Kissa at CAM Raleigh. October 22, 2015. Photo by Victoria Ralston.
On Thursday, October 22, our underground kissa at CAM Raleigh presented one of the most unique nights during the project: “Don’t Call It Vinyl” – An Evening of 78s with Marshall Wyatt. Marshall brought in his own equipment (cited below) and played rare 78’s (setlist below), including at least one of which is the only known existing recording. A few days ago we encouraged Marshall to follow up on his kissa night with a few more details. Here’s what he sent us. (Photographs by Victoria Ralston).
Marshall Wyatt: “I enjoyed the opportunity to bring some vintage music into a public venue and I was gratified by the positive response of those in attendance. Thanks, everybody, for coming out! I believe that music of the American South recorded in the prewar era represents a cultural achievement unmatched by anything heard today. Properly curated and played with the right equipment, these records are not merely relics, but riveting performances that exist in the present moment.
“(And by the way, 78s are made of shellac, which explains the title of this program.)”
Equipment used on October 22nd:
Amplifiers: two McIntosh MC-60 monoblocks
Preamp: McIntosh C-20
Turntable: Esoteric Sound Professional Restoration Deck
Cartridge: Stanton L500AL Stereo (1936 buffalo nickel used for extra weight when needed)
Stylus: .0035″ elliptical truncated diamond
Marshall Wyatt at the kissa with his vintage sound system.
Books on hand to augment the recordings:
Country Music Records 1921-1942, by Tony Russell, 2004
Blues & Gospel Records 1890-1943, by Dixon, Godrich, & Rye, 4th edition, 1997
Li’l’ Gal, poems by Paul Lawrence Dunbar including “When De C’on Pone’s Hot,” 1904 (relates to track #25)
Life History of Otto Wood, Inmate, North Carolina State Prison, 1931 edition (relates to track #11)
“Don’t Call It Vinyl”
An Evening of 78s with Marshall Wyatt
CAM Raleigh, October 22, 2015, 8-10 PM
Setlist:
1. Beaver Slide Rag / “Peg Leg” Howell & His Gang
Peg Leg Howell, guitar / Henry Williams, guitar / Eddie Anthony, fiddle / April 8, 1927 / Atlanta, GA / Columbia 14210-D (143942-1)
2. K.C. Railroad Blues / Andrew and Jim Baxter
Andrew Baxter, fiddle / Jim Baxter, vocal, guitar / August 9, 1927/ Charlotte, NC / Victor 20962 (39785-1)
3. Violin Blues / Johnson Boys
Lonnie Johnson, vocal, fiddle / Matthew Prater, mandolin / Nap Hayes, guitar / February 15, 1928 / Memphis, TN / Okeh 8708 (400239-A)
4. Easy Winner / The Blue Boys
Nap Hayes, guitar / Matthew Prater, mandolin / February 15, 1928 / Memphis, TN / Okeh 45314 (400242-B)
5. Midnight Special / State Street Boys
Zeb Wright, fiddle / Black Bob, piano / Big Bill Broonzy, vocal / poss. Bill Settles, string bass / unknown, 2nd vocal / January 10, 1935 / Chicago, IL / Vocalion 03004 (C-892-1)
6. Bottleneck Blues / Weaver & Beasley
Sylvester Weaver, Walter Beasley, guitar duet / November 27, 1927 / New York, NY / Okeh 8530 (81883-A)
7. Strewin’ It Out / Daddy Stovepipe and Mississippi Sarah
Daddy Stovepipe (Johnny Watson), harmonica, guitar / Sarah Watson, vocal, jug / February 26, 1935 / Chicago, IL / Bluebird B6023 (85519-1)
8. Lenoir County Blues / Cauley Family
Roland Cauley, fiddle / Arthur or Ruth Cauley, banjo / Lake Howard, guitar / August 7, 1934 / New York, NY / Perfect JL-102 (15526-1)
9. Step It Up And Go / Blind Boy Fuller
Blind Boy Fuller, vocal, guitar / Oh Red, washboard / March 5, 1940 / New York, NY / Okeh 05476 (26592-A)
