A little vintage Art Thieme

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 May 08 - 04:33 PM

BK -

That IS THE WAY it works for you.

If fifty threads are all there are, then you get them all. The total number of threads that the filter will return is 1,000 - or fewer. (You're welcome to assume I was just kiddin' Art that there might be more than 1,000 threads about him - if you wish. Actually I wasn't too sure, since we talk about him quite a lot.)

Your search shows that there are fewer than a thousand threads that contain both art and thieme. I'd suggest filtering just for Art and then just for Thieme as well, and then for any other names someone might have called him - including misspelled Theime etc - if you think of one or two(?). Either of these should get the fifty that contain both names, plus (esp for Art) a lot of extraneous junk.

The hard part could be finding any threads where he or his works have been talked about, but where his name isn't in the thread title, since the stuff inside threads is only searchable via indexes that may not be up to date. There may not actually be any - but you don't really know until you look (and with an indexed search you don't really know after you look, unless you know that the term you searched on is an "index term").

Art has been pretty good about visiting and commenting in any threads that refer to him, so a cross-check of his posts could be revealing, if there are any other threads of interest. (There may not be any.) There have been a few fairly extended periods when he's been "off the cat" and might have missed a thread, but usually they've come back frequently enough, or some one tells him about them, so that he'd likely have caught most - if not all - of them.

John

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 May 08 - 04:36 PM

Way back when, I started copying and pasting Thiemeism and asked folks to PM with any they might spot. I lost all that I had on an old PC. I now have a small file of recent ones. I had thought it would be a nice collection to publish online or in a booklet...all with Art's permission, of course. From an old thread:

had asked Art for permission to collect his stuff off the Mudcat and put them in booklet form a couple of years ago. I didn't go public with it, but did ask a few others to let me know whenever they spotted a "good 'un" so I could include it...


Of course, IMO, it would be even better if Art was up to dictating a book, directly, and like MMario I would love to help transcribe. I would just like to see the Treasures of Fine Art be preserved and shared and I know there is a LOT more in his noggin than has been posted here!

I'm still willing if anyone wants to send me links, etc. AND, if Art wants to dictate. Art, I've got the software that Chris could set up for you to dictate.:-)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 26 May 08 - 05:57 PM

John, SRS asked a very specific question which I answered -- simply and correctly, I think. Your response, addressed to me, seemed to suggest that I had somehow failed to answer the question properly. I'm not sure what you're on about.

Those 50 threads, by the way, contain many riches -- I recommend tracing and browsing them all at your leisure. The 20 Aug 99 thread, for example, contains Frank Hamilton's heart-warming welcome from several Catters he had lost touch with.

—BK

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Abby Sale
Date: 28 May 08 - 03:59 PM

Art & BK, thank you sincerely for the jokes. To me, aside from being fine laughating, they're potential gags. Sometimes I have to wait 30 or more years to use a gag - that is, naturally without any artificiality or setup. And this I did in just a few days!

In a lawyer's office today - exciting practice: wills, estate planning, "living wills," like that. Old school, old southern, staid, deadpan lawyer.

Literally, not one word of improvement on the facts, I swear:

While he's out of the room I notice on the desk a tri-folded letter -

                            UNC School of Dentistry
                          Faculty of Dental Practice
  
                       APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION NOTICE
  
     Lawyer's name
     Address

That's all I could see.

So when he returned, of course I said, "I happened to see a letter on your desk - of course I didn't open it but it seems you've been appointed to UNC Dental School." (He startled slightly that someone had observed something. I let him startle.)

"That's great...I understand Dental Law's a terrific specialty." (Take a few beats - just enough for him to slowly react & smile, not quite enough to get his mouth all the way open.)

"There are such big retainers."

And he laughed out loud.

I though his face would crack.

My day made in spite of the fee. (He didn't reduce it.)

Thanks again.

Subject: A little more vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 05:42 AM

Art sent me a compilation of what he regards as the best of his two Kicking Mule LPs
Outright Boldface Lies (KM-150) and Songs Of The Heartland (KM-148)
and with his OK I've put them on my webspace.

