Skip James

Skip James

34975 fans

With his head voice, his fragile appearance and his irregular guitar playing, an anthology of broken arpeggios, "Skip" James appears as one of the strangest stylists of the Delta blues. His dark, melancholy personality is reflected in such moving compositions as "Hard Times Killing Floor Blues", the best blues about the Depression of 1929. After a first attempt at a professional career in the '30s, artistically remarkable but not financially rewarding, "Skip" James pursued other trades until his rediscovery in 1964.
Despite the cancer eating away at him, he made striking appearances at major blues festivals in America and Europe, and recorded a number of powerful albums. His composition "I'm So Glad", covered by Eric Clapton, was a huge rock hit, and the royalties from it helped pay his hospital bills.

Top tracks

03
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
05:13
Composers: Unknown
01
I'm So Glad
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
01:55
Composers: Unknown
12
Crow Jane
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
02:58
Composers: Unknown
11
Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:23
Composers: Nehemiah "Skip" James
12
Illinois Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:14
Composers: Unknown
04
22-20 Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:51
Composers: Unknown
01
Good Road Camp Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:47
Composers: Unknown
04
Look At The People Standing At The Judgement
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
02:59
Composers: Unknown
05
Worried Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
05:55
Composers: Unknown
02
Little Cow, Little Calf Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:23
Composers: Unknown
05
Crow Jane
Skip James
Skip James Live Vol. 2 Bloomington 1968 Part 1
02:24
06
Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
04:10
Composers: Unknown
03
Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
04:12
Composers: Nehemiah James
07
I Don't Want A Woman To Stay Out All Night Long
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
04:41
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
12
I’m So Glad (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
01:57
Composers: Nehemiah James
08
Catfish Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
04:37
Composers: Unknown
09
Lorenzo Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
04:19
Composers: Unknown
10
Sick Bed Blues
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
04:05
Composers: Unknown
09
Cypress Grove Blues (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
04:21
Composers: Nehemiah James
04
Illinois Blues
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
05:04
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
13
I'm So Glad
Skip James
Skip James Live Vol. 2 Bloomington 1968 Part 1
03:13
06
Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
04:14
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
04
Bad Whiskey
Skip James
Worried Blues
01:35
Composers: Not Documented
07
How Long (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
02:58
Composers: Leroy Carr
08
All Night Long (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
05:03
Composers: Nehemiah James
07
Mistreating Child Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:58
Composers: Unknown
01
Hard Headed Woman Blues
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
06:27
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
11
My Gal (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
06:07
Composers: Nehemiah James
11
Look At The People
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
02:27
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
37
I'm So Glad
Skip James
Legends of Bottleneck Blues
02:53
Composers: Skip James
08
Drunken Spree
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
03:32
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
10
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
01:56
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
05
Special Rider Blues
Skip James
The Very Best of Skip James
03:09
04
Special Rider Blues (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
05:11
Composers: Nehemiah James
09
Oh, Mary Don't You Weep
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
01:53
Composers: Unknown
15
Cherry Ball Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
04:27
Composers: Unknown
06
Be Ready When He Comes
Skip James
The Very Best of Skip James
02:56
03
Loretta Blues
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
04:26
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
06
Cherryball (Remastered 2024)
Skip James
Today! (Remastered 2024)
04:28
Composers: Nehemiah James
07
How Long "Buck"?
