PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor (Featuring Janice Merrit, Dave Bell (Blue Attitude) & Bud Merritt)

Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor

According to Wikipedia:

"Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" is a blues/folk/jazz song now considered to be a standard. The song's origins are somewhat nebulous and can be traced back to the 19th century. Various versions of the lyrics were first published in 1911. Sources attribute the modern score to W. C. Handy, who later modified it into a song known as "Atlanta Blues".

Following the recording of our version of St James Infirmary, Leon suggested we do a version of the Public Domain blues song Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor.

I mentioned this to Bud who said it was also Bluegrass standard.

I managed to enlist some talented musicians from the forum for the project.

The Band:
Janice Merritt - Lead & Backing Vocals
Dave Bell – Lead Guitar (Blue Attitude)
Bud Merritt – Bass (thanks for coming out of “retirement” to play)
I Played – Dobro, Slide and Lead Guitar
And of course The PG Band
Brent Mason - Acoustic Guitar
Brian Fullen – Drums
Mark Matejka – Electric Rhythm Guitar
Chris Nole – Organ

Thanks to Bud for recording Janice, his mix assistance and sourcing and arranging the lyrics, and to Dave for agreeing to play some very tasty guitar.

Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor

Make me a pallet on your floor
Make me a pallet on your floor
When I reach Atlanta and got no place to go
Make me a pallet on your floor

These blues are everywhere I see
weary blues are everywhere I see
Blues are all around me everywhere I see
Nobody’s had these blues as bad as me

Come on all you good time friends of mine
Ooh Come on all you good time friends of mine
When I had a dollar, you treated me so fine
Where’d you go when I only have a dime

I’d be more than satisfied
To catch a greyhound bus and ride, ride
when I reach Atlanta and got no place to go
Won’t you make me a pallet on your floor

Well make me down, make me down
Right over here in the corner would be fine baby, hm
Yeah, this roll-out blanket right there in
Yeah, come on over baby

You made me a pallet on the floor
Oh, yes, you made me a pallet on the floor
When I had no place to go you opened up your door
And you made me a pallet on your floor

Real Tracks
RealTracks in song: 2676:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm BluesShuffleBrent Sw 130
RealTracks in style: ~966:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountryBoogieGrittyMuted Sw 140
RealTracks in song: ~425:Organ, B3, Background Blues Sw 120
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleShuffle^06-a:Sidestick , b:Snare, HiHat

For those interested in the guitars, Dave played a Stratocaster through S-Gear Amp Sim and takes the first 16 bar solo in the middle and the 2nd 16 bars in the outro and we both play the last 16 bars.
I played a Les Paul through a Line 6 Helix Amp Sim and play the slide as well as the first 16 bar lead in the outro (also played some dobro fills in the verses).

Peter is very generous to mention me in the subject line. It’s been so many years since I played that old bass fiddle that I could write my name in the dust on it.

Bud

That's quite a band you assembled there Peter....Janice, Dave, Bud and yourself and oh those other guys whoever they are LOL!! Great work by all of you on a super tune!! Thanks, Torrey

Mighty fine picking & singing...
This one is truly good...
All of you should be proud of your work...
I really enjoyed listening to your combined effort...
BTW... I also liked the ending you guys put on the song!

Great performance by every one involved.
Thank you for the back story Peter.
Really brought this old tune back to life.Rob4580

Everything sounded like absolutely perfect. Really awesome - from the use of RealTracks, to the vocals. All really great stuff!

Thanks Torrey. We had a lot of fun participating in this!

J&B

Nicely done, everyone!

I love the way it starts out on acoustic guitar, and ends up an all-rocker.

As usual - it's the human elements that make BIAB shine.
Excellent effort al around.
The Bull Fiddle sounds well loved and well played.

Great stuff. While I'm listening to Janice I'm thinking Rita Coolidge - love those mellow tones.
Impressive guitar work too!

Thanks Jim

J&B

Ok...I don't think you're supposed to smile as I just did during a blues song. I just REALLY liked it. There was SO much I didn't see coming. It was a combination of what was being done AND how it was executed. Fantastic!

The lead and backing vox were sa-weet!

Those guitars I were to die for! Tasty! My goodness, those tones! Sersiouly, those tones! I could listen all day!

The bass sounded awesome AND I think Bud maybe hinted at a line for a song...something about "dust so thick I could write my name in it." The man has a brilliant way with words. (Even when argueing that very statement, his phrases and word choice are spectacular ;))

Dobro, Slide, Lead guitar...I wish I had THAT sound!

