"Catfish John" is a song written by
Bob McDill
Robert Lee McDill (born April 4, 1944) is a retired American songwriter, active from the 1960s until 2000. During his career he wrote or co-wrote 31 number one country hits. His songs were also recorded by popular artists of the 1970s, 1980s an ...
and
Allen Reynolds
Allen Reynolds (born August 18, 1938) is an American record producer and songwriter who specializes in country music. He has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Biography
Early ...
first released on McDill's album ''
Short Stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...
,
'' and subsequently recorded and released by American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
artist
Johnny Russell. It was released in November 1972 as the fourth single from the album, "Catfish John"/"Chained".
[Edward Morri]
Songwriter Bob McDill Talks About His Many Hits
Legendary Tunesmith Submits to Rare Interview at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum July 4, 2008 CMT News The song is credited with propelling Bob McDill into the front ranks of country songwriters.
The song has also been performed by
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...
(Jerry Garcia Band,
Old & In the Way
Old & In the Way was a bluegrass group formed in 1973. It was composed of Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals), Vassar Clements (fiddle), Jerry Garcia (banjo, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), and John Kahn (string bass). When the group was fo ...
), as well as other musicians.
Toots Hibbert
Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert, (8 December 1942 – 11 September 2020), better known as Toots Hibbert, was a Jamaican singer and songwriter who was the lead vocalist for the reggae and ska band Toots and the Maytals. A reggae pioneer, he perform ...
recorded the song on ''Fire on the Mountain: Reggae Celebrates the Grateful Dead (Pow Wow)'', a Grateful Dead tribute album. It has also been performed and recorded by
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...
and
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country rock band formed in 1966. The group has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California. Between 1976 and 1981, the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band.
Constant ...
.
Content
The song is a story about a former slave, which emphasizes difficulties of the everyday life for Black people at the time.
Chart performance
References
1972 singles
Johnny Russell (singer) songs
Songs written by Bob McDill
Songs written by Allen Reynolds
Grateful Dead songs
RCA Records singles
1972 songs
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