This is my blog where I write about music, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Comments and feedback always appreciated. Please do not link directly to mp3s. It's rude.
Displacement VI + Baltimore
Bobby Bare
The Streets of Baltimore
(1966) Well this is it... my #1 "displacement" song I think. "The Streets of Baltimore." The original is written and performed by Tompall Glaser but I don't actually have that version. When I do I'll post it. The second person to make it a big hit is Bobby Bare here. He looks like sort of a turd on this album sleeve but he seems ok I guess. It's not my favorite version. I'm not sure which is. I first heard John Prine do it... but it's been covered by Gram Parsons, Shane McGowan, The Lemonheads, and a score of others. So I may keep em coming. Hell, maybe eventually I'll record this song myself. Listening to a lot of versions of a song really solidifies my likes and dislikes as far as lyrical nuances. I don't know why but I've always been annoyed by some changes artists make when they sing a song. Not always, but sometimes it just seems pointless. As I said, I haven't heard the original but I can say that I prefer the versions where they say "her heart was filled with gladness" instead of "laughter." I mean why would the city lights make her laugh.. that's stupid. And "some old machine" vs "an old machine." "Some old machine" sounds more like he's like he's just telling the story of working some old machine, rather than like.. working on an antique or something which would be an unnecessary detail even if it were the original intention. Yeah, I nitpick just a bit. Note: This is the first time I've used Audacity instead of Cool Edit to record a song. I think it might be better. Labels: baltimore, country, displacement, Streets of Baltimore
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Slap Her Down Again Paw.. whoa
 Esmereldy and Her Novelty Band
Slap Her Down Again Paw
1948As much as I tend to avoid encouraging negative stereotypes against hillbillies, hicks, yokels, etc., this song is a bizarre piece of "comedy" that must be heard to believe. This song is about the singer's sister Bessie, a hussy who has been cavorting with a traveling salesman with "City slickin' ways." As for the rest, the title says it all. Internet searching leads me to believe it's from 1948. If you really love the song and want to share it, there's a better quality version to be found here. Don't ask me why I made my own mp3... I guess it just felt like stealing otherwise. Labels: comedy, country
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Blind Alfred Reed
Explosion in the Fairmount Mines (1927)Blind Alfred Reed was a fiddler who lived most of his life in West Virginia. This song is included on a compilation of " Old-Time Music of West Virginia." It's actually one of the less interesting songs on the CD. I prefer his great song "Sweet Bird," performed with the "West Virginia Night Owls." I also really enjoy some of the songs of Dick Justice, even though they mostly sound the same. (Go to this site to hear Justice's really weird song "Cocaine.") I always thought it was peculiar in "Explosion in the Fairmount Mines" that a miner would decide to take a day off work. I watched Matewan this weekend, and it supported that idea. That was a pretty cool movie. Apparently I'm related to Sid Hatfield in some distant way. My uncle's aunt something something. The plight of miners and the history of the coal mining industry is a sad and fascinating part of American history, with a lasting cultural impact. I definitely plan on reading more about this stuff. Before reading about the actual mining industry, I think I'll read about songs about mining. I had done some research to find out if there was a horrible explosion in the Fairmount mines ( There was an explosion, which inspired Reed to adapt this song from another earlier ballad), and I found out about this book, "Only a Miner: Studies in Recorded Coal-Mining Songs," by Archie Green. I'm all over that! I don't have a good picture of Blind Alfred Reed. None really exist. In searching, I came across another great site with a bunch of mp3s: The Roots Music Listening Room. Hooray for the internet. Labels: country
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J.D. Crowe and the New Year
On New Year's Eve I ended up DJing some at The Ottobar's "If That Aint Country" party. I spent that morning going through my records, noting the best "party" songs, and wondering to myself if an aural deluge of banjos, mandolins and fiddles would go over with a crowd who probably wanted to hear nonstop Johnny Cash and rockabilly. Turns out I really underestimated people. I played a few tracks off of the legendary Will The Circle Be Unbroken triple-LP. I played some Stanley Brothers, some Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, some Flatt & Scruggs. By far, the thing I played that garnered the most comments was J.D. Crowe and the New South. People were dancing and requesting more. What a satisfying feeling! The song I'm sharing here is an upbeat country tune off of their self-titled 1977 LP. Once again, this mp3 might not be the best quality, because I'm sure you can and should find this and other J.D. Crowe songs on CD. Whether country-bluegrass is " the next hispter trend," or people are just coming around to appreciate some neglected musical heritage, nothing beats enjoying music with people. (That's why I do this blog, actually.) Instead of posting an actual picture of the record, I'll post a picture from New Years', of my drunken self and the lovely Angie (who organized the evening), posing with the record. 
J.D. Crowe and the New South
You Can Have Her
1977 Gusto Records, Inc.Labels: country
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Displacement III
Here's another bluegrass country displacement song. This one I remember hearing all my life. The collaborative album between Jonathan Edwards and the Seldom Scene came out in 1985, when I was 4. I've seen both acts live, many times, thanks to my awesome mom. It's actually been about ten years since John Duffy, founder of the Seldom Scene, passed away. I'd encourage further research in Duffy and the Seldom Scene if you are interested in the 70s bluegrass revival, the "DC bluegrass scene," and most of all.. a time when "alt country" wasn't so self-aware. The song I've posted, "Blue Ridge" features some beautiful vocals in the bluegrass style that I love. This song is great for singing. I'm less into it once the piano comes in, because I like things simple. I ripped this from my mom's LP but the sound aint so bad. 