Skip James
The Complete 1931 Sessions
02:52
Composers: Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James
03
Jesus Is a Mighty Good Leader
Skip James
The Very Best of Skip James
03:01
07
If You Haven't Any Hay Get On Down the Road
Skip James
The Very Best of Skip James
02:54
14
How Long Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
02:56
Composers: Unknown
05
Hard-Luck Child
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
04:51
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
09
How Long Blues
Skip James
I'm So Glad: The Rediscovered Recordings
03:12
Writer: JAMES / Composers: JAMES
10
Careless Love
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
04:01
Composers: Unknown
18
She's All The World To Me
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:01
Composers: Unknown

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
Vanguard Visionaries
â„— 2007 Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company
01-01-2007
Vanguard Visionaries
01
I'm So Glad
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
01:55
Composers: Unknown
02
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
05:13
Composers: Unknown
03
22-20 Blues
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
03:51
Composers: Unknown
04
Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
03:21
Composers: Unknown
05
Look Down The Road
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
03:15
Composers: Unknown
06
Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
04:10
Composers: Unknown
07
Cypress Grove
Skip James
Vanguard Visionaries
04:19
Composers: Unknown
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Rare And Unreleased
â„— 2006 Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company
01-01-2006
Rare And Unreleased
01
Backwater Blues
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:06
Composers: Bessie Smith
02
Everybody Ought To Live Right
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:16
Composers: Traditional
03
I Want To Be More Like Jesus
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:52
Composers: Traditional
04
Jack Of Diamonds
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
02:44
Composers: Traditional
05
My Last Boogie
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:42
Composers: Traditional
06
Lazy Bones
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:09
Composers: Traditional
07
Let My Jesus Lead You
Skip James
Rare And Unreleased
03:01
Composers: Traditional
Access the complete album info (19 songs)
Blues From The Delta
â„— 2006 Vanguard Records
11-08-1998
Blues From The Delta
01
I'm So Glad
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
01:55
Composers: Unknown
02
Little Cow, Little Calf Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:23
Composers: Unknown
03
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
05:13
Composers: Unknown
04
22-20 Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:51
Composers: Unknown
05
Special Rider Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
05:09
Composers: Unknown
06
Mistreating Child Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
03:58
Composers: Unknown
07
Sick Bed Blues
Skip James
Blues From The Delta
04:05
Composers: Unknown
Access the complete album info (20 songs)
Devil Got My Woman
â„— 2006 Vanguard Records
01-01-1968
Devil Got My Woman
01
Good Road Camp Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:47
Composers: Unknown
02
Little Cow, Little Calf Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:23
Composers: Unknown
03
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
05:13
Composers: Unknown
04
Look At The People Standing At The Judgement
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
02:59
Composers: Unknown
05
Worried Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
05:55
Composers: Unknown
06
22-20 Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:51
Composers: Unknown
07
Mistreating Child Blues
Skip James
Devil Got My Woman
03:58
Composers: Unknown
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Featured in
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
â„— 2015 All Legends
01-01-2015
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
01
Smokestack Lightnin'
Howlin' Wolf
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
03:07
Writer: Chester Burnett / Composers: Chester Burnett
02
Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
02:28
Writer: John Lee Hooker / Composers: John Lee Hooker
03
Rock Me
Muddy Waters
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
03:12
Writer: Muddy Waters / Composers: Muddy Waters
04
I Put a Spell on You
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
02:25
Writer: Screamin' Jay Hawkins / Composers: Screamin' Jay Hawkins
05
Hound Dog
Big Mama Thornton
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
02:50
Writer: Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller / Composers: Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller
06
Today I Sing the Blues
