Released April 1937 (1937-04) Genre Blues | Format Ten-inch 78 rpm record Length 2:49 | |
B-side "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" Recorded San Antonio, Texas, November 26, 1936 | ||
"32-20 Blues" is a blues song by Delta blues musician Robert Johnson.
Contents
Background
It was recorded during his second recording session in San Antonio, Texas, on November 26, 1936. The title refers to .32-20 Winchester ammunition, which could be used in handguns as well as smaller rifles. The song is based on the Skip James song "22-20 Blues". The song was released in April the following year on Vocalion Records as a 78 rpm record. It was included on the first reissue of Johnson's songs, King of the Delta Blues Singers in 1961. In 1990, it was released on compact disc as part of The Complete Recordings box set.
Covers
The song has been recorded by many artists, including Muddy Waters, the New York Dolls, Phil Manning, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Alexis Korner, Colin Hodgkinson (playing bass), Flamin' Groovies, Johnny Winter, Gov't Mule, Rory Block, the Peter Green Splinter Group, Keith Richards, The Cowboy Junkies, Cassandra Wilson and Peter Laughner.