Topic: Robert Wilkins - Memphis Gospel Singer

[Stuart]

There is that irony that many Americans were introduced to the work of so many Black American blues and gospel artists through the 'British Invasion' of the 60's...

If you haven't done so already, check out the four "American Folk Blues Festival" DVDs. It fills in some info re: the "lines of transmission."

[Bunker Hill]

Just a heads up - received the following few words from Andy Cohen:

"It's nearly done, thanks be to God"

[uncle bud]

Great news. Thanks be to Cohen too.

[jostber]

This is good news! Thanks for sharing the update. 

[outfidel]

Let me offer some more encouragement then.

Encouraging signs are popping up all over the place!

[uncle bud]

Oh, the potential for that church sign generator is endless. Must...resist...

[Bunker Hill]

Oh, the potential for that church sign generator is endless. Must...resist...

I can't. How about "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition"? (The Southern Sons version of 22nd October 1942 with sound effects of fighter planes, machine guns and bombing).

[jostber]

Any more news on this from Andy?

[Bunker Hill]

Any more news on this from Andy?

I've been hounding the poor fellow for years about this and he must be utterly sick of my asking. Perhaps someone else would care to raise the subject with him.

[Mr.OMuck]

He also does "Prodigal Son" on "Blues at Newport: 1964." Epic poetry with guitar accompaniment.
IMHO it's a must have CD.

Most of the greats of the rediscovery period at the very moment of their introduction to the larger public. Electric, fantastic, transcendent! Must have indeed. The audience response to Skip James tells the story better than any words can.

[jostber]

He also does "Prodigal Son" on "Blues at Newport: 1964." Epic poetry with guitar accompaniment.
IMHO it's a must have CD.

Most of the greats of the rediscovery period at the very moment of their introduction to the larger public. Electric, fantastic, transcendent! Must have indeed. The audience response to Skip James tells the story better than any words can.

Thanks for the recommendation!

[natterjack]

Anyone got any news on this one? It keeps getting played on the juke....

[Bunker Hill]

It's about 7 or 8 years since many of us were informed by Andy that he and his wife Larkin had acquired rights to reissue the Spottswood recordings, so I guess it's a case of "good things come to those who wait". 

[jostber]

Andy? We need this one!

[Bunker Hill]

Making my most recent nuisance email to Andy on this subject I've just received the following:

Truly, it's all but done.  The run is paid for.  The pictures for the cover
are selected, as is the track list. It is roughly 79 minutes long, and I
will be submitting a track list shortly.

The last thing was an unpublished guitar instrumental that he did, a buck
dance, according to Bill Ellis, that was never before included in any issue,
anywhere. The rest is all religious, and more than doubles the size of the
original.  It will reprint Mark Humphries' essay, and I will write
comprehensive notes, and an essay of my own.  This has been something of a
slog, as you might imagine, but it's over. There will be several
dedications, one of them to Dick, and Pete Kuykendall, who recorded most of
it, and to Richie Shulberg, who passed away a couple of weeks ago. Norman
Dayron contributed a track, and several tracks came from a 1967 U. of
Chicago concert.

We will set up a website, and as for trumpeting, yes, I shall trumpet,
loudly and long, to the entire blues world, in every way that I can think
of, and to the COGIC church, which has its world headquarters not three
miles from us.

So I guess all we can now do is be patient and, in these tight times, start saving since such labours of love don't normally come cheap!