Aretha Franklin
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
02:46
Writer: Curtis Lewis / Composers: Curtis Lewis
07
Sweet Home Chicago
Robert Johnson
Best of Blues - From Mississipi to Chicago
03:02
Writer: Robert Johnson / Composers: Robert Johnson
Access the complete album info (50 songs)
Blues 100
2021 Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group
07-05-2021
Blues 100
01
Mannish Boy (Live) [feat. Muddy Waters]
The Band
Blues 100
06:40
Writer: Elias Mcdaniel - McKinley Morganfield - Melvin London / Composers: Elias Mcdaniel - McKinley Morganfield - Melvin London
02
Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do
Freddie King
Blues 100
03:38
Composers: Jimmy Witherspoon
03
Mustang Sally
Wilson Pickett
Blues 100
03:07
Writer: Bonny Rice - Sir Mack Rice / Composers: Bonny Rice - Sir Mack Rice
04
I Just Want to Make Love to You (Single Version)
Foghat
Blues 100
04:21
Writer: Willie Dixon / Composers: Willie Dixon
05
Hallelujah, I Just Love Him So
Ann Rabson
Blues 100
03:01
Writer: Charles / Composers: Charles
06
Born Under a Bad Sign
Brook Benton
Blues 100
03:07
Writer: Bell - Steve Jones / Composers: Bell - Steve Jones
07
.30-06
Brent Cobb
Blues 100
04:16
Writer: Adam Hood - Brent Cobb - Scotch Taylor
Access the complete album info (100 songs)
Blues: Traveling Riverside
2014 X5 Music Group
02-09-2014
Blues: Traveling Riverside
01
Red Beans Aka I Got My Mojo Working
Professor Longhair
Blues: Traveling Riverside
04:12
02
My Dog
Elvin Bishop
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:59
03
Traveling Riverside Blues
John Hammond
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:23
04
Good Road Camp Blues
Skip James
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:50
05
Salty Dog Blues
Mississippi John Hurt
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:04
06
Back Trail
Lonnie Brooks
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:43
07
So Many Rivers to Cross
Marcia Ball
Blues: Traveling Riverside
03:44
Access the complete album info (19 songs)
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
â„— 2005 Shanachie
20-06-2005
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
01
Jaan Pehechaan Ho
Mohammed Rafi
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
05:26
Writer: Vince Giordano
02
Graduation Rap
Vanilla, Jade & Ebony
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
00:29
Writer: Vince Giordano
03
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:58
Writer: Vince Giordano
04
I Must Have It
Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:56
Writer: Vince Giordano
05
Miranda
Lionel Belasco
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:59
Writer: Vince Giordano
06
Pickin' Cotton Blues
BluesHammer
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
03:32
Writer: Vince Giordano
07
Let's Go Riding
Mr. Freddie
Ghost World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:51
Writer: Vince Giordano
Access the complete album info (20 songs)
Mississippi Blues Trail
2012 X5 Music Group
04-09-2012
Mississippi Blues Trail
01
Dust My Broom
Robert Johnson
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:55
02
I Want to Be Loved
Muddy Waters
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:27
03
How Many More Years
Howlin' Wolf
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:43
04
Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:29
05
If the Sea Was Whiskey
Willie Dixon
Mississippi Blues Trail
03:01
06
Shame Shame Shame
Jimmy Reed
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:46
07
I Cross My Heart
Sonny Boy Williamson
Mississippi Blues Trail
02:40
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
(P) 2007 Stardust Records
09-10-2007
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
01
First Time I Met The Blues
Buddy Guy
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
02:13
02
Range In My Kitchen Blues
Texas Alexander
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
03:08
03
One Dime Blues
Blind Lemon Jefferson
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
02:52
04
Good Morning Little School Girl
Mississippi Fred McDowell
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
03:30
05
Big Legged Woman
Charles Brown
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
02:53
06
Barrelhouse Blues
Johnny Otis
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
06:14
07
Cow Cow Blues
Memphis Slim
The Best Of The Blues Vol. 1
03:34
Access the complete album info (75 songs)
100 1920s Blues Classics
01-10-2010
100 1920s Blues Classics
01
One Dime Blues
Blind Lemon Jefferson
100 1920s Blues Classics
02:50
02
Bay Rum Blues
Ashley & Foster
100 1920s Blues Classics
02:57
03
Trunk Busted
Jaybird Coleman
100 1920s Blues Classics
03:03
04
Jail House Blues
Crying Sam Collins
100 1920s Blues Classics
02:36
05
Down The Dirt Road Blues
Charley Patton
100 1920s Blues Classics
02:55
06
Madison Street Stomp
Banjo Joe
100 1920s Blues Classics
03:02
07
Troubled Bout My Soul
Jaybird Coleman