I could hear Bud's influence on this. That's a good thing. A VERY good thing.

I expected A LOT seeing the names involved. Even with high expectations; I was blown away.

Really nice job!

Off to smile some more.

I second that and congratulate all band members- sounds like you`re having fun!


Robert

Thanks Torrey

Peter

Thanks Rob. Always fun to interpret a 100 year old song!

J&B

What a fine job. Great singing Janice.
Look at this one if can:
https://everybodyslibraries.com/2018/12/21/public-domain-day-advent-calendar-21-nobody-knows-you-when-youre-down-and-out-by-jimmie-cox/

Thanks a lot Jim glad you liked it.

Peter

Fan-freaking=tastic. Folks from different hemispheres playing and singing together and sounding like you're in the same room. Janice bends those lines to her will and the guitars shine, bouyed by the RT's. Loved the traded licks at the end and the little dobro fills for taste. Never heard the song before, but I've heard the expression many times. Really, really nice.

My goodness!

What a band!

This is so good, I got completely lost in the music. Forgetting to "pay attention" to the details. Had to go back and listen again...

Everything that girl sings is gold.

Sure hope Bud keeps that bass dusted... more, more, more!!

The guitars - talkin' some smack.

Nice mix.

So good.

fj

Hey Bud, Janice and Peter.
Love this one. Always loved this song. I remember the first time I heard it was Gillian Welch. This is just great!

Peter, Janice, Dave and Bud,
Congrats on creating this excellent sounding tune! This sits in upper 5% of everything I heard at Showcase this year in my book. There is absolutely nothing to add except for applauds.

Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Hey Peter and gang,

This song is really great! Excellent.

I want to apologize for being so absent from the forum. Also, I will be candid that this part of the post is kind of a generic “form letter” to my old and new forum friends.

In brief, work is very hectic right now and I am having a hard time keeping up with the forum and even writing new songs. There is also a lot of new material hitting the boards—more than I can listen to and reply. People are on a roll!

Instead of backing away from the forum I want to stay involved by just giving the equivalent of a “like” as opposed to full-fledged commentary.

This way, I can just keep listening, and enjoying and reply with a simple LOVE IT or something like that.

I do listen, love your stuff and really want to continue following those who are so dedicated to encouraging others, even if it is only with one word.

Hope this makes sense, thanks for your artistry and forgive my brevity going forward with massive time constraints.

Also forgive me if you see this message more than once until I know I have covered all my bases.

Peace!!

Thanks Rob - the song has had time to mature.

Peter

Peter what an awesome collaboration. This is a very cool song. Love the reference to Janice's vocal bending the notes. What a very cool way to describe her vocal. Such a great feel. Nice to hear you Bud playing the bass. Very cool indeed. The real fun part for me was hearing you and Dave playing together. You both have very distinct playing styles and the sound so good playing back and forth to each other. Very cool

Heavenly. I particularly love it when Janice sings along with herself. Terrific work by all involved.

Leon

Thanks for checking in and commenting Ember!

J&B

This is a nothing short of superb production and achievement. Hats off to everyone involved, particularly Mrs Merritt ... stunning singing, like if it were something straight off an old country record (Tammy Wynette or someone like her). But well done ALL - what a team, what an achievement (loved the instrumental solos in between, too - this is what I call teamwork!).

Thanks Ember.

Peter

I'm late getting here and, as always, everything that I wanted to say already has been said. So all that I can add is WOW this is fantastic. You are all very talented musicians!

You all should be very proud of this one!

Thanks David.

Peter

Hi y'all,

what a treat that is !!!!

I may be the only one on this forum who didn't know the song, but I'm definitely one of those who think that this is just marvellous all the way.

Such a great collab of some of the most experienced forum members... Don't know when I last heard a Dobro (and then played so well), I'm a fan of your (Peter's) and Dave's playing anyway, finally had the chance to hear Bud grabbing his old upright bass - as dusty as it may have been: it didn't sound dusty at all.

Well, I've said it so often before: Janice, I adore your singing !!!!!!

So many fine musicians together - AWESOME.

And the productions sounds as clear and brilliant as can be - congratulations on such an outstandingly fine piece of music.

Regards,

Stefan

Thanks Ray it was a coup getting Bud to play.

Peter

Thanks I'm sure Janice will appreciate the comparison.

