The blogosphere is dead quiet. Everyone’s traffic is down. Much of the country is not yet back at work from wence they can surf the internet at high speeds and on the company dime. So it seems there’d be no point in dropping some new music on you….that’ll have to wait `til Monday at the earliest. But for now here’s a repost of something from May that deserves another run through the mill. Happy New Year! I’m off to See Alvin and The Chipmunks. Ugh!!
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In my never ending quest for new music that fits the Songs:Illinois bill I came across the band Carolina Chocolate Drops. The name itself was enough for me to want to poke around and learn more. The fact that The Music Maker Relief Foundation is involved solidified things for me. Music Maker is a not for profit organization that helps blues musicians deal with some of their everyday problems and strife; be it health insurance, paying the bills, etc.
Carolina Chocolate Drops are a bridge back in time to the African-American Piedmont stringband groups. Their style of stringband traditionally puts more emphasis on the banjo than the fiddle. It’s said that it’s the banjo that drives the song forward. Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind is the new record that initially may have been self-released, but has now been re-released with a little better packaging and more distribution muscle by Music Maker.
Starry Crown
Ricketts Hornpipe
Short Life Of Trouble
Bonus back catalog blues courtesy of Music Maker
Cat Squall Blues – Freddie King
The Things that I Used To Do – Adolphus Bell
Liquor Still – Cora Mae Bryant
Drinkin The Wine – Drink Small And Cootie Stark
Piece Behind The Bridge – Etta Baker
My Wife Left Me – Lee Gates
Thank you a definite Wow post ….
What a find! These tracks are rocking my world.
Great post. I don’t think I’d have ever heard this great band otherwise. I already owe your site for my introduction to Trampled By Turtles. I’ll add This band to my list.