Sid Laverentsplayed the classic song “Nola,” written in 1915 by pianist Felix Arndt (author of many player piano rolls). Laverents 1970 short film film Multiple SIDosis is one of the few amateur films to have been selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry [h/t wheels].
BTW, Newark Athelete (1891) is the oldest film in the NFR and runs about 10 seconds.
Workman on lunch break plays boogie woogie at the Public Piano in St Pancras Station, London. Some think he was just a plant in a public works suit, but so what. It’s all entertainment.
This magnificent feat was engineered with slide rules, and it amounted to blasting a giant bullet containing a human into the sky, then recovering both it and Alan Shepard intact [via]. Those early astronauts had big brass ones, and the creepy music made it even better. (John Glenn appears at 04:15.)
Spodiodi was street slang for chipping in for a cheap bottle of fortified wine in a brown paper bag and sharing it with your buddies. Urban Dictionary says “Spodiodi” is a glass of wine spiked with bourbon. Nah.
BTW, Sticks McGhee was the brother of Brownie McGhee, who partnered with harmonica player Sonny Terry known for his harmonica whooping. “Key to the Highway” was covered by many, including what’s his name. That famous British guy. You know. That guy.
Here’s some Easy-On-The-Ear-Holes stuff from The Yonder Mountain String Band. They need some authentic whooping in my opinion. Maybe even some eefin.
Have a great weekend, folks, and be glad that you’re not in Turkey.
“Mitch Woods‘ Boogie Woogie Blowout” at Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA. Nov 19, 2009. Pinetop Perkins (1913-2011) is featured. Jump to 01:30 for the music. Mr. Perkins (96 years old at the time of this recording) wanders on stage to kick ass just past 03:00. [h/t trebob]
“Too hot to handle and too cold to hold” is a recurring theme of The Saturday Matinee. Have a great weekend, folks.
Poor Keith. Just couldn’t follow directions. Johnny Johnson‘s blank stares are great.
Here’s Johnny Johnson’s version of Meade Lux Lewis‘ “Honky Tonk Train Blues.”
Here I was thinking that Pinetop Smith wrote HTTB, and the wiki proved me wrong just in time. Unfortunately there are no videos of Pinetop Smith in action, but Silvan Zingg is awesome. From Switzerland, here’s “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie.”
Now how to wrap this up…
Yep, Johnny Winter‘s “Mojo Boogie” does it. Have a great weekend, folks and be back here for more fun tomorrow.
I’d forgotten all about Ella Mae Morse until I restumbled upon her here. Freddy “Daddy” Slack, along with Ray McKinley and Will Bradley provided the backup. The Will Bradley Trio was a small big band that never quite found their niche, but left a big mark.
Never heard of ’em? Try this.
Here’s Maurice Rocco, a poundin’ on the whites and a slappin’ on the blacks in this version of McKinley & Bradley’s classic “Beat Me, Daddy, Eight To The Bar.” (See any influence on Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis there?)
Meanwhile, here’s Commander Cody, Jerry Garcia, Elvis Costello and Sammy Hagar, all in one pile of stuff that you’re probably glad you didn’t pay to see. Good god that’s embarassing. I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t listen to the whole trainwreck either. My heroes are gone… except for one.
