A Musical History

According to wikipedia, A Musical History was released as an LP. But what I have is a cassette that I bought from Dave Creech at a PHLO gig in April 1992.

Side 1

1. I Ain't Rough (previously unreleased)

   • Barry Back: vocal, kazoo
   • Dave Creech: trumpet mouthpiece
   • Andy Leggett: guitar, kazoo
   • John Turner: string bass

   Written by Joe "King" Oliver. Recorded by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band (with Louis Armstrong) in 1923.

   I'm not sure who's playing guitar and kazoo on this song.

2. Second Fiddle (from PHLOP!)

3. Sporting Life Blues (from PHLOP!)

4. Cushion Foot Stomp (from PHLOP!)

5. Basin Street Blues (from Piggery Jokery)

6. Emmalina (from Piggery Jokery)

7. High Society (from Piggery Jokery)

8. Makin' It Big (from Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra)

9. Divorce (from Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra)

10. Taking My Oyster For Walkies (from Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra)

11. Making Britain Great Again (from Brum Folk 76)

    • Dave Creech: lead vocal, trumpet
    • unidentified Piggies: drums, piano, tuba, electric guitar, referee's whistle, duck call

    Written by an anonymous author.

Side 2

1. Tiger Blues (previously unreleased)

   • Dave Creech: trumpet
   • Andy Leggett: saxophone
   • Hannah Wedlock: lead vocal
   • unidentified Piggies: guitar, string bass, drums, backing vocal

   Written by Andy Leggett. His publishing company is called Tiger Tunes UK.

2. Cry Me A River (from Back On The Road Again)

3. Misery And The Blues (from Back On The Road Again)

4. Java Jive (from Back On The Road Again)

5. Hallelujah (from Back On The Road Again)

6. Rain Today (from Back On The Road Again?)

7. Jail House (previously unreleased)

   • Barry Back: vocal
   • Dave Creech: trumpet
   • Dave Griffiths: mandolin
   • Jon "Wash" Hays: washboard
   • Jim Reynolds: guitar
   • unidentified Piggy: jug

   "Nobody Knows But Me" was written by Elsie McWilliams and Jimmie Rodgers. It was recorded by Jimmie Rodgers (1929), Lefty Frizzell (1959), Merle Haggard (1969), and Hank Snow (1972), among others.

   Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933), known as "the singing brakeman", is considered the father of country music. His songs include "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas)", "In The Jailhouse Now", "Waiting For A Train", and "Hobo Bill's Last Ride". Elsie McWilliams (1896-1965) was Rodgers' sister-in-law and collaborated on several of his songs.

8. Coney Island (previously unreleased)

   • Barry Back: lead vocal
   • Dave Creech: trumpet mouthpiece
   • Dave Griffiths: mandolin
   • Jon "Wash" Hays: washboard
   • Jim Reynolds: guitar
   • unidentified Piggies: kazoo, backing vocal

   "Coney Island Washboard Roundelay" was written by Hampton Durand, Jerry Adams, Ned Nestor, and Aude Shugart (four of the Five Harmaniacs). Recorded by the Five Harmaniacs (1926), the Mills Brothers (1932), and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1967), among others. The PHLO had previously recorded it on their third LP.

9. Shine (previously unreleased)

   • Barry Back: lead vocal
   • Dave Creech: commentary, trumpet
   • Dave Griffiths: mandolin, string bass
   • Jon "Wash" Hays: washboard
   • Jim Reynolds: guitar
   • unidentified Piggy: backing vocal

   Written in 1910 by Ford Dabney, Lew Brown, and Cecil Mack. Recorded by Louis Armstrong (1931), Ella Fitzgerald (1936), and Ry Cooder (1978), among others. Dooley Wilson sang it in the film Casablanca.

   In the PHLO version, the racist names have been changed (Sambo, Rastus, Chocolate Drop > Brian, Florence, Ermintrude).

10. Georgia Grind (previously unreleased)

    • Barry Back: lead vocal, kazoo
    • Dave Creech: trumpet mouthpiece
    • Dave Griffiths: mandolin
    • Jon "Wash" Hays: washboard
    • Jim Reynolds: guitar
    • unidentified Piggies: backing vocals, jug

    Written by Spencer Williams. Recorded by Louis Armstrong (1926), Duke Ellington (1926), and Perry Bradford (1926). Not the same song recorded by the State Street Ramblers (1931) and the Memphis Nighthawks (1932).

PHLO | Personnel | Discography | PHLOP! | Piggery Jokery | PHLO | Back On The Road Again | A Musical History | Links

Comments or corrections?

Crescendo Tremendo