Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?

Subject: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:29 PM

PURE OBSCURE PLEASE. Sparked by the Harry Smith thread. Who in the folk/blues/Folkways/whatever tradition is now/was always/was for a time/ undeservedly obscure, and ought to be given at least a listen? (I know, I know, the famous ones are also obscure nowadays, but that is not what this thread is about.) I am fishing for unknown gems.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Nemesis
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:43 PM

Trevor Crozier

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:46 PM

Who is? This thread will only work if people give us some information about the person, his or her albums, etc. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:48 PM

Leslie Riddles

Mose Rager

SNOOZER QUINN

LYDIA MENDOZA

I guess I (and a few hundred others) have had them all to myself for long enough. The world doesn't deserve them, but what the hell, Ha Ha!

Rick

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:53 PM

Rick,

At the Folk Alliance Conference in Vancouver this past February, Lydia Mendoza was goven the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:59 PM

PAY ATTENTION, CAMPERS!!!!!!! Who are these people? Showing off is not what this thread is about. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. Good grief.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 02:21 PM

About 15 years ago (I know that's recent by standards on this forum but it doesn't exclude it from this thread) Mike Flynn, on his "A FOLK Sampler" regularly played cuts from a then recent release from a country blues musician named Creighton Lindsey.

His guitar version of "Bedside of a Neighbor" was, for me the ultimate version of that song I've ever heard before or since.

The album was, I believe, called "Cottonfield Blues" and Creighton played all the accompaniment and did all the vocals.

Due to a warehouse fire at his distributor's the only copy I have of his work is a 15 year old recording I took from the radio--thank God I always used to tape Mike Flynn's show!

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 02:31 PM

I stand humbled. Didn't know I was showing off Peter (although it wouldn't be the first time.)

Leslie Riddles...A.P. Carter's prime informant. A black man that Alva used to meet in his travels while selling fruit trees. Many of the "Carter Family Originals" derived from Riddles' versions of old Gospel and folk songs. He has an album out and plays and sings in a nice laid back style...but with MUCH skill.

Mose Rager....a coal miner in Kentucky. Along with Ike Everly, he strongly influenced the most purely talented singer-picker-writer-entertainer ever to perform rural music, Merle Travis. Once again, I believe you can find an album.

Snoozer Quinn (oops, sorry...SNOOZER QUINN!) Perhaps the most important "transitional" country/jazz guitarist who ever lived. For almost 35 years I'd heard rumours of a very poor quality tape that Snoozer made, while dying in a Cincinnatti Hospital, that contained some of the most original playing ever heard. Last year Stewie (or Dale Rose) found a site with it. I've never been so excited about hearing something. I wasn't disappointed. To appreciate Snoozer (from a historical point of view) you should know a little about Eddie Lang's history. But simply from an entertainment point of view, he's one hell of a picker.

click

Lydia Mendoza....What a STRONG 12 string guitarist! And what lovely Mexican/American music, either with her sisters or solo. There are albums.

Oscar Aleman...a South American Indian who went to Paris and played some of the swingingest Jazz guitar ever heard. Yes, he was EASILY Django's equal. He wasn't a "character" however and dropped into obscurity, until David Grisman collected his stuff in a two album set. He and Django were buddies and often played together.

At different times over the years, I've asked in many record stores about these artists and gotten blank stares. Thank Gawd for the internet.

Rick

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 02:40 PM

Rick,

A minor correction. You're talking about Leslie Riddle, not "Riddles."

I didn't get to know him well, but I had the pleasure of working with him at folk festivals a number of times in the early-1970s. He was a very gracious man. Leslie died in 1980.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 03:10 PM

Thanks Tedham. I should have gone with my logical instincts. Thought it was "Riddle" but have seen it written "Riddles" a number of times, so I picked the wrong one. He actually played at one of the Mariposa Festivals here and although I would have loved to share a workshop stage with him, never got the chance. Seemed like a nice guy.

Rick

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 03:13 PM

Patrick Sky........had a few moments but for me, vastly underrated. Excellent songwriter, picker, lots of trad stuff, played with and produced Mississippi John Hurt's last albums...........Now living in North Carolina and doing research on pipes and occasionally playing pipes on some backup work.

