St. James Infirmary Blues is a derivation of an old 18th century English folk song about a boy who dies from a venereal disease contracted from a prostitute. The modern version is much less lubricious; it tells the tale of a man visiting St. James Infirmary and finding his girl dead.
Louis Armstrong was on his way to becoming the legend he is today when he and his "Hot Five" recorded this lament in 1930. He worked his way from the back to be recording under his own name with his hot five. The book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear, likens the intro of St. James Infirmary to a funeral instrumental, an analogy I find appropriate, although it is more comparable to the famous New Orleans funeral marches that Armstrong must have witnessed while growing up in the impoverished streets of the Southern port-town.
This song is brilliant. And while I prefer the 1950s recording Louis did of this tune, the version the book recommends is worth listening to for the involvement of Armstrong's Hot Five, and the slightly more uptempo rhythm that they give the song. It is certainly a classic. I found myself replaying the song perpetually as I wrote this blog. Definitely deserves the seal.
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