Black History Month original snapshot photographs from the book The Birth of Rock and Roll by Jim Linderman

Untitled (anonymous) From a set of ten snapshots, c. 1950-1960 collection Jim Linderman (From the book The Birth of Rock and Roll) #blackhistorymonth #snapshot #dance #vernacularphotography.

Black Friday Shopping for Dull Tool Dim Bulb Books

Shopping? I have one book nearly in the can and another soon.  Until then, for Holiday book purchases of current Jim Linderman Books, click HERE for previews and ordering.  Also available?  Two books from my friends at Dust to Digital.  The Birth of Rock and Roll and Take Me to the Water.  Thanks!

The Birth of Rock and Roll Original Vintage Photograph

Original vintage photograph collection Jim Linderman 
From the Dust to Digital Book The Birth of Rock and Roll Available from the publishers HERE

American Folk Art in Place: IN - SITU The BOOK by Jim Linderman Available NOW!

AMERICAN FOLK ART IN PLACE: IN-SITU by Jim Linderman is NOW available.  A large format vintage photography book which reveals hundreds of folk art environments and unique folk art sculptures as installed over the years.  The book documents numerous outsider art installations (many previously unknown) and photographs of known and unknown artists at work.  All photographs will be drawn from the collection of Jim Linderman, whose previous vintage photography books include the ground-breaking Take Me to the Water,  The Birth of Rock and Roll and Arcane Americana.  The book will be the companion to Eccentric Folk Art Drawings of the 19th and 20th Centuries from the Linderman Collection.  Same size, same format and also available as an affordable instant download e-book. American Folk Art In Place: In-Situ is a much expanded and revised edition of the now out of print original book of the same title.  Details and a free preview of the book will follow.  Inquiries to J.Winkel4@gmail.com 

Shown:  Untitled snapshot (Feed the Monkey) unknown location, circa 1950.  Collection Jim Linderman

Zenith HP-6VA Record Player Ready for the Return of Vinyl !

I got ALL FOUR SPEEDS baby.  Bring on the Vinyl.  

Zenith HP-6VA Record Player 1950s Collection Jim Linderman

SEE ALSO THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL from Dust to Digital

The Greatest Blues Song Ever Written But who WROTE it? by Jim Linderman

Can any blues song, or blues performance be called the best?  There are many one could nominate, and you are welcome to suggest yours as a comment here. This is the story of a song which combines infidelity, deception, sex, humor, fear, impending violence, escape, neighborhood gossip and more in a few short lines.  Who wrote it?  Let's try to find out.  This is the story of One Way Out.

One Way Out isn't even a traditional blues song, except for the first stanza. 

Ain't but one way out baby, Lord I just can't go out the door
Ain't but one way out baby, and Lord I just can't go out the door
'Cause there's a man down there, might be your man I don't know

Lord you got me trapped a woman, up on the second floor
If I get by this time I won't be trapped no more
So raise your window baby, I can ease out soft and slow
And Lord, your neighbors, no they won't be
Talking that stuff that they don't know

Lord, I'm foolish to be here in the first place
I know some man gonna walk in and take my place
Ain't no way in the world, I'm going out that front door
'Cause there's a man down there, might be your man I don't know
'Cause there's a man down there, might be your man I don't know
 
The most familiar version is, of course, the Allman Brothers.  Recorded and released numerous times, and a stalwart of the brother's live performances for 40 years.  Likely brought to the band by Duane "Skydog" Allman. The track here comes from the last night of a four night stand recorded for their Live at the Fillmore Lp in June 1971 with Tom Dowd at the controls (?)  This version is selected as Duane was alive, though not to be for long…and the interplay with co-lead guitarist Dickey Betts is outstanding.   Duane regularly appears on "top ten greatest guitar player" lists, but on each one he should be bumped up a few notches.

Duane's brother Gregg Allman once said the phrase "southern rock" is redundant."  He is right, and it is one of my favorite rock and roll quotes.  Mr. Allman often says a great, great deal with few words.

On the Allman Brothers releases, One Way Out is credited to Marshall Sehorn and Elmore James.   Sehorn was a musician who became southern promotion man for  the Fire and Fury labels.  He put his name on Elmore's recording.  

