Rev. Robert Wilkins - I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down

Rare Blues
produced by Norman Dayron
Takoma Records
recorded Jan. 1965 at the University of Chicago Folk Festival
Photos:
Dave Gahr
Wirz site
Tim Duffy
Elliott Erwitt
Sebastian Hidalgo
Gordon Parks
Danny Lyon
Gerald Cyrus
Joao Pina
MS Dept of Archives

[@eduardojose6347]

I'm from Brazil, PE, I'm 34 years old. I love Jesus. I realy like old songs gospel

[@ajcraft-hello]

Thank you. The photos are powerful, some of facts ignored by mainstream media of the time

[@TheBWJohnson]

thanks, aj

[@joycetaylor6459]

A beautiful song but I'm not ready to be in Heaven sitting down. I Pray I live to be a 100yrs young!!!!!

[@bootlegsbeyondgorski9596]

Lord have mercy. from the UK z

[@busessuck1]

Amazing... I didn't know about this live recording - I'm glad to see you're still putting up this brilliant stuff!

[@TheBWJohnson]

thanks buses. you know, in the old days - this place was a wasteland for this stuff - now with streaming and these auto things - more is available. which is a good thing. but then you still got those albums that you've got to put the needle to. but some of the songs still got to be heard. thought this was one. really good to see you. brought me back...

[@bluesloverz]

I love it. Thanks for the introduction to this fine blues man.

[@TheBWJohnson]

fine, indeed. something about that sound that gets me every time. explores some deep emotion we all got but don't have always the words for; glad we're still here, blues....

[@ibrake4butterflies]

Taking another ride on this tonight. Plus I bought some extra tickets. Sometimes u just need a certain song...

[@trmoody36]

I remember hearing this 30 years ago....hadn’t been able to find it anywhere.Robert Wilkins was the Man.

[@trmoody36]

Thank you for this.

[@trw5653]

Time has turned my hair to silver and hips wider... not many days pass without a thought to you being sent and wondering why the blues add to that heavy feeling in my heart instead of lightening the load. I have not had the heart to check but google informed me all messages saved in YT would be deleted in July gone... I do believe the powers that be do not want what YT gifted... friendships across all boundaries :) Unsure how I arrived here in this moment... and I refuse to question it. I was waiting for a butterfly to land on my arm... a ‘cabbage white’ as only two species seem to visit my garden these days. Sending one of those ‘virtual’ hugs again x Love has no boundaries x

[@jamieclark420]

This is amazing. Glad to see you upload again. Not a day goes by where at least a few songs from your channel grace my ears. Thank you brother.

[@TheBWJohnson]

thought i recognized that name. seems like whether you're high or you're low certain songs just make more sense. that's when i pass through myself. thanks for leaving a word and good to see you, Yeti.

[@ibrake4butterflies]

Necessary

[@dennisdevine9563]

An outstanding collection of music. thank you

[@ARUNKLEZAT]

Mantap lagunya💘💘💘💘💘🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒

[@ibrake4butterflies]

Amazing images that you find for visual accompaniment. Did I ever say thank you for these thoughtful visions. Just imagine that behind every photograph is a person witnessing and documenting and making history at the click of a shutter. Love the whole recipe. ☮️💕😊

[@TheBWJohnson]

is there any other way, Brake. Some may argue that the photographer has more responsibility to the mind (and certainly that is true for the marketer, the propagandist) but for the artist the camera functions only as an extension of the soul - to reach a deeper truth, which make their images a perfect match for a music that did the same. The recipe, as you mention, never from a book but perfected over time through improvisation until it is something others are moved by. it's a certain path, i suppose - so good to see you along this narrow way once more. let's do it again sometime...

[@ibrake4butterflies]

Okay. Down by the river. Yes. Photos can work as propaganda and sell many things but I would never use any to hold up either cause. Just to document. So down by the river I will be.

[@TheBWJohnson]

@@ibrake4butterflies was thinking of you recently, Brake. guess we're rollin' and tumblin' together in these hard times. so many out there pointing the lens in the wrong direction these days. don't they know that even Rembrandt didn't only compose self portraits. There is no eye, someone once said. and i'll know your soul by the way you portray the people and the world in your images, i say. a lot going on out there so hope you're doing well, that there's always plenty of light, and the levee remains sturdy.

