Topic: Talking

[JasonE]

Hello all,


I am looking for music that is more talked rather than sang.
Where there is no attempt to carry a melody with the voice.

Can anyone recommend artists for me to look for?

I am not just looking for Chris Bouchillon type explicitly talking songs.
Also, stuff that doesn't necessarily come to mind when one thinks of talking blues, but, when it comes down to it, really is talking rather than singing.


Thanks
JasonE

[LoneWolf]

Frankie Jaxon

[Pan]

Hi JasonE

You might want to check out the excellent Yazoo compilation "The Roots of Rap", you'll find audio samples at:

http://www.amazon.com/Roots-Rap-Classic-Recordings-1920s/dp/B000000G8U/sr=8-1/qid=1168889216/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6117450-6794264?ie=UTF8&s=music

Cheers

Pan

[Bunker Hill]

Well here's a pretty stark example of the genre. First heard it in 1963. Once encountered his mournful delivery is indelibly implanted in the psyche for life - take my word for it.

Prisoner?s Talking Blues
Robert Pete Williams
(Angola, 21 March 1959)

SPOKEN:
Lord, I feel so bad sometime, seems like I'm weakenin' every day.
You know I begin to get grey since I got here, well a whole lot of worryin! causin' that.
But I can feel myself weakenin', I don't keep well no more. I keeps sickly.
I takes a lot of medicine, but it looks like it don't do no good.
All I have to do is pray; that's the only thing'll help me here,
One foot in the grave look like,
And the other 'un out.
Sometime looks like my best day gotta be my last day.
Sometime I feel like I never see my little ole kids anymore.
But if I don't never see 'em no more, leave 'em in the hands of God.
You know my sister she like a mother to me.
She do all in the world that she can;
She went all the way along with me in this trouble till the end.
In a way, I was glad my poor mother had (de)ceased because she suffered with heart trouble, and trouble behind me
Sho' would-a went hard with her.
But if she were livin', I could call on her sometime.
But my ole father dead, too,
That?d make me be motherless and fatherless.
It's six of us sisters (sic). Three boys.
Family done got small now, looks like they're dyin' out fast.
I don't know, but God been good to us in a way
'Cause ole death have stayed away a long time.
SUNG:
Lord, my worry sho' carryin' me down
Lord, my worry sho' is carryin' me down.
Sometimes I feel like, baby, committin' suicide.
Oh,sometimes I feel, feel like committin' suicide.
I got the nerve if I just had anythin' to do it with.
I'm goin' down slow, somethin' wrong with me.
Yes,I'm goin' down slow, somethin' wrong with me,
I've got to make a change while that I'm still young
If I don't, I won't never get old.

[dj]

You might be interested in "Washboard Rag" by the Tub Jug Washboard band, and "Too Damp To Be Wet" and "Where My Shoes At?" by Charley Taylor and Ishmon Bracey.  All are comic dialog over a musical accompaniment.  The Taylor and Bracey pieces are on the Juke.  "Washboard Rag" isn't yet, but you never know, it might show up one of these days.   

[MTJ3]

Coley Jones speaks the verses in his four issued sides, although he sings the refrains in a couple.

Bertha "Chippie" Hill has a monologue of sorts on "Non-Skid Tread," by "Scrapper Blackwell And The Two Roys, with Chippie Hill," but that's probably a bit far afield for what you seem to be hoping to latch onto.

"Crow Jane Alley" by "Foster and Harris (Ma Rainey's Boys)," who were actually Georgia Tom and Tampa Red.

[uncle bud]

Blind Willie McTell's "Atlanta Strut" is mostly talking, and to a lesser degree, "Travelin' Blues."

While there's a certain amount of singing in it, Mississippi John Hurt's "Talking Casey" has a lot of talking, as the title would imply.

Mance Lipscomb, "Mance's Talking Blues".

[uncle bud]

Also Big Bill Broonzy's "Ridin' On Down". Which also appears under the title "Mule Ridin' Blues".

[GhostRider]

Yes, Unkie Bud's suggestion of Broonzy's "Mule Ridin' Blues" may be the ultimate in the genre, with a fun guitar part too.

Alex

[dj]

Troy Ferguson's "College Blues" contains a lengthy monologue sandwiched between some sung verses.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
There are a host of instrumental pieces from the early Country Blues era with spoken accompaniments, a number of which have been posted on the Country Blues Lyrics board.  William Moore's "Old Country Rock", "Barbershop Rag" and "Raggin' The Blues" all fall into this category, as do Blind Blake's "Seaboard Stomp", "Southern Rag", and "West Coast Rag". Lemon Jefferson's "Hot Dogs" might be considered a talking number with incidental singing.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Another recorded performance in this category that I just remembered today is John Jackson's recording of Jim Jackson's "I'm A Bad, Bad Man", from John's first Arhoolie record.  It's a lot of fun, and particularly so if you ever had the opportunity to meet John Jackson.  It should be on the Juke.
All best,
Johnm

[mississippijohnhurt1928]

"Sporting Life" Recorded By Ralph Willis Is A Good One, It Can Be found On The First Volume Of His Complete Recordings.