My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Vol. 1

by N/A

Overview

A disc of classic recordings is a rarity, but that's exactly what this is. Some of the performers are well known people, like Clarence Ashley, Dock Boggs, Uncle Dave Macon, and Tommy Johnson. Others, like the Haywood County Ramblers, are far from household names, but that doesn't mean their songs are lesser creations. And these ballads of bad men, hell raisers, violence, and drinking are the stuff of legends, like "Frankie" by the Dykes Magic City Trio, a version of "Frankie and Johnny" by a group reminiscent of the Carter Family. It's interesting that the performers on these songs from the '20s and '30s are both black and white, and the music sounds remarkably similar -- a clear indication that prejudice didn't extend everywhere at the time, and that music was colorblind. From a time when American rural song was still a strong musical force -- before Tin Pan Alley and commercialization had changed everything -- "Little Sadie" and "Viola Lee Blues" come across the years with complete crispness, while the banjo style of Dock Boggs can be heard as an influence on so many who followed. But these pieces also come from the cusp, when urban culture was about to take over, and songs like the Allen Brothers' "Prisoner's Dream" would be replaced by other tunes. In fact, the one piece here that offers any kind of continuity is a version of "Stack-O-Lee" from the Fruit Jar Guzzlers, although their version seems hopelessly naive and country compared to others that would come later. This is, as it's meant to be, a collection that's very much of its place and time. But since they both represent a crossroad, it's a great place and perfect time in the development of American music. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/1998
Label:	Yazoo
UPC:	0016351203922
Rank:	92929

Tracks

1. Tell It to Me  -  Grant Brothers & Their Music
2. Little Sadie  - Clarence Ashley  -  Traditional
3. Bad Luck Dice  - Clifford Gibson
4. Way Up on Clinch Mountain  - Jilson Setters
5. Frankie  -  Dykes Magic City Trio
6. Canned Heat Blues  - Tommy Johnson
7. Got the Jake Leg Too  -  Ray Brothers
8. Country Blues  - Dock Boggs  - Marcus Roberts
9. Kentucky Blues  - Roy Book Binder  - Little Hat Jones
10. Prisoner's Dream  -  Allen Brothers
11. John Hardy  - A.P. Carter  - Huddie Ledbetter  - Ernest V. Stoneman  -  Sweet Brothers  -  Traditional
12. Better Leave That Stuff Alone  - Will Shade
13. Way Down the Old Plank Road  - Uncle Dave Macon  - Sam McGee  -  Traditional
14. The Fate of Talmedge Osborn  - Kahle Brewer  - Ernest V. Stoneman
15. Viola Lee Blues  -  Cannon's Jug Stompers  - Noah Lewis
16. Rock House Gamblers  - Cleve Chaffin  -  Traditional  -  McClung Brothers
17. Dupree Blues  - Willie Walker
18. All Bound Down  -  Haywood County Ramblers
19. Low Down Rounder Blues  - Peg Leg Howell
20. Stack-O-Lee  - Champion Jack Dupree  -  Fruit Jar Guzzlers  -  Traditional
21. My Crime Blues  -  Barefoot Bill
22. Jesse James  - Ken Maynard
23. Chain Gang Special  -  Watts & Wilson

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The McClung Brothers   Primary Artist
Grant Brothers & Their Music   Primary Artist
Little Hat Jones   Primary Artist
Cannon's Jug Stompers   Primary Artist
Ernest V. Stoneman   Primary Artist
Watts & Wilson   Primary Artist
Sam McGee   Primary Artist
Peg Leg Howell   Primary Artist
The Ray Brothers   Primary Artist
Kahle Brewer   Primary Artist
Haywood County Ramblers   Primary Artist
Will Shade   Primary Artist
Fruit Jar Guzzlers   Primary Artist
Sweet Brothers & Ernest Stoneman   Primary Artist
Allen Brothers   Primary Artist
Sweet Brothers   Primary Artist
Ken Maynard   Primary Artist
Clifford Gibson   Primary Artist
Clarence Ashley   Primary Artist
Cleve Chaffin & The McClung Brothers   Primary Artist
Cleve Chaffin   Primary Artist
Uncle Dave Macon   Primary Artist
Willie Walker   Primary Artist
Tommy Johnson   Primary Artist
Barefoot Bill   Primary Artist
Dykes Magic City Trio   Primary Artist
Dock Boggs   Primary Artist
Jilson Setters   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Thomas "Snake" Johnson   Performer
Cannon's Jug Stompers   Performer
Joan Pelosi   Booklet Design,Design
Charles Wolfe   Liner Notes
Charles K. Wolfe   Liner Notes
Champion Jack Dupree   Composer
Ernest V. Stoneman   Performer
Watts & Wilson   Performer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
Sam McGee   Performer
Peg Leg Howell   Performer
Noah Lewis   Composer
Kahle Brewer   Performer
A.P. Carter   Composer
Roy Book Binder   Composer
Marcus Roberts   Composer
Will Shade   Composer,Performer
Fruit Jar Guzzlers   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Allen Brothers   Performer
Sweet Brothers   Performer
Ken Maynard   Performer
Clifford Gibson   Composer,Performer
Clarence Ashley   Performer
Uncle Dave Macon   Performer
Don Kent   Liner Notes
Willie Walker   Composer,Performer
Tommy Johnson   Composer,Performer
Haywood County Ramblers   Performer
Barefoot Bill   Performer
Dykes Magic City Trio   Performer
Dock Boggs   Composer,Performer
Jilson Setters   Performer
Richard Nevins   Producer,Remastering,Compilation Producer