There is something profound about the refrain of the song “Jesus is on the Mainline.” It is not going to church or synagogue to find god. It is picking up the phone and calling him.
Ry Cooder’s top three albums, according to the voters at Ranker, are “Paradise and Lunch” (which includes “Jesus is on the Mainline”), “Into the Valley” and Chicken Skin Music.” Here is Rolling Stones’ opinion of “I Do Not Play No Rock-n-Roll”: “McDowell may not have played no rock & roll, but the Rolling Stones covered his ‘You Gotta Move’ on Sticky Fingers anyway. The motor on this album is McDowell playing bottleneck slide on electric guitar: a relentless engine that powers him through hypnotic versions of ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ and ‘Jesus Is on the Mainline’ with bone-deep rhythm and the raw wounds of life.” Click here for “I Do Not Play No Rock-n-Roll” on iTunes and on the image for Cooder’s “Paradise and Lunch” at Amazon.Mississippi Fred McDowell’s version above (on an album with the great title “I Do Not Play No Rock ‘N’ Roll”) is the earliest that blogger Jim Owston could find:
If my time line of its writing is correct, it would have only been in the public domain had its copyright not been renewed 28 years after its initial publication – which may be a reasonable theory on this tune.
Owston also offers information on the great Ry Cooder. He points out that Rolling Stones called him a top ten guitarist, one spot ahead of Jimmy Page. Cooder, who also also is an ethnomusiologist, is a soulful as well as skillful musician.
The Daily Music Break previously posted a rendition by Cooder. Another, which is quite different, is below the Amazon ads. The singers are Eldridge King, Terry Evans and Bobby King.
Here is one version of the lyrics:
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want
You can call Him up, call Him up and tell Him what you want
You can call Him up, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Call Him up, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Go on, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Hey, Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Go on, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Hey, if you’re sick and you want to get well, tell Him what you want
Oh, if you’re sick and you want to get well, tell Him what you want
Oh, if you’re sick and you want to get well, tell Him what you want
Go on, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Hey, Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on teh main line, tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want
His line ain’t never busy, tell Him what you want
His line ain’t never busy, tell Him what you want
His line ain’t never busy, tell Him what you want
Go on, call Him up and tell Him what you want
Hey, Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want
You can call Him up and tell Him what you want
Ranker and Rolling Stone were used in the blue box.
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