American Folk Anthologies American Skiffle Bands with Gus Cannon, The Memphis Jug Band and The Mobile Strugglers (1957) CD

"This item is part of the Folkways (Cook, or Paredon, or Monitor) archives. The original liner notes from the LP are included."


The skiffle band—a kind of ensemble that nearly disappeared after the 1920s—uses homemade or inexpensive instruments, including washboards, harmonicas, jugs, washtub basses, kazoos, tin flutes, woodblocks, and slide whistles to play a variety of songs. The recordings featured here were made between 1954 and 1957, and the musicians are mostly older men. Recorded in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee by Samuel B. Charters, featuring The Memphis Jug Band, Cannon's Jug Stompers, and The Mobile Strugglers.

     101      Raise a Ruckus Tonight      The Mobile Strugglers      3:11     
     102     Rock Me, Baby     The Mobile Strugglers     2:56    
     103     My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean     The Mobile Strugglers     3:40    
     104     Trouble, Trouble Followed Me All of My Days     The Mobile Strugglers     3:40    
     105     Interview with Virgil Perkins     Virgil Perkins     1:42    
     106     Goin Around the Mountain, Darlin' Bessie     Virgil Perkins and Jack Sims     3:55    
     107     John Henry     Virgil Perkins and Jack Sims     4:30    
     201     Harmonica Blues     The Memphis Jug Band     3:16    
     202     Tippin' Round     The Memphis Jug Band     4:44    
     203     Interview and Solos: a. Old John Booker, You Call That Gone     Gus Cannon     4:13    
     204     What You Gonna Do, Baby, When Your Troubles Get Like Mine     The Memphis Jug Band     2:41    
     205     Interview with Will Shade and Charlie Burse     Will Shade and Charlie Burse     2:51    
     206     Take Your Fingers Off It     The Memphis Jug Band     2:57