Song of the Day: "St. James Infirmary"

In versions by Satchmo, Rhiannon Giddens and Tom Jones, Van Morrison, the White Stripes, Allen Toussaint, Bobby Bland, Jon Batiste--and Betty Boop!

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was also a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy.

One of the great songs of the 20th century (which may actually derive from the 19th or the 18th) is “St. James Infirmary.” Because its best-known early version was by Louis Armstrong in 1928, many assume it is a real Nawlins classic (and, in fact, it is often played there) but the history of its tune and lyrics are so twisty, before and after that, I can’t even begin to chart it for you in the limited time I have today. So I will do something rare for me, and give you instead a Wikipedia link here. Go wild. It’s fascinating and will transport you to London and parts and scenarios unknown. Did “my baby” die of leprosy?

Fortunately it’s a little easier to simply direct you to a bunch of fine music/video versions below, from Satchmo to White Stripes—and don’t miss Betty Boop. There’s even a Lily Tomlin on SNL in the 1970s one. Then the usual political cartoon. Enjoy, then subscribe, it’s still free! If you are a non-subscriber and like this Song of the Day concept then subscribe, or it will go away.

Starting with King Louis, of course.

Surprising night when the great Rhiannon Giddens joined Tom Jones. It’s not unusual?

The New Orleans piano master Allen Toussaint with a pure instrumental.

Yes, the song was brought to the masses thanks to a Betty Boop cartoon with Cab Calloway on vocals!

It’s a really really really really real natural for Van Morrison.

The White Stripes did it early on and it showed up much later on Peaky Blinders.

The immortal Bobby “Blue” Bland put it out as the “B” side on an early 1960s hit.

And speaking of legends—Captain Beefheart in 1966 demo!

Another NOLA piano man Jon Batiste naturally covered it.

Cartoon of the Day