You Can't Stop a Tattler

"You Can't Stop a Tattler" is a gospel blues song, written by Washington Phillips (1880–1954) and recorded by him for Columbia Records in 1929 (vocals and zither). The song is in two parts, intended to occupy both sides of a 10-inch 78 rpm record. However, it remained unreleased for many years.[2] Part 2 was included on the 1971 album This Old World's in a Hell of a Fix (Biograph BLP 12027).[3] Both parts were included on a 1980 compilation album of songs by Phillips, Denomination Blues (Agram 2006).[2]

"You Can't Stop a Tattler"
Song by Washington Phillips
Released	"You Can't Stop a Tattler Part 1" (1980) "You Can't Stop a Tattler Part 2" (1971)
Recorded	Dallas, Texas, December 2, 1929
Genre	Gospel blues
Length	2:54 (Part 1) 2:48 (Part 2)
Songwriter(s)	Washington Phillips
Producer(s)	Frank B. Walker [1]

The song is unusual in that the verses are separated by a wordless hummed refrain; a similar device to the wordless vocalise which Phillips had used in "I Had a Good Father and Mother".

The song first came to wider notice when Ry Cooder included a version of Part 2, titled "Tattler", on his 1974 album, Paradise and Lunch (note, however, that Cooder does not label it as "Part 2"; he also includes two verses from Part 1, which seems to have been unreleased at the time); and when Linda Ronstadt covered that version on her 1976 album, Hasten Down the Wind. It has since been recorded several times.

Recordings

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• 1929 – Washington Phillips, "You Can't Stop a Tattler, Part 1" [4][5][6][7][8][9]
• 1929 – Washington Phillips, "You Can't Stop a Tattler, Part 2" [10][11][12][13][14][15]
• 1974 – Ry Cooder, "Tattler" [16] on the album Paradise and Lunch
• 1976 – Linda Ronstadt, "The Tattler" [17][18] on the album Hasten Down the Wind
• 1977 – David Soul, "Tattler" [19] on the album Playing to an Audience of One [20]
• 1995 – Betty and the Bobs, "Tattler" [21] on the album Betty and the Bobs [22]
• 1999 – Charles Walker, "The Tattler" [23][24] on the album I'm Available [25]
• 2004 – J. Thibodeau, "Tattler" [26] on the album Everyday Shoes [27]
• 2006 – Freddie Roulette, "Tattler" [28] on the album Man of Steel [29]

Other songs

These songs have related titles to some of those used for the one which is the subject of this article, but are different from it and from each other:

• 1996 – Ralph Towner, "Tattler" [30][31] on the album Lost and Found
• 2002 – Bittersweet Manics, "Tattler" [32] on the album Bittersweet Manics [33]

The following song may or may not be related to any of those already discussed:

• 2005 – Southern Boys, "Tattler" [34] on the album Deep Down South [35]

References

1. Corcoran, Michael (December 29, 2002). "Exhuming the Legend of Washington Phillips". Austin Statesman. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
2. "Washington Phillips discography". wirz.de. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
3. Various – This Old World's In A Hell Of A Fix at Discogs
4. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler, Pt. 1, Composed by George Washington Phillips at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
5. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler (Part 1) (Prev Unissued) at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
6. You Can't Stop a Tattler Pt. 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
7. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler - Part 1, Composed by George Washington Phillips at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
8. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler (Part 1) at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
9. George Washington Phillips – You Cant Stop a Tattler - Part 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
10. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler, Pt. 2, Composed by George Washington Phillips at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
11. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler (Part 2) (Prev Unissued) at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
12. You Can't Stop a Tattler Pt. 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
13. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler - Part 2, Composed by George Washington Phillips at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
14. George Washington Phillips – You Can't Stop a Tattler (Part 2) at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
15. George Washington Phillips – You Cant Stop a Tattler - Part 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
16. Ry Cooder – Tattler, Composed by George Washington Phillips / Russ Titelman / Ry Cooder at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
17. Linda Ronstadt – The Tattler, Composed by George Washington Phillips / Russ Titelman / Ry Cooder at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
18. Linda Ronstadt – The Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
19. David Soul – Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
20. David Soul – Playing to an Audience of One at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
21. Betty and the Bobs – Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
22. Betty and the Bobs – Betty and the Bobs at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
23. Charles Walker – The Tattler, Composed by George Washington Phillips / Russ Titelman / Ry Cooder at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
24. Al Garner / Sonny Tyler / Charles Walker / Eddie Walker – The Tattler, Composed by Cooder / Phillips / Titleman at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
25. Charles Walker – I'm Available at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
26. J. Thibodeau – Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
27. J. Thibodeau – Everyday Shoes at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
28. Freddie Roulette – Tattler, Composed by George Washington Phillips / Russ Titelman / Ry Cooder at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
29. Nickson, Chris. Freddie Roulette – Man of Steel at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
30. Ralph Towner – Tattler, Composed by Ralph Towner at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
31. Ralph Towner – Tattler, Composed by Ralph Towner at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
32. Bittersweet Manics – Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
33. Bittersweet Manics – Bittersweet Manics at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
34. Southern Boys – Tattler at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2005.
35. Southern Boys – Deep Down South at AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2005.