Polly Put Your Kettle On, Sonny Boy Williamson (1947)
Williamson’s final recording session took place in Chicago in December 1947, in which he accompanied Big Joe Williams. On June 1, 1948, Williamson was killed in a robbery on Chicago’s South Side as he walked home from a performance at the Plantation Club. After his death, Alex “Rice” Miller stole the name for his own performances and recordings.
Harlem Nocturne, The Viscounts (1959)The Viscounts’ only hit was released in 1959 and peaked at No. 53 on Billboard’s Top !00. It was re-released in 1966 and made it to No. 39.
[Top image: I was looking for something to go with the music and found Fleur de Guerre, a vintage model from the UK. Her Twitter profile states, “I like old stuff, wrestling & heavy metal.”]
Alalaké, Bembeya Jazz National (1971)
Formed by vocalist Aboubacar Dembar Camara in 1961 and specializing in modern arrangements of Manding classic tunes, Bembeya Jazz National won the first two national Biennial festivals in 1962 and 1964 and was crowned National Orchestra (of Guinea-Bissau) in 1966. The songis from a live album, Hommage a Demba Camara, recorded during a 1971 concert.
Mary Lou, Young Jessie (1955)Recorded by 18 year-old Obediah Donnell Jessie (1936-2020) who later spent some time with The Flairs, The Coasters, and the Obie Jessie Combo. It was his younger brother, actor DeWayne Jessie, who portrayed Otis Day in “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” Jessie was also related to Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Schwinn 24, King Arthur & the Carrots (1966)Kinky Friedmanformed King Arthur & the Carrots while in college, and they recorded one 45rpm. Flip side was Beach Party Boo Boo, cover version here.
[Top image: Created from a kindergartner’s drawing of a car? Nope. It’s El Super Auto del “Potro” Rodriquez, Ingenario Popular. The owner, Alberto Rodriguez (of Deán Funes, Córdoba, Argentina) left a message in the vid comments.]
Chicken Stuff, Hop Wilson & His Chickens (1958)Harding Wilson (1921-1975) got his nickname from playing harmonica a lot as a kid – harp is pronounced hop in Texan. (Chicken stuff goes by another name there, too.) Pop Hop’s steel slide style influenced many other bluesmen.
Oh What A Baby, The Tonettes (1958)The Tonettes (aka The Claremonts) started out in the Bronx in 1957. Sisters Diana and Sylvia Sanchez were killing time when their TV crapped out and were harmonizing by the family piano when TV repairman and aspiring music biz impresario Lou Ezzo heard them. He convinced them to cut a demo session in 1957. Classmate Josie Allen completed the trio, and they had some success in the eastern U.S.
Love Of My Life, The Persuasions (2000) Album: Frankly A CapellaFrankly A Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa is a tribute album released after Zappa’s death in 1993, and if you’re an FZ fan you’ll love it. In 1969 Frank Zappa heard The Persuasions singing in the background during a phone call to a record shop and promptly flew them to L.A. to record their first album Acappella (1970).
ICYMI – For those of you who use WordPress and hate the Gutenberg Editor, we’ve collected some useful hacks that allow you to revert to Classic Editor for some tasks.
[Top image: Location of the 12 trash pandas is unknown, a Tineye search sources Reddit. h/t Rightymouse.]
See See Rider, Janis Joplin (1963) Janis Joplin was 20 years old when she covered the traditional blues song. Ma Rainey was the first to record See See Rider Blues in 1924, but the music and lyrics date to the early 1900s at least. It’s my opinion that the name of the song is a misheard lyric / typo by the publisher, and that C.C. Rider is correct, that “C.C.” stands for “Chitlin’ Circuit” (or “Chitlin’ Café”).
