Click on title to link to YouTube's film clip of Spider John Koerner and
Tony Glover performing "Last Lonesome Blues" at , appropriately, the Dinkyfest in 2007.
**Dinkytown refers to the student/hip ghetto, etc. of Minneapolis back in the days (and perhaps today as well). It also seemingly reflects on the geographic range of the Koerner/Ray/Glover ambition.
DVD Review
Blues, Rags& Hollers: The Koerner, Ray& Glover Story,directed by Tony Glover, MVD Visual, 1986
In a review of Spider John Koerner’s CD “Stargeezer” (see review entry accompanying this blog on this date, August 29. 2009) earlier this year I made the following comment that related to a question I was then asking about the fate of various male folk singers from the folk revival of the 1960s:
“Okay, Okay those of you who have been keeping tabs know that I have spend much of the last year, when not doing political commentary or book or movie reviews, reviewing many of the old time folk artists that, along with the blues, were the passion of my youth in the early 1960's. You might also know, if you are keeping tabs, that I have been attempting to answer a question that I have posed elsewhere in this space earlier about the fate or fates of various performers from that period. Spider John Koerner was a lesser known, but important, fixture on the Cambridge/Boston folk scene during that