The Hokum Scorchers Perform Mississippi Sheiks' Song

Mississippi Sheiks image from Wikipedia

Listen to "Please Don't Wake It Up" (original version by the Mississippi Sheiks 1931) performed by The Hokum Scorchers for our "Feed the Kitty" tape of 1992. Lou Reimuller is on the National guitar w/ vocals. I had fun playing a snare drum and singing on this one. Yazoo Records says that the Mississippi Sheiks were the "most popular blues artists of the 1930's" .

Follow this link and scroll down for the song:

The Hokum Scorchers

The Art of Amy Crehore

Sunday Night Song featuring a National Mandolin

Lou Reimuller made a special recording in 1992 of the song "Blue Heaven Blues", originally done by Charlie McCoy, Bo Chatman and Walter Vincent in 1930. On this cut, Lou plays the National guitar and the National mandolin by laying one track over another. He is also singing. This is a Hokum Scorcher's song from their "Feed the Kitty" album.

LINK

The Art of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday or Monday on my website, so it will be different by the time you read this post.

Sunday Night Scorcher's Song

"Mama's Donut" was the original song by Spark Plug Smith in 1933 and we adapted the song and changed the lyrics to "Yanna's Donut". This version has Lou Reimuller playing the National guitar w/vocals (falsetto)& kazoo. I am on the washboard w/vocals. I am using a drumstick to play some enameled camp cups which are attached to my washboard and I have metal thimbles on the fingers of my other hand. Follow the link and scroll down to hear the song on my website music player (we recorded this in 1995):

The Art of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday nite (or so) and it will be different by the time you read this post.

Hokum Scorchers Play a Tampa Red Song

Tampa Red

From the Hokum Scorchers' "Feed the Kitty" album comes a wonderful song- originally done by Hudson Woodbridge (a.k.a. Tampa Red 1936)- called "When You Were a Girl of Seven". This version was recorded in 1992. Lou Reimuller plays the National guitar, sings and plays kazoo. Amy Crehore is on a vintage tenor banjo. Scroll down for the music player on this link:
Hokum Scorchers

This song changes every Sunday night, so it will be different by the time you read this post.

Sunday Switcheroo-"Tricks Ain't Walkin No More" (encore) by Hokum Scorchers

Curley Weaver -East Coast Piedmont Blues player
This number, "Tricks Ain't Walkin' No More", was first done by Curley Weaver in 1935. Memphis Minnie also did a version of this song. The Hokum Scorchers recorded this in 1990 for their first cassette. I'm playing the washboard and cups and Lou Reimuller is playing the National Guitar. We are both singing on this one - it's pretty funky and fast-paced. To hear the song, follow the link and scroll down for music player:
The Art of Amy Crehore - Music

This song is an encore - I previously blogged it in April. :)

Also, this song will change on Sunday night, so it will probably be different by the time you read this post.

Hokum Scorchers Perform Papa Charlie Jackson Song

Papa Charlie Jackson painting by Amy Crehore

Lou Reimuller and Amy Crehore in The Hokum Scorchers band.

Listen to The Hokum Scorchers playing a Papa Charlie Jackson song

Click here: "Papa Do Do Do"

This song is from 1929. The Scorchers recorded it in 1995. Lou is playing the guitar banjo and I am playing the washboard. I think I may have blogged this song already...back in January.

The Art of Amy Crehore

I try to switch songs every Sunday nite to a new song and leave it up for a week. Sometimes I forget.

Guitar and Ukulele Details in Amy Crehore's Newest Paintings

Ukulele detail from "French Bubble Gum Encore" by Amy Crehore
Guitar detail from "Black Ball Finale" by Amy Crehore
Here are a couple more details of my new paintings showing vintage musical instruments.
They were fun to paint! I will be blogging the whole enchilada soon. I think it's nice to pick some details out to show you first. They are like puzzle pieces. I usually have so much going on in my paintings. I scanned some 4x5 transparencies and it's hard to get an exact match of color here. This is pretty good. I'm still messing around in photoshop. I also finished two miniature paintings yesterday and took slides with the frames this morning. And I will blog those as well later on. I have two shows coming up in July - NYC and Las Vegas. I apologize for not blogging more lately, but I have been busy. :)
The Art of Amy Crehore

New Hokum Song- "Dusting the Frets"

I just updated my website player with a new Hokum Scorchers' song: Listen to "Dusting the Frets" originally by the Dallas Jamboree Jugband (1935), adapted by the Hokum Scorchers (w/new lyrics) from their "Yanna's Donut" album of 1995. This version has Lou Reimuller on National guitar, vocals, kazoo; Amy Crehore (me) on washboard w/ vocals, kazoo.