Common practice then…and theft.  Sehorn would eventually receive songwriting credit (and the royalty payments) for over 350 songs recorded in the 1960s.  He went on to form a company with Allen Toussaint, helping the the Neville Brothers obtain a recording contract and recording numerous New Orleans legendary musicians.  As this story is aimed at blues listeners…he also claimed writing credits with Lightnin Hopkins.  Here is Sehorn, a fellow who LOOKS like an adulterer who might skulk out a second floor window, but not really a bluesman. He didn't write it.

By the way, Dickie Betts, who had to take the place of a very young Duane Allman at a very young age....is no slouch either.


 

The Elmore James version of One Way Out is a screech with a fingered solo…no slide (!!!) and a saxophone. He recorded it in 1961 but it didn't get released until two years after Elmore passed away.  I believe it first appeared on The Sky is Crying Lp, and it was also released the same year as a single.

I believe it is most likely Sonny Boy Wiliamson who should be credited with the song.  It is a clever lyric, and Sonny boy was clever. He recorded two versions, the first in 1961 and again in 1965.  Sonny was also not bound by tradition.  If he wanted his blues song to read like a poem, a sonnet or a speech it was his right, and he is usually considered one of the most poetic writers of blues songs.  Here, it is Chess Records house-writer Willie Dixon who sneaks his name onto the label.


G. L. Crockett's version of the song in 1965 gives it a primitive, swampy sound. A little King Bee, a little Jimmy Reed. G.L. Crockett was Chicago-based, and his real initials were G. T. Crockett. Why the change? Typo? The label didn't care much. He also recorded as "G. Davy Crockett (!)  He claims authorship!

Likewise, Duster Bennett recorded as It's a Man Down There, He credits the song to Crockett and speaks a bit of the song. Duster was a British blues singer, so we might say he apes his way through the song. Needless to say he didn't write it. Duster Passed away in 1978 when his Ford van collided with a truck after doing a gig with Memphis Slim.


Jimmy Reed recorded an ANSWER SONG(!) titled I'm the Man Down There in which he dares the man upstairs to use the stairs! Jimmy wants to kick your ass, but in real life his wife was tougher than he was…and she's upstairs busy.

 "I'm the man down there, boy Don't you come down those stairs".

I am willing to bet there were some 1960s garage band versions and many African-American Chitlin Circuit versions of the song too.

There was truly only one way out, at least for Elmore…and Stefan Wirz shows it on his Elmore James discography HERE.

ORIGINAL VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION JIM LINDERMAN
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THE BOOK "THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE COLLECTION OF JIM LINDERMAN

Real Cowgirls original snapshot photograph circa 1940 Collection Jim Linderman

Cowgirls snapshot circa 1940  Collection Jim Linderman  
You may also enjoy the following photography book by the author. Cyber Shopping!

THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL from DUST TO DIGITAL  Available NOW.

Dutch Twins at the Tulip Festival Wooden Shoes in Michigan 1943

Two crisp 8 x 10 original photographs from the Holland, Michigan Tulip Festival, a show which persists to this day.  They both show the Baker Twins.  They are joined by friends for the second.  The Tulip Time Festival has been going on since 1929, and as these photos are from 1943, they weren't going to let Hitler's occupation of the real Holland stop the show. 

In 1928, The Holland city council bought 100,000 tulip bulbs from Holland and stuck them in the ground.  They come up every year, and so do buses of tulip fans.  

Holland, MI is super-conservative and super-religious. The "What would Jesus Do" wristbands originated there.  The city recently adopted a backwards anti-discrimination policy which specifically omitted the rights of LGBT citizens as well, but that will go away when they finally learn it's bad for business.  There are some level-headed progressives working to correct the situation, and 25 years from now I suspect the Tulip Festival will be more crowded then ever. I mean please.

"The Baker Twins" photographs, 1943 by anonymous.  Collection Jim Linderman 

You might also be interested in the coffee table book THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL
 

Halloween with John Spicer of Brooklyn. Snake Suit and Demon Dress all in worsted wool

The John Spicer company, a factory actually, was located in Brooklyn.  It started in 1888, and this catalog dates to around 1915, I believe.  The Halloween "body dresses" were made of worsted wool. 

John Spicer catalog circa 1915 Collection Jim Linderman
See also the books below by Jim Linderman

ECCENTRIC FOLK ART DRAWINGS OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES

THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL

Antique Scarecrow Photographic Essay Ephemeral Folk Art Sculpture at the Farm Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Scarecrow Photographic Essay  Ephemeral Folk Art Figures at the Farm Collection Jim Linderman  19th and early 20 Century snapshots of working dummys!  USE WITH PERMISSION ONLY.  See also the new book THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL for a photograph collection and music book unlike any you have seen.