Needs to be played a lot more. He dropped out of the scene in the mid 70's disgisted I hear with the way things were going. He had I think about 6 albums, 2 still on CD. A few sound clips are here

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tiger
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 04:20 PM

Nina and Frederik
Delaney and Bonnie
Greenbriar Boys
David Bromberg
Richard Dobson
Carson Robison and Vernon Dalhart
Mac and Bob
Jim and Jesse
Lulu Belle and Scotty
Riley Puckett
Frank Crumit
Bradley Kincaid
Josef Locke
Cliff Edwards
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Utah Phillips
Jody Stecher
Ramblin' Jack
Eric Von Schmidt
Lucille Starr
Ditto Patrick Sky

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 04:54 PM

Woody Mann
Pat Donahue
Duck Baker
Chris Proctor
Ton Van Bergeyk
Guy Van Deuser
Dave Laibman
Pierre Bensusan
El McMeen
Marcel Dadi

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 04:55 PM

Mance Lipscomb, "the Texas Songster." Black sharecropper from East Texas-Louisiana. Overlapped with Leadbelly (a little later). CD's are available; label is Arhoolie [dialect for "holler," as in "field holler," a work song]. A typical weekend for Lipscomb consisted of playing for the "White folks' dance" on one night, the "Black folks' dance" on the other night, and both the Baptists and the Methodists on Sunday morning--he had to remember that they had strong and different preferences as to how hymns were to be played. A college roomie c.1966 had his records. Wonderful guitar picking. "Keep on Truckin', Mama," "Little Brown Jug," "Titanic."

C.C.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 05:00 PM

"Trevor Crozier" wrote among other things "Dead Dog Srumpy." In a similar vein I would suggest Jon Campbell who wrote "Tanqueray-Matini-o" and "Keep on Fishing."

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: shortbuckle
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 05:17 PM

I don't know what that means, because where I come from even Doc Watson is obscure. I think blues heads in particular have forgotten the importance of Skip James.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: toadfrog
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 06:24 PM

Mike Russo (blues) who is on an Arhoolie vinyl disk named "MIKE RUSSO" recorded in or about 1968.

And I agree with Chicken Charile: I had not been aware that Mance Lipscome is obscure, but if he is, by golly; He should be rediscovered!!!!

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 07:17 PM

My nomination is Jim Jackson whose name has come up in a few recent threads. He sang in minstrel shows and medicine shows before settling in Memphis and recording in the 1920's. He didn't record until he was in his forties so he is a good link to earlier styles. Everyone knows his songs but he is seldom given credit. He was the first to record (and probably wrote) "Wild About My Lovin" and "This Morning She Was Gone" (which became the Youngblood's "Grizzly Bear") and he made the earliest recording of "He's in the Jailhouse Now."

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Benjamin
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 08:21 PM

Jim Jackson also wrote the standard "Kanas City Blues" and was known as "Kanas City" Jim Jackson. John Jackson (no relation) mentioned to me how odd it is that no one ever mentions him or his recordings any more yet they sold well and were quite popular when they were made.

I'd add Roosevelt Graves. He was a great blues and gosple guitarist and singer and recorded some with his brother and even a small bad during the 20's and 30's. Those recordings are all availible on a CD on Document Records.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Greg F.
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 09:02 PM

Steve Gillette, a contemporary of Pat Sky's- though he's still around and still recording, doesn't get much play or recognition outside a smallish circle of fans. If you haven't heard him, give him a listen.

Best, Greg

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 09:16 PM

Not to put too fine a point on it and I'm not naming names so as to avoid trouble, but we have quite a few folks around here that need to be "discovered."........or at least get a lot more exposure than they currently do.

What makes me think of this is that I just got an MP3 from one 'Catter and a CD from another today......just fuckin' fandamtastic.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 09:57 PM

So name names, catspaw. I buy CDs.

Brother Boys. Obscure act to begin with and they should have been heard more but didn't fit neatly into anyone's catagories. Some duo acoustic swing and hillbilly music. All acoustic.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Gervase
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 06:15 AM

I'd nominate John Goodluck, who fronted Trunkles in E.Anglia in the Seventies and early Eighties (as mentioned on tghe Len Davies thread earlier) - a great singer and a terrific pressence.
And Don Shephered - another Suffolk singer, who had a fabulous, deep mellifluous voice. His album Adnams Ale is a long-time favourite of mine.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 06:33 AM

I wouldn't call some of these obscure (ie this ignorant non-folkie has heard of them and has recordings of them) such as Jack Elliott and Frank Crumit and Mance Lipscomb but Chacun a son gout* as the French say (only with accents)/
I'll just nominate a couple that we UK 'Catters have mentioned here who are under-represented in current recordings: Dickie Bishop and Johnny Silvo.
RtS (* each man passes gout to his male offspring!)

