentioned here are on youtube as of the time I'm posting this comment.) If you heard these performances without knowing about the James Booker recording, you'd probably never guess the song could be as moving as Booker makes it. The 1947 version by Paul Gayten And His Trio is the performance that Booker and other New Orleans musicians were clearly inspired by (It's also the version where the word "True" was added to the title). Gayten's vocal and tempo are very much in the Charles Brown "uptown blues" idiom. Gayten inspired a 1948 cover by Little Miss Cornshucks and The Blenders, and a 1961 doo wop cover by The Spiders, both of which may have reached Booker's ears as well, but I think its safe to say we have Gayten to thank for making this a song people are still talking about 85 years after it was written. It's not a masterpiece of songwriting, but it's one of those tunes that in the hands of someone like Billie Holliday (or James Booker) can be transformed into a masterpiece.

[@X9523-z3v]

❤

[@Timthetangent]

I've lost count of how many times I've listened and watched this, but it gets better every single time.

[@greenremi3811]

I also listen to it very regularly, what surprises me is that it always gives me so many emotions !!

[@ctefft1]

easily hundreds of times for me....

[@patrichman3748]

I think we (in the United States) need to make this recording the national anthem. This recording is America. We just play the recording at events--we don't try to sing it ourselves--and we weep at how both beautiful and sad the world can be sometimes.

[@josephkelly667]

This is the greatest performance I have watched. I suspect I will see none better in my life. No words.

[@timterrible6616]

I wonder so many things about his motivation for this song. It seems to come from the most painful depths and reaches of his heart. I feel like he wrote it so well I know exactly what it’s about, but don’t want to ruin the surprise for everyone else, and then, I also feel like I am left with so many questions, that he didn’t want anyone to ruin the surprise for me either! Thank you so much for this song James!

[@bigeman25]

This full song done by Booker has to be one of the all-time great performances ever.

[@MicahlanBoney]

This song is unspeakably sad in so many wonderful ways.

[@talbotadams1655]

This is so beautiful. My favorite song at the moment. It makes me cry every time I watch it that it almost feels masochistic watching it over and over like I do. Just a masterful piano performance with so much emotion conveyed in the vocals. Wow!!!!!

[@TimetoCut]

I know how you feel! It's just so amazingly powerful that it's hard to stop watching! Sometimes late at night I'll watch this and just be overwhelmed. There's a link in the description to a radio piece where the host describes a similar appreciation of this performance

[@talbotadams1655]

Nice! I will check that out! Thank You!

[@jimihd1]

when he sings ''you know, you just don't love me...''... Yeah, it breaks my heart so deeply

[@talbotadams1655]

jimihd1 I know! I also am so moved by the way he sings "I guess that's all there is to tell."

[@BeardedMonkeyRecords]

Loved the BBC radio piece about this. Thanks for the link!

[@nadashame2108]

I watched bayou maharaja and I was deeply moved by his music as well as his life story.

[@BrandtArt66]

Was just introduced to Booker's music tonight after watching the Netflix documentary on him. What an incredibly gifted talent he had. Primal like the winds.

[@cbnola6879]

How could anyone thumbs down this genre bending masterpiece?

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter]

The blues played in some so real and true it hurts. Beautiful beautiful and sincere. That's James Parker.

[@marioalejandrosuarezarcila7197]

this is just my favourite video on youtube....Greetings from Cali colombia. Land of colours and THE BLUES.

[@MammaBullie]

OMG !!! This guy just blew me away with his voice, style , soul and the runs he plays that then segue into the next ones !! I am so thankful to have just happened onto this clip. What an amazing moment !! I believe everything he says !!!!

[@TheLemon333]

How do you not get a tear from hearing this, I won't understand.

[@greenremi3811]

OH MY GOD ! It is the most beautiful musical performance that I have seen on the internet !!

[@BlueNJazzy]

I just love the way he plays the keys. Three keys is my favorite.

[@christopherwold]

How can you 'thumbs down' this amazing song and performance? If you sit and listen to this in a true way, it will bring tears. James Booker was a genius in a class of his own.

[@FrenchieMoe]

thanks for those comments, y all make me see I'm not the only one to feel that way listening to BOOKER. the man had SO MUCH SOUL. and yes it makes me feel like crying too

[@Argotero]

I see him a live performance long time ago, and still today one of the higlights in my life !!! never forget it, still in my heart... thanks mr james booker !!!

[@TimetoCut]

Wow that's awesome, you are very lucky

[@oldskoolmusicforever0724]

REALLY I COULD WATCH AND LISTEN TO THIS VIDEO EVERYDAY.I FEEL YA JB

[@pgohearn]

I love James Booker.

[@wladekwloszcz3803]

what a great artist

[@als6226]

What a guy, what out of this world abilities he had. In newer generation, luca sestak and victor demange do some justice to playing piano, and yet, no one comes close to the legend.