LINK

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. This song changes every Sunday night, so it will be different by the time you read this.

Sunday Night Song on Tuesday!

Okay, I got lazy on Sunday night. A fan from Germany wrote me and was disappointed that there wasn't a new song to listen to. So, here is my Sunday night song, "Combo Waltz" performed by the Hokum Scorchers. This was originally a Memphis Jug Band song. Lou Reimuller is playing National Guitar, harmonica and kazoo and I (Amy Crehore) am playing the washboard and cups. Follow link and scroll down for player:

The Music of the Hokum Scorchers

This song changes every Sunday night, so it will be different by the time you read this.

Hokum Scorchers Perform "Violent Love"

Here is a picture of the remarkable bassist and songwriter, Willie Dixon.

Check out this list of classic songs that he wrote and all of the people who performed them.
So, it's Sunday night and I just switched the song on my website player. Listen to an adapted version of Willie Dixon's "Violent Love" (1950's) performed by the Hokum Scorchers Band. Lou Reimuller is singing and playing a National guitar and I am playing the washboard. Both of us are playing kazoos. Recorded in 1990. Follow this link and scroll down for song.
Hokum Scorchers
The Art of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday nite, so it will be different by the time you read this post.

The Hokum Scorchers' version of the "Jackson Stomp"

"Feed the Kitty" sculpture by artist Amy Crehore - used for the Hokum Scorcher's tip jar

I just changed the song on my website player. Listen to the "Jackson Stomp" performed by Lou Reimuller of The Hokum Scorchers. This is Charlie McCoy's arrangement that he recorded in 1930 with Walter Vinson as the Mississippi Mud Steppers (C. Davenport tune - "Cow Cow Blues"). Read more about Charie McCoy here and on Big Road Blues blog.

Lou Reimuller recorded this amazing song using a National mandolin and a National guitar in 1992. (The Hokum Scorchers put this song on their "Feed the Kitty" tape.)

Follow this link and scroll down for song:

"JACKSON STOMP" - HOKUM SCORCHERS

The Art of Amy Crehore

Song has changed by the time you read this. Every Sunday, a new song is uploaded on my website player.

Sam Chatmon and Hokum Music

In 1990, the Hokum Scorchers recorded a song called, "The Leads All Gone". It was originally done by Bo Carter (a.k.a. Bo Chatmon) in 1931 as "My Pencil Won't Write No More" and later it was recorded in 1980 by his brother Sam Chatmon on Flying Fish Records as "Pencil Lead Blues".

Here is an actual YouTube video of Sam Chatmon in 1978 performing a song called, "That's My Gal". For more performances by Sam on YouTube follow this LINK

If you would like to hear the Hokum Scorcher's perform "The Leads All Gone" (1990) follow this link and scroll down for music player. Lou Reimuller is singing and playing the National guitar and kazoo and I am singing, playing washboard and kazoo. (I switch this song every Sunday.)

The Art (and Music) of Amy Crehore

The Hokum Scorcher song on my website will be a different one most likely by the time you read this.

Hokum Scorchers Perform "Pick Poor Robin Clean"

Luke Jordan's gravestone photo by Kevin Cleary, deadbluesguys.com

Listen to the Hokum Scorcher's 1990 traditional version of Luke Jordan's "Pick Poor Robin Clean" from 1927. The lyrics remain the same. Luke Jordan (1892-1952) was a blues guitarist and vocalist of some renown in his local area of Lynchburg, VA. Lou Reimuller is singing and playing the National guitar and kazoo and I am singing, playing washboard and kazoo. Follow link and scroll down for music player:

"Pick Poor Robin Clean"

The Art (and Music) of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday evening and it will probably be different by the time you read this.

