I don’t know about you, smooches, but I’m feelin like it’s been a little too rock-y around here lately. The urge to take a deep breath and get back to basics has returned.
The last time this happened, I found solace in Hank. Today I feel like dropping further back, in a time machine sponsored by Crazyfoot, who hepped me to the Memphis Jug Band.
Lord, the kazoo can work wonders on the soul.
Cub Coda of the Allmusic Guide describes their music as a “freewheeling mixture of blues, ragtime, vaudeville, folk, and jazz,” which pretty much nails it.
The only thing I have to add is that if you’re into song titles, look no further than the jug bands of the 20s and 30s: “Hitch Me To Your Buggy And Drive Me Like A Mule,” “Baby Got The Rickets (Mama’s Got The Mobile Blues),” the seriously questionable “A Black Woman Is Like A Black Snake,” and the all-time classic “She Stabbed Me With An Ice-Pick.”
So without further ado, here’s …
Memphis Jug Band – I Whipped My Woman With A Single Tree (available on many compilations, from single-disc beauties to the mega box set Memphis Jug Band with Cannon’s Jug Stompers)
[Illustration, naturally, by genius and role model R. Crumb]
PS – Although the track is called “I Whipped My Woman With A Single Tree” in most places, I learned from Blues Lyrics And Hoodoo that they are actually referring to a singletree (or single-tree), which is one of these:
Now, isn’t that nicer?
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Awww, Baby! Nuthin like a good hit a kazoo!