[@argotero6545]

He play the piano like a harp, incredible ending of the song, his singing in a blues and soul way, and very unique accent with a suit touch of Indian and black from New Orleans…

[@frankbar007]

James, this is as feeling beyond the music...what more can we say...GOD SAVE ALL YOUR IDEA OF FEELINGS FOR THE NEXT FUTURE...you have really paid every all your duties... :)

[@bevhip1]

Thanks for this. Saw Bayou Maharajah at its first showing at Hackney Picture House. Just simply moving.

[@haylockjonathan4061]

this gorgeous song is so profoundly beautiful, he gets three bars into the intro and I am coming apart at the seams, floods of tears, unlocking pain I did not know I had, and releasing me into a new joy. thank you, James.

[@haylockjonathan4061]

he reaches so deep. so subtle.

[@McrecordsNY]

Breaks my heart every time

[@jonnieh55]

So good ! Beyond good

[@hundredsroadwerewolf]

One of the greatest American piano players at the absolute apogee of his powers.

[@johnX48]

This is for me the most heartbreaking livelong ever ...

[@davidtaliai996]

looking at him play that piano now i can see how he can reach intervals across the keyboard that are physically impossible for most, Mr Booker had very large hands. definitely born to play the piano Mr Booker was.

[@oscarnavarrooficial]

El mejor de todos🏆

[@talbotadams1655]

I know he didn’t write the song. Sometimes I think he sang it with a man in mind, and sometimes I think he sang it because it was an old song from his youth that he just liked. But, what I really want to think is that this was a song for New Orleans. The only city he cared to live in. And he could play to concert halls in Europe, but come home to play to half full taverns in NOLA.

[@happyslapstone9552]

Wow! Just wow.

[@mmjjmjmj22]

Some people are placed here to reveal the genius in musical interpretation...Booker was one of those people.

[@1barrykelly]

The documentary is fantastic, but the music is so moving, I can hardly believe what I am listening to! Amazing! Anybody know where to find this on a cd or download? I couldn't find it in I-tunes.

[@racheldangermond5938]

Genius

[@ludwigbooth4882]

Pure magic.

[@jegibbs3854]

Sing it Mr.James!!

[@dhdeirdrehoran1]

So Good. :-)

[@TimetoCut]

The best : )

[@dgdrumsounds]

❤️❤️❤️

[@PressingMyLuckTruck]

They could’ve put a camera over just his left hand, and I would be fascinated.

[@andrewpeplinski1160]

I wish this were the version on the CD! And, if this was a different performance, what other music he played on this show. This specific performance may be one of the greatest performances I know (first watch on the documentary, I was bawling by the 4th chord of the intro).

[@andrewpeplinski1160]

On the CD it's track 3, and it leads in, so this is clearly a different performance than the "session" recording, I'm just wondering where it's from.

[@cynthianaslim]

Man, Booker's voice might just be a smidge less impressive than his supernatural piano ability.

[@art.dj.perkins980]

Абсолютный РАРИТЕТ!!!

[@marcelocarvalho552]

Genial.

[@Nolasusan1]

Brilliant. Gay. Genius. Lost soul. Suffered. Heroin addict. Used and abused by record companies and clubs. Redemption. Raised from the Dead. More suffering. Relapse. Raised up again. Gone to soon.

[@bennaarsongidi]

Straight up blues

[@davidbawden8305]

The technical ability of Art Tatum plus more heart

[@quinkirchner8652]

Thank you for posting. One of the all time greatest performances by one of the greatest musicians ever. The documentary is necessary viewing for everyone. I first learned of this over 10 years ago from this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJmog6aofMxld9U Not as good of quality but it includes the whole song, which I really miss on this version. For all who have found joy in this performance, do yourself a favor and watch the complete song.

[@dgdrumsounds]

Dear lawdt

[@spou2006]

Can someone tell me at 4:05 minute says "septen life" or "certain life" ? And if it is "septen" what that means?

[@quinkirchner8652]

I understood it to be "(You) said your life is well" or some variation of that, but I could be wrong. The end of the first chorus, which is cut out here, is a little clearer.

[@maxkeenlyside]

"Except that life is well" :) It's clearer on the alternate/bootleg takes.

[@bigeman25]

Anyone know who wrote this song?

[@TimetoCut]

Louis Cottrell and Don Albert (1947)

[@TimetoCut]

for Paul Gayten kzbin.info/www/bejne/roq7nWehbbJrpaM

[@jimdixon3470]

The original song title is "You Don't Love Me", and it was recorded in 1936 by Don Albert and His Orchestra, and by Frank Tanner & The Rhythm Kings. The 1947 Gayten recording is the key version, however.

[@スコブル-u9n]

いくら何でもカッコ良すぎだろ！ (´∀｀*)ﾉ🎵

[@robin2012ism]

in fucking credible

[@keithgrimes9622]

Shazam!