Cottage Cheese Story
Sally Ann
Titanic
The Great Turtle Drive (tall tale)
Billy Vanero
The State Of Illinois
Here's To You Rounders (by Don Lange)
Blue Mountain
Old Blue/Split Dog (tall tale)
Nine Pound Hammer/Railroad Blues
Shanty Boy On The Big Eau Claire
What Does The Deep Sea Say
For Bowls
The Rock River Valley (by Art Thieme)
Red River Valley (musical saw)
The Hanging Of Charlie Birger
Down By The Embarrass (by Win Stracke)
Will Rogers' Cow And Its Fate (tall tale)
Cape Girardeau--Hang Me Oh Hang Me
The Kansas Cyclone
Night Rider's Lament (by Michael Burton)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 10:31 AM

It is posts like this featuring the work of a master that will influence younger folks to keep our music alive. Thank you so much it is priceless

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 01:25 PM

Thanks, BK, those are great, as were the earlier ones.... but it did take me a bit to get them to play. The links say 'MP3', and my browser was told to play MP3 with one specific program. It said it couldn't do it. When downloaded, the files say "mpeg", and then I have choices of other programs which play the files just fine. Mpeg is 'usually' an indication of a video file.
Sometimes one's default program will recognize a file internally and not be confused by the extension...and sometimes it will just look at it and say "I don't do those".

If anyone else has a problem playing them, this may be the problem.

(and thank YOU, Art, for letting us hear all those classics....)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 03:45 PM

Came up real easily and played in my Windows Media Player.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 04:13 PM

I guess WMP will play both formats and sort them out. I haven't used it in years. I suppose many folks will have WMP as their default.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 04:32 PM

I listened to a couple on line, then gave up clicking on each one and put the CD in. :)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Peace
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 04:36 PM

Illustrated Art Thieme discography


Google the above. I do not know if that's been posted to Mudcat before. If so, well, it's been posted again.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 01:21 AM

Yes, Peace, it was posted here a week ago, giving a blue clicky to the discography.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 01:44 AM

I'm pretty amazed by all that keeps on happening on this thread. BK, as always, unbelievable work you've done. Again, thank you!!

The reason I included the songs I did on the favorites compilation, aside from those being many of my actual favorites from the 2 K.M. LPs, I did not want to include songs that were issued by Sandy or Andrew Calhoun--etc. Red Iron Ore, Walkie In The Parlor, Robin Hood's Death. When I saw those were not going to come out on a CD from Kicking Mule, I re-did 'em for Folk Legacy and Waterbug. Eventually, Kicking Mule was sold to Fantasy lock, stock and barrel. And now somebody else has 'em. On we go.

Thanks to everyone. Your comments are certainly appreciated.

Love to all,

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 06:55 AM

Always great to hear you, Art! And thanks so much for the magazine.

Love,

Jerry

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 11:30 AM

Good to see all of this continuing. Your KM albums are some of my favourites of yours!

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 12:51 PM

I sent a note to a local radio DJ who always asks for suggestions to play on his eclectic program on Sunday nights. I didn't recommend a particular song because I wasn't sure which to tell him. Every time his banjo comes on I think "I could have recommended this one, the banjo is so great" and others I think that for the great guitar or musical saw or mouth harp. . . but for all of that great accompaniment, it's Art's voice that really pulls you in and holds your attention. So whatever he picks, it'll be good!

SRS

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 05:26 PM

Who is that with you on Down By The Embarrass -- Ann Hills, maybe?

—BK

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: gnu
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 05:31 PM

Priceless period

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 05:44 PM

And, Fine Art, even!:-)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Mar 09 - 07:00 PM

BK,
That is Cindy Mangsen.
Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 24 May 09 - 03:01 AM

Refresh: verb [T]
to give new energy and strength to (someone)
A little more vintage Art Thieme

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 24 May 09 - 09:00 AM

Thank you, I wasn't around mudcat when the thread first started
priceless thank you

Dan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: GUEST,kjersti
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:31 PM

Thank you BK and Art for sharing these songs that have not been put on CD. I grew up with my parents playing Out-Right Bold-Faced Lies to my sister and me. She loved the Great Turtle Drive story so well she learned it and has since told it in bars herself.

