Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee

Today's featured song is either about a drink called "spodi" or it's the basis for the drink's name. It's not entirely clear whether the song or the drink name came first. Spodi is a party drink prepared in a large bucket with liquor and fruit (not unlike Jerry Jeff Walker's recipe for sangria).

Stick McGee (brother of bluesman Brownie McGee) recorded the original version of the song in 1947, but it did not become a hit until Stick re-recorded it for Atlantic Records in 1949. Notably, Stick's 1949 recording of Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee for Atlantic Records was the first major hit for that legendary label.

Over the years there have been many covers, probably most notably by Jerry Lee Lewis. I've always really liked Lightnin' Hopkins' loose bluesy cover and the Malcolm Yelvington version is fantastic (click on his name to learn more about it).

Stick McGee - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (buy album)

Malcolm Yelvington – Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (buy album)

Jerry Lee Lewis - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (buy album)

Sid King & The Five Strings – Drinkin' Wine Spoli-Oli (buy album)

Lightnin' Hopkins – Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (buy album)

And now—for the fourth time on this blog—here's that sangria song I was talking about before. It's brilliant, but of course you already know that:

Jerry Jeff Walker – Sangria Wine (buy album)

Tonight's selections should be enjoyed with a big bowl of spodi, or at least a nice cool pitcher of sangria.