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Tier 2 · legacy legendfull biography
Fred McDowell
Person · male · United States · Tennessee · born 1904 · died 1972 · recording since 1964
American blues musician (1904–1972)
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Also known as Fred Mac Dowell · Fred McDowell · Missisippi Fred McDowell · Mississipi Fred MC Dowell · Mississippi Fred McDow · Mississippi Fred McDowall · +2 more
Timeline
24 events▣ Album 21◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1900s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: My Home Is in the Delta
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography662 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1371004045
Biography
Fred McDowell (January 12, 1904 – July 3, 1972), known by his stage name Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist of hill country blues music.
Career
McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee. His parents were farmers, who both died while Fred was in his youth. He took up the guitar at the age of 14 and was soon playing for tips at dances around Rossville. Seeking a change from plowing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926, where he worked in the Buck-Eye feed mill, which processed cotton into oil and other products. In 1928, he moved to Mississippi to pick cotton. He finally settled in Como, Mississippi, around 1940, where he worked as a full-time farmer for many years while continuing to play music on weekends at dances and picnics.
After decades of playing for small local gatherings, McDowell was recorded in 1959 by roving folklore musicologist Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins, on their Southern Journey field-recording trip. With interest in blues and folk music rising in the United States at the time, McDowell's field recordings for Lomax caught the attention of blues aficionados and record producers, and within a couple of years, he had finally become a professional musician and recording artist in his own right. His LPs proved quite popular, and he performed at festivals and clubs all over the world.
McDowell continued to perform the blues in the north Mississippi style much as he had for decades, sometimes on electric guitar rather than acoustic guitar. He was particularly renowned for his mastery of slide guitar, a style he said he first learned using a pocketknife for a slide and later a polished beef rib bone. He ultimately settled on the clearer sound he got from a glass bottleneck slide, which he wore on his ring finger. While he famously declared, "I do not play no rock and roll," he was not averse to associating with younger rock musicians. He coached Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar technique and was reportedly flattered by the Rolling Stones' rather straightforward version of his "You Gotta Move
You Gotta MoveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Write Me a Few Lines3:382Louise3:593I Heard Somebody Call2:38461 Highway5:225Mama Don't Allow2:326Kokomo Blues2:057Fred's Worried Life Blues2:428You Gonna Be Sorry5:179Shake 'Em on Down2:3810My Trouble Blues3:3311Black Minnie2:0212That's Alright3:0413When I Lay My Burden Down2:1414Ain't Gonna Be Bad No Mo'3:1015Do My Baby Ever Think of Me2:0916Brooks Run Into the Ocean (feat. Eli Green)5:4417Bull Dog Blues (feat. Eli Green)3:5318Frisco Line4:0119You Gotta Move3:21" on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. In 1965, he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival, together with Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Roosevelt Sykes and others.
McDowell's 1969 album I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll
I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' RollSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Baby Please Don't Go4:492Good Morning Little Schoolgirl4:283Kokomo Me Baby3:024That's All Right Baby5:055Red Cross Store4:066Everybody's Down on Me9:14761 Highway4:458Glory Hallelujah2:499Jesus Is on the Mainline3:4010Someday4:32Disc 21Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:372Mortgage on My Soul4:253Baby Let Me Lay Down4:294Drop Down Mama3:445Rap/Louise8:186Somebody Keeps Callin' Me3:327Eyes Like an Eagle4:408My Baby She Gonna Jump and Shout2:409Long Line Skinner5:5410Baby Please Don't Go (alternate)3:07, recorded at Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi, and released by Capitol Records, was his first featuring electric guitar. It contains parts of an interview in which he discusses the origins of the blues and the nature of love. His live album Live at the Mayfair Hotel (1995) was from a concert he gave in 1969. Tracks included versions of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down", Willie Dixon's "My Babe", Mance Lipscomb's "Evil Hearted Woman", plus McDowell's self-penned "Kokomo Blues." AllMusic noted that the album "may be the best single CD in McDowell's output, and certainly his best concert release". McDowell's final album, Live in New York
Live in New YorkSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Shake 'em on Down4:04A2I'm Crazy About You Baby4:42A3John Henry4:40A4You Got to Move2:38A5Someday3:52B1Mercy5:25B2The Lovin' Blues4:01B3Goin' to the River (Carry My Rockin' Chair)5:12B4Baby Please Don't Go3:42 (Oblivion Records), was a concert performance from November 1971 at the Village Gaslight (also known as The Gaslight Cafe), in Greenwich Village, New York.