I'm just a little sad though, because I'm getting a 404 error for Nine Pound Hammer/Railroad Blues and that was one of my favorites. I'd love to hear it again, please.

Thanks again for making all of these available.

-kjersti

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 04:38 PM

Well if Art will allow me, I will post it so you can hear it again
I will ask him

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 07:29 PM

Fine with me, Dan. Thanks for your trouble.

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 08:10 PM

Kjerski
I will post Arts song when I get back to my office on friday
for you I will post the link here where you can hear it

Dan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 08:19 PM

By the way, if you folks haven't heard Art doing
"on the Santa Fe Trail" you don't know what you are missing. His claw hammer banjo is superb and the song is a 10 out of 10 . Nothing short of AMAZING

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: BK Lick
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 08:38 PM

Sorry! It's fixed now.

—BK

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: GUEST,kjersti
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 10:59 PM

Thanks so much guys! You work fast.

Art, I'm really glad that you are documenting your years playing. I was thrilled when I first found this forum.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 12:00 AM

Kjersti,

Thanks for your kind words. This Mudcat place really is a grand oasis for me, a place where I can add my voice to some fine discussions of the music we care a lot about here. These days it's been a kind of lifeline for me. Stay around. Some can be feisty, but mostly grand things go on here.

One question: Do I know you?

All the best,
Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 07:49 PM

Art, I found your site a while back...Art's Place ...and your discography page too..Art's Music but, I can't find a Myspace page for you.

I even found THIS!

The Old Blue Bus Blog (try saying that after a few beers!) ;0)

And from there, come these inspirational words about your music:

"Art Thieme is a living national treasure. His puns, stories, sense of humor, and collection of folk songs are as comfortable as a well worn pair of walking shoes. His voice and instrumental work are so natural that when you hear him perform a song, it sounds like an old favorite, even if you've never heard it before.

The Rock River Valley, along the Illinois border with Wisconsin, is where Art Thieme was raised and sparked his life-long love of folk music. I believe Art could play anything, and I do mean anything. His main instrument is the guitar, including his unique nine-string guitar, but he also plays old time banjo, musical saw, nose flute, jaw harp and who knows what all. He has collected an amazing amount of folksongs of the Midwest, and preserved them through his recordings.

Art, along with friends, Fred Holstein, Steve Goodman and John Prine, were the driving force in the Chicago folk music scene in the 1960s and 70s. He taught at the famous Old Town School of Folk Music, wrote articles for the legendary "Come for to Sing" magazine, hosted a radio program, and performed at Chicago's No Exit coffeehouse for 37 years.

I've seen Art Thieme perform several times, the last being well over a decade ago in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. His live performances harken back to when folk music was an era, a way of life. Unfortunately, Art had to stop performing years ago due to Multiple Sclerosis, but with the help of Sandy Patton of Folk-Legacy Records, he has recently released a new CD of live recordings. For long time fans, you'll know most of the songs, but if you know Art, you know he never performed any song the same way twice. For those of you not familiar with this Midwest troubadour, this CD is a chance to experience one of the best storyteller/singers of the folk era."

And I'm sitting here listening to your songs, on the link above, just heard 'Titanic' and 'Shanty Boy on the Big Eau Claire' found the tale of Sue, the milliner's daughter and her love, the Shanty Boy, and heard their sad story...and now I've got 'The Rock River Valley' on, and suddenly Abe Lincoln's there, alongside goblins, trains, starry nights, 'summer beebuzzed pollen days' (beautiful) and the dreams of a young boy that took flight, as he lay in his bed, in that valley he loved so much...

And well.....it just kinda struck me...that when someone writes such words as these....

"Art Thieme is a living national treasure. His puns, stories, sense of humor, and collection of folk songs are as comfortable as a well worn pair of walking shoes. His voice and instrumental work are so natural that when you hear him perform a song, it sounds like an old favorite, even if you've never heard it before...."

