Original Songs By Terry Blade

Excerpts from part 2 of an interview with famous Chicago blues pianist, Jimmy Walker in May 1977 in Chicago, Illinois. --Track Credits-- Beverly Robinson: (Collector) Jimmy Walker: (Interviewee) Instrumental Music By: Lobo Loco, excerpt of "Free Guitar Riding Blues F 014", Free Music Archive Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Excerpts of interview with Chicago blues guitarist and singer Walter Williams (Lefty Dizz) outside Checkerboard Lounge in Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1977. --Track Credits-- Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector Lefty Dizz: Interviewee Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Original version of what later became Terry Blade's 2023 single "Won't Be Around." The original version is faster in tempo and much shorter in duration, as it was intended as a demo. The song is about leaving abusive relationships (of all kinds), and never returning to them again. --Lyrics-- Who you gon’ lie to? I won’t even hear you Who you gon’ rescue? I won’t even need you Cuz I won’t be around Cuz I won’t be around Who you gon’ plead to? I don’t have to keep you And who you gon’ weep to? I’ve no more to give you Cuz I won’t be around Cuz I won’t be around I won’t be behind you I won’t be beside you I’m gonna leave you And I won’t even miss you Cuz I won’t be around --Track Credits-- Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade Instrumental Music By: Bobby Cole Produced by: Terry Blade and Bobby Cole

That's Alright is a cover of "That's All Right," which is a song written and originally performed by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (Father of "Rock 'n' Roll"). Crudup recorded the song in Chicago in 1946. "That's All Right" later became the debut single recorded and released by Elvis Presley in 1956. Although Crudup was credited as the composer on the single of Presley's label, he never received any royalties. --Lyrics-- Well, now that's alright, mama That's alright for you That's alright mama Anyway you do That's alright That's alright That's alright now mama Anyway you do Mama she done told me Papa told me too They love you leavin' son now We'll be there for you That's alright That's alright That's alright now mama Anyway you do Yeah man Baby one and one is two Two and two is four I love that man But I've got to let him go That's alright That's alright That's alright now mama Anyway you do Baby now you don't want me Why not tell me so? You won't be bothered with me 'Round you have me no more Baby that's alright That's alright That's alright now mama Anyway you do --Track Credits-- Written and Originally Performed By: Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup Licensed By: Warner Unichappell Music Inc. Original Song Copyright and Publishing By: Warner Chappell Music Inc. Instrumental Music By: Carl Bludts Vocals By: Terry Blade Lyrical Variations By: Terry Blade

Excerpts from interview with Chicago blues musician Willie Monroe outside Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1977. --Track Credits-- Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector Willie Monroe: Interviewee Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Excerpts from interview with Theresa Needham (Godmother of the Chicago Blues) on May 25, 1977. Needham was the owner of the famous blues club "Theresa's Tavern," located at 48th and Indiana Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. --Track Credits-- Ralph H. Metcalfe: Collector Theresa Needham: Interviewee Instrumental Music By: Kevin Macleod, excerpt of "Porch Blues", Free Music Archive Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade Special Contribution Credit: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Excerpts of interview with Chicago blues singer-songwriter James Williams (Muddy Waters Jr.), at his home in Chicago, Illinois on May 31, 1977. --Track Credits-- Ralph H. Metcalfe: 1948 - Present (Collector) Muddy Waters Jr.: 1936 - Present (Interviewee) Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade Photograph By: Jonas Dovydenas Special Credit Contribution: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Inspired by the notorious Harlem crime boss, Madame Stephanie St. Clair. Her infamy was the subject of articles published in the Chicago Defender (and throughout the country) through the 1920s and 1930s. --Lyrics-- Hello mama How you been? I hear you in trouble Once again All you say And all you do No wonder they done left you Black and blue I say hey little mama I think they gettin’ Tired of you Mama it’s your actions The venom you speak You pick on the small And you prey on the weak Yeah mama You lie until you think it’s true I say hey little mama I think they gettin’ Tired of you Well you mean and you nasty You big and your strong Know you ain’t right But you keep on doin’ wrong Yeah mama Some day you gonna pay Well mama you’re so rotten You must decay Well mama you lived A whole life of crime Now you’re here And you’re out of time Oh mama What you gonna do? I say hey little mama I think they gettin’ Tired of you --Track Credits-- Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade Instrumental Music By: Jason Shaw, excerpt of "Acoustic Blues," Free Music Archive Instrumental Music License: CC Attribution. Produced and Arranged By: Terry Blade and Jason Shaw

Inspired by the stories of: -Cyntoia Brown (first verse) -William “Marc” Wilson (second verse) -Isaiah Brown (third verse) --Lyrics-- Tell my sista’ To stay strong Remember tell my sista’ To stay strong Cuz I know the system Done my sista’ wrong Tell my brotha’ Always watch your back Tell my brotha’ Always watch your back Cuz I know the system Won’t give my brotha no slack Tell my people That I will die for them Tell my people That I will die for them Just so they can be free Of the system --Track Credits-- Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade Instrumental Music By: Neil Cross Photograph By: Matt Richmond Produced By: Terry Blade and Neil Cross

Inspired by the many lives lost at the hands of gun violence on the southside of Chicago. The song is also a dedication to the lesser-known history of African-American cowboys, using "Wild West" duels as a metaphor for modern-day gun violence in Chicago. This song is the unreleased original version of Blade's rearranged "Black Cowboys," containing an capella introduction, and a musicical arrangement quicker in tempo. --Lyrics-- Bow your head Bow your head Bow your head Bow your heads For your son Draw your gun Shuffle your feet Can't cut and run It's death you'll cheat You a black cowboy In your cattle boot You walk ten paces Then you turn and shoot Now bow your head For your sons Bow your head For your son Bow your head Bow your heads For your son Oh this life In the wild west One too many son Been laid to rest Take his body To the river, stream Hold your heartache One day you'll scream Now bow your head For your sons Bow your head For you son Bow your head Bow your heads For your son That's how it's done In the great Midwest Down in Chitown Be my guest That's how it's done In the great Midwest Down in Chitown Be my guest Now bow your head --Track Credits-- Lyrics and Vocals By: Terry Blade Additional Songwriting By: Ryan Jenkins Instrumental Music Composed By: Antonio Di Giovanni Produced By: Terry Blade and Sleeping Ghost

Won't Be Around is a dedication to the rural and early American roots music of the first half of the 20th century--the lifeblood of America's musical and cultural heritage. The song is about telling a loved one that I'm fed up and moving on. I ask "Who are you going to run to?" "Who are you going lie to?" "Who are you going to rescue?" when "I won't be with you," "I won't hear you," and "I won't even need you." Primary Artist: Terry Blade Composer: Bobby Cole Lyricist: Terry Blade Producers: Terry Blade, Bobby Cole

Written & Performed By: Terry Blade Produced By: Distant.Face

Written and Performed By: Terry Blade

This song is about Terry's personal experience with his estranged father. It is a social commentary on the difficulties of family reintegration of absent African-American fathers. It received Clouzine Magazine's "Best Folk Song Award" for 2020. Written & Performed By: Terry Blade Produced By: Ryini Beats Track Art By: Ketut Subiyanto

Vocals By: Terry Blade Djembe: Dan Blishen Cover Art: Kirsten Marie Mechanical License Granted By: Unichappell Music, Inc. Originally By: Vera Hall

Vocals By: Terry Blade Written By: Terry Blade Produced By: Ryini Beats