McDowell's version of the folk song "John Henry" from 1969 is included on the Ann Arbor Blues Festival 1969: Vols 1&2, 2019 release.
Death and influence
McDowell died of cancer on July 3, 1972, aged 68, and was buried at Hammond Hill Baptist Church, between Como and Senatobia, Mississippi. On August 6, 1993, a memorial was placed on his grave by the Mount Zion Memorial Fund. The ceremony was presided over by the blues promoter Dick Waterman, and the memorial with McDowell's portrait on it. The memorial stone was a replacement for an inaccurate (McDowell's name was misspelled) and damaged marker. The original stone was subsequently donated by McDowell's family to the Delta Blues Museum, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. McDowell was a Freemason and was associated with Prince Hall Freemasonry; he was buried in Masonic regalia.
Musician Bonnie Raitt cited McDowell as an influence in 1996.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 20 | 81.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 38 | 92.3th |
| Studio albums | 21 | 96.7th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 8 | 22.9th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (38 release groups · 21 studio albums)
Albums · 21
1964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks
A1Waiting for My BabyA2I'm in Jail AgainA3The Girl I'm LovingA4Going Down South, Carry My WhipA5Diving Duck BluesA6The Sun Rose This MorningB1Get Right, ChurchB2Amazing GraceB3Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying BedB4Where Could I Go (But to the Lord)?B5The Lord Will Make a WayB6Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and BurningB7When the Saints Go Marching In1964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks
A1Write Me a Few LinesA2LouiseA3I Heard Somebody CallA461 HighwayA5Mama Don’t Allow MeA6Kokomo BluesB1Fred’s Worried Life BluesB2You Gonna Be SorryB3Shake ’Em On DownB4My Trouble BluesB5Black MinnieB6That’s AlrightB7When I Lay My Burden Down1966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1I Ain’t Gonna Be Bad No MoreA2Where Were YouA3I Looked at the SunA4Do My Baby Ever Think of MeA5Brooks Run into the OceanA6Bull Dog BluesB1I Walked All the Way from East St. LouisB2Red Cross Store BluesB3Gravel Road BluesB4Frisco LinesB5You Got to MoveB6I Wish I Was in Heaven Sittin’ Down1967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 35:30
A1Some Day Baby5:03A2Milk Cow Blues3:26A3The Train I Ride6:31A4Over the Hill2:30B1Goin’ Down to the River8:21B2I Wished I Were in Heaven Sitting Down2:40B3Louise6:59Long Way From Home: The Blues of Fred McDowell
1967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 37:55
A1The Train I Ride4:13A2Poor Boy, Long Way From Home3:56A3Milk Cow Blues3:36A4John Henry3:56A5Gravel Road Blues3:49B1Millionaire’s Daughter Blues3:33B2Big Fat Mama4:43B3You Drove Me From Your Door5:30B4Sail On, Little Girl4:39Mississippi Fred McDowell in London, Volume 1
1969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks
A1Some Sweet DayA2Mojo HandA3Amazing GraceA4My Second MindA5I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting DownB1My BabeB2Take Your Picture, DarlingB3Diving Duck BluesB4I Don’t Need No HeaterI Do Not Play No Rock ’n’ Roll
1969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 41:57
A1Baby Please Don’t Go4:49A2Good Morning Little School Girl4:28A3Kokomo Me Baby3:02A4That’s All Right Baby5:06A5Red Cross Store4:05B1Everybody’s Down on Me9:14B261 Highway4:45B3Glory Hallelujah2:49B4Jesus on the Mainline3:391969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks
A1Jesus Is on the Main LineA2When I Lay My Burden DownA3I’m So Glad (I Got Good Religion)A4I Know I’ve Been ConvertedA5Just a Little More FaithA6Back, Back, TrainA7You Got to MoveB1Amazing GraceB2Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and BurningB3Tell the AngelsB4When You Come Out of the WildernessB5It’s a BlessingB6This Little Light of MineMississippi Fred McDowell in London, Volume 2
1969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:31
A1What's the Matter With Papa's Little Angel Child3:30A2Levee Camp Blues5:53A3Got to Move2:52A4Get Right Church3:41A5Big Fat Mama3:30B1Unknown Blues4:15B2Good Morning Little Schoolgirl3:43B3Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:40B4You Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore3:12B5The Train I Ride5:151972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 35:51
A1Shake 'em on Down2:51A2Going Down to the River5:07A3Smokestack Lightning3:08A4My Babe3:31A5Long-Haired Doney2:24B1Red Cross Store5:06B2I Left My Baby (Sittin' in the Back Door Cryin')4:51B3John Henry3:53B4Scratch My Back2:01B5Going Away2:591976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 48:01
A1Someday4:31A2Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:32A3Mortgage on My Soul4:24A4Baby Let Me Lay Down (In Your Cool Iron Bed)4:25A5Shake Em' on Down3:56A6Goin Down to the River (And Sat Down on the Ground)2:00B1Drop Down Mama3:42B2Rap1:30B3Louise6:42B4Somebody Keeps Callin' Me3:30B5Eyes Like a Eagle4:38B6Goin' Down South5:111994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 59:41
1If You See My Baby2:122John Henry2:543Louise3:55461 Highway3:035Big Fat Mama2:056When I Lay My Burden Down2:407Dankin' Farm2:538Jesus Is on the Main Line2:339See What My Lord Has Done2:5910Casey Jones (Ramblin' Mind)4:1711Harry Furry Blues3:1112Every Day of the Week4:0113Grieve My Mind1:3314Beale Street Blues1:4915When I Lay My Burden Down3:4216Old Time Religion4:2217I Wish I Was in Heaven3:4618Rock of Ages4:3019When I Lay My Burden Down3:16Good Morning Little School Girl
1994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 1:16:59
1Good Morning Little Schoolgirl3:212Little Girl, Little Girl, How Old Are You2:593Fred's Rambling Blues4:464Don't Look for Me on a Sunday6:595I Walked All the Way From East St. Louis4:206Red Cross Store Blues3:057Gravel Road Blues5:028Where Were You When the Rooster Crowed 'Fore Day3:359Drop Down Mama2:5410I Looked at the Sun3:2311Early This Morning (Write Me a Few of Your Lines)3:2412Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning2:5313Get Right Church2:2914I'm Going Over the Hill2:4215Amazing Grace3:3216I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down1:4517You Gotta Move3:4618It's a Blessing2:4619Bye and Bye3:0320I'm So Glad, Got Good Religion4:2721Look Way Down That Lonesome Road3:2922When the Saints Go Marching In2:191995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:04:37
1Done Left Here3:282All the Way From East St. Louis3:103Shake ’Em On Down2:364The Girl That I’m Lovin’3:215Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:596Left My Baby Standing5:007On the Frisco Line3:038Write Me a Few Lines4:009Goin’ Down to the River4:4810I Rolled and I Tumbled3:2411Trouble Everywhere I Go2:1812Red Cross Store Blues3:0413John Henry3:0914Kokomo Blues2:3615Milk Cow Blues1:4916Trouble Everywhere I Go (alternate version)2:1217I’ve Been Drinking Water Out of Hollow Log3:4218Highway 614:2719Someday Baby3:1120Como2:201997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 50:00
1Going Down the River4:20261 Highway3:123Wished I Was in Heaven Sitting Down2:114When the Train Comes Along2:525Shake 'em on Down2:456Worried Mind3:367Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Jesus3:188You Done Told Everybody6:109Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning3:1210What's the Matter Now4:5811Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:5912I Want Jesus to Walk With Me3:0813Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (instrumental)0:3814You're Gonna Be Sorry6:411998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 45:29
