Search - Cannon's Jug Stompers :: Best of

Jerry Garcia Listened to This!

R. MARK Plummer | From the Former USA | 06/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No one has taken a few moments to write something about this gem? What's wrong whiff you peoples? Well someone has to do it! So, lookee here now, have you ever listened heard Mungo Jerry do "In the Summertime when the weather is hot..."? Or maybe you were into the Grateful Dead and titles like "New Minglewood Blues" and "Viola Lee Blues" ring dat lil bell in yo head? How 'bout "Bring It With You When You Come"? Still drawin' a blank? Where y'all been anyways? "Walk Right In Sit Right Down"? These may be some of the earliest recordings of those tunes. (Not including Mungo Jerry's hit... but THAT is the style: Jug Band music. Yes, with a real jug. This here is gin-u-wine rural music from de southland. These tunes were recorded in the years 1928-29 & 30 by Gus Cannon (banjo) and his group "The Jug Stompers." From down around Mississippi, there. The group included an amazing harmonica player, Noah Lewis whose playing influenced a whole generation of mouf harp players. Instrumentation included (at times) Banjo, Harmonica (de mouf harp), Guitar, and natcherly, the Jug, and even a Kazoo when 'the charts' called for it. Naw... just jokin witch you there. They didn't have no charts - this music was recorded LIVE. No over-dubs, man. And no digital noise reduction neither and you may even hear some surface noise left over from them original recordin's. This here is the real thing, junior! Jug band blues and early home-made rural jams. If you enjoy authentic American Roots Music, get your paws on this little silver disc and visit a time and place that gave birth to a whole genre of fine and funky sounds. Often imitated - but never duplicated!"