Jonathan Edwards & The Seldom Scene
Blue Ridge
Labels: country, displacement
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Displacement II
"The biography of Hazel Dickens would appear to follow the typical trajectory of many young rural Appalachian women from rural West Virginia raised in coal-mining communities in the 1950s. She grew up near Montcalm, West Virginia, one of 11 children, and moved away in her teens to work in the factories of Baltimore. What is different about Hazel Dickens is that she transformed this experience into the inspiration and material for a life-long musical career that has spoken of hard work, hard times, and hardy souls. Songs she has penned such as "Working Girl Blues," "Black Lung," "Don't Put Her Down, You Helped Put Her There," and "West Virginia, My Home," have provided the narrative storyline and emotional insight for many who have found themselves in similar circumstances." - Harmony Ridge MusicSo, as you can read, Hazel Dickens is a queen of country displacement songs. My mom's family hails from West Virginia, and this song seems to be one of those that always gets played a few times whenever we gather for Christmas or Thanksgiving or whatever. (On a side note, several versions of 'Rock Island Line' are always enjoyed as well) I was first familiar with the solo version, but once I heard the duet with Alice Gerrard, it soon became my favorite. There's not much greater than the sound of two guitars. These recordings are from the 1960's, but are absolutely timeless. Any good modern bluegrass that I like basically sounds like this. I was supposed to go camping in West Virginia this weekend but the trip fell through. I was pretty upset. I need to get a good breath of country air before it gets too cold to leave my apartment. These songs are limited-time only, lest I get sued or something.  Hazel Dickens
West Virginia, My Home
Hazel Dickens w/Alice Gerarrd
West Virginia, My HomeLabels: country, displacement
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Convoy of Truckdriving Hits!
A guy I dated bought me this record, a long time ago. I was planning on posting the "hit" of the compilation, which is "Giddy Up Go" by Red Sovine. It's one of those talking-over-music kind of songs. My record player is dirty and the song kept skipping, so I gave up on it. Besides, you can purchase this and other Red Sovine hits on CD for under $5.00. I encourage you to check it out. Don't take my word for it. Here's a review from amazon.com: "4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
second chance to re-establish parental bonds, September 2, 1999
Reviewer: A music fan
I was driving to Dallas and heard this song which brought tears to my eyes since this month September 1999, I'll be seeing my son as a 31 year old man; the last time I saw him he was 18 months old. I do know the empty longing but will experience the ecstatic re-discovery." Wow. That's moving. Anyway, I went with the title track from the comp, instead. Still a good jam, plus he mentions Baltimore! Slim Jacobs
That's Truckdrivin'!There's no year on the record but it's on "Starday Records" some time in the 50s. The back of the sleeve features more pictures of truck stops, women standing around trucks, a pinball machine, etc. Credits: "Truck c/o Service Lines, Inc.", "Location: Truck City, Goodlettsville, TN." Road trip anyone? Two other records advertised on the back are, "Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves," and "Give me 40 Acres to Turn this Rig Around!" But Starday Records doesn't have the market cornered on truck driving compilations. Oh no. I came across many more, just three of which I will display below:    I must control my urge to collect them all. Labels: country
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Little Rachel's Lonesome Blues
 Pete "Oswald" Kirby and Rachel Veach: Weary Lonesome BluesOn Roy Acuff "Columbia Historic Edition" (1) I'll start at the very beginning... a very good place to start. If you don't feel like reading a pointless tangent, skip to (2). The first 78 rpm record that I had was from my grandfather. He had given me a record player and a stack of old records. That man is a packrat. When I had asked him if he had an old 78 player, he replied "I have two but one of them is broken." The record was "Freight Train Blues," with "Wabash Cannon Ball" on the other side (1936). I became very obsessed with "Freight Train Blues." I went ahead and tried to find the song on CD, but the Acuff "Freight Train Blues" I found was recorded much later. Eventually I found the song on Roy Acuff's "Columbia Historic Edition." Turns out he didn't even sing the song - he was playing the train whistle. So I guess I am not an Acuff fan after all. (2) "Weary Lonesome Blues." Acuff is on fiddle. One Amazon.com reviewer says, "Weary Lonesome Blues has the distinction of being my least favorite song on this album - it's a great song in its own right, but this recording is afflicted with some fellow's constant belly-laughing, and let me tell you it's the most obnoxious, annoying laughter I've ever heard in my life." I believe that annoying laugh belongs to Pete "Oswald" Kirby, aka "Bashful Brother Oswald" to "Little Rachel" aka Rachel Veach. I don't think they're really related. The Oswald laugh, though annoying and forced, does kind of make me think of that excited triumphant feeling you get (if you've ever played music), when you are playing a song and you suddenly realize that you sound damn great. The feeling works vicariously too... but it's been awhile since I've seen a band and felt that way. Listen to this track and enjoy a great female banjo player, and some sweet harmonizing.  Beecher Kirby "Pete", Jess Easterday, Roy Acuff, Rachel Veach, Lonnie Wilson "Pap"Labels: country
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