Elizabeth Cotten – Shake Sugaree
Tuesday December 14, 2004 – 8:09 am
Bill Lowman turned me on to Elizabeth Cotten back around when we were recording my album Wonder Wonder. He said my song "Hear My Heart" reminded him of Elizabeth’s song "Freight Train", and if you know both songs you’ll agree: "one to one on…" matches up almost exactly with "freight train, freight train…" Of course I hadn’t heard "Freight Train" at the time I wrote "Hear My Heart" (at least not that I’m aware of) and it’s not too hard to duplicate a 4-3-2-1 melody, but he is correct about the similarity. I’m just glad I found out about her music, it’s hard to believe I’d never heard of her before.
This album doesn’t have "Freight Train" on it, I’ll have to buy this CD for a hard copy of that. I already have it on MP3 so there’s no hurry.
December 15th, 2004 at 6:40 am
there’s a great edu/docu videotape available of a tv show that john fahey and elizabeth cotten did together in 1969. they crack each other up. i first found it in a public library, so maybe the chicago library might have it?
December 15th, 2004 at 9:02 am
Ah, maybe some American friends could help me here! – I have some videos a friend copied for me, featuring John Fahey and Elizabeth Cotton (2 episodes of the same series I think though), that I have absolutely no information on, even the credits were edited out. It’s quite a straight-faced guitar education show, probably from the 60s, with a beehive haired female presenter, who I find quite grating. John Fahey irritates her immensely by using his guitar as an ash tray.
Sorry for the random questioning, but if there ever was a fountain of useful knowledge, it’s this place! Elizabeth Cotton is great, Shake Sugaree sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Have you heard the Po’ Girl version? It is also wonderful…
Thanks,
Rhodri
December 16th, 2004 at 9:46 pm
Ahoy fair Edith!
Mehopes thine travels ‘cross yonder country hath proven fruitfull, with tales for regaling, and booty abounding!
Regarding this Elizabeth Cotton recording. Ol’Richard himself anxiously awaits it’s arrival in the post within the next fortnight! Long have I been seeking out her music…thank the gods for those blaggards at Smithsonian.
This CD will be ‘ccompanied by the White Magic CDep, the new Keren Ann CD (nolita), and Comus’ classic, First Utterance. Zounds! Mine ship shall sail quite witchy soon enough!
(btw, it’s getting very difficult to maintain the pirate lingo…perhaps i should register as my alter ego as well…this would mean far more postings from me…err..us)
Away with ye, ya mangy cur! Get thine fingers off’n my bejewelwed typometrix! Go swab the deck with ya, ye stink encrusted bilge rat!!!
Now…where was I?
…
Witches!
I’ve known a few, in mine own time. That be for shorn…Verily, they taste best when used in a soup, or a good hearty stew. And ye gots to bleed them upside down, ‘ere they start to turn gamey by the next full moon.
(my god, i think i’m gonna be sick)
Not in my quarters ye won’t! Get thee topside if it’s cookies ye be tossing! Sigh…so hard to find good help these days…
Okay, Edith, mehopes this message finds thee well, and in good spirits.
Cheers,
Richard the Black, esq.
Spot Remover of the Seven Undergarments
December 16th, 2004 at 9:59 pm
btw, here be-eth some info regarding Elizabeth Cotton on DVD…
Cheers,
Richard The Black, esq.
Irate Pirate Extraordinaire
December 18th, 2004 at 1:40 am
Hi Edith,
This is your cousin Greg in Dallas. My dad told me you had a web site.Are you coming to Texas to do a show anytime soon? Love the 1968 picture.
Greg
December 19th, 2004 at 1:28 am
Alas, fair Edith! Hath thine forsaken thine own blog? Be there rough seas ahead? Or, be there new wind in thine sails? Wassup? Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of Boones Farm! I hope that this message finds thee well, and in good spirits.
Cheers,
Richard The Black, esq.
High Priest of the Filet O’Fish
December 19th, 2004 at 10:53 am
Hey Richard! I’m still here! Just normalizing myself after the tour, there hasn’t been much going on that’s particularly blog-worthy. I’ll try to come up with something though. :-)
December 19th, 2004 at 10:58 am
Also… HEY GREG!!! I don’t have any shows scheduled at the moment in Texas or anywhere else, but on the next tour for sure! Not that I know when that’ll be but yeah.