100 1920s Blues Classics
02:55
Access the complete album info (100 songs)
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
â„— 2021 Matchbox Bluesmaster
08-01-2021
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
01
Devil Got My Woman
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
03:01
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
02
Cypress Grove Blues
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
03:09
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
03
Cherry Ball Blues
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
02:45
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
04
Illinois Blues
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
02:59
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
05
4 O'Clock Blues
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
02:39
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
06
Hard Luck Child
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
02:52
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
07
Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
Skip James
Matchbox Bluesmaster Series, Set 2: Country Blues & Great Harp Players 1927-32
02:45
Writer: Skip James / Composers: Skip James
Access the complete album info (96 songs)
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
Originally Released 1931 Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1965 L&R Records & Bellaphon Records, Germany, 1965 Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company, 1967 Decca Music Group Limited, (P) 2003 Geffe
09-09-2003
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
01
Vietnam Blues (Album Version)
Cassandra Wilson
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
04:33
Writer: J.B. Lenoir / Composers: J.B. Lenoir
02
Down In Mississippi (Album Version)
Eagle-Eye Cherry
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
04:36
Writer: J.B. Lenoir / Composers: J.B. Lenoir
03
Hard Times Killing Floor Blues (Album Version)
Lucinda Williams
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
05:11
Writer: Nehemiah (Skip) James / Composers: Nehemiah (Skip) James
04
Look Down The Road (Album Version)
Lou Reed
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
03:41
Writer: Nehemiah (Skip) James / Composers: Nehemiah (Skip) James
05
I Feel So Good (Album Version)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
01:44
Writer: J.B. Lenoir / Composers: J.B. Lenoir
06
Slow Down (Album Version)
Cassandra Wilson
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
02:19
Writer: J.B. Lenoir / Composers: J.B. Lenoir
07
Don't Dog Your Woman (Album Version)
T Bone Burnett
The Soul Of A Man - A Film By Wim Wenders
03:43
Writer: J.B. Lenoir / Composers: J.B. Lenoir
Access the complete album info (20 songs)
American Epic: The Collection
This compilation (P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
12-05-2017
American Epic: The Collection
01
The Coo Coo Bird (The Cuckoo)
Clarence Ashley
American Epic: The Collection
02:58
Writer: Thomas Clarence Ashley / Composers: Thomas Clarence Ashley
02
On the Road Again
Memphis Jug Band
American Epic: The Collection
02:51
Writer: J.B. Jones - Will Shade / Composers: J.B. Jones - Will Shade
03
The Panama Limited
Bukka White
American Epic: The Collection
03:12
Composers: Traditional
04
Indian War Whoop
Hoyt Ming and His Pep Steppers
American Epic: The Collection
03:11
Writer: Hoyt Ming / Composers: Hoyt Ming
05
'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do, Pt. 1
Frank Stokes
American Epic: The Collection
03:17
Writer: P. Grainger - E. Robbins / Composers: P. Grainger - E. Robbins
06
K. C. Railroad Blues
Andrew & Jim Baxter
American Epic: The Collection
03:30
Writer: Andrew Baxter - Jim Baxter / Composers: Andrew Baxter - Jim Baxter
07
I Am Bound for the Promised Land
Alfred G. Karnes
American Epic: The Collection
03:12
Writer: Alfred Karnes / Composers: Alfred Karnes
Access the complete album info (100 songs)
Epic Americana
RockBeat Records
16-01-2016
Epic Americana
01
Crazy Blues
Minnie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds
Epic Americana
03:30
Writer: Minnie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds / Composers: Minnie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds
02
Rambler Blues
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Epic Americana
02:48
Writer: Blind Lemon Jefferson / Composers: Blind Lemon Jefferson
03
Levee Camp Mess Blues
Texas Alenxander
Epic Americana
03:05
Writer: Texas Alenxander / Composers: Texas Alenxander
04
Bull Doze Blues
Henry Thomas
Epic Americana
03:32
Writer: Henry Thomas / Composers: Henry Thomas
05
Too Tight Blues No. 2
Blind Blake
Epic Americana
02:56
Writer: Blind Blake / Composers: Blind Blake
06
Big Road Blues
Tommy Johnson
Epic Americana
03:22
Writer: Tommy Johnson / Composers: Tommy Johnson
07
Walk Right In
Cannon Jug Stompers
Epic Americana
02:58
Writer: Cannon Jug Stompers / Composers: Cannon Jug Stompers
Access the complete album info (78 songs)