Why Weep – Eli "Lucky" Thompson

This minor blues head is full of classic Lucky Thompson vocabulary, combining blues-scale lines with the "pretty" notes of the chords—6ths and 9ths. Unlike many of Lucky's blues, this one has standard minor blues changes without added passing chords. However, on the 7th measure the rhythm section sometimes implies D♭7, going to F minor in the next measure; this certainly lines up with the melody.

There is an eight-measure piano intro on the recording, not shown in our lead sheet. The second chorus of the in head ends with a two-measure solo break; on the recording, the rhythm section keeps playing until the second to last measure, but it could work just as well with both measures being a break. The ending holds out an unresolved C7(♯9).
The horns play unison for most of the head, going to tight harmonies (thirds and seconds) only on the last melody phrase. Because this is the only place with harmony, we have decided to include it in our lead sheet instead of having first and second parts.

Lucky Thompson played Why Weep again on a TV broadcast when he returned to Paris (where this 1956 album was recorded) in 1960. This piano-less trio version, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums, was mistakenly announced as You Move, You Lose on the program—the title of another song also originally recorded on "Lucky Thompson And His Orchestra." Later in 1960, he played another version of Why Weep on a German TV broadcast; this quartet recording features a different, written intro.

For another F minor blues that Lucky Thompson recorded in Paris in 1956, check out A Minor Delight.