Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record

Subject: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 03:05 PM

Ken Maynard the first singing cowboy of the movies, left the results of one recording session in 1930.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 06:04 PM

It helps if you back up that kind of statement with some facts and context. Wikipedia helps as a starting point.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: wimpee3
Date: 02 Feb 22 - 10:58 PM

Dang, I would love to hear those. Can you tell me how I can hear them?

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 12:03 AM

(1930) [Home On the Range Unissued] 92 years ago! The Text was originally written about homesteading and not cowboying in 1876, by Dr. Brewster Higley.

Oh, gimme a home, where the buffalos roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

The air is so pure, the zephyr so free,
The breezes so balmy and light.
That I Would not exchange my home on the range,
For all the city so bright.

Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

The red man was pressed from this part of the West,
He's likely no more to return.
To the banks of the Red River where seldom if ever,
Their flickering camp fires burn.

How often that night when the heavens are bright,
With the light from the glittering stars.
Have I stood there amazed, enhanced as I gazed,
That their glory exceeds that of ours.

Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Oh, I love these wild flowers and the dear land of
ours,

The curlew I love to hear scream.

And I love the white hawk and the antelope flocks,

That graze on the mountain top green.

Give me a land where the bright diamonds' sands,
Flow leisurely down to the stream.
Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along,
Like a maid in the heavenly dream.

Home, home on the range,
Where the dear and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 12:12 AM

wimpee3 Bear Records

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 06:55 PM

https://n.b5z.net/i/u/10126339/f/ArticleArchive/thurston_article.pdf

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 07:50 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lWs0JJp0Ws
This link is to Ken Maynard singing Home on the Range. The tune is different to the somewhat more melodic tune learned in school when I was young.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 03 Feb 22 - 09:21 PM

The unhighlighted link above like so many other versions is similar, here's Ken Maynard's version. recorded in 1930.
Jesse James
Jesse James was a lad that had killed many a
man,
He robbed the Danville train;
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr.
Howard,
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.
It was Robert Ford,that dirty little coward,
I wonder how does he feel?
For he ate of Jesse's bread,and he slept in
Jessie's bed,
Then laid poor Jesse in his grave.

Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life,
Three children, they were brave.
But the dirty little coward that shot Mr.
Howard,
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor,
He'd never see a man suffer pain.
And with his brother Frank, he robbed the
Chicago bank,
And he stopped that Glendale train.

They went to the crossing not far from there,
And there they did the same.
With the agent on his knees, he delivered up
the keys,
To the outlaws Frank and Jesse James.

Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life,
Three children, they were brave.
But the dirty little coward that shot Mr.
Howard,
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

It was on Wednesday night,and the moon was
shining bright,
They robbed that Glendale train.
The people did say for many miles away,
It was robbed by Frank and Jesse James.

The people held their breath when they heard of
Jesse's death,
And wondered how he ever came to die.
It was one of the gang called little Robert Ford,
And he shot poor Jesse on the sly.

Oh! Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life,
Three children, they were brave.
But the dirty little coward that shot Mr.
Howard,
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 04 Feb 22 - 01:02 AM

Ken Maynard The first Movie Western Star to Record -1930 Columbia Record

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 05:42 PM

There are many different versions of songs within these lyrics by Ken Maynard recorded in 1930.Can anyone point them out?

Prisoner for Life

Oh oft times I've wondered how women loved men,
And oft times I've wondered hom men could love them.
They'll lead you to ruin, they'll cause your down-
fall
They'll cause you to labor by many a stone wall.

If I was on shipboard and Lula with me,
Bound down in cold irons I'd bang myself free.
Way over in Old Ireland my parents warned me,
To leave off while roaming and bad company.

Oh, eat when I'm hungry, oh, I drink when I'm
dry.
If a limb don't fall on me I'll live till I die.
Fare ye well green fields, soft meadows of dew,
Rocks and mountains I depart from you.

My eyes by a beauty be blessed,
Never more shall you soothe my sad bosom to rest.
Fare ye well little birdies that fly in the sky,
You fly all day long and sing your troubles by.

Never more shall I watch your scaling away,
I'll depart from all friends inside of the grave.
To roam at my ease and breathe fresh air?

I'd roam through the city, through village and dell,
Never would return to my cold prison cell.
What's life without liberty, I oft times have said,
I've a poor troubled mind that's always in dread.

No sun, moon, and stars can on me now shine,
No change in my danger from daylight till dawn.
Fare ye well good friends I'm willing to roam,
Such a wild outcast never was known.