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: sheila
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 10:42 AM

Did Trevor Crozier have any albums? I've (only!) heard him live, in Edinburgh in the 60s, and really liked him. If he made any recordings, does anyone know if they are available anywhere?

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: LR Mole
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 11:19 AM

Cyrus Faryar (who's probably a whole thread all by himself) did a beautiful album, just called "Cyrus", undeservedly vanished. "Evergreen" is a lovely, anthemic song that needs greater circulation.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Wendy_
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 11:59 AM

Rick & Tedham - Is Leslie related to Almeda Riddle? Wendy

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 12:04 PM

No, Leslie was an African-American man from North Carolina. Almeda was a white woman from Arkansas.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Wendy_
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 12:08 PM

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 12:14 PM

The twins have been disturbing our sleep in the early hours for the past fortnight. I am starting to feel VERY obscure. If someone rediscovers me - will you tell me what I am doing, and if I am enjoying myself.
Thanks in advance.
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 01:00 PM

Tiger, Justa Picker -- get with the program. Who are these people? What albums, what is their story, why do you like them? A list of obscure names is USELESS, and only tells us that you know lots of names!!!!!!!
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: LR Mole
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 01:01 PM

Geoff: rumor has it that you're enjoying yourslf enormously and working hard with a new rhythm section. REDISCOVER: Dory Previn. "Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign", "Mythical Kings and Iguanas". ALSO: Van Dyke Parks' inexplicably ignored musical about Bre'r Rabbit,"Jump!"

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 05:36 PM

The Allen Brothers. Lee and Austin from Chattanooga Tenn. (the "Chattanooga Boys"). Guitar/Tenor Banjo brother duet with lots of kazoo who recorded in the late '20's and early '30's. These guys were the DEFINITIVE fusion of Blues and Old-Time Country. Had big hits with "Chattanooga Mama" and "Jake Walk Blues" but became infuriated with their record company when they were marketed in the "race"(i.e. Black) category (the Allens were White Southerners). Their complete recorded works are available in 3 volumes from Document records. I've never met anyone who heard them that didn't think they were great.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 05:43 PM

Continuing thanks, rarity lovers and champions of the undersung.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 07:56 PM

Really a loose thread to keep track of!

Let me add Tony Kraber to the list...pause for great silence because no one has probably heard him sing for fifty years.

Back in the 1940's he recorded an album of cowboy songs called The Old Chisim Trail with the classic rendition of "Rey Whiskey" with all the hickups and last gasp of expiration.

Unfortunately, Tony hung out with a lot of other radical do-gooders and was denounced before the Un-American Activities Committee as a "Communist" which pretty much did in his singing career.

We also probably have Tony to thank for reviving "Blood on the Saddle" in his own particular blood curdling way. I'm sure he's past and gone now but if you've missed him, try and look him up. It's a real treat.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 11:19 PM

Charlie, thanks for mentioning Tony Kraber. I believe Sandy Paton knew him as an actor as well as singer. Other than in Sing-Out, I don't believe I ever seen his name mentioned.

Rick

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 01 May 01 - 03:52 AM

Yorkshire singer Bill Price

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 01 May 01 - 04:09 AM

Chris Bouchillon
Frank Christian
Karen Dalton
Fred Gerlach
Mitch Greenhill
Jo Ann Kelly
Bruce Langhorne
Steve Mann
John Miller
Bob Neuwirth
Judy Roderick
Dick Rosmini
Patrick Sky
Mark Spoelstra
Bill Williams

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 May 01 - 09:12 AM

Rick, you're right. Tony Kraber was also an actor with one of the advant gard theater groups in Greenwich Village, maybe the ones that used to do productions at St. Marks.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 01 May 01 - 05:07 PM

Phew! I keep lookin for my name on these lists...and many of those named are not obscure at all. Jack Elliot just won something big (was it congressional honors?) and his daughter's film about him, also recently won a prize. Maybe Jack wouldn't mind, but-won't some folks get their feelings hurt to be called, Obscure?

