BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 23 Nov 01 - 09:16 AM

...and this which I've probably posted before...

SKIFFLE

WHAT IS SKIFFLE?

The term "SKIFFLE" has a variety of meanings but always refers to informal, good time music, usually using home-made or improvised instruments such as the washboard, wash-tub or tea-chest bass, kazoo, cigar-box fiddle, comb and paper etc. Depending on your age and country you might define skiffle as:

1) The spasm bands, usually children, seen on the streets of New Orleans around 1900.

2) Rent-party music in 1920s and 30s USA involving piano, guitar, fiddle, but rarely the washboard.

3) The jug bands of Louisville and Memphis 1920s and 30s.

4) Novelty Jazz Bands of the 1940s and 50s using clarinet/sax mouthpieces on bamboo or wooden pipes, plungerphone, funnel with trumpet mouthpiece, washtub bass etc.

5) A mixture of USA folk music, tin-pan alley, and music-hall played as pop music in Britain in the late 1950s, typically using guitar, washboard and tea-chest bass. Lots of famous British rock stars got started by playing in skiffle bands, e.g. the Beatles, Van Morrison (who made a skiffle CD with Lonnie Donegan in 1999) Although they will probably have never heard of Leadbelly or Woody Guthrie, for a lot of British people over a certain age this music is part of their pop music nostalgia.

6) Current bands playing jug-band, Leadbelly songs etc. or "British" skiffle i.e. songs recorded by British artists in the 1950s, but all generally copying originals thus extending the life of this music

7) Current bands making their own music or adapting popular songs so the music lives and changes

The word "SKIFFLE" was probably first used by pianist Hersel Thomas (who died in 1926) to describe the music played at a house rent party (also called "skuffle" music). A record called "Hometown Skiffle" was released in 1929 featuring featuring Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake, Will Ezell, Charlie Spand, The Hokum Boys and Papa Charlie Jackson.

"SKIFFLE" was later used to describe American black folk bands who mostly had to improvise traditional African instruments by using household implements. The bent sapling with cord tied to a skin over a hole in the earth became the washtub bass. (Tea-chest in UK). The gourd became a jug and the scraped ass's jaw became the washboard. The kazoo developed from an African instrument using an animal skin as the membrane (often built into a mask and used for religious ceremonies).

RtS (got the kazoo, just need the mask- and I mean need! "a face made for radio, a voice made for mime")

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 23 Nov 01 - 06:49 AM

Sorry, me again, I meant to say...as I said in my "leaving" thread I've been on the receiving end too of the generous of fellow 'Catters, so as Pat says what goes around comes around. I've also had lots of advice, despite which I still tell the jokes and try to sing!
RtS (off to book a slot in the Boris Johnson/Ronald Reagan Wing for the totally confused)

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 23 Nov 01 - 06:32 AM

Don't want to pollute the 'Cat with yet another thread, so creeping on this one:
People often ask, well sometimes ask, well someone once asked me, well I thought you'd like to know any way....
Whence "skiffle" ?
I doubt there's a definitive answer but here is one from the booklet to a Sunshine Skiffle Band cd.
A Nashville street musician was asked whether it was jug band music his group were playing, he said it was "skuffle" music. When asked why he said: "'Cause we're out there skifflin' for dimes". When asked: "Is that the same as "skiffle" he replied: "That's what they call it in Alabama".
Probably as valid as any other theory and less a leap of imagination than some of the reconstructions in "Walking with dinosaurs/beasts".
RtS ('50s dinosaur)

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Amergin
Date: 23 Nov 01 - 02:07 AM

Awww shuckjs...blood rising to my cheeks, thanks spaw....

RTS...I am going to miss your humour...it is nice to have a few folks around here who are touched in the head....it helps lighten up all the serious stuff....

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 02:30 PM

Well thanks 'Gin Boy.........And I owe you for bringing tears and thoughtfulness and a different outlook when I read this thread. It was easy to find....I have it bookmarked and I read it about once a week. Simply beautiful!

Spaw (fearing this is turning into a "Thanksgiving" thread)

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Amergin
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 02:04 PM

Well, Spaw....there were many times this last year that I needed a laugh...and I could always count on you (and RTS) to give me one....

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:08 PM

Some people have been saying you're touched for a long time, Roger!

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 03:41 AM

Thanks for the good wishes, Gargoyle, I'm touched.
RtS (just trying to keep Rick's mind off that next guitar!)

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: ddw
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:47 AM

Geez, Spaw — can I add "therapist" to my resume?

Enjoyed that bit, friend. We need to do it again now that you're back in fighting trim.

david

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:31 AM

Ya' know too, when you're feeling pretty different and a bit unsure and some guy looks you up out in the middle of nowhere, talks like he's known you for years, and sings some sweet blues........and somehow that extra efort makes you feel like you're back.............well, that's a special thing too. Thanks david........as the wheel keeps turning.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:23 AM

Jeez, ya got a good memory Dave. Yer welcome.

Catspaw. Maybe he won't need anything. Do they have "golden parachutes" in Britain?

R

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:22 AM

Thank God the BLOODY QUIB is gone!

Let the sully bastard sulk in peace, he violated "intellectual property rights" he intentionally cheated the Sellers family, and he deserves to be shunned.

You, Mr Fielding, as a "professional artist" should at least have some respect and support the market place...(even if it be used, second hand, and discount.)

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: ddw
Date: 22 Nov 01 - 12:15 AM

Yeah, Rick. That was great. But I remember another guy on the 'Cat who, when I really needed something for a friend's funeral, went into a studio, laid down a track and sent it along to me. What goes around comes around. Thanks again.

david

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 11:26 PM

Perhaps then Rick, your donation will be extra large as we get to Skiff's Retirement Thread.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Dead Horse
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 11:09 PM

Have you ever watched Harry Potter backwards? You can, if you place a mirror opposite the TV set. I keep getting these subliminal messages telling me to go out and buy mechandise and stuff. Surely that's satanical!!!

Subject: One more Bloody Roger th Skiffler thread
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 10:47 PM

Yah, I know. He's buggering off for a while, and there've been tons of "Oh Roger, don't leave us....whimper whimper" testimonials, so why am I taking up valuable bandwidth that could be better used discussing Harry Potter's 'Satanic' side?

For one reason.

This guy hardly knows me, but he DOES know how much I love the humour of Peter Sellers on record. So what does he do? He makes a compilation cassette tape of dozens of obscure Sellers' masterpieces (throws in some Davey Graham for good measure) wraps it up, pays the ridiculous postage and sends it to me in Toronto all the way from Old Blighty.

Bloody Hell, you're a fine and generous man.

Just listening to the "All England George Formby Competition" from Wembley Stadium, had Heather and I laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes....and we needed a laugh today.

Cheers Roger

Rick and heather