Swing Blues #1

Background

Jerry Douglas played dobro on "I Will Walk With You" on the Deja Vu All Over Again album of John Fogerty in 2004. In return, Fogerty joined Douglas on dobro master's ninth solo album The Best Kept Secret next year and provided vocals and guitar on "Swing Blues #1" while Douglas handled the dobro parts. 

In a radio interview, Douglas recalled how his collaboration with Fogerty began: "We have the same birthday, that's right, and the same love of resophonic guitars. That's how I met him. He was out, you know, just looking around for old dobros to buy and wanted to see my collection, and I called home to tell my wife that, you know--I said, `Oh, what are we having for dinner tonight? Is it OK if I bring somebody home?' And she's always--I'm always bringing somebody home, and she's going, `Oh, OK. Well, who is it?' And I says, `John Fogarty,' and she's a bigger--she was a bigger fan than me."

Douglas also explained how Fogerty ended up to play on The Best Kept Secret: "I had just played on his last record [Deja Vu All Over Again], and I said, you know, `I'm almost embarrassed to ask you, you know, but would you play on something of mine someday?' and he said, `Well, yeah! Yeah, I would do it.' And I said, `Well, I'm sort of in the middle of one right now.' So we decided that in the end that he would do it for a dobro lesson, which is pretty good for me." (Liane Hansen, Interview with Jerry Douglas, NPR, USA, November 6th, 2005). 

The original version of "Swing Blues" by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys dates back to year 1936. It was recorded in two parts. Part 1 was the flip side of "Steel Guitar Rag", and Part 2 was on the B-side of "Back Home In Indiana".

Critical reception

"John Fogerty does a fine vocal turn on Bob Wills' memorable "Swing Blues No. 1": 'Lord, my baby's got something she calls a stingaree/And it really drives me crazy when she turns it loose on me.' -No Depression, October 31st, 2005.  

"The real highlight comes on a cover of Bob Wills' "Swing Blues No. 1" when John Fogerty lends his considerable guitar talent and gravelly vocals to create one of the finest moments in true delta-style blues I've heard all year. This track makes my list of best songs of the year, for certain; it is pure classical blues, in the traditions of some of the greatest and would stand alongside them… for not only the feel and groove of the song, but the incredible slide guitar of both Fogerty and Douglas." -L. Keane, The Hybrid Magazine. 

"The other vocal track, a rousing duet take of Bob Wills' "Swing Blues No. 1" with John Fogerty steals the show. Fogerty has always mined a rootsy gumbo for his sound and in this spare duet with Douglas, the two share an intimacy with the audience." -Joel Stein, Bluegrass Works, November 1st, 2006. 

Fans' views

"John sings two brief verses, one in the first quarter of the recording and another more towards the end. His voice is typical Fogerty and he sounds like he's really enjoying himself. His guitar picks out crisply a simple French/Canadian folksy tune."

"Diggy Liggy Lo is almost an instrumental. John only sings for maybe twenty seconds in the song. His voice sounds good and he handles the French language fairly smoothly. The song has accordian, fiddle and of course John's guitar. I enjoyed the song. I wish John had sung more, but he did sound good and the song made me long for a new Fogerty cd." 

"Great song, killer Dobro and slap back echo on John's voice perfect for this song."

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