Jazz and Prohibition

[ghost of miles]

Hey all, I'm working on a Night Lights program about jazz and Prohibition. The program will include an interview with historian Michael McGerr (who, in addition to his expertise about the era, is also a very knowledgeable fan of jazz and other music from that period as well) and jazz from 1919-1933. I've already got a few tracks picked out, like Armstrong and Teagarden's "Knockin' a Jug" and Beiderbecke's "Toddlin' Blues," but I'm looking for more material that either references alcohol or is simply excellent, representative jazz of the 1920s. (Allen Lowe's DEVLIN' TUNE volume from this timespan is definitely one source I'm looking at.) Just wanted to throw the question out to the experts around this joint... many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Free For All]

I realize your topic is alcohol and not weed, but here is an interesting collection of tunes on eMusic (additional volumes here and here)

Some pretty cool tunes in this collection, perhaps something you might use in the future.... :eye:

[Lazaro Vega]

David,

Have you read this?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/books/review/Oshinsky-t.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704342604575222132698695108.html

[ghost of miles]

Lazaro--no, but I just put a copy on hold at the Book Corner (great local bookshop here in Bloomington). Thanks for the heads-up.

[Lazaro Vega]

The Jean Goldkette organization, which was a large management company running serveral bands, came out of Detroit in this era. Don't know about specific songs, but the success of Goldkette was directly affected by prohibition's money in Detroit.

[Lazaro Vega]

Ken Burns is about to launch a 5 1/2 hour program on Prohibition, and I'd bet there's novelty #'s from the era in the video clips available here:

http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/upcoming/

[jeffcrom]

Interesting topic. I was surprised about how little material I could come up with. I thought of "Prohibition Blues" by the Missourians, the band that basically morphed into Cab Calloway's band - it's a nice minor-key tune from 1930.

If you want to delve outside of jazz, there's "Bootlegger's Blues" by the Mississippi Sheiks, the 1920's string band. It's basically the old song "Make it Through the World" with moonshine-related lyrics.

And bluesman Tommy Johnson recorded "Canned Heat Blues" about drinking Sterno and "Alcohol and Jake Blues" about drinking Jamaica ginger, which caused slight problems like blindness and paralysis during Prohibition. The field of "jake-leg" songs would be worth looking into, but Tommy Johnson's is the only one I have in my collection.

I'll keep thinking about it.

[cih]

A couple of great piano pieces -

Cow Cow Davenport's 'State Street Jive' (not sure which version it is) with Ivy Smith chatting over the top: "...get me some good corn liquor and have a whoppin' good time"

Lee Green's 'Running Drunk' - IMO the best drunken-sounding blues!

[jeffcrom]

Oh, and Bessie Smith's "Gin House Blues" is one of her most harrowing recordings. She also has one called "Me and My Gin," which is more lighthearted.

[BillF]

A couple of great piano pieces -

Cow Cow Davenport's 'State Street Jive' (not sure which version it is) with Ivy Smith chatting over the top: "...get me some good corn liquor and have a whoppin' good time"

While we're on piano blues, in "Pinetop's Blues" IIRC Pinetop Smith sings "Going down on State Street, get me a gallon o' booze".