Hokum Scorchers Sing "Let's Get Drunk Again"

Bo Carter trading card by R. Crumb

Listen to "Let's Get Drunk Again", originally done by Bo Chatmon in 1938 (a.k.a. Bo Carter). This song was recorded by the Hokum Scorchers for their first tape in 1990. Lou plays the National Guitar, Amy plays the washboard w/cups and they both sing on this number.

Follow this link and scroll down for music player.

Hokum Scorcher's Song

The Art (and Music) of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday Night, so it will probably different by the time you read this.

Orville Gibson's Aesthetic

Photo of Orville Gibson in a funny costume from "The Gibson Story" (out of print?), 1973 by Julius Bellson, photo courtesy of Mrs. Seguine (Orville's niece)

Gibson Guitar Style 03 from 1902

Page from Gibson catalogue 1902

Detail of a sketch by Amy Crehore 2008
I really like the look of the early Gibson guitars. Here is a detail from a sketch that I made off the top of my head and you can see that I drew the bridge in the wrong place. It should be placed higher. I wasn't trying to draw a Gibson or anything, but later I realized that there were some early Gibson models with oval sound holes. Now that I am working on the painting, I am using a reprint of an old Gibson catalogue as a reference to make sure I get some of the features right. I am adding my own decorative inlay on the bottom of the guitar, keeping the dark finish and adjusting the bridge to the right position. And I'm sticking with the oval sound hole. I don't want to show you the whole sketch just yet. My painting keeps changing and when I'm done, I will blog it and compare the sketch to the finished piece.

Check out both of these websites for more photos of actual Gibson guitars from the past:

The Momi.org
National Music Museum

The Art of Amy Crehore

A Memphis Jug Band Song by the Hokum Scorchers

Memphis Jug Band

National mandolin style one 1930
National plectrum style one 1928
"You May Go, but This Will Bring You Back", was originally done by the Memphis Jug Band in 1930. The Hokum Scorchers' version has Lou playing a vintage National mandolin. I am playing a National plectrum guitar. The actual instruments we used are shown in these photos. We recorded this song in 1995 for our Yanna's Donut tape.
Listen to "You May Go" here:

Hokum Scorchers

Also, my website has couple more tunes (scroll down):
MUSIC of The Hokum Scorchers Band
The Art of Amy Crehore

Check out Dinosaurs and Robots

Naked Ukulele Lady of 1890 & Guitar Woman of 1910

1910
1890

Somethin' for Everyone on:

Ebay

The Art of Amy Crehore

New Hokum Scorcher's Song, A Day Late

Snare Drum
There's a new song on my website player: "20 Second Man", original song by Billy Ward and His Dominoes from the 1950's ("60 Minute Man"), adapted by the Hokum Scorchers. Lou Reimuller on the National Guitar w/kazoo, vocals and Amy Crehore (me) on the snare drum this time w/vocals. (Recorded in 1992 - from "Feed the Kitty" by Hokum Scorchers). Scroll down for music player on my website:

The Art of Amy Crehore - Music

Read about Billy Ward and the Dominoes

This song will change every Sunday Night, so it might be different when you read this post.

"What's the Matter"

R. Crumb cover - Memphis Jug Band Album (Yazoo)

Okay, I uploaded a new song to my website music player. This Hokum Scorchers' song is a version of "What's the Matter"originally done by the Memphis Jug Band in 1929. Lou Reimuller is playing the National guitar, kazoo and vocals and I am on the washboard, kazoo and vocals. We recorded this in 1990 for our first Hokum Scorcher's album.

LINK

(To hear song, follow link and scroll down for music player)

The Art of Amy Crehore

(These songs change every Sunday night.)

Sunday Night Song - Tampa Red

Painting by Amy Crehore for "Feed the Kitty" album cover

From the Hokum Scorchers' "Feed the Kitty" album comes a wonderful song- originally done by Hudson Woodbridge (a.k.a. Tampa Red 1936)- called "When You Were a Girl of Seven". This version was recorded in 1992. Lou Reimuller plays the National guitar, sings and plays kazoo. Amy Crehore is on a vintage tenor banjo. Scroll down for the music player on this link:

Hokum Scorchers

By the time you read this, the song will have changed. I'm rotating songs every Sunday.