....well, your music and your songs mean a lot to people and a Myspace page with some of your songs on would be great to have 'out there'   

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 03 Jun 09 - 08:50 PM

And Art you know I would be delighted to make a myspace page for you should that be something you want to do

Dan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Elijah Browning
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 01:49 PM

There's been talk about a Wikipedia page for Art. I for one think he sure deserves one. Never written one myself. Anyone else have that expertise? Might help clarify the details or keep the mystique as he sees fit. There were a few details on his childhood that I know are not accurate in the Blue Bus Blog entry. Still, the hearts in the right place and the imagery is sometimes more pleasant than the facts. Whether it's MySpace/Facebook or a Wiki page, these should have Art's ok. Don't mean to speak for him, but I'm sure he doesn't want an unauthorized digital biography.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 04:40 PM

For sure there are some details in the very nice summary of my doings that don't jibe with the truth o' it. For one, there was no rural Rock River Valley in my childhood at all. That myth may have started because one of the 3 songs I ever wrote is named "The Rock River Valley" -- and it concerns a boy growing up there. The truth is that I pulled that song out of my imagination one beauteous and sunny day when I was hiking in Northern Illinois. When any of us were singing at a great folk club in Rockford, Illinois called Charlotte's Web we'd be put up at an old farmhouse outside of town. The next town over, a couple of miles away, was Rockton, Illinois where there was a small place on Main St., Dora's Kitchen, that made the best apple pie I'd ever tasted. Thoughts of that just about perfect delicacy were magnetizing me onward through the green and growing Rock River Valley, and I did eat two servings of Dora's pie that afternoon. (We never awoke from the doings of the night before until noon, at least, back then.)

On the way back to Bill and Karen Howard's spare farmhouse for meandering folksingers, I sat down by the river, and that little song sort of erupted from my innards like a balky hairball shot from the jaws of Jack Kerouac---our cat. --- I suspect that was probably the start of any myth out there about my beginnings being rural.

Actually, I grew up in an apartment in a high-rise building in Chicago! Any rural-ness in me was acquired later from spending vacations with my aunt and uncle in Dekalb, Illinois.

And I'm left wondering if this "Elijah Browning guy might be, actually, our son, Chris, who is having his 39th birthday TODAY---June 4th---even as we speak!!!!!!----- He's the only one who has mentioned this Wicked-pedophile thing to me---whatever that is. --- I'll take a chance: hris, Tried to call today and only got your answering machine! HAPPY BI
RTHDAY!!!!
We love you and Kat and the kids more than we can say.. (But you know that!!) ---

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: GUEST,CupOfTea, No Cookies
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 06:56 PM

Egad, Art!

Vacation in DeKalb??? That was decades before Cindy Crawford was working her way through high school detasseling corn, what on earth did you DO there? That was likely even before the Cornfest and the famed "Jello Plunge" too!

(a fond yank of yer chain)
Joanne in Cleveland who USED to be Joanne in DeKalb in Grad School (and still has flying ears of corn plastered all over autoharp & concertina case & music books)

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 09:54 PM

Dekalb? Lets see!

1949 or so--my aunt and uncle's house was on Route 38--Lincoln Highway--about 2 blocks from the big old cement post office where, as a kid, I disturbed a hornet's nest and got stung maybe 100 times before I could run home. A package liquor store is where that house stood. NIU was called the Northern Illinois State Teachers College then. The big pond by the Linc. Hwy. entrance was where we would go ice skating. It froze solid almost every winter back then; winters always seemed much colder back in the 1940s. I discovered the Hardy Boys books about that time and bought every one I could get with my meager allowance. --- Jolly's Toggery was a men's store there then, and the newspaper was on the corner of First Street I think it was---near the PRINCE CASTLE ice cream place--and Ben Gordon's Hardware Store was further down past the railroad tracks that split downtown in two. I remember Ben Gordon, a friend of my uncle's, being a great guy who was always smiling. Joe Katz auto dealer was downtown too. And the theater with the mummies downtown--just amazing. The guy's house who invented barbed wire! One day, right downtown, I saw the hobo called Side Door Pullman drop off a boxcar, walk into the greasy spoon I was drinking a Coke in, and sit down next to me at the counter! Side Door later became King Of The Hobos in Britt, Iowa --- and he just passed away a year or two ago.

