Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart

Subject: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: Cluin
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 11:20 PM

I'm looking for a good recording of the song "Arkansas Sweetheart". It's one my Dad's uncle used to sing all the time; it was his party piece...

My Arkansas sweetheart, I'm feelin' so blue
Nobody can cheer me, nobody but you...

I'ver heard the Reverend Jimmie Davis version and don't care for it. He messes up the melody. So I'm looking for a good version.

Any help/suggestions?

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 11:33 PM

You can find it by Reba Dearmore in the Max Hunter collection at Missouri State University (the school formerly known as Southwest Missouri State)

http://www.missouristate.edu/folksong/maxhunter/1382/index.html

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: Cluin
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 11:51 PM

Yeah, I came across that site already, thanks. But that's a recording somebody did on an old tape recorder of someone singing it in her kitchen and stumbling over the words. I'm looking for a more polished recording.
The lyrics here are the ones I remember hearing.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY ARKANSAS SWEETHEART (H Cook, J Davis)
From: Cluin
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 11:55 PM

Might as well post `em here....


My Arkansas Sweetheart

My Arkansas sweetheart,
I'm feelin' so blue.
Nobody can cheer me,
Nobody but you.
The birds and the flowers,
The love in your eyes,
Are all that I want, dear,
For my paradise.
I'll follow the bluebirds
What more can I do?
My Arkansas sweetheart.
I'm comin' to you.

Arkansas, you gave to me my sweetheart
Now I'll sing your praise the whole day long
Down among the pine trees, she is waiting
Listen, while I sing to her this song

My Arkansas sweetheart,
I'm feelin' so blue.
Nobody can cheer me,
Nobody but you.
The birds and the flowers,
The love in your eyes,
Are all that I want, dear,
For my paradise.
I'll follow the bluebirds
What more can I do?
My Arkansas sweetheart.
I'm comin' to you.

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: Peace
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 12:20 AM

I can't find it by anyone else. And the only sheet music I found was Davis's.

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: Cluin
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 02:50 PM

I've heard it sung with more melody to it than the above examples though. There must be a better recording out there.

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 06:41 PM

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 01:47 PM

I asked the Folk Center archivist to look for this recording and so far it has not been found.   She did learn that it was recorded on Columbia in 1931 by Herb Cook under the name Arkansaw Sweetheart. Allmusic.com lists "My Arkansas Sweetheart", written by Cook & Davis on Jimmie Davis' 1998 Bear Family recording "Nobody's Darling But Mine".

Subject: Lyr Add: MY ARKANSAS SWEETHEART (H Cook, J Davis)
From: Gene
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 02:20 PM

sung kinda matter-of-factly...not too much sincerity & emotion
in it..

off hand - I think i hear 1/2/4/5 chords and a quick minor dip...

My Arkansas Sweetheart
as recorded by: Jimmie Davis

Arkansas, you gave to me my sweetheart
Now I sing your praise the whole day long
Down among the pine trees she is waiting
Listen while I sing to her this song

My Arkansas sweetheart, I'm feelin' so blue
Nobody can cheer me, Nobody but you
The south wind is sighing a sweet melody
The voice of the southland is calling to me

The birds and the flowers and The love in your eyes
Are all that I want, dear, For my paradise
I'll follow the bluebirds, What more can I do?
My Arkansas sweetheart, I'm comin' to you

Repeat 2nd & 3rd verses with noted changes

My Arkansas sweetheart, I'm feelin' so blue
Nobody can cheer me, Nobody but you
The south wind is sighing a sweet melody
The voice of the southland is calling to me

The birds and the flowers and The love in your eyes
[Is] all that I want, dear, For my paradise
I'll follow the [bluebird-ies], What more can I do?
My Arkansas sweetheart, I'm comin' to you

Subject: RE: Recording Wanted: Arkansas Sweetheart
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 09:00 PM

Russell has an entry only for the Jimmie Davis recording. Meade has no entry at all either under 'Arkansas Sweetheart' or 'My Arkansas Sweetheart'.

--Stewie.