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22 Jun 05 - 01:25 AM (#1506610) Subject: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: PoppaGator Check this out: http://www.spencerbohren.com/discography/album-info.php?cdid=39 Sixteen cuts, one song: each version demonstrates an era and/or an artist in the long evolution of American song, from work song to blues to jug band to string band to country to rockabilly, etc. etc. etc., on through the Folk "Scare" and the English Invasion. Spencer is a great storyteller, and he takes the opportunity to show off some of his wonderful instruments, including a banjo and a parlor guitar from the 19th century. The concept alone is interesting enough, and he does it up right, creating something really interesting, equal parts entertainment and education. Great understated soulful vocals, and a pretty impressive demonstration of a wide range of instrumental styles ~ nothing too flashy or ostentatious, everything authentic and tasty. The above link provides sample MP3s of the first four cuts. If you don't listen to anything else, check out #4. |
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22 Jun 05 - 02:34 AM (#1506627) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: Sooz I've seen and heard Spencer tell the story - its absolutely captivating! |
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22 Jun 05 - 06:13 PM (#1507374) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: PoppaGator I'm surprised that more east-of-the-pond 'Catters are not aware of Spencer, since he has spent so much time in Europe over the last 20-30 years. He may be better known in Scandinavia and Germany than in the English-speaking countries. He has also spent plenty of time criss-crossing the USA in his '57 Chevy and classic Airstream trailer, in which he and Marilyn raised (and "home"-schooled!) their four now-grown children. About a year ago, he played a few gigs in the northeast of England ~ around his buddy Martin Simpson's neighborhood ~ and a local Mudcatter started a thread "Who is Spencer Bohren?", to which I was glad to contribute some answers. So I figured, even if no one else was interested, Spencer has a few new friends up there in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (did I get that right?) who'd want to give a listen. |
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23 Jun 05 - 11:07 AM (#1508010) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: Sooz That was me! My school hosted one of the gigs on Spencers tour last September. In the afternoon he did the story workshop with a group of pupils. He also went down very well on our local radio station. He certainly made some friends in this corner of Lincolnshire. |
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23 Jun 05 - 11:17 AM (#1508022) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: katlaughing Poppagator, you know how proud Wyoming is of Spencer. Thanks for the link to this new CD of his. I just listened to #4 and love it. I'd expect nothing more than such great stuff from a Bohren. Wunnerful, wunnerful! kat |
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23 Jun 05 - 11:57 AM (#1508060) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: PoppaGator Sooz, I figured you either had started that thread asking about Spencer, or that you were one of the other local folks who chimed in. (Of course, I could have looked it up, but that would require effort.) Kat, glad you spotted this and hope you're doing well. I hope more people have seen this message than have responded ~ especially the blues enthusiasts. Maybe I'll mosey on over to Tweedsblues.net and post the same info. |
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23 Jun 05 - 03:53 PM (#1508236) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: GUEST,Hootenanny Here is one blues enthusiast that saw the message and gave it a listen. Once was enough thanks as I prefer the real thing. Whilst I can appreciate that seeing this guy live could be entertaining why would I want to by a CD of imitations of the genuine article ? I wish him luck but virtually everything of any worth in the blues field is already out there for sale. Hoot PS I will now retereat to my bunker |
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23 Jun 05 - 04:07 PM (#1508243) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: PoppaGator Hoot: Ouch! Spencer may be understated and (mostly) acoustic as opposed to hard-edged and electric, but he's certainly the "real thing." (One of an infinite number of possible "real things," anyway.) This quirky little project is hardly typical of his overall work, of course, no more than it would be of anyone's. Hey, I'm not about to argue personal taste with anyone ~ you can like and dislike whatever you must ~ but I would ceratinly take issue with the statement... ...virtually everything of any worth in [any] field is already out there for sale. There's always room for something new, different, and creative, in any genre. I bet you'd enjoy Robert Randolph and the Family Band, unknown outside their church just a few years ago... |
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24 Jun 05 - 06:09 AM (#1508717) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: GUEST,Hootenanny Poppa Gator, I didn't know there were any recordings available of hard edged electric field hollers or banjos playing the blues. After a considerable number of years of collecting and listening to the music both recorded and live on numerous occasions and in various locations I can only repeat my statement above (regarding recordings) that virtually everything of any worth in the BLUES field is already out there for sale. One obvious reason is that there are very very few bluesmen still around and those that are, are mostly past their creative years. Being an interpreter however entertaining is no substitute for the real thing. As I stated above I'm sure the guy is a very good entertainer seen live and hopefully people being entertained by him will be sufficiently impressed to go out and find the genuine article. There are many die-hard afficionados out there that started off believing that the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton were blues musicians too. I think also that your idea and my idea of the real thing may differ slightly. I've never come across the above performer's name in any of my collection of books on the blues so don't know his background. Hoot |