Many a memory still travels with me from those few summers and Christmas vacations I spent in Dekalb--before my uncle moved his factory operation to Evansville, Indiana.-----But that's another story...

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Elijah Browning
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 12:32 AM

You'll never see C.T. and E.B. in the same place at the same time. Kind of like Superman and Clark Kent expcept without the superpowers or the posh writing gig. Although I have been found half-dressed in a phone booth before. So how 'bout it? Anyone out there have Wiki-experience? If not, I'll give it a stab with Art's permission. I'll wait to hear from my betters first (meaning those of you that have lived through those times).

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: GUEST,kjersti
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 07:08 PM

Hi Art,

Nope, you don't know me. I don't think I've even got to see you play live. If I did I was probably less than 2. But I do appreciate your music and your being online here.

Thanks again,
Kjersti

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: GUEST,harpgirl
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 08:13 AM

Hi Art,
You really must join facebook. You get daily feeds about what everyone is doing and can talk to them. Marcy and Cathy are active on it. I think you would really enjoy it. I met Chris Kastle at the Florida Folk Festival, by the way. She moved down to Florida to run a maritime program in St. Augustine. She shared some of her music at the festival and of course, I bought her CD's and I am really enjoying them. Lots of new songs. Hope this finds you and Carol well.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:17 AM

Abby,
How good to hear from you! I'm sure there are oldtimers besides moi still here that miss you around this forum. We, Carol and I, are in good shape, for the shape we're in. The glass is more than half full because I threw up in it. Thanks for the idea about Punnembook. I'll think on it. Cathy and Marcy were here for a visit a bit ago and we had a fine time. Give my best to Chris Kastle. If Tom is there still (one never knows) a high-five to him too. --

-- The more things change, the more they get different.

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:45 AM

someone (grin) has added an Art Thieme article at Wikipedia ...
... you all better run and add some more facts to that article before one of those disgusting Wikipedia "notability" discussions starts to take place !
Stefan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Elijah Browning
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 10:42 AM

Now "THAT'S the TICKET"! Good start to the page, Stefan.

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 08:46 PM

Stefan,
Every time I look at what you have created for so many of us on your website, I'm simply amazed, stunned, and personally humbled -- by my portion of it especially.

Thank you again, good sir.

And the Wicked-pedophile piece is the first time I've been in an encyclopedia of any kind. To whoever started that -- As Midnight The Cat used to say on Smilin' Ed McConnell's old 1950s kids radio show with Froggy The Gremlin plunking his magic twanger:

"NICE!"

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 11:16 AM

I just noticed that Stefan Wirz--along with Chris are responsible for the Wikipedia entry. Again, thanks to you both.
Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Stefan Wirz
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 01:00 PM

it has been my pleasure ...
... and you might have noticed, that I didn't add anything else than what can be read in your - I assume: self written - Mudcat Cafe Profile --- so until now there seems to be nothing but sheer facts ;-)
Stefan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 15 Dec 09 - 09:23 PM

refresh---so them that are looking for the song Old Blue-Split Dog Tale might find it. Click on that title which BKLick has made available for listening in this thread.

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: olddude
Date: 15 Dec 09 - 11:17 PM

Loved it the first time I heard it, still do
wonderful stuff for sure

Dan

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 07:18 PM

...and now, with Jean Ritchie in hospiutal -- I just noticed Jean's lovely remembrance of that long ago gig.

Dear lady, and George and Jon - everyone: Carol and I are hoping for a quick and complete recovery for all of you.

Love,

Art

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 07:33 PM

I have a CD of Art - ALL good stuff !

Subject: RE: A little vintage Art Thieme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Dec 09 - 07:34 PM

100