Biography

Johnny Copeland
Essential Recordings: Down on Bended Knee
Rounder Perfect 10 series

Johnny Copeland was one of the last of the great Texas bluesmen, a pure blues artist whose incisive lead guitar, gritty vocals and masterful songwriting made him an American music treasure. These recordings were made in the 1980s, after Johnny had relocated from Texas to New York City, where he began working with the team of producer Dan Doyle and arranger Ken Vangel. Here is the very best of these classic recordings.


1. When the Rain Starts Fallin’ 4:12

2. Cut Off My Right Arm 4:04

3. Down on Bended Knee 3:24

4. Kasavubu 5:20

5. Blues Ain’t Nothin’ 3:56

6. Devil’s Hand 3:04

7. Honky Tonkin’ 5:04

8. Claim Jumper 3:30

9. Don’t Stop By the Creek, Son 4:02

10. Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat 3:24



When the Rain Starts Fallin’ 4:12
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2040-1, Texas Twister

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Brian Miller bass
Joel Perry rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wormworth drums
Ben Bierman trumpet
Sam Furnace alto and baritone saxophones
George Lewis trombone
Bert McGowan tenor saxophone

Recorded and mixed by Michael Finlayson at Unique Recorders, NYC


Cut Off My Right Arm 4:04 G minor
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2060-2, Boom Boom

Produced by Dan Doyle and Ken Vangel
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Ken Pino guitar
Joel Perry rhythm guitar
Michael Merritt bass
Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax drums

Recorded and mixed by Joe Arlotta at Hip Pocket Studios, NYC


Down on Bended Knee 3:24
(Johnny Copeland-C. Booth/Kaboo Music-Nujac Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2025-1, Copeland Special

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
George Adams tenor and soprano saxophones
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Byard Lancaster alto and tenor saxophones
Joe Rigby baritone saxophone (solo)
John Pratt trumpet
Yusef Yancey trumpet
Garrett List trombone
Bill Ohashi trombone
John Leibman guitar
Ken Vangel piano
Don Whitcomb bass
Candy McDonald drums

Recorded and mixed by Joe Arlotta, Bob Blank and Paul Mufson at Blank Tapes, NYC


Kasavubu 5:20
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2060-1, Bringing It All Back Home

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Jimmy Hyacinth guitar
Malina guitar
Joel Perry rhythm guitar
Michael Merritt bass
Jimmy Wormworth drums
Ben Bierman trumpet
Emmet King trombone
Kotti Assalé alto saxophone
Bert McGowan tenor saxophone
Souliman Moamed percussion
Halial percussion

Recorded by Emile Valognes and Pamphile de Souza at JBZ Studios, Abidjan, Ivory Coast


Blues Ain’t Nothin’ 3:56
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2060-2, Boom Boom

Produced by Dan Doyle and Ken Vangel
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Ken Pino guitar
Joel Perry rhythm guitar
Michael Merritt bass
Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax drums

Recorded and mixed by Joe Arlotta at Hip Pocket Studios, NYC


Devil’s Hand 3:04
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2025-1, Copeland Special

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
George Adams tenor and soprano saxophones
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Byard Lancaster alto and tenor saxophones
Joe Rigby baritone saxophone (solo)
John Pratt trumpet
Yusef Yancey trumpet
Garrett List trombone
Bill Ohashi trombone
John Leibman guitar
Ken Vangel piano
Don Whitcomb bass
Candy McDonald drums

Recorded and mixed by Joe Arlotta, Bob Blank and Paul Mufson at Blank Tapes, NYC


Honky Tonkin’ 5:04
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2030-1, Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Michael Merritt bass
Julian Vaughan drums
John Pratt trumpet
Joe Rigby also, tenor and baritone saxophones
Greg Alper tenor saxophone
Bill Ohashi trombone
Ken Pino rhythm guitar

Recorded and mixed by Michael Finlayson at Unique Recorders, NYC


Claim Jumper 3:30
(Johnny Copeland-Rick Lovejoy/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2025-1, Copeland Special

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
George Adams tenor and soprano saxophones
Arthur Blythe alto saxophone
Byard Lancaster alto and tenor saxophones
Joe Rigby baritone saxophone (solo)
John Pratt trumpet
Yusef Yancey trumpet
Garrett List trombone
Bill Ohashi trombone
John Leibman guitar
Ken Vangel piano
Don Whitcomb bass
Candy McDonald drums

Recorded and mixed by Joe Arlotta, Bob Blank and Paul Mufson at Blank Tapes, NYC


Don’t Stop By the Creek, Son 4:02
(Johnny Copeland/Fair Deal Music/Happy Valley Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2040, Texas Twister

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Stevie Ray Vaughan lead guitar (courtesy of Epic Records)
Ken Vangel piano
Brian Miller bass
Joel Perry rhythm guitar
Jimmy Wormworth drums

Recorded and mixed by Michael Finlayson at Unique Recorders, NYC


Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat 3:24
(Johnny Copeland/Crazy Cajun Music, BMI)
From Rounder 11661-2030-1, Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat

Produced by Dan Doyle
Arranged by Ken Vangel

Johnny Copeland guitar and vocal
Ken Vangel piano
Michael Merritt bass
Julian Vaughan drums
John Pratt trumpet
Joe Rigby also, tenor and baritone saxophones
Greg Alper tenor saxophone
Bill Ohashi trombone
Ken Pino rhythm guitar

Recorded and mixed by Michael Finlayson at Unique Recorders, NYC


Compilation by Scott Billington
Remastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Photography © Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos
Series design by Scott Billington