Pratt City Blues

"Pratt City Blues" is a blues song first recorded in 1926 by Bertha "Chippie" Hill. The song's lyrics mention walking on Sandusky Road and the "high-powered liquor" available in the singer's home town of Pratt City.

The first recording, made in Chicago, features Richard M. Thomas on piano and Louis Armstrong on cornet. She re-recorded the song in 1929. The second version is more up-tempo. She sings in a higher register, accompanied by slap bass, jump-style piano, banjo and vocal interjections from Frankie "Half-pint" Jaxon.

In 1932 pianist Jabo Williams recorded an instrumental version of Pratt City Blues featuring his boogie-woogie style playing.

References

• Tucker, Colin (December 7, 2014) "Bertha" colinptucker.wordpress.com - accessed August 27, 2015