Name That Artist -- part 4

Subject: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:03 PM

OK, here's one...

This rabbi's son's academic work included a graduate seminar in Yugoslavian oral epic poetry for which he wrote a final paper on the songs of Mississippi Delta blues singer Robert Johnson, showing how the methods of oral composition were similar within those two otherwise diverse cultures.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Pene Azul
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:10 PM

David Bromberg?

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:11 PM

Nope, not David Bromberg.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:15 PM

Shelly Posen?

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:20 PM

Nope, not Shelly Posen.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: mactheturk
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:23 PM

How about Michael Jerling?

Mac

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:24 PM

Nope, not Michael Jerling.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:26 PM

Wait a minute....it's YOU Mike!

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:36 PM

Sorry Rick. It's not me.

Clue #2.

His grandfather escaped from the Czar's army and made his way to Canada before settling in New England.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mbo
Date: 26 May 00 - 11:44 PM

Gordon Bok

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 27 May 00 - 09:43 AM

Nope, not Gordon Bok.

Clue #3:

You'll recall that when Sally Field won her Oscar for "Best Actress," it was for a film that fictionalized a true struggle. The character of Sally's co-star is said to have been, at least partially, based on this person.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 27 May 00 - 09:58 AM

HAHAH!!!!!! I actually know an answer! (I've been reading these threads and getting very upset with my ignorance.) Si Kahn.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 27 May 00 - 10:02 AM

Congratulations Jeri. You've correctly named the artist.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mbo
Date: 27 May 00 - 10:09 AM

DARN! I was thinking it might be him!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 27 May 00 - 10:25 AM

Biography at Si Kahn's website.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: mactheturk
Date: 27 May 00 - 10:29 AM

Let me insert one here...

Clue #1. Grew up in Ohio, based now in North Carolina.

Clue #2. Master of open-tuned guitar

Clue #3. Was influenced by John Martyn, Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell.

good luck,

Mac(nightshift watchman)

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 27 May 00 - 10:44 AM

That would be David Wilcox (American version) who should not be confused with David Wilcox (Canadian version).

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:05 PM

A couple of easy quizzes, before the big boys return:

1) His original name was Marion Slaughter. He had the top selling record in any category in America in the 1920's. New name and record?

2) Woody Guthrie was the star of a Broadway musical that lasted one night, because he didn't show up. What was the title of that musical, and name one other person in the show?

3) Who were the two people who wrote Foggy Mountain Breakdown?

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:18 PM

Good ol' Vernon Dalhart. Nee Marion TRY Slaughter! Never could figure out the middle name. They say he was an OPERA singer. I can hardly imagine that!

The Martins and the Coys. (He was in another one but I think that's the one he lost interest in by the second night). Among the many famous (to us nurds) cast members was Red Rector. Also Wade Mainer and Cousin Emmy. Wonder how they got along with the New York Lefties. They've just released a transcript of the show...it's truly awful! Woody was no Tab Hunter!

Foggy Mountain Breakdown is credited to "Certain and Stacey", the maiden names of Lester and Earl's wives. Course Earl (by his ownself) really wrote it.

Rick

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:22 PM

Rats, I thought you were out digging compost.
The Song was "The Prisoner's Song".

Also, that is not the Broadway show I had in mind. This one had Brownie McGhee in it (if I remember). This should occupy you for about another 15 seconds.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: WyoWoman
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:25 PM

This is so cosmic! I'm learning "Back Room Lady" off Si Kahn's CD, had looked in the Digitrad to see if it was there yesterday afternoon and didn't find it, woke up this morning with the refrain running through my brain, thought to myself that I needed to get down here (in my basement office/garrett) and write those words down first thing. Then I plug into Mudcat for a five-minute quickie and, bingo! Si Kahn.

Wowee Zowee.

this means something ... i just know it does

ww

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:28 PM

Rick,

I don't think "The Martins & The Coys" was ever done on stage. It was a radio play.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:35 PM

Right on boys. Can't remember the name of the other one. I remember the thing that got Woody "ticked" though. They wanted Sonny and Brownie to walk into a cafe, where Woody would be sitting. He told the directer that it "wouldn't work that way". "He" should be walking into the cafe where Sonny and Brownie would be sitting. Sounds like he didn't take direction well Peter!

Rick

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 May 00 - 12:45 PM

Rick, I figure if I stumped you for one minute, that is good enough for me. It was called "It's All Right" -- if my memory serves.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 27 May 00 - 02:32 PM

WW, I suppose you've already found the lyrics?

