A friend just sent me a recording of a new talking blues by Tom Paxton called "Talking Aerobic Exercise". Not brand new - from a BBC programme a few years back. A very funny and well-written song coming as a big surprise.

However, it seems to me that talking blues is already a forgotten genre. Though Tom has remained loyal to acoustic folk music throughout his career, he hasn't written any new talking blues since "Talking Watergate", which was written in 1974 - forty years ago. Songwriters who used to write a lot of talking blues, like Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs, stopped writing songs in that form since late 60's. Younger folksingers hardly write or sing talking blues anymore.No wonder this "new" talking blues by Tom Paxton struck me with nostalgia!

I believe Tom Paxton once said in an interview that rap/hip-hop music is replacing talking blues. What do you think? Is talking blues really a forgotten and dying genre?