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Post by TRK on Nov 20, 2007 13:01:23 GMT -5
On another note, didn't Louis Armstrong play on some early Jimmie Rodgers records? Talk about crossing boundaries... I think (going on memory of the discography in Nolan Porterfield's biography of Jimmie Rodgers) they just cut one track together, "Blue Yodel No. 9" (a.k.a., "Standing on the Corner"), in Hollywood, California, July 16, 1930, with Lilian Hardin (Armstrong's wife at the time) on piano. It's one of those great, fleeting moments where a couple of musical titans made music for the ages. The song has some great lines, like where he tells the cop who arrests him, "You'll find my name on the tail of my shirt, I'm a Tennessee hustler, I don't have to work" Which Waylon Jennings unabashedly "stole" for "Waymore's Blues" 45 years later: "I got my name painted on my shirt, I ain't no ordinary dude, I don't have to work."
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 20, 2007 13:14:46 GMT -5
I just realized I have that track on the CD "Jimmie Rodgers - RCA Country Legends," which gives Armstrong and Hardin-Armstrong credit for their parts (recorded July 16, 1930 in Hollywood, it says). Talk about a blending of styles -- Satchmo's trumpet with Rodgers' yodels. Thanks for mentioning that; I had totally forgotten it and probably didn't even notice these credits when I got the CD.
I thought that I had an Autry cover of this, but I can't find it on my list, so I'm probably confusing it with one of the many other Rodgers covers that Autry recorded around that time.
AW
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Post by TRK on Nov 20, 2007 13:14:57 GMT -5
Just a thought... Since the "Jook Joint" thread has gotten fairly long, would you guys like me to create a "Juke Joint" sub-board in the off topic section? That would enable us to create seperate threads under the "Juke Joint" heading. Would this be inappropriate on an "Alamo Studies" forum? Jim The Jook Joint sits behind a junkyard fence of sorts in the form of the Off Topic area, which, aside from the Jook, doesn't get a whole lot of traffic. Thus, I can't imagine anybody would object to our musicological ramblings. So, in this instance let's make our own rules! The existing thread should remain as the general discussion area, since sometimes a passing observation will lead to a lengthy discussion. Separate threads would be nice to have if a topic looks like it's going to go places, or if someone wants to start a focused, highlighted discussion. Any objections to such a sub-board, Allen, or anybody else?
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 20, 2007 13:21:10 GMT -5
Nope - that's fine with me. I like the concept of "off topic" and since this is the busiest thread it's fine to set up a sub-board.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 20, 2007 13:26:32 GMT -5
I read a Hank Williams bio some years ago (Chet Flippo's maybe?) that questioned whether or not Williams really wrote a lot of the songs attributed to him. This wouldn't have been that unusual, frankly. Elvis received songwriting credit on a lot of tunes he didn't cowrite, but then Elvis isn't known as a writer. I view Hank in the same light as I do Woody Guthrie and Jimmie Rodgers. I think they all borrowed copiously from earlier songs and traditions, but no one could put the songs across as well as them. Jim, the bio you read was probably by Colin Escott. Yeah - a lot of these guys (including Autry, apparently) took writing credit they didn't deserve, largely because there's more dough in publishing than in singing or recording. To his credit, Elvis put a stop to it almost as soon as it started. Naturally, it had been one of the Colonel's ideas, and this was one of the very few times Elvis stood up to the old man. Of course, this isn't as bad as the disc jockeys who had their names added as co-composers in exchange for playing the records on the air. AW
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Post by Jim Boylston on Nov 20, 2007 17:49:23 GMT -5
It's too bad ol' E didn't pitch a fit more often. He also stood up to the Colonel and cut Mac Davis's "In the Ghetto" over Parker's objections. Elvis is a baffling figure. He seemed to have had a great intuitive sense, but rarely relied on it, instead deferring to Parker. When he did make career decisions on his own, they usually paid off in spades. Seen the '68 comeback special recently? Elvis is riveting. I saw him in the early '70's with the TCB band, James Burton, et al, post Vegas pre-weight gain. He was magnetic in person. It's a ticket I've always been glad I bought. Jim
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Post by Jim Boylston on Dec 8, 2007 19:28:28 GMT -5
B.B. King opened another Blues Club here in Orlando this week, and I was fortunate enought to make last nights show, the last of a 4 night stand for Mr. King. I've gotta tell you, he tore it up. 82 years old, with a voice that still shakes the rafters and the fattest guitar tone I've ever heard. He was just great. FYI, I noticed that his solos are almost all downstrokes...I wonder if that was true of T Bone Walker too? Jim
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Post by TRK on Dec 9, 2007 10:25:07 GMT -5
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Post by TRK on Dec 19, 2007 18:07:30 GMT -5
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Post by Jim Boylston on Dec 19, 2007 18:37:15 GMT -5
I bought it last week, it rocks. Muddy sings three songs, James Cotten does a couple and Johnny Winter sings lead on a couple. They're out-takes from the 1976 tour, but you wouldn't think they were outtakes from the quality. I also picked up the remastered re-issue of Muddy's "Hard Again" album, and I'd forgotten how great that record was. Winter produced, and the album was cut live at Dan Hartman's home studio with Muddy sitting in the middle of the room and the band surrounding him. The exuberance is palpable. If you don't have it, definitely pick it up too. It's one of Muddy's best, and he was in his 60's when it was recorded. The last few recordings of Waters' lfe were among his best, he was really at the top of his game, and Johnny Winter was a very sympathetic producer. He really brought out the best in Muddy. Jim
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Post by TRK on Dec 19, 2007 19:03:51 GMT -5
You're right about Muddy's final albums produced by Johnny Winters. I bought the (unremastered) "Hard Again" on cd, as it happened, just weeks before they released the remastered, extra tracks edition. It's a truly great album, and I'll probably snag a reissue.
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Post by Jim Boylston on Dec 19, 2007 19:28:57 GMT -5
They've also rereleased remastered versions of "I'm Ready" and "King Bee", both with extra tracks. There's also a deluxe 2 disc set of "Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live", which I hear is great. All three of these are on my list to pick up. Thankfully, they're mostly budget titles. Jim
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Post by TRK on Dec 19, 2007 19:38:03 GMT -5
Jim, I have "I'm Ready" and "Muddy 'Mississippi' Waters Live," both in the reissue format. The former is pretty good; the live one is a killer: excellently recorded, and a fiery, at times raucous set, with Johnny Winters featured on some if not all of the songs. There's also a nice booklet by Bob Margolin, Muddy's guitar player in the final years, with some nice photos and stories.
I've held off getting "King Bee" because I've heard it was sort of the leftovers from the Winters-produced sessions, but will probably pick it up shortly, because, I admit, I can never get enough McKinley Morganfield!
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Post by Jim Boylston on Dec 19, 2007 20:19:18 GMT -5
Do you have the double-disc live set or an earlier reissue? I remember when it came out on vinyl it was single disc. If you don't already have the MCA reissue of the old Chess "Folk Singer" album, it's unbelievable. Four or five extra cuts, and just an amazing recording of Muddy unplugged. Backed by a very young Buddy Guy and the great Willie Dixon on bass. It's one of my favorite records ever. I can't get enough Muddy either. Well, I could maybe pass on "Electric Mud". What was Marshall Chess thinking? Of course the photos inside are priceless. Jim
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Post by TRK on Dec 19, 2007 20:46:05 GMT -5
The double-cd live set is the one I have; it's considerably beefed up from the original vinyl and original single cd.
Got "Folk Singer" too; it was recorded, what, 43 years ago, yet the recording is so clean and clear, it could have been recorded yesterday. Fabulous album.
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