I have a copy of Len Spencer's 1902 version of Arkansas Traveler, but the surface noise sounds like a live broadcast of an electrical storm on Jupiter--very little of the original grooves remain. So, I decided to post a file of the 1908 remake, which I have in much better condition. As far as I know, it's just about the same performance.
And, in fact, Spencer seems to have made a bunch of recordings of Arkansas Traveler for various labels. Spencerologists would have the exact details.
Anyway, Arkansas Traveler consists of a skit wherein a Mountain William gets the better of a city slicker with a series of god-awful punchlines (all of them punctuated by awesome fiddle work). I'm not sure who provided the music--it was Charles D'Almaine on the 1902 version, so maybe he's on this one, too. Whoever it is, the man can sure play the fiddle.
http://www.box.net/public/lee/files/173889.html Arkansas Traveler, Len Spencer, 1908. From Victor 16199.
The fiddling on this record sure sounds country to me, but Country History insists that authentic country fiddling didn't show up until 1922, when Eck Robertson and Henry C. Gilliland recorded Arkansas Traveler (speak of the Devil) for Victor (speak of the Devil, part 2). Prior to Robertson and Gilliland, country fiddling was fake, you see--the fiddlers were studio pros who could read music. The horror! Ye old folk elitism, and as ridiculous as ever. If I were a folk musician, I think I'd ask the champions of folk music to please champion something (and someone) else. I'd pay them to do so. "Don't write about me, and I'll make it worth your while."
Next time (or so), we'll hear some amazing 1916 78s by an amazing fiddler named Don Richardson.
Lee
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Google says: "Try fewer keywords"
Sometimes it occurs to me that my blog title was a bit of a risk. For example, someone could easily refer to this site as "Music You Wouldn't Want to Hear Anyplace."
Which actually sounds pretty stupid. No wonder nobody has used it.
Anyway, The Keymen's 1962 recording of Five Weeks in a Balloon might be a record you wouldn't want to hear anyplace, on or off the ground. Or, that you might love, as I do. I think it's a gas. It takes me higher every time I hear it, and that's no hot air. (I'm going where? Over the side?)
The song comes, believe it or not, from the 1962 movie, Five Weeks in a Balloon. I saw the flick many years ago, and I recall that the special effects were as bad as my word play. The actors spent half their time in rear-projection mode, black lines surrounding them in cartoon-character fashion. Maybe all the blood was rushing to the outside of their bodies, creating an outline.
The song also comes from a Russian folk tune, but, though I should know its name, I don't. Anyone who can steer me in the right direction, please do so. Thanks.
A Google search for "Five Weeks in a Balloon" and "The Keymen" brought up four suggestions, including "Try fewer keywords." Keywords! Ha, ha, ha!
http://www.box.net/public/lee/files/237750.html Five Weeks in a Balloon, The Keymen (1962).
"A Sonny Lester Production," the label says. Far out.
Lee
Which actually sounds pretty stupid. No wonder nobody has used it.
Anyway, The Keymen's 1962 recording of Five Weeks in a Balloon might be a record you wouldn't want to hear anyplace, on or off the ground. Or, that you might love, as I do. I think it's a gas. It takes me higher every time I hear it, and that's no hot air. (I'm going where? Over the side?)
The song comes, believe it or not, from the 1962 movie, Five Weeks in a Balloon. I saw the flick many years ago, and I recall that the special effects were as bad as my word play. The actors spent half their time in rear-projection mode, black lines surrounding them in cartoon-character fashion. Maybe all the blood was rushing to the outside of their bodies, creating an outline.
The song also comes from a Russian folk tune, but, though I should know its name, I don't. Anyone who can steer me in the right direction, please do so. Thanks.
A Google search for "Five Weeks in a Balloon" and "The Keymen" brought up four suggestions, including "Try fewer keywords." Keywords! Ha, ha, ha!
http://www.box.net/public/lee/files/237750.html Five Weeks in a Balloon, The Keymen (1962).
"A Sonny Lester Production," the label says. Far out.
Lee
Monday, June 27, 2005
I searched the 'Net over...
Many thanks to Dave, who sent me a link to Bob Newman's 1952 (!) recording of Phfft, You Were Gone. If only I could open the link. Seems that box.net is encountering server issues again.
I wrote to box.net earlier today, and the owner reports the site will be moving this week to "some really solid servers." So, my apologies for file issues. They should be resolved soon.
Anyway, I figured that Phfft predated Campbell's 1966 version, but I had no idea it went back that far. The title is not an easy one to Google, of course, owing to spelling issues. The versions by Archie Campbell and Buck Owens, for example, spell "Phfft" "Pfft." Other spellings which show up on Google include "Pfffffffhhhhht," "ffffffffffftt," "pfthtttttt!" and "THPPFT." (Spell Check is going to crash; I just know it.)
And some people think pop culture research is easy.
Can't wait to open Dave's file.
Lee
I wrote to box.net earlier today, and the owner reports the site will be moving this week to "some really solid servers." So, my apologies for file issues. They should be resolved soon.
Anyway, I figured that Phfft predated Campbell's 1966 version, but I had no idea it went back that far. The title is not an easy one to Google, of course, owing to spelling issues. The versions by Archie Campbell and Buck Owens, for example, spell "Phfft" "Pfft." Other spellings which show up on Google include "Pfffffffhhhhht," "ffffffffffftt," "pfthtttttt!" and "THPPFT." (Spell Check is going to crash; I just know it.)
And some people think pop culture research is easy.
Can't wait to open Dave's file.
Lee
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