I should have posted the URL to Si Kahns webpage instead of just to the bio. Lyrics to all his songs appear to be there under "music."

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 04:54 PM

Here one...

This artist spent most of his childhood in Ohio. His first LP included a tribute song to Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 08:19 PM

No takers on this one?

Another clue...

Many of his songs have spread to other singers. But he himself has never recorded, and never sings, his most-often-recorded song.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 10:19 PM

Mike, let me again congratulate you on the "worst joke" I've ever heard. (you know what one) Did you make it up?

Matt McGinn over in Scotland wrote a song about Yuri Gagarin...but I don't think he spent much time in Ohio!

Rick

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 10:45 PM

Well Rick, it came to me when I was grasping at straws trying to decode your cryptic clues. So you have to take some of the blame for it.

The answer to this one is not Matt McGinn.

Another clue...

In addition to the already-mentioned song about space travel, he's got at least one song that mentions a specific airplane flight, and more than a few train songs.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 10:41 AM

Tom Paxton? Song is "The Last Thing On My Mind?"
Song about the airline is "Thank You (Something) Airlines," which tells about how they destroyed a guitar. Maybe.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 10:49 AM

Sorry Jeri, it's not Tom Paxton.

Another clue...

This artist has been the subject of a Ph.D dissertation.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Barbara
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 11:04 AM

John Prine?

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 11:23 AM

Sorry, Barbara it's not John Prine.

But your answer reminds me of an anecdote.

On the night before the start of the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1974 or '75, I was having a beer in the bar of the Executive Motel with this mystery artist. Steve Goodman, who I knew, and another guy come in and join us. Steve only made first name introductions. After about 10 or 15 minutes, it dawned on me that "John" was John Prine.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 12:02 PM

Cleveland, right? First instrument might have been a Ukelele? Union guy? (If I'm not even close, I'll just give up and just loaf around until someone else gets it.)

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 12:23 PM

Jeri,

I suspect you now know the answer.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 02:42 PM

Maybe I'll keep quiet a bit and let others try to get it. They may come in from mowing their lawns, wondering why the wildflowers seem so plain, and take a guess. If I come back later and no one's posted the answer, like a bird on the wing, you'll hear my voice sing...
(Or Mike may choose to tell everyone and start a new one.)

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 06:51 PM

It was Republic Airlines that wrecked Toms guitar

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 08:30 PM

OK, I figured Kendall might get it since he sings Phoebe Snow, and I swiped a line from the lyrics up there. Utah Phillips. Sheesh. (I'm going to feel really stupid if I'm wrong.)

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 08:42 PM

Utah Phillips it is.

He did indeed spend his childhood in Ohio and moved to Ohio in 1947 with his mother and step-father.

"Yuri Gagarin" is a song on his first LP, "Nobody Knows Me," recorded around 1960 or '61 by Kenny Goldstein and released by Prestige Records. Utah will destroy any copy that he finds. Many years ago, he did that to mine.

His most-often-recorded song that he nevers sings is "Rock Salt and Nails."

The song about the specific airplane flight is in his song "Enola Gay," anout the plane and pilot who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

The Ph.D dissertation was by Saul Broudy fir his doctorate in folklore from the University of Pennsylvania.

MR

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 08:47 PM

I knew all that stuff, I just didnt realize I did

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Jim Krause
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:16 PM

Speaking of Utah Phillips, there's a song of his that I heard about twenty five years ago. I don't remember the title, and only part of the chorus. I'm going to the digitrad to see if it's there. If it isn't, here's what I remember

One hand on the keyboard
Moonlight fills the room
One hand on the Ebro
No regrets

I can see why Utah doesn't sing Rocksalt and Nails. I have a recording of it by some one else. That's one of those songs that had to be written, and I have always wondered if it was autobiographical. I have ever suspected it is. I wouldn't sing a song like that either that I had written. I'd feel too naked, too exposed.

Subject: RE: Name That Artist -- part 4
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 02:57 PM

The lines you're quoting is from "Eddy's Song." It was originally on Utah's LP "All Used Up" and is now reissued on the CD "The Telling Takes Me Home."

The song is about Eddy Balchowski, a pianist who went off to fight in the Spanish Civil War and lost an arm there. Decades later, Eddy was working as a janitor at a folk club in Chicago called the Quiet Knight. Utah heard him playing the piano there one night after hours.

I would guess that Art Thieme could tell us some Eddy Balchowski stories.

Mike Regenstreif