1Levee Camp Blues3:512Let Me Lay Down in Your Cool Iron Bed3:433My Baby Don't Treat Me Like Humankind2:224My Baby Has Eyes Like an Eagle (take 2)4:395Jim Steam Killed Lula2:546Pea Vine Special2:137Dark Clouds A-Rising5:508My Baby Has Eyes Like an Eagle (take 1)2:399Will Me Your Gold Watch and Chain3:4310Won't Be Worried Long2:2711Down on Dankin's Farm3:4412Bye and Bye, Goin' to See the King2:2713Goin Over the Hill2:2614When I Lay My Burden Down2:312002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 42:43
1Shake 'em on Down2:532Goin' Away2:543Mama Says I'm Crazy3:544I Got a Woman4:415Red Cross Store4:446Going Down to the River4:317Standing at the Back Door4:528What's Going to Become of Me4:249Long Haired Doney2:5410John Henry3:5911I Walked All Night Long2:57Come and Found You Gone: The Bill Ferris Recordings
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 57:51
1Big Fat Mama, Meat Shakin' on Her Bone2:132Shake 'em on Down1:503Baby Please Don't Go2:064Find My Suitcase2:335Letter From Hot Springs3:396John Henry3:047Hello Darling What Have I Done2:508Dream I Went to the U.N.2:439The Boogie2:0710Little Red Rooster3:0711Get Right Church2:4212Death Came In2:2913Dialogue2:3414I Got Religion3:5515Come and Found You Gone6:3016Where Could I Go3:1717You Gonna Meet King Jesus2:4618Interview With Bill Ferris7:262011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 37:03
A1Shake 'em on Down2:45A2Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:58A3Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning3:11A4Fred McDowell's Blues4:14A5Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Jesus3:18A6Drop Down Mama2:53B1Going Down to the River5:04B2Wished I Was in Heaven Sitting Down2:11B3When the Train Comes Along2:52B4When You Get Home Please Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:26B5Worried Mind Blues3:36B6Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (instrumental reprise)0:352018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 35:20
A1Some Day Baby5:03A2Milk Cow Blues3:25A3The Train I Ride6:29A4Over The Hill2:26B1Goin' Down To The River8:19B2I Wished I Were In Heaven Sitting Down2:39B3Louise6:592020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 34:37
1I Want Jesus to Walk With Me3:072Fred McDowell's Blues4:113Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning2:444Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Jesus3:185Lord Have Mercy1:546When You Get Home, Write Me a Few Little Lines3:267Germany Blues3:118Worried Mind Blues3:34961 Highway Blues3:0910Been Drinkin' Water Out of a Hollow Log2:5711Freight Train Blues3:06
Album · 17
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Live in New YorkSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks · 38:16A1Shake 'em on Down4:04 A2I'm Crazy About You Baby4:42 A3John Henry4:40 A4You Got to Move2:38 A5Someday3:52 B1Mercy5:25 B2The Lovin' Blues4:01 B3Goin' to the River (Carry My Rockin' Chair)5:12 B4Baby Please Don't Go3:42 | Live | 1 March 1972 | |
| 1973 | Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And BurningSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks · 39:33A1Introduction / I Heard Somebody Calling / Amazing Grace9:28 A2Where Could I Go but to the Lord2:55 A3Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning2:30 A4Bye and Bye2:55 A5Dig My Grave With a Silver Spade2:55 B1Don't Look for Me on a Sunday6:50 B2Good Morning Little Schoolgirl3:10 B3Little Girl, Little Girl2:50 B4Levee Camp Blues6:00 | Live | 1973 | |