Peter

Wow - you all did a fantastic job here This is a rock solid collaboration. I loved Janice's vocals, and the mix work and instrumentation is gorgeous. It sounds lush and flows beautifully. You managed to completely modernize this tune despite it being over a hundred years old.

You should all be proud of this one - thanks so much for sharing!

Hi Team,

Superb band all round.

Fabulous playing, Janice on top form as always and the whole thing wrapped up
in a tight and clean mix.

And it's a blues - what's not to like?

ROG.

Thanks David. That arrangement idea was all those guys...we were along for the ride

J&B

Carron,

Well that made me smile as well. Thanks for the wonderful review, appreciated by all of us.

Peter

Thanks Robert.

Peter

When I was 18, I suddenly realized that blues was the number one music for me. I went into a record shop and bought a double album blues collection. Side one track one was Make Me a Pallet on the Floor. Never forgot it.

This track sounds like Bonnie Raitt with a passel of great SoCal session players. Excellent stuff!

Thank you!

J&B




How thoughtful! Thanks and Bud appreciates the bass mention.

J&B

Thanks Ed - that's a good one.

Peter

Thanks it is incredible what technology has allowed us accomplished these days, and of course that includes Band In A Box.

Peter

Thanks. You are too kind!

Janice

Thanks floyd. Loved we could get the band together for this. We need Bud to work on his calluses!

Peter

Thanks Joanne.

Peter

Man, you know how to make a couple SMILE! A person of your musical cred saying things like that about us old bluegrass folks makes it all more than worthwhile. Thank you!!!

J&B

Thanks Misha.

Peter

Thanks David, hope work is going well.

Peter

Thank you Robert!

J&B

Appreciate the comments Scott.

Thanks Ed! That’s a good one. We’ve long planned to do that one.

J&B

Thanks we all appreciate that.

Peter

Thanks Mario

Peter

Man, that is so supportive and we much appreciate it!

J&B

Thanks Stefan we really appreciate the kind words.

Peter

Thanks Deryk.

Peter

This is everything one could hope to hear in a song with musicians of this caliber. An album should be in the works. The world deserves it. Enjoyed this from start to finish.

Getting lost and forgetting the details is a wonderful compliment!

Thank you.

J&B

Thanks Rog appreciate the comments.

Peter

Thanks a lot.

Peter

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who mentioned my part in this project, and thanks to Peter for inviting me to sit in.

This is the third time Peter and I have worked together, but the first time I have worked with Janice and Bud, I’ve been a fan of their music since the first time I heard it.

The song turned out great IMHO, very much enjoyed working on it

This sounds so good on every level! What a wondeful job by each of you who participated and an extra thumbs up to the mixer(s) too. Really super impressive.

In a word.....SPECTACULAR!!!! Such a soulful, natural feel! Maybe Janice's BEST vocal ever (and that's saying a lot!!), Great contributions from Dave and Bud. AWESOME!!! Take care. Greg

Peter, Janice, Dave & Bud,

I could listen to a whole show of this music... You all should make an album...

Everything about this song from the vocals to the mix is simply stellar.

None better - I loved every minute of it!

Bob

Thanks Joanne. Our first was Mississippi John Hurt.

J&B




Wow! Thanks for those kind remarks Misha! We are appreciative.

J&B




Thanks David.

J&B

Thanks Scott!

We had fun with this.

J&B




Thanks Leon. Janice does love to sing harmony!

J&B

Janice, Dave and Bud,

Sweetly constructed tune . . . pretty sound, light and engaging upon the ears. The vocals fit so well—nice mix . . . and love those subtle harmonies on those last lines. And when that lead guitar kicks in . . . oh, my . . . great collaboration all. Killer stuff!

My humble regards,

Deej

Thanks Josie appreciate the review.

Peter

Thanks Charlie - brought a smile to my face.

Peter

Hey y'all, thanks we VERY much appreciate that!

J&B




Stefan, your insight, nice comments and continued support mean the world to us!!!

J&B

Thanks Greg

Peter

Bob
Thanks a lot we appreciate that.

Peter

Thanks Deryk - it’s always great to hear from you. We appreciate your time to listen and respond.

J&B




Good to have you back around Rog. We appreciate your support!

J&B

Wow! Did that ever put a smile on Janice!

Bud




Charlie, we really appreciate that. We both admire your depth of musical knowledge.

J&B



Great to hear from you and many thanks! Stick around. We miss ya!

J&B