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The Rising Sun Blues
© 2022 Trad. Arr / J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham

This is a new version of our six year old previous post adding Peter on guitar and Bud on bass.

With a melody dating back to British 1700's tavern songs and a lyric suggesting a “house of ill repute” this public domain tune (thus we we own all rights for our interpretation) has been, in our opinion, too often presented from the male perspective (as started by the Animals’ interpretation in 1964) and/or as a “pretty” folk song. Janice and I tried after extensive lyric research to re-create (via writing several new verses) what we think was likely the original intention, i.e, the story of a young prostitute. Keeping with the New Orleans setting we arranged the song with a “jump blues” feel fitting the location. We feel the song has long begged for a blues interpretation and hope we did it justice. The SC photo is by Bud of Janice. All comments are welcome and your time is appreciated. And big thanks to PG Music.

Janice: vocal > Rodes NT1 mic > BlueIcicle USB > Logic Pro X > Izotope Nectar
Bud: upright bass > MXL mic > Waves Bass Rider > Neuton 3
Peter: guitar RT (whatever the man adds) & sax note tweaks.

Guitar Rhythm: RT 2436 New Orleans Shuffle > Waves CLA Unplugged

Piano Rhythm: RT 2437 New Orleans Shuffle > Waves CLA Unplugged

Piano Fills: RT 2123 Country Shuffle > Waves ClA Unplugged (comped from multiple regens for turnarounds and fills)

Sax: RT 2134 Blues Shuffle > EMT 140 Plate Reverb Sim via Nectar 2

Drums: RD BluesRockShuffle > Waves CLA Drums
Snare: From the above RD audio file kit > Waves CLA Drums
Cymbals: From the above RD audio file kit > Waves JPL Percussion

Mastering: Ozone EQ > Ozone Dynamic EQ > Ozone Imager > Ozone Maximizer > Izotope Tonal Balance 2 > Logic Pro X Loudness Meter

Rising Sun Blues

there is a house in New Orleans
they call it the Rising Sun
it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
and me, oh God, I am one

i could have a good man and family
if I hadn’t fallen into a life of sin
and now I'm working at the house
just trying to please all them men

mama works all day at the mill
she sews those new blue jeans
and my daddy was a gambler, Lord
he lost his life down in New Orleans

somebody, go tell my baby sister
tell her not to do what I done
stay away from that house 
the one they call the Rising Sun

I ain't gonna leave New Orleans
my race is almost run
yeah, I gave up all my young life
beneath, beneath, the rising sun

beneath, beneath, the rising sun

Hi Janice and Bud,

Here is John speaking; you succeed to make a very interesting, swinging blues on that house! Hats off!
I 'got in contact' with this song when a young Dutch soldier came to Curaçao (an island in the Caribbeans) where I grew up. He fell in love with my older sister and to impress her, but also my mother (and us) he came playing this song and we were flabbergasted, impressed and my sister in love. I think my mother too, but I'm not sure. A car accident ended his life, but that song was always in our head.

And now you sing it in a totally different way, but how nice! As I said 'Hats off' or 'thubs up'.
The vocals are, as always, so nice and strong, but sensitive, but the band also is very good. I like that sax in it too.
I have one question, but also a bit hesitant, because who am I to make critic remarks on your song, but: Janice, I think that if you could sing that first sentence a bit tighter (less frills). I think it gives the intro more tension.
But it's john who asked me to say this ;-)

Altogether, as I said before, it's a very nice performance of the original and it definitly swings a lot more!

Happy Eastern, in my country we have 2 days for that; sunday and monday so keep that in mind with this wish),
Hans

Wow, just when I thought that no one could possibly, ever, add something to such a classical (traditional) song. You've proven me wrong .

You just gave it the real Blues treatment.

I'm not surprised. Simply up to your usual high standards!

Rob

Man, that was fantastic! Really Smoky and dark; quite a different take than I've ever heard on that song before.

I remember this one. Nice new arrangement and mix enhances Janice's vocal.
Not that she needs any enhancing with that voice....
but I'm sure she's grateful to have ya. Cool lyric from the
prostitute's pov.
As I always say, the three of you make an impressive team.
Enjoyed my listen.

Josie

I remember this one very well, I think it might have been the first song I heard from you guys. I see my review from six years ago is still on Soundcloud too

Absolutely fantastic! Love hearing Peter in there, and cool getting you into the mix also, Bud. And of course Janice nails it.

This song, as you know, has been covered by many people over the years, but for me, and I mean this sincerely, this is my favorite bar none.

Perfection!

Thank you John And thanks for sharing your memories about the song. When a song evokes memories we feel that makes it special.

The vocal was recorded six years ago and the song has been licensed several times to some large companies and was released to the major streaming platforms so it would be unusual to change it at this stage. And regarding the frills, well, that is just the way the girl sings - she can’t help herself

J&B

Thanks a lot for the response, Bud.

I didn't know it was that old. I thought you recorded it on a rainy afternoon, last sunday ;-)
And of course I know 'the frills' belong to your girl, but here I had that (brilliant) idea of not doing that in the intro. But of course you can't alter the song if it's also on the music platforms.

So, what remains is that it is a good rendition of the original song. One I also like!

Hans

Man, I remember the original song back in the 60s and this sure peps it up!! Really enjoyed it!!

Great rendition! This was one of the first songs I ever learned to play on guitar, so I used to play it over and over to get it down, but man, I never played it this way! Great job by everyone involved.

The jump blues with that thudding bass...I can see the bodies moving & feel the floor broads shaking.
The song's been reimagined quite a few times and this is a successful member of the House family.
Like many The Animals introduced me and Leadbelly held a light over the origins for me and this narrative interpretation gave me a chance to rethink the song.
Cool, cool, cool.
Exceptional work by you three yet again.

Absolutely the best version ever, period.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you Rob. One is never completely sure of how taking on a well known song will work out. We appreciate your thoughts!

J&B

Thank you.

That was exactly the feel we were hoping to achieve!

J&B

Thanks Josie!
And we appreciate your mention of our focus on the woman’s perceptive.

J&B

Certainly a new version.
Very well performed by you all.
Well done.

Vic

Thanks Dave I remember hearing the original back then. Was fun being asked to add a few fills to the update.
Appreciate the comments.

Peter

J&B:

Stellar stuff and a creative, fresh take on the tune. Great vocals as usual, as well as the killer blues guitar work (great job, Peter!). You all just continue to crank out some really cool tunes. Keep them coming!

Kindest regards to you all,

Deej

It says "blues", and blues it is!

I didn't expect the upbeat New Orleans sound, but it works!

This version hits all the right notes!

Janice, Bud & Peter,

Love this version! Lots of swagger and attitude...

A melding of great performances and production.

Excellent!

Bob