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 01 May 01 - 05:32 PM

1) George "Smoke" Dawson. a fiddler and bagpiper from, I think, northern California. He spent the sumer of 1971 in Saratoga Springs and I haven't heard of him before or since. He had a self-produced album that I was lucky enough to get at that time. One of the best fiddlers I've ever seen; he even impressed Lena (owner of the Caffe Lena, who knew her stuff about fiddlers).
2) Pat & Victoria Garvey. From the same era, they put out an album on Columbia that was not promoted because an executive disliked the cover (according to an article in Sing Out! at the time). Nothing more than the two of them next to each other in a head & shoulders full face double portrait; but their shoulders were bare. They also did a self-produced album (on Mud Records), then divorced a few years later. I think they're both still performing, I know Victoria (who remarried) will be at the Caffe Lena sometime in the near future. Some of their songs were done by the Irish Rovers on one of their albums, and one (Blacksmith of Brandeywine) was done on a Time-Life (I think) album of american history/folklore through song. I can find the album names, etc for anyone who wants more information. Their songs were always beautifully crafted pieces of poetry, their voices perfectly matched to both tune and lyrics. I don't think anyone would mistake them for anon/trad pieces, nor yet for parlor/heart songs, but I'd put them up against any English language art songs I've heard at university music department recitals.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: John Hardly
Date: 01 May 01 - 06:51 PM

Actually kytrad,
Obscure is a badge of honor at mudcat.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 01 May 01 - 06:54 PM

Besides, Jean, it's a litmus test. If they are offended, then they know, and if they know, they weren't really obscure!!

(Huh?)

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: georgeward
Date: 02 May 01 - 01:54 AM

Hollowfox,

Victoria Garvey remarried years ago to Don Armstrong, whom you may also remember from Caffe Lena (and, yes, they just performed there this past Saturday).

Don and Victoria have recently moved to New Mexico. They love the southwest and its music. They've done southwestern stuff for years in the frigid northeast. Finally decided to take the plunge and follow the music home.

I would recommend to any southwestern 'Catters to keep an eye out for them. Lovely people and grand music. Very much alive and picking!

-George ::-.--O

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Greg F.
Date: 02 May 01 - 07:56 AM

Don't know that he'd qualify as 'obscure', but he doesn't get much play of late-

Was just reminded of Eric Andersen - he deserves to be heard more!

Best, Greg

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Nemesis
Date: 02 May 01 - 05:52 PM

Trevor Crozier:

1.GILES FARNABY'S DREAM BAND (Argo ZDA 158) 1973 R3

1.Newcastle Brown/29th Of May (Argo AFW 112) 1973

A rare and sought-after album, which came about as a result of collaboration between The Druids and Trevor Crozier's Broken Consort, who'd recorded an album called A Parcel Of Old Crams for Argo. Crozier later made a solo album, Trouble Over Bridgwater, for EMI's One-Up label.

Giles Farnaby's Dream Band is full of medieval folk music and includes a version of Greensleeves.

2. Gweltaz Bonedou Rez! Festival FLD 646 France 70s Rare LP Really nice folkrock LP with Trevor Crozier, Mick Hanly. The rest of the group is French. Some beautiful songs here.

If any one comes across either of these I would REALLY like to know - please email me on [e-mail]

- sorry don't know how to do blickies

I was a friend of Trevor's for many years and although I did have a copy of Gile's Farnaby I passed it back to him and he is sadly no longer with us.

Thanks Hille

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 May 01 - 06:17 PM

Then there's Than Hall, composer of "Blue Diamond Mines" and other wonderful songs. ;-)

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 02 May 01 - 06:25 PM

When 'Than Hall sang those songs, he always sounded just like Jean Ritchie. ;-) ;-)

My favorite of Jean's LPs was "A Time For Singing." I'd love to see that one reissued on CD. I learned a song from it called "One More Mile" that I've never heard done anywhere else.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 02 May 01 - 06:50 PM

Charley and Tedham, I think that 'Than Hall passed away...he was always there to 1)keep my Mom from being told (very near the McCarthy Era) that her daughter was in NY writing and singing protest (therefore Commie) songs, and, 2)to bewilder Pete Seeger, who was always introducing me at festivals as "that singer of the old, ethereal ballads..." Then Mom died, and Pete now knows better, so 'Than sort of gave up the ghost.