10. Bottle It Up And Go / Memphis Jug Band
Will Shade, guitar, vocal / Charlie Pierce, fiddle / Jab Jones, jug / Charlie Burse, mandolin, vocal / Robert Burse, drums / November 7, 1934 / Chicago, IL / Okeh 8959 (C-796-1)
11. Otto Wood The Bandit / Carolina Buddies
Odell Smith, fiddle / Norman Woodlief, guitar / Walter Smith, vocal / February 24, 1931 / New York, NY / Columbia 15652-D (151345-2)
12. Number 111 / J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers
J.E. Mainer, fiddle / Ollie Bunn, guitar / Clarence Todd, guitar / band members, spoken / February 14, 1936 / Charlotte, NC / Bluebird B-6424 (99115-1)
13. I Am Just What I Am / Homer Briarhopper
Homer Lee Drye, vocal, mandolin / Big Bill Davis, fiddle / Johnny Macalester, guitar / June 9, 1938 / Charlotte, NC / Decca 5588 (64108-A)
14. How Many Biscuits Can You Eat? / Gwen Foster
Gwen Foster, vocal, harmonica, guitar / Harvey Ellington, fiddle, tenor banjo / Reid Summey, guitar / Sam Pridgin, string bass / February 5, 1939 / Rock Hill, SC / Bluebird B-8082 (032663-1)
15. The New Call of the Freaks / Luis Russell And His Orchestra
Luis Russell, piano, director / Henry Allen, Bill Coleman, trumpets / J.C. Higginbotham, trombone / Albert Nichols, clarinet, alto saxophone / Charlie Holmes, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone / Teddy Hill, tenor saxophone / Will Johnson, banjo, guitar / Pops Foster, string bass / Paul Barbarin, drums, vibraphone / vocal trio: Henry Allen, J.C. Higginbotham, Louis Metcalf / September 6, 1929 / New York, NY / Okeh 8734 (402938-C)
16. Right Now Blues / Frank Stokes
Frank Stokes, vocal, guitar / Will Batts, fiddle / September 25, 1929 / Memphis, TN / Victor 38589 (55584-2)
17. Sweet To Mama / State Street Boys
Jazz Gillum, harmonica / Black Bob, piano / Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, fiddle / poss.Bill Settles, string bass / January 10, 1935 / Chicago, IL/ Okeh 8965 (C-889-2)
18. Playing With The Strings / Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson, guitar solo / February 21, 1928 / Memphis, TN / Okeh 8558 (400277-B)
19. Kill It, Kid / Barrelhouse Sammie
Blind Willie McTell (a.k.a. Barrelhouse Sammie), vocal, guitar / November 1949 / Atlanta, GA / Atlantic 891 (A320)
20. Monkey Man Blues / Cripple Clarence Lofton
Cripple Clarence Lofton, piano, vocal / Big Bill Broonzy, guitar / April 2, 1935 / Chicago, IL / Vocalion 02951 (C-948-A)
21. Jimbo Jambo Land / Shorty Godwin
Bill “Shorty” Godwin, vocal, guitar / April 12, 1929 / Atlanta, GA / Columbia 15411-D (148262-2)
22. Go ’Way From My Door / Monroe “Moe” Jackson
Monroe “Moe” Jackson, vocal, guitar / January 16, 1949 / place unknown / Mercury 8127 (2205)
23. My Business Ain’t Right / Memphis Jug Band
Will Shade, guitar, scat vocal / Charlie Pierce, fiddle / Jab Jones, jug / Charlie Burse, mandolin, spoken / Robert Burse, percussion / November 8, 1934 / Chicago, IL / Okeh 8958 (C-806-1)
24. New Stop And Listen / Mississippi Sheiks
Walter Vinson, guitar, vocal / Lonnie Chatmon, fiddle / July 1932 / Grafton, WI / Paramount 13134 (L-1551-3)
25. When De Corn Pone’s Hot / Old South Quartette
Vocal quartet accompanied by unknown guitar / August 1928 / Long Island City, NY / QRS R7029 (166-A)
26. I’ll Play My Harp In Beulah Land / Brothers Wright And Williams
Vocal group, assisted by Sisters Norman and Jordan / poss. Eddie Anthony, fiddle / unknown, 2nd fiddle / unknown, banjo-ukulele / unknown, guitar / December 9, 1930 / Atlanta, GA / Okeh unissued test pressing (404639-B)