I'm a downfall of my family, my children, my wife,
God pity and pardon this prisoner for life.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 06:58 PM

PRISONER FOR LIFE
KEY WORD SEARCH FOR KEN MAYNARD OPENING OF SONG

Cliff Broyhill drove Bobby McMillion and Rolf Ellison up Long Hope Mountain to meet W.T. Bill Ellison who sang for them a song which contained Ken Maynard's opening, word for word, which was about the tale of the Irishman Birchie Potter.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 05 Feb 22 - 08:34 PM

In 1925 the English subsidiary Columbia Graphophone Company acquired controlling interest in It's American parent company and controlled operations until merger in 1931. So copy's of Ken Maynard's 1930 test pressings did go to the United Kingdom (UK).And can be found on line.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 04:24 PM

https://youtu.be/f20MutALaac

Back to information on Prisoner for Life So Ken Maynard's verse "If I was on shipboard and Lula with me" Instead of leading off with Ireland he begins with the event that happens on a ship (shipboard) and a women with a golden heart (Lula). Clearly Ken Maynard's song is about people coming from Ireland.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 08:13 PM

https://youtu.be/dL-r9gGK41s

Here's a different but similar version of Ken Maynard's version.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 07 Feb 22 - 08:17 PM

https://youtu.be/dL-r9gGK41s

another version of Prisoner for Life

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 10 Feb 22 - 03:44 AM

"Prisoner for Life" Ken Maynard recorded an original folk song story. I will share this story about an actual family member that wrote this song about his brother that was in prison which has just like the author of "The Streets of Laredo" had many variations of what is assumed to be just folklore until the researchable truth is found by people who are open minded enough to not guess but verify.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 12 Feb 22 - 07:34 PM

https://youtu.be/dL-r9gGK41s

Ken Maynard's variation of words so far is the only artist to have verified the original Irish originality in his verses.He also has used every verse in this link

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 12 Feb 22 - 07:39 PM

The song above link is for Prisoner for Life. I would like to point out that Ken Maynard for sure did not copy from the 1910 publication.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 13 Feb 22 - 04:47 AM

https://youtu.be/QwhQ2XVqO8c


Another variation of Prisoner for Life

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 13 Feb 22 - 05:10 AM

https://youtu.be/CFLL9GVh3Jk

Hears a great version of "Jesse James"

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 13 Feb 22 - 06:20 AM

https://youtu.be/_PubDBqPzno

This version is the first on disc version of Jesse James in 1919 has all the lyrics of John Lomax 1911 version.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 14 Feb 22 - 03:38 AM

https://youtu.be/6JNwuAb6TMs

As a young man before WWI Ken Maynard was a trick horse rider with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, in fact Jesse James brother Frank James and gang member Cole Younger also had a traveling show. So I'd take a educated guess when Ken Maynard recorded "Jesse James" he did it by memory. Also hears a wonderful link of the history of the outlaws life story.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 16 Feb 22 - 12:59 AM

" A Prisoner for Life" Jules Allen "The Singing Cowboy" skips the first verses of Ken Maynard and joins his version with Fare ye well green fields, soft meadows adieu.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 16 Feb 22 - 03:16 AM

https://youtu.be/hahpJmfU2Dk

"Fannie Moore" was a nonissue of a traditional folk song by Ken Maynard in 1930. The link above was released almost two years ago.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: RandyL
Date: 16 Feb 22 - 03:52 AM

https://youtu.be/gSVmTESIQo8

"Betsey" was in print by 1858 in San Francisco. That version reprinted by Fife and Fife, is close to the version Ken Maynard sings. Link above.

Subject: Lyr Add: A PRISONER FOR LIFE (from John Lomax)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 22 - 07:12 PM

From Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads collected by John A. Lomax (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1918), page 200ff. I have adjusted the punctuation and line breaks to suit myself.


A PRISONER FOR LIFE

Fare you well, green fields; soft meadows, adieu!
Rocks and mountains, I depart from you.
Nevermore shall my eyes by your beauties be blest.
Nevermore shall you soothe my sad bosom to rest.

Farewell, little birdies that fly in the sky.
You fly all day long and sing your troubles by.
I am doomed to this cell; I heave a deep sigh.
My heart sinks within me; in anguish I die.

Fare you well, little fishes that glides through the sea.
Your life's all sunshine, all light, and all glee.
Nevermore shall I watch your skill in the wave.
I'll depart from all friends this side of the grave.

What would I give such freedom to share,
To roam at my ease and breathe the fresh air?
I would roam through the cities, through village and dell,
But I never would return to my cold prison cell.

“What's life without liberty?” I ofttimes have said
Of a poor troubled mind that's always in dread.
No sun, moon, and stars can on me now shine.
No change in my danger from daylight till dawn.

Fare you well, kind friends; I am willing to own,
Such a wild outcast never was known.
I'm the downfall of my family, my children, my wife.
God pity and pardon the poor prisoner for life.

- - -
There is a copy of this song in the Digital Tradition that is allegedly from Lomax, but it contains a few errors; I have marked the corrected words with boldface above.

The Internet Archive also has a recording by Jules Allen (see Wikipedia) from 1928 or ‘29 which follows Lomax’s text very closely. Wikipedia suggests that Allen may have cribbed from Lomax, although Allen claimed to have learned his songs while working as a cowboy and rancher.

Subject: RE: Origins: Ken Maynard 1930 8 songs Columbia Record
From: GerryM
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 01:23 AM

RandyL, I think it's great you're sharing all this information, and at the same time really annoying that's it's coming in the form of 80 tiny posts. How about waiting until you have enough related material to make a single, medium-sized post, instead?