"One More Mile," was added on at the end of the "Mountain Born" CD, so is available again. Thanks, Jean

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Stewie
Date: 02 May 01 - 07:41 PM

Challis,

I thought Giles Farnaby's Dream Band was a collaboration between Crozier's Broken Consort and the early music group, St George's Canzona, but my recollection may be faulty in that regard. Certainly, some early music group was involved (and perhaps the Druids as well). I only have a cassette dub without notes or track listing. It has been a favourite of mine for playing in the car on long trips. Great stuff!

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Gervase
Date: 03 May 01 - 08:08 AM

Aha; so that must be where the Penguin Cafe Orchestra got the inspiration for their track Giles Farnaby's Dream on one of their albums.
Sorry, I know the PCO are probably regarded as horribly naff, but I've a soft spot for them (as do a lot of flokies, judging by the popularity of Music for a Found Harmonium)- and for Michael Nyman.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 May 01 - 08:29 AM

I'd certainly like to hear more of Jim Ringer, Papa John Kolstadd, Poor Howard Stith, Judy Henske, Carolyn Hester, Jim Dawson, and Paul Mc Neil.

I imagine they are obscure only in the places they are not well known. ( I have been listening to the president and learning to appreciate his grasp of the obvious.) That is to say that maybe people we view as obscure are actually very regional. AS great a song writer and singer as Jim Craig is, he almost never gets outside the Chicago area.

Carolyn Hester is out and about more lately but not up in Central New York. The rest I haven't seen or heard of since the 70's.

Spaw and I will be glad to support Pat Sky's talents in this arena, a great performer and songwriter.

I also don't see enough of Kendall Morse to suit me. Virtually unknown in Central New York, I understand he has a coastal popularity.

Don

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 03 May 01 - 08:41 AM

The PCO horribly naff? What an outrageous statement! Well, I like them anyway and even my 13 year old daughter regards them as "cool" and plays MFAFH and Perpetuum Mobile (sp?) on the piano!

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 May 01 - 09:27 AM

Don M, Poor Howard was at my house just last week! He's living in Dover, New Hampshire. Do you have a copy of his one-and-only casette? PM me if you want one, or the latest turnings in his never-dull life. He and Utah Phillips are the only two people I've never heard a false rumor about, ever.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: DancingMom
Date: 03 May 01 - 01:07 PM

Justa Picker, is that the Pat Donahue who plays on Prairie Home Companion? He's great, so versatile. Tiger, I remember riding around with my friend in her pickup truck in high school, listening to Jim and Jesse. (many moons ago!) I was talking to someone the other day and he mentioned something about them playing in Virginia and North Carolina. So I guess they're still around.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: annamill
Date: 03 May 01 - 01:35 PM

Has anyone ever heard Mickey Newbury? He has written some great songs. He is a wonderful story teller and musician. Unfortunately, not too many people have heard him. Some famous artists have done a few of his songs, but not too many. His music is not really commercial. It's more like poetry. His one really well known song was away from his story telling style and of course became a big hit. This was "Just stopped by to see what condition my condtion was in". Someone mentioned it in another thread recently. He also created Elvis's famous "American Trilogy".

I have owned two of his albums three times. They keep getting stolen...er...borrowed.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 03 May 01 - 02:03 PM

DonMeixner,

Part of the reason that you don't hear of Jim Ringer anymore is that he passed away back in 1992.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 03 May 01 - 03:14 PM

DancingMom,
To be honest, I'm not sure.
But I don't know of any other deadly fingerpickers named Pat Donahue, so it's entirely possible.

I've been working on his tune "Downtown Stomp" for ages, and am just beginning to get a handle on. Amazing tune. Think of "Johnny Be Good" meets Boogie Woogie piano, in fingerstyle guitar, and you're getting warmer.

He has his own web site here.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 May 01 - 04:15 PM

The first singers of folk songs I ever heard of--equivalent, in my mind, to the Gods of Mount Olympus--were such people as Burl Ives, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Jean Ritchie, Pete Seeger, Josh White, Leadbelly, Susan Reed, Cynthia Gooding, Theodore Bikel. . . .

Somehow, Jean, the word "obscure" never entered my mind.

