"32-20 Blues" is a

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

song by Delta blues musician

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His singing, guitar playing and songwriting on his landmark 1936 and 1937 recordings have influenced later generations of musicians. Although his r ...

. It was recorded during his second recording session in

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

, United States, on November 26, 1936. The title refers to .32-20 Winchester ammunition, which could be used in handguns as well as smaller rifles. The song is based on the Skip James song "22-20 Blues". The song was released in April the following year on Vocalion Records as a 78 rpm record. It was included on the first reissue of Johnson's songs, '' King of the Delta Blues Singers'' in 1961. In 1990, it was released on compact disc as part of '' The Complete Recordings'' box set. The song has been recorded by many artists, including Muddy Waters, the New York Dolls, Phil Manning,

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

, John Hammond Jr.,

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

, Alexis Korner, Colin Hodgkinson (playing bass), Flamin' Groovies, Johnny Winter,

Gov't Mule Gov't Mule (pronounced "Government Mule") is an American Southern rock jam band, formed in 1994 by guitarist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody (both of The Allman Brothers Band at the time) and drummer Matt Abts (whom Haynes had worked with in ...

, Rory Block, the

Peter Green Splinter Group The Peter Green Splinter Group were a blues band formed in 1996, fronted by guitarist and singer Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green was the leader of Fleetwood Mac until 1970. He suffered a mental breakdown during the 1970s and was rehab ...

, Keith Richards, Cowboy Junkies, Cassandra Wilson, Rusty Cage, Chain, and Peter Laughner.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:32-20 Blues Robert Johnson songs 1937 songs Bob Dylan songs Songs written by Robert Johnson Songs about infidelity Song recordings produced by Don Law Blues songs