Topic: Shirley Griffith

[Mr.OMuck]

Yikes! Anyone know what Mr. Griffith's reaction to this was?

[eagle rockin daddy]

I'll bet he laughed and laughed and laughed.  If that transcript is the real deal, he really ran rings around Nick Perls.  the stuff about 'Uncle Tom' reminded me a bit of the LOC interview of Willie Mctell and Lomax.

Mike

[Bunker Hill]

Yikes! Anyone know what Mr. Griffith's reaction to this was?

I seem to recall the two UK blues magazines of the time had a few choice words on the subject of the notes in their reviews.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The transcription was a creation of Stephen Calt--Shirley never said any of that stuff.  It is a fiction piece.  Unfortunately, it apparently maintains the capacity to draw attention away from Shirley himself and what he did musically.
All best,
Johnm

[eagle rockin daddy]

This gets worse and worse, if that was a piece of fiction, it is certainly awful, unless Shirley was in on it.  I mean, the album is supposed to represent Shirley as an ARTIST, not a curiosity, or a chance for Perls to express himself.  If Perls wanted to get drivel like that out, he should have recorded an album himself and put the liner notes on that. 

Just unbelievable.  No respect at all.

Mike

[Johnm]

Just in the interest of accuracy, Nick Perls played no part in the writing of the piece, I'm sure, though the choice to include the notes on the album was his.  It's no defense of the choice, but I can't imagine that Stephen or Nick thought that anyone would take the notes at face value.  Perhaps it's an indication of how far inside your own world you can be at times.
All best,
Johnm

[jopoke]

Today, I received this lame response when I inquired about prestige/bluesville albums that were never reissued: (It's a shame, because Shirley had one of the best albums in the series)

Take it easy, Joe


Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Prestige-bluesville reissues


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Nichole M) - 04/21/2011 09:45 AM Thank you for contacting Concord Music Group!

We currently have no information on when that item may be re released at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Concord Music Group
Sales Support
www.concordmusicgroup.com

[Johnm]

Thanks for taking that action, Joe, and keeping an eye on the prize.  Who knows?  Maybe Concord or Shanachie might be open to licensing agreements on the albums.  I can't believe they intend to re-issue them, and as things currently stand they generate no income at all.
All best,
Johnm

[LD50]

Just in the interest of accuracy, Nick Perls played no part in the writing of the piece, I'm sure, though the choice to include the notes on the album was his.  It's no defense of the choice, but I can't imagine that Stephen or Nick thought that anyone would take the notes at face value.  Perhaps it's an indication of how far inside your own world you can be at times.
All best,
Johnm

The liner notes positively SCREAM Steve Calt. And Perls must have included them because he thought they were funny, and so yes, the responsibility for them appearing on the album is Perls'. It's mostly just amazing that Perls thought it was appropriate.

[Mr.OMuck]

This is not meant in anyway as a defense of these liner notes, but it is important to remember that there was a , tradition is too strong a word, but at least a period in which absurd liner notes were a cool thing to have or do. Dylan's rambling ravings on his own and on Eric Von Schmidt's records may have started it but it was something that was around at the time. Absurdity in daily life among the young of the time was cultivated. This is a good case in point of keeping a weather eye out for how things will age into the future.

[oddenda]

Steve Calt at his typically worst. He and Nick Tosches would have made a lovely couple... of prats! They define the word "smarmy".

pbl

[eagle rockin daddy]

Perhaps it's an indication of how far inside your own world you can be at times.
All best,
Johnm

Well put John, would love to see the album re-released though, perhaps with different liner notes though.

Mike

[jopoke]

Folks, just spin the album and you will forget all about the liner notes....

Take it easy, Joe

[LD50]

Folks, just spin the album and you will forget all about the liner notes....

That's the whole problem: none of his albums are in print, so we can't spin them.

[Stefan Wirz]

... so we can't spin them.

Just try my Blue Goose discography ...
... and you'll find at the top right there's even a label spinning (bright grin ;-)