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They measure your boiler, measure your wheat, half a pound of sugar for a person to eat. Folks don't like it, they blamed Uncle Sam. You got to save your sugar for the boys in France - Blind Willie Johnson, When The War Was On

Author Topic: Brand and product names in country blues  (Read 44456 times)

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Offline uncle bud

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #225 on: April 04, 2012, 11:40:34 AM »
Three Bad Habits Blues by the unknown Three Bad Habits is basically an advertising jingle for Simplex piston rings done up as a vaudeville blues/ragtime song with piano, guitar and either plectrum banjo or banjo mandolin (not sure, though I think the former). Date is given vaguely as 1920s in both B&GR and the Document Too Late Too Late Vol 10 disc on which it appears. Fun tune.

I make noisy motors, my name is piston slap!
Oh when you 'ccelerator then you will hear my rap!

When you want to stop me and make your motor sing (Just what should I do?)
Go to your repairman, get Simplex piston rings (Hallelujah!)

Rivers, here's an image for you, grabbed off eBay. You can even see the "Slap!"  :P


Offline Rivers

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #226 on: April 04, 2012, 06:15:13 PM »
Good one!

Offline Shovel

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #227 on: April 05, 2012, 12:33:48 PM »
If gasoline was whiskey, and I was a little Cadillac 8.
I'd drink up all my gas, man I'd forever be late.

Bo Carter - Whiskey Blues - 1938

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #228 on: June 26, 2012, 08:26:17 AM »
Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon do a song called "IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance)" on the Delmark release, On 80 Highway.

"Check them out, check them out..."

Offline frailer24

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #229 on: July 21, 2012, 08:43:25 PM »
Beverages, alcoholic:  Old Quaker whiskey

Ollie Shepard, Drunk Again:

You just keep on drinkin' Old Quaker in your Dixie Dew

Note:  Dixie Dew is a cocktail made up of Whiskey, triple sec, and white creme de menthe, but I could swear I heard the name in my youth used to describe a mixture of whiskey and milk.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?

My great-grandfather, born 1901, and a very good friend born around the same time, used to refer to Dixie Dew as "3 shots of Jack Daniels or Old Quaker, and a pint of milk thrown together". Hope it helps.
« Last Edit: July 21, 2012, 08:44:51 PM by frailer24 »
That's all she wrote Mabel!

Offline Gumbo

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #230 on: July 23, 2012, 03:10:33 PM »
In Allen's Lyin' Blues by the Allen Brothers is the line

I'm smokin Golden Grain in a Chesterfield's place

signifying, I believe, that austere move from cigarettes to rolling tobacco


EDIT :typo
« Last Edit: July 23, 2012, 03:12:11 PM by Gumbo »

Offline davet

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #231 on: August 19, 2012, 12:02:14 AM »
just a couple of suggestions

St James Infirmary in one version starts  "It was down in Old Joe's barroom" and for those uncertain of its location continues with "On the corner by the square"

Mississippi John Hurt includes the following reference in Richland Woman Blues:
Now, I'm raring to go, got red shoes on my feet
My mind is sittin' right for a Tin Lizzie seat
Hurry down, sweet daddy, come blowin' you horn
If you come too late, sweet mama will be gone

I believe a Tin Lizzie was a Model T Ford.

I do have a reference for a Lamborghini. It is mentioned in a Dire Straits song called Millionaire Blue. It isn't really country blues, more country mansion blues.

Regards

Davet


Offline Rivers

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #232 on: September 01, 2012, 08:20:55 PM »
Another fridge, Washboard Sam ? We Gonna Move

Well the reason mama I don't want you to stay here,
I don't need me no iceman I'm gonna get me a Frigidaire

Offline Gumbo

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #233 on: November 02, 2012, 08:31:01 AM »
The Gatling Gun should be here as well.

Robert Johnson's 32-20, Charlie Poole's Shootin' Creek and various Lucy Mae Blues.

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #234 on: February 02, 2017, 01:45:04 PM »
Found this while researching Mississippi John Hurt's Richland Woman Blues. That stuff is expensive!

https://www.dsanddurga.com/products/poppy-rouge

Offline Norfolk Slim

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #235 on: January 08, 2018, 11:48:17 AM »
This thread has been quiet for a while- but I noticed today for the first time, a rather surprising reference by Leadbelly to the French herbal liqueur Benedictine. 

Its to be found in "Alberta": "Oh Alberta, won't you tell me what in the hell you mean.  Way you been acting baby, drinking Benedictine"

Not an obvious Bluesman's drink!

It struck me particularly as my Father used to stay with the family who owned the Benedictine company in France when he was 13/14.  Extraordinary to me in this day and age- but he used to go over alone on a fishing boat  organised by his Dad, and stay for 4 or 5 weeks during the summer...
« Last Edit: January 08, 2018, 11:50:08 AM by Norfolk Slim »

Offline Prof Scratchy

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #236 on: January 08, 2018, 12:04:57 PM »
For some reason, ?Benny? is a popular tipple in Colne and can be witnessed being consumed in large quantities by ladies of a certain age there. They take it in a short glass, topped up with hot water from the kettle, and with a teaspoon in the glass to prevent it cracking when the near boiling water is added. If you ever go to the R&B festival in August, you?ll see, not that I?d recommend it nowadays, as (like many former blues festivals) it?s very much a rock festival now, with little blues content.


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Offline Norfolk Slim

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #237 on: January 08, 2018, 12:17:46 PM »
How odd.  Bar staff always used to look at me askance when I asked for it at last orders as a student but I have the excuse that its a family tradition!  When staying in France, my Dad would always be given a large glass of "B&B" after a meal... 

Offline Johnm

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #238 on: January 20, 2020, 01:54:11 PM »
Hi all,
It's been a while since this thread has been posted to, so I'm sure there are more brand names in blues lyrics that have been found since the most recent posting, but I'll add a couple off the top of my head--Try Me, which was a Southern regional soft drink that Sonny Scott sang about in "Try Me Man Blues" and I. W. Harper, a brand of bourbon that Big Maceo mentions in "I'm so Worried".  Other brand names out there that have not been entered here yet?
All best,
Johnm

Offline Rivers

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Re: Brand and product names in country blues
« Reply #239 on: January 21, 2020, 03:41:47 PM »
This thread, like most on WC, will never die JM, since it allows us to imagine ourselves back to the times these musics were created. Thanks for reviving it.

 


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