| 1994 | You Gotta MoveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:04:021Write Me a Few Lines3:38 2Louise3:59 3I Heard Somebody Call2:38 461 Highway5:22 5Mama Don't Allow2:32 6Kokomo Blues2:05 7Fred's Worried Life Blues2:42 8You Gonna Be Sorry5:17 9Shake 'Em on Down2:38 10My Trouble Blues3:33 11Black Minnie2:02 12That's Alright3:04 13When I Lay My Burden Down2:14 14Ain't Gonna Be Bad No Mo'3:10 15Do My Baby Ever Think of Me2:09 16Brooks Run Into the Ocean (feat. Eli Green)5:44 17Bull Dog Blues (feat. Eli Green)3:53 18Frisco Line4:01 19You Gotta Move3:21 | Compilation | 1994 | |
| 1995 | This Ain't No Rock n' RollSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 18 tracks · 1:16:511My Baby2:34 2Leevee Camp Blues5:34 3When the Saints Go Marching In3:12 4Diamond Ring4:26 5Dankin's Farm3:28 6You Ain't Treatin' Me Right2:49 7Ethel Mae Blues5:29 8Meet Me Down in Froggy Bottom3:42 9Mama Said I'm Crazy6:02 10I Heard Somebody Calling Me5:57 11Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:58 12I Wonder What Have I Done Wrong4:27 13I Worked Old Lu and I Worked Old Bess5:33 14Jim, Steam Killed Lula4:13 15Worried Now, Won't Be Worried Long3:09 16Going Away, Won't Be Gone Long3:30 17Going Down That Gravel Bottom4:32 18Bye, Bye Little Girl4:16 | Compilation | 1995 | |
| 1995 | Standing at the Burying GroundSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:04:00161 Highway5:58 2Red Cross Store Blues4:55 3When I Lay My Burden Down4:24 4Evil Hearted Woman4:35 5I Asked for Whiskey, She Gave Me Gasoline3:06 6Standing at the Burying Ground6:25 7Glory Hallelujah3:22 8Write Me a Few of Your Lines5:38 9My Baby Done Me Wrong4:00 10Shake 'Em On Down4:14 11Louise5:38 12My Babe3:58 13Waves of the Water4:28 14Kokomo Blues3:19 | Live | 1995 | |
| 1995 | The Blues Collection: Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi BluesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:01:501Some Day Baby5:03 2Milk Cow Blues3:26 3The Train I Ride6:31 4Over the Hill2:30 5Goin’ Down to the River8:21 6I Wished I Were in Heaven Sitting Down2:40 7Louise7:03 8Germany Blues4:00 9Some Sweet Day5:57 10The Sun Rose This Morning5:35 11When I Lay My Burden Down2:23 12Goin’ Down to Louisiana8:21 | Compilation | 1995 | |
| 1996 | I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' RollSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:30:56Disc 1 1Baby Please Don't Go4:49 2Good Morning Little Schoolgirl4:28 3Kokomo Me Baby3:02 4That's All Right Baby5:05 5Red Cross Store4:06 6Everybody's Down on Me9:14 761 Highway4:45 8Glory Hallelujah2:49 9Jesus Is on the Mainline3:40 10Someday4:32 Disc 21Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:37 2Mortgage on My Soul4:25 3Baby Let Me Lay Down4:29 4Drop Down Mama3:44 5Rap/Louise8:18 6Somebody Keeps Callin' Me3:32 7Eyes Like an Eagle4:40 8My Baby She Gonna Jump and Shout2:40 9Long Line Skinner5:54 10Baby Please Don't Go (alternate)3:07 | Compilation | 2 May 1996 | |
| 2000 | Live at the Gaslight: Set TwoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 52:501Goin' to the River (Carry My Rocking Chair)5:27 2Shake 'em on Down3:59 361 Highway5:38 4John Henry5:23 5My Babe3:27 6I'm Crazy 'Bout You Baby4:55 7Red Cross Store4:15 8Levee Camp Blues5:39 9Good Morning Little Schoolgirl4:30 10Don't Mistreat Nobody (Cause You Got a Few Dimes)4:55 11Get Right Church4:22 12Good Night (Spoken outro)0:20 | Live | 2000 | |
| 2001 | The Best of Mississippi Fred McDowellSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 18 tracks · 1:02:551Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:38 2Do My Baby Ever Think of Me2:10 3Levee Camp Blues5:35 4When the Saints Go Marching In2:22 5My Bottleneck (Story)2:11 6Fred's Worried Life Blues2:42 7Kokomo Blues2:04 8Meet Me Down in Froggy Bottom3:43 9Good Morning Little School Girl3:22 10Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:41 11Shake 'em on Down2:39 12Going Away - Won't Be Gone Long3:29 13I Wish I Was in Heaven Sittin' Down1:46 14Fred's Rambling Blues4:47 15I Looked at the Sun3:24 16You Gotta Move3:24 17My Baby2:34 18Intro A) Shake 'em on Down B) Louise9:24 | Compilation | 2001 | |
