I first heard 'Candy Man' by Mississippi John Hurt and it remains a favourite version but here's the legend John Fahey tackling it live from the wonderful German tv concerts Rockpalast programme



Here's the Reverend Gary Davis' version!


Now 'Candy Man' has been sited as a drug song the candy man being a fairly obvious euphemism for the 'Dealer' and Sammy Davis et al made it more wholesome and seemingly about chocolate. Whatever your addiction [ .o) ], I love this number personally I like to think it's about lovemaking a la Mississippi John's version which is fairly clear.....ahem!

Mississippi John 'Candy Man' from 1928


ADVERT BREAK!
Now quite why Maxwell House didn't ever use this as an advert is beyond me (unless anyone knows otherwise) but this one comes right from the bottom of Mississippi John's cup and allegedly where The Lovin' Spoonful got their name......I love this song and it never fails to bring a smile for it's humour and blatant advertising



John Fahey's requiem for Mississippi John


Tom Paxton's tribute to Mississippi John (Doc Watson does a blistering version of this song)