There are lots of people out there. For example, if anyone is into genuine cowboy songs, check out Slim Critchlow. I heard him at one of the Berkeley Folk Festivals in the early Sixties. He sang a lot of the old, sentimental cowboy ballads, and toward the end of his program, he tossed in The Cowboy Fireman. He delivered it in the same style as the rest of the songs he sang, and it wasn't until he reached the next-to-last verse that the audience realized that it was a colossal leg-pull. Had us rolling in the aisles.

Now, if you want really obscure (:-O

ME!!! ME!!!

(One cut on a 12" LP handed out at the UN Pavilion during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and three light-years of open-reel tape in a box in my closet.) Oh, well. . . . (sigh).

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 May 01 - 05:10 PM

Here's three that ought to be heard a whole lot more (if you could find anything recorded): -Roger Hubbard- An Englishman, I believe, who, when he was young made a few acoustic blues-type albums. Astounding fingerpicking, and good vocals...he did Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, and Mississippi John Hurt really soulfully...like no other white guy I know of. -Peter Lang- Great fingerstyle guitarist who wrote his own stuff, a-la-Leo Kottke. I believe he is/was from Minnesota. -Long Gone Miles- A real laid-back blues man who sang like a smoothed-out Lightnin' Hopkins. He did "Mercury Jump", which was priceless. Lent the album out twenty years ago, haven't seen it since.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 May 01 - 05:34 PM

Ted,

Thanks for the info. I suppose thats a sure fire way to drop into musical obscurity. But isn't it sad that someone with his abilities should pass away and not make bigger ripples in the stream of life when it happens.

I have a Philo recording of his that has some of the finest writing I have ever read or heard upon it. In many ways similar to Iris Dement in style. Are there other recordings?

Don

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 03 May 01 - 05:43 PM

Don,

Jim made three LPs on Philo and on each on Flying Fish and Folk Legacy. He also made a duet album with Mary McCaslin on Philo.

There's a CD on Philo called "The Band Of Jesse James: The Best of Jim Ringer" that has songs from most of his LPs, but not from the one on Folk Legacy. The duets with Mary McCaslin are also on a CD called "The Bramble & The Rose."

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 03 May 01 - 05:45 PM

If Sandy Paton is reading this, is there any chance that Jim Ringer's Folk Legacy LP will come out on CD?

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Nemesis
Date: 03 May 01 - 05:56 PM

Stewie: wow! You could be the one of the few people in the World with GF's D boot-legged or otherwise. I got those notes re. the album off the Web - so might not be accurate.

I am hopefully seeing Trev's AUnty sometime in the future and will climb up in her attic apparently and get down the Breton album. :)

Cheers, Hille

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: hesperis
Date: 03 May 01 - 06:02 PM

ME!!!

Oh... you meant, um, somebody older than that?

(grinningandduckingandrunning,
~*sirepseh*~)

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: hesperis
Date: 03 May 01 - 10:31 PM

Oops, I killed it. :(

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Callie
Date: 04 May 01 - 06:42 AM

More people - no, make that EVERYONE - should know the songs of Mose Allison.

Maybe I keep the wrong company and he's well known in other circles. Whenever I sing his songs and acknowledge him, I get blank stares. No-one ever sings along.

Forgive me for mentioning the obvious: he's a (living) American singer songwriter. Writes lots of 12 bar blues. Mainly wry little songs about living in the city.

Any other Mose Allison fans out there?

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 04 May 01 - 08:09 AM

Mose Allison's also a great jazz pianist. He's a unique songwriter but even when he's doing other people's songs he makes them his own. A true original.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 04 May 01 - 08:29 AM

Nadia Cattouse (mentioned on another thread) W.I. actress/ singer. Last seen by me at the Greenwich Theatre (UK) in the early '70s.
RtS (and yes, I like Mose Allison as well)

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 04 May 01 - 10:09 AM

I got hooked on Mose through a literary reference. In Richard Farina's book "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me" the protagonist, Gnossis, buys a Mose album to celebrate both falling in love and the return of Spring. Needless to say I had to hear the guy.

Richard Farina himself (may he rest well)is another forgotten artist who's work deserves to be heard.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 May 01 - 11:59 PM

Mose Allison will be at the Salt City Blues Fest in Syracuse NY this summer.

Subject: RE: Who, Obscure, Should Be Rediscovered?
From: Callie
Date: 05 May 01 - 03:14 AM

Really?!?!?! big bummer - I'm in Australia.