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.


"Who am he and what am the charge?" 


Well.. what can I even eloquently say about this? This recording is from a Victor Vaudeville Comedy 12". The flip side sketch is "Darktown Campmeetin' Experiences." "Darky Specialty."
I'm sure most readers of my blog are familiar with this unsettling phase in pop-culture.
I like to believe that my 1917 equivalent wouldn't be interested in such a record as this. But as we all know- on some level, this type of entertainment wasn't the sole domain of "racists." Acts similar to this recording took place between the jugglers and opera singers in vaudeville. The inappropriateness of this type of entertainment was hardly acknowledged until decades later. (Although the Irish were able to successfully raise a big stink about the mockery they were facing in vaudeville.)
I think the majority of consumers then as now were mindless sheep, never stopping to think about the perversion of 'lightheartedly' ridiculing a people and a culture while simultaneously oppressing it.
I sometimes roll my eyes at the constant pop-culture self-reflection that takes place in our society today (hello VH1). But when you think about it in light of things that slipped by in the past, maybe it's a good thing to keep our consumption and entertainment under scrutiny. Maybe we can reflect on our questionable judgement within our own lifetime.


Victor Vaudeville Company
Court Scene in Carolina
Victor Talking Machine Co., 1917

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Dixie Record Company, Baltimore MD 






The Melody Boys
It's A Simple Little Town
year: ?










If it isn't obvious, I purchased this because it was released by "Dixie Record Co., Baltimore, MD." I couldn't find anything about The Melody Boys (well, not these "Melody Boys" anyway), Dixie Record Company (well, not the one in Baltimore, MD anyway), or songwriting credit "Nello McQuigg" (He or she is probably he only person named that ever, and yet Google yields nothing).
It's a scratchy sounding record, a boring ass song with some Hawaiin Guitar and easy listening vocals. Zzz.
Why do I do this again? Well if someone searches for the Dixie Record Company in Baltimore and writes to me, it'll all be worth it.

Speaking of which, I forgot to mention that I received an email from Tompall Glaser's cousin, Dennis Glaser, who had this to say:

"Actually, Harlan Howard is a co-writer on Baltimore. The legend is that TP had written a dozen verses, then appeared in Harlan's office one day, tossed it on his desk, and said, "Here, fix this." And Harlan did. He was the No. 1 writer in Nashville during that pivital time in Nashville when country music changed from studio-controlled slush to honest, individual expression.

I was told that the lyrics were used in a college textbook as an example of story-telling songs. But I do not have first-hand knowledge.

You might also add that I worked with Tompall and Waylon Jennings during the seminal years of country music change--the 70s--and since retiring, have authored a memoir, "A Geezer's Guide to the Universe," and am completing a second volume, "My Music City Memories," in which I recount some tales about people I met and things I experienced during that era."


Thanks dude!

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Baltimore Diary (late for Independence Day) 






Eddie Albert
Baltimore Diary 1773-1973 (excerpt)
RCA/The News American (1973)







This is from a two LP set. The second record "presents for you selections from America's prolific musical heritage," such as "Shenandoah", "Semper Fidelis", "The Charleston", "The Twist", "Aquarius"(yes, from hair -k), and "God Bless America."
The first is a narrative compiled from stories (and weird classified ads) from The News American, "Baltimore's first and oldest newspaper", which ceased publication in 1986.
I've included a few minutes of tragedy and comedy from the turn of the 19th century.

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Hey pals, some of the songs on here are up for a limited amount of time. If you are the owner of a song posted here, let me know if you want it removed, and I will do so!