Text by Bruce Gallanter (Downtown Music Gallery, April 22nd, 2022)

“Sitting on Top of the World” written by Walter Vinson & Lonnie Chatmon, rearranged by Howlin’ Wolf – Covered by Cream (1968) and The Grateful Dead (1967)

One summer day she went away
Gone and left me, she’s gone to stay
She’s gone, I don’t worry
I’m sitting on top of the world

All the summer worked all this fall
Had to take Christmas in my overalls
She’s gone, but I don’t worry
I’m sitting on top of the world

Going down to the freight yard
Gonna catch me a freight train
Going to leave this town
Worked and got to home
She’s gone, but I don’t worry
I’m sitting on top of the world

I’ve got to admit that I got the blues something bad: too much stress, too many knuckleheads, too much Fake News and too many responsibilities to deal with. The blues song structure was created by slaves and many unlucky folks around the world who have had to struggle to survive in the so-called Promised Land wherever that may be. The above song was written & recorded by the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930 and reworked by Howlin Wolf in the late fifties.

The first version I remember was done by Cream in 1968 for their ‘Wheels of Fire’ album and it was done slow & simmering. It was covered by The Dead in 1967 for the debut album and done much more uptempo and hence, the vibe is completely different. Both versions are great for me but that Cream version really cuts through and speaks directly to me. Speaking of the BLUES…