# Who did this version of the 'Hesitation Blues' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2007, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779 "2007-12-31T06:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/1 "2007-12-31T06:40:43Z")
I’ve been looking for it for years and have only found versions by everybody else. The first verse was (my comments in parentheses): Well if (kinda drawn out) the river was whiskey and I was a duck, I’d fly (I’m pretty sure he said “fly,” not “dive”) to the bottom and I’d never come up. Oh, baby how long do I have to wait? Can I get you now, or must I hesitate? It used to be played on ABC’s FM “underground” programming around 1969, generally hosted by a guy calling himself “Brother John.” ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/2 "2007-12-31T13:55:17Z")
Jorma Kaukonen? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/3 "2007-12-31T15:20:51Z")
What versions do you have? Could it be Dave Van Ronk? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/4 "2007-12-31T16:32:23Z")
Could it be the Holy Modal Rounders? They recorded “Hesitation Blues” on their first, amazing, eponymous album. Released about 1964. Back then, I bought a Ravi Shankar album at one of Houston’s best record stores; but it was defective. There were no other copies in the store, so I picked the Rounders’ LP on a whim. Glad I did. Their rendition of the old blues tune is famous for the first recorded use of “psychedelic.” The Rounders supposedly supplied the musical talent for the first Fugs’ recordings. And would be considered “underground.” Although their albums didn’t get _really_ weird until a bit later… ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/5 "2007-12-31T16:44:19Z")
It’s likely the Hot Tuna version (not Jorma Kaukonen solo). It’s from their debut Lp, which came out circa 1970. Is it a live recording that sounds as if it’s performed in a small club venue? Is there a sound of a drinking glass breaking at the very beginning of the song? Then it’s the Hot Tuna version. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/6 "2007-12-31T16:56:41Z")
I’ve heard those lyrics with both Hot Tuna’s and Rev. Gary Davis versions. Hot Tuna. of course, being Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/7 "2007-12-31T17:15:03Z")
[QUOTE=picker] Hot Tuna. of course, being Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. [/QUOTE] …and one of those band names I could never abide by, regardless of the quality of the music. “Hot Tuna” - ew. Sorry, nothing more to add - seems like the other posters fought ignorance before I arrived. Oh - one other hijack: **picker** , did you ever read _ **Clapton’s Guitar** _? I can’t remember if you ad from previous posts and it seems like it would be right up your alley… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/8 "2008-01-01T23:22:47Z")
[QUOTE=picker] I’ve heard those lyrics with both Hot Tuna’s and Rev. Gary Davis versions. [/QUOTE] Um, yeah, since those are some of the lyrics they’ll probably be in common with MOST versions. 😉 And the verse (the first two lines) as well as the other verses gets a heavy workout in a multitude of other blues songs from the 20s and 30s. I thought I’d eliminated the Holy Modal Rounders but I’ll check again. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/9 "2008-01-02T02:59:33Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] **picker** , did you ever read _ **Clapton’s Guitar** _? I can’t remember if you ad from previous posts and it seems like it would be right up your alley… [/QUOTE] No, can’t say as I have, but I’ll have to remember to pick it up. I’ve been on a big piano kick recently, so I’ve not paid much attention to the guitar world… Thanks for the heads up! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/10 "2008-01-02T13:10:10Z")
[QUOTE=picker] No, can’t say as I have, but I’ll have to remember to pick it up. I’ve been on a big piano kick recently, so I’ve not paid much attention to the guitar world… Thanks for the heads up! [/QUOTE] Sure - no prob. And if you are into piano’s right now, you should check out [The Piano Shop on the Left Bank](http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Shop-Left-Bank-Discovering/dp/0375758623/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199279313&sr=1-1) and [Steinway: The Making of a Concert Grand](http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Making-Steinway-Concert-Grand/dp/0805083049/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199279358&sr=1-1) (both Amazon links…) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/11 "2012-02-20T19:16:32Z")
Found it! [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ssJRvP3ihc) Eventually, everything will be on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/12 "2012-02-20T19:22:46Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > …and one of those band names I could never abide by, regardless of the quality of the music. “Hot Tuna” - ew. The only used that name because the record company vetoed the original name: “Hot Shit.” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-this-version-of-the-hesitation-blues/431779/13 "2012-02-20T20:41:36Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > It’s likely the Hot Tuna version (not Jorma Kaukonen solo). It’s from their debut Lp, which came out circa 1970. Is it a live recording that sounds as if it’s performed in a small club venue? Is there a sound of a drinking glass breaking at the very beginning of the song? Then it’s the Hot Tuna version. Wrong. The famous broken glass occurs in “Uncle Sam’s Blues.”