| 2003 | Heroes of the BluesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 49:011Write Me a Few Lines3:36 2Trouble Everywhere I Go2:15 3Shake 'Em On Down2:52 4Louise3:58 561 Highway4:45 6My Baby2:32 7Been Drinkin' Water Out of a Hollow Log2:57 8Get Right, Church2:59 9On the Frisco Line3:01 10Pea Vine Special2:13 11You Gotta Move3:22 12Drop Down Mama2:50 13Red Cross Store4:06 14Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:03 15Kokomo Blues2:04 16Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed2:28 | Compilation | 2003 | |
| 2003 | Heritage of the BluesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 35:271Waiting for My Baby3:20 2The Girl I'm Loving2:51 3Going Down South, Carry My Whip3:02 4Goin' Over the Hill2:00 5Diving Duck Blues4:32 6My Baby Don't Treat Me Like Human Kind2:20 7Jim Steam Killed Lula2:52 8Just a Little More Faith2:53 9Down on Dankin's Farm3:42 10Pea Vine Special2:11 11You Got to Move2:43 12Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:01 | Compilation | 28 January 2003 | |
| 2011 | Down Home Blues 1959Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 46 tracks · 2:32:57Disc 1 1When You Get Home, Write Me a Few Little Lines3:26 2Drop Down Mama2:51 3Shake 'em on Down3:21 4Fred McDowell's Blues4:11 5Goin' Down to the River4:18 6You Gonna Be Sorry6:43 7You Done Tol' Everybody6:10 8Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Jesus3:18 9Soon One Mornin'3:13 10Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning2:44 11Wished I Was in Heaven Sitting Down2:11 12Germany Blues3:11 13Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:58 14Freight Train Blues3:06 15Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning3:11 16Been Drinkin' Water Out of a Hollow Log2:58 17I Want Jesus to Walk With Me3:08 1861 Highway Blues3:09 19Lord Have Mercy1:54 20Worried Mind3:35 21What's the Matter Now4:57 22Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning0:37 Disc 21Shake 'em on Down [Alt]2:45 2Cool Water Blues3:04 3Po' Boy Blues2:35 4Clarksdale Mill Blues2:22 5Jim and John3:08 6Hen Duck3:07 7Chevrolet4:07 8Oree2:39 9Sittin' on Top of the World2:43 10All Night Long3:35 11I'm Gonna Live Anyhow 'til I Die2:35 12Buttermilk3:21 13Levee Camp Reminiscence5:18 14Train Time4:33 15Red Cross Store3:40 16You Gotta Cut That Out2:59 17Stop Breaking Down2:53 18Drink on Little Girl2:53 19She Lived Her Life Too Fast3:22 20She Don't Love Me That Way3:23 21Forrest City Jump2:57 22Boogie Children2:56 23Joe Lee's Rock3:38 24You Got Dimples in Your Jaw3:14 | Compilation | 22 February 2011 | |
| 2019 | Shake 'em on Down: The Alan Lomax Recordings, 1959Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 1:18:491Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:59 2Shake 'em on Down3:21 3Drop Down Mama2:51 4Worried Mind Blues3:34 5Fred McDowell's Blues4:11 6When the Train Comes Along2:51 7Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning2:44 8Wished I Was in Heaven Sitting Down2:11 9You Done Tol' Everybody6:10 10Woke up This Morning with my Mind on Jesus3:18 11Goin' Down to the River4:18 12When You Get Home, Please Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:26 13You Gonna Be Sorry6:43 14Lord Have Mercy1:54 1561 Highway Blues3:09 16Soon One Mornin'3:13 17Germany Blues3:11 18Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (alt.Version)3:11 19Been Drinkin' Water out of a Hollow Log2:57 20I Want Jesus to Walk With Me3:07 21Freight Train Blues3:06 22Shake 'em on Down (alt.Version)2:44 23Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (instrumental)0:37 24You Gotta Move (Live)3:03 | Compilation | 2019 | |