Obverse and Reverse Will You Sleep With Me Jac? Please?

Vintage Sleaze the Blog comes and goes without warning.  It is currently on hiatus, but this couldn't wait. Original watercolor circa 1940 and reverse Will You Sleep with me Jac? Please? Collection Jim Linderman  Stay tuned to Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog for upcoming projects.  Thanks. Also of interest, The Birth of Rock and Roll is available from Amazon HERE and Dust to Digital HERE.

The Human Centipede Vernacular Photograph 1940

Original Photograph 1940 by Leslie H. Gardner.  Collection Jim Linderman
Also of interest, The Birth of Rock and Roll is available from Amazon HERE and Dust to Digital HERE.

Sepia Pin Up Calendar Storefront original photograph collection Jim Linderman

Sepia Pin Up Calendar Storefront.  This snapshot likely shows a photo studio associated with Sepia Magazine, which ran over 35 years but never achieved the reputation of the competitor Ebony or the mini-digest Jet.  Still, it was a popular media source for the Black country within the country.  Starting in 1947, Sepia was published in Texas by Good Publishing Company.  Good was also responsible for the few African-American scandal magazines of the mid 20th Century.  Hep, Jive and Bronze Thrills also came from Good.  Interestingly, The owner was a white man named George Levitan, but the staff was largely African-American, and Mr. Levitan was a civil rights supporter.

This could be a satellite office.  The magazine had nation-wide distribution, so it is possible a studio looking for glamour shots of African-American women would be in NYC or Chicago.  It is also possible this was simply a storefront set up by an anonymous photographer using the Sepia name.  What better way to attract talent?  There is a similar snapshot for sale on a website which identifies the date around 1930, but that is unlikely.

There is so little documentation of early African-American pinups.  My book Secret Life of the Black Pin-up is out of print., but many of the images have been shared and posted by others.  The phrase "Black is Beautiful" was intended to wake up all races…African-American residents were so abused, even they had doubts.  Yes, Black women are beautiful and they had their own subculture of pin-up beauty, but the history is buried and the issues scarce.

One reason so few of the original Good Publications magazines are seen today is due to the "pass-along rate."  Unlike, for example, issues of National Geographic, which are stockpiled in many garages in nearly mint but moldy condition, most of the race magazines were shared over and over until they wore out.  They cost from 25 to 35 cents…and before the 1960s, there was little disposable income for the minority.  They were seldom collected by libraries.  A few examples of Good Magazines are shown here.

See also HERE and HERE. 
Original snapshot Sepia Pin-Up Calendar Storefront.  No date, circa 1955?  Collection Jim Linderman.  Jim Linderman's book The Birth of Rock and Roll published by Dust to Digital is available for purchase HERE and HERE.

  

Old Folk Art Bird Sculptures Wall Shelves c. 1930

Old Folk Art Bird Sculpture Wall Shelves c. 1930 Original Paint matching pair.
See also Jim Linderman BOOKS The Birth of Rock and Roll and more.

Old Folk Art PIgs on Broomsticks Parade Staffs

Pair of old folk art pigs on broomstick parade staffs.  Circa 1930.  Children's parade animals.  Each 40 inches long.  Painted cloth with repairs.  See also Jim Linderman BOOKS The Birth of Rock and Roll and more.

Old Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Signs Antique Collection Jim Linderman

A Pair of early 20th C. (circa 1920) painted by hand folk art signs advertising F. E. Slater's store.  The signs were preserved by being used as shelves in a cupboard for nearly 100 years.  Four pieces, total size of the two signs is 42" x 24". They were likely topped with "distance indicators"  before being placed near the road.
Western Michigan origin.  Collection Jim Linderman

See also Jim Linderman BOOKS The Birth of Rock and Roll and more.

Traveling to Unusually Named Cities? Send me some ART MAIL Farmers and Battle Postmarks

Pair of hand drawn cachet art on mailed envelopes.  Note postmark for each.  Early mail art.

Two original drawings on envelopes 1950  Collection Jim Linderman

Newest Book The Birth of Rock and Roll available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Direct from Publisher Dust to Digital.

Moonshine served HERE Moonshine Party TONIGHT!

Moonshine party!  Original Snapshot no date. The best song about the powerful brew is, of course, that sung by the legendary Possum....George Jones.  For related images of inebriated joy and passion set to music, see the new book THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the publisher  Dust to Digital