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24 Jun 05 - 02:59 PM (#1508888) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: GUEST,katlaughing coming through the backdoor With all due respect, Hoot, there are a LOT of blues people, here at the Mudcat, and elsewhere, whom you will not find in any books. That doesn't mean they do not have legitimacy as bluesmen/women. No, they may not be the old-time originators, but some of them write some damn fine blues of their own and, IMO, some are so damn good at playing their favs, it's sometimes hard to tell if it is them or the real deal long gone. (I am specifically thinking of Max, owner of the Mudcat. That kid is FINE!) I'd hate to judge all of my music choices on what I find in books, aficianado or not.:-) And, saying it's all been recorded. So, we should just all hang up our guitars, etc. and just forget any spark of creativity? Just pack it in and not even try for anything new or evolutionary? The blues done been over and ain't no use to wonder why, babe?*bg* kat btw, I couldn't stand Spencer's first CD. Ive grown to respect him and even enjoy some of his work over the years, though. |
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24 Jun 05 - 03:05 PM (#1508889) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: GUEST,PoppaGator Hey Hoot, Well, I suppose we've already agreed to disagree. Of course no one today, in the field of blues or any other, is doing anything that is BOTH (a) old-style and (b) original. If contemporary performers like, say, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Chris Thomas King, Robert Cray, Ry Cooder, etc., don't measure up to your criteria, I'm sure that no one else will, either. Seems as though you like the real old-time stuff pretty much exclusively, and that's OK. Spencer is probably a bit more "folk" than "blues," and also shows a very strong gospel influence in everything he does. He's a friend of mine, so I am of course prejudiced, but I think he's a notable performer worth someone's attention (if not everyone's, i.e., if not yours). I have to admire him, if for no other reason, for making a living as a musician, with no day job, for the last 30+ years, staying married and raising four kids while touring North America and Europe almost constantly. He hasn't made a big music-biz breakthrough, nor has his cause been taken up by blues historians, but his star continues to rise in the obscure little world of folk music, even after so many years. The best thing that's happened for him recently is to have been "discovered" and adopted by Garrison Keillor of Prairie Home Companion fame. Since his first appearance about two years ago (when he got to perform a few duets with the great Ralph Stanley), Keillor has invited him back more often and more frequently than any prior musical guest. When Prairie Home went on the road to broadcast from University of Wyoming (his home state ~ born and raised in Casper) and later from the Saenger Theater in New Orleans (his adopted hometown), Spencer was hired to perform and also to hire and coordinate all other "guest" musicians for the programs. At the Wyoming show, he got his mother and brother to do some old-timey Baptist hymn singing with him. The "Dirt Road Blues" CD is atypical and perhaps a bit didactic for some tastes, but I thought it was worth a mention because it's interesting, well done, and a good example of the kind of project that could only be accomplished by an artist not primarily motivated by commercial concerns. Also, it should be noted that the historical trends he's trying to illustrate definitely transcend "The Blues" as most strictly defined ~ he's showing the ongoing development/evolution of a song though various different folk/roots/pop genres. |
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24 Jun 05 - 06:29 PM (#1509034) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: GUEST,Hootenanny Kat, you didn't read my posting properly. My taste isn't dictated by what I read in books, I thought that would be clear. Neither do I believe that we should all hang up our instruments. If we did that then I would certainly have much more space in my house. Neither Poppa Gator am I putting the guy down, anyone that can survive as a full time musician over that period of time is to be admired but I read the original posting with the understanding that this CD was an illustration of blues history and on that basis I made a judgment of whether the CD would be worth purchasing, well it isn't and in my case it ain't Some of the guys you mention are certainly excellent musicians and very entertaining but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily blues musicians. So we agree to disagree and what the hell the more we discuss it the more publicity your man's getting. Keep the faith Hoot |
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24 Jun 05 - 11:33 PM (#1509222) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: katlaughing Thanks, Hoot, sorry for misreading. kat |
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24 Jun 05 - 11:47 PM (#1509228) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: Bobert Thanks, P-Gator.... The P-Vine is asleep an' so I bookmarked this site and will check out maybe tomorrow ans see what's it's about.... Bobert |
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25 Jun 05 - 03:57 AM (#1509289) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: Sooz Hoot, Spencer's story isn't really a history of the blues, rather the history of a song through its journey from Africa to the pop scene. Each track on the CD will show how the song would have progressed and developed as different artists within the history of blues got their hands on it. In the live performance Spencer did for a group of 14-15 year old pupils in our secondary modern school we all heard the same song nine times, but we were absolutely spellbound by the story and the youngsters saw and heard instruments and styles that were new to them. We were left wanting more. Spencer is a great story teller, a wonderful musician and a thoroughly nice chap. (You are right though, the more we discuss him here, the more people will know about him!) |
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25 Jun 05 - 04:18 AM (#1509297) Subject: RE: Blues History 101 on CD: Spencer Bohren From: rumanci thanks for the link and the info everybody - intriguing ! I'll investigate further too rum |