Barrelhouse Blues Location Recording And The Early: Location Recording And The Early Traditions Of The Blues

In the 1920s, Southern record companies ventured to cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and New Orleans, where they set up primitive recording equipment in makeshift studios. They brought in street singers, medicine show performers, pianists from the juke joints and barrelhouses. The music that circulated through Southern work camps, prison farms, and vaudeville shows would be lost to us if it hadn't't been captured on location by these performers and recorders. Eminent blues historian Paul Oliver uncovers these folk traditions and the circumstances under which they were recorded, rescuing the forefathers of the blues who were lost before they even had a chance to be heard. A careful excavation of the earliest recordings of the blues by one of its foremost experts, Barrelhouse Blues expands our definition of that most American style of music. In The 1920s, Southern Record Companies Ventured To Cities Like Dallas, Atlanta, And New Orleans, Where They Set Up Primitive Recording Equipment In Makeshift Studios. They Brought In Street Singers, Medicine Show Performers, Pianists From The Juke Joints And Barrelhouses. The Music That Circulated Through Southern Work Camps, Prison Farms, And Vaudeville Shows Would Be Lost To Us If It Hadn't Been Captured On Location By These Performers And Recorders. Blues Historian Paul Oliver Uncovers These Folk Traditions And The Circumstances Under Which They Were Recorded, Rescuing The Forefathers Of The Blues Who Were Lost Before They Even Had A Chance To Be Heard. --from Publisher's Description. Seeking Seculars -- Travelin' Men -- Songsters Of The South -- Long Lonesome Blues -- Women's Trouble Blues -- Country Breakdown -- Times Tight Like That -- On The Road Again -- Second Thoughts On Seculars -- Locke's Questions -- Coda : Post Proto-blues. Paul Oliver. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-200), Discography (p. 185-193) And Indexes. Includes Discography. Explores the folk traditions that preceded and shaped the blues style as well as the conditions under which first recordings were made, tracing the recordings made at such early venues as street and vaudeville performances, work and prison camps, and juke joints. A pioneering scholar of the blues explores the folk traditions that predated and shaped this uniquely American music as we know it.