Sleepy John Estes with Hammie Nixon Drop Down Mama

Recorded in July of 1935. When the Victor recording company sent a field recording unit to Memphis in September 1929, Estes recorded several sides backed by the Three J s, with Jones playing piano instead of the jug. Other acts to record for Victor on this trip included the Memphis Jug Band, Frank Stokes, and Cannon s Jug Stompers. Victor deemed the four songs Estes recorded during these sessions worthy of release. His stature as a Memphis bluesman was assured when he was invited to record again for Victor in May 1930. This session yielded the uptempo Milk Cow Blues, a tune Robert Johnson would later record as Milkcow Calf In Milk Cow Blues, Estes s clear, warbling vocals are propelled by his insistent guitar strumming. Jones pounds his piano in double time while Rachell s mandolin trills echo the vocals. Pursuing their musical careers, Estes and Nixon moved to Chicago in 1931 where they played parties and the streets. Arkansas bluesman Big Bil