Dedication, Criteria, History
This project was inspired by the first birthday of Corrina Thompson, daughter of Suzy and Eric Thompson.
For her birthday I decided to put a tape together of all the Corrine, Corrina versions I had in my fairly extensive record collection. It turned out to be many more recordings than I ever would have suspected. That experience started my search for all the versions I could find.
Criteria:
I include any song that has either the original melody, or at least one of the original Carter, McCoy (see below) verses, or enough of the lyrics to relate it to the original, or has something that relates it to the original. It's a bit subjective, but what the heck!
So Bob Dylan's version is included, even though he changed the melody and most of the lyrics. Taj Mahal's version is not included because he does not included any of the original lyrics, and Corrina is hardly even mentioned in the song.
History
The very first occurrence of the words to Corrine, Corrina occured in Corrina Blues recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson in April 1926 for Paramont Records. It's not the Corrine Corrina we know but the very last verse is:
If you see Corrina, tell her to hurry home
I ain't had no true love since Corrina been gone
I ain't had no true love since Corrina been gone
I ain't had no true love since Corrina been gone
The rest of the song is a throw together song that starts out as C.C. Rider and the melody is not the same as the Chatmon version of Corrine Corrina.
In late November or December of 1928 Bo Chatman and Charlie McCoy recorded the first version of the song Corrine, Corrina for Brunswick Records in New Orleans. On December 17, 1928 the Jackson Blue Boys (Charlie McCoy-vcl, mando; Walter Vincson - gtr; Bo Chatmon (Bo Carter) - vcl ) recorded Sweet Alberta also in New Orleans. Both were the same song with Alberta substituted for Corrina.
Since the exact date of the first Corrine, Corrina session is not know, and they were both recorded in New Orleans there is a possibility that Sweet Alberta was recorded first. However, 78 discographers who I have spoken to, think the Corrine, Corrina session came first. Both versions have survived through out the years.
To read further about the history of the song, how it changed and what it all means, read the excellent study of the song by Christopher A. Waterman: Corrine Corrina, Bo Chatmon, and the Excluded Middle by clicking here (linked here with his permission).
Back to Corrina's home.