[@ibrake4butterflies]

@@TheBWJohnson You noticed! Vacation or everyday life photos : Olden days circa 2005- ish B.S. ( before cell/smart phones) - family or individual real tiny or missing completely and object and or scenery giant and featured in photo. Modern days c. 2005-ish A.S. - HERE I /WE ARE SEE ME/US !!! Minuscule orange color in bottom corner of image possibly 1/16 th inch of Grand Canyon. I think. Someplace cool tho I think. I am lookin GOOD. Just had my teeth whitened and been workin'out! Follow me K?

[@ibrake4butterflies]

@@TheBWJohnson It’s crazy how the camera lens is now pointed at the person and not at others or the scenery. Just taking a gazillion photos of themselves. So self centered has these generations have become. Only interested in showing off their outsides. I don’t have any social media accounts and I don’t follow anyone either. Unless You Tube is considered social media. With you tube it’s about content and interest in stuff. Real life travel to beautiful places will get me to follow the road signs to get there. Plus those of us who know realize it’s not just about the destination but equally the journey.

[@coravisser3846]

Thank you so much TheWBJohnson this is real awesome,never heard before.What a beautifull one ,

[@nevillegriffiths4395]

So, so good, probably the best live recording

[@welissoncardoso6602]

Fantástico, Sensacional, Indescritível

[@eduardojose6347]

ò mais um Brasileiro kkkk pensei que só eu gostava, massa brother

[@ibrake4butterflies]

That sound. What all instruments are being used? That real twangy sound along with the rhythm guitar is so deep. Feels.

[@TheBWJohnson]

i think it's just the guitar. you know, Robert Wilkins could do that with a guitar. like few could - that sound. good to see you, Brake and to know you're still out there - with soul.

[@ibrake4butterflies]

Always riding the You Tube rails. Never knowing where you’re going to end up but knowing the blues will be by my side. That sound just does something. ☮️💯💕

[@TJNorton]

Just a resonator guitar, something used as a slide, and vocal. The sound is beautiful and haunting 😊

[@ibrake4butterflies]

A resonator guitar. Probably made by him or for him. I lovvvve.

[@SergeCeyral]

@@ibrake4butterflies Though what I say brings no evidence of anything, I've never seen any picture of Rev. Wilkins playing a reso guitar (National, Regal or Dobro). All known images show a big acoustic guitar (Gibson ?...). What we hear is not a National sound, rather a big wooden guitar. Maybe I'm wrong...

[@ibrake4butterflies]

I’m not a musician so this is a basic question. Is Mr. Wilkins playing the two guitar parts at the same time? Or is there another person strumming with him or is it a studio recording? I mean it just so good.

[@TheBWJohnson]

hey brake - pretty sure that's all Wilkins. you know - only a few people could pull that kind of thing off with that kind of heart and SOUL with ease - McDowell, F. Lewis, and BWJ. i'm probably missing one or two but those guys come to mind first. just a performer and their guitar and all that beautiful mystery that lies within. So good, indeed...

[@BoxOfGod]

i'm just practicing this song and i can definetly say he is playing both at the same time.

[@ibrake4butterflies]

@@BoxOfGod A gift from God. Pure magic. ✨✨✨

[@christaylor2070]

No one else replied to your actual question! The guitar is tuned to an open chord so he playing the bass strings with his thumb and the bottleneck melody on the top strings with his 1st and 2nd fingers. Just him. Fred McDowell does the same thing

[@danielpoursac6931]

voilà un autre musicien que j'aime énormément TheBW Johnson dans les anciens Bluesmans nous profitons de leurs expériences pour trouver de nouvelles inspirations à écouter

[@TheBWJohnson]

couldn't have said it better.. transcending all barriers. 'till they all collapse.

[@danielpoursac6931]

@@TheBWJohnson tank you my friend

[@markalan2752]

RL Burnside did a great version of this song......but it's excellent to hear the original.

[@albertocolucci2616]

Esperança

[@MyBichonsLoveRush]

Best version...sorry Burnside, the best is always the writer's version.