| 2022 | Mojo Hand: Previously UnreleasedSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 55:521Good Morning Little Schoolgirl2:33 2Louise4:33 3John Henry5:24 4My Babe2:55 5I Woke Up This Morning3:32 6(Glory, Glory, Hallelujah) When I Lay My Burden Down3:27 7Jesus On The Mainline3:38 8You Gotta Move4:22 9Worried Blues4:16 10Baby Take My Rest2:15 11Mojo Hand4:02 12Lord I Wonder What I Have Done Wrong5:52 13Kokomo Blues3:39 14Write Me A Few Of Your Lines5:24 | Compilation,Live | 23 November 2022 | |
| 2023 | Jesus On The MainlineSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 27 tracks · 1:55:061Letter From Hot Springs5:26 2Jesus Is On The Mainline3:46 3Don't Mistreat Nobody (Cause You Got A Few Dimes)4:55 4Shake 'Em On Down3:30 5Mercy7:10 6You Got To Move3:03 7Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl4:30 8When The Saints Go Marchin' In2:40 9Louise5:15 10Baby Please Don't Go3:50 1161 Highway5:37 12Levee Camp Blues5:10 13I'm Crazy 'Bout You Baby4:55 14Get Right Church4:22 15Write Me A Few Of Your Lines3:52 16Someday Baby4:19 17Oh That's Alright8:26 18Mojo Hand4:06 19Lord I Wonder What I Have Done Wrong5:45 20Kokomo Blues3:09 21Instrumental2:59 22I Woke Up This Morning3:15 23I Feel So Bad1:35 24(Glory, Glory, Halelujah) When I Lay My Burden Down3:11 25Worried Blues3:48 26Fred McDowell's Blues1:56 27Bye Bye Little Girl4:36 | Live | 2 June 2023 | |
| 2024 | The Complete Friends of Old Time Music ConcertSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 25 tracks · 1:11:341Introduction by Alan Lomax / Travelin’ Shoes2:29 2Handclapping - Cane Fife3:07 3Buzzard Lope (dance) - In That Old Field2:12 4Josephine1:15 5Goodbye My Riley-O2:41 6Go Row the Boat Child1:40 7Join the Band1:26 8Sink ’Em Low2:29 9Going Down to the River3:31 10Shake ’Em on Down3:04 11Once There Was No Sun2:41 12Adam in the Garden1:26 13Who Built the Ark1:39 14Let My Children Go3:19 15My God Is a Rock4:14 16I Heard the Angels Singing3:11 17Read ’Em John1:38 18Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning3:32 19Sign of the Judgement2:45 20Chevrolet4:22 21Write Me a Few of Your Lines3:29 22Don’t Ever Leave Me3:56 23Marching on the Mississippi Line3:13 24Down to the Mire3:18 25Before This Time Another Year4:57 | Live | 14 June 2024 | |
| — | Live at the Gaslight: Set OneSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 46:071Shake 'Em on Down3:33 2Fred's Worried Blues4:28 3Jesus Is on the Mainline7:12 4Mercy3:48 5When the Saints Go Marchin' In2:42 6Someday Baby4:09 7The Lovin' Blues4:09 8White Lightnin'5:15 9You Got to Move3:03 10Louise3:59 11Baby Please Don't Go3:49 | Live | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Fred McDowell head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 20 | 81.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 38 | 92.3th |
| Studio albums | 21 | 96.7th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 8 | 22.9th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mississippi_Fred_McDowell.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8d2651e1-f539-4492-957a-8b4dc4c5d9b9discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8d2651e1-f539-4492-957a-8b4dc4c5d9b9core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q964219genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q964219seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Fred_McDowellbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Fred_McDowell
Why this artist is in the database
- List of blues musicians — rank #77
| 1904 | 1972 | Tennessee | Hill country blues |
Tier rule: genre canon: blues
Image: [1] · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q964219 · MusicBrainz: 8d2651e1-f539-4492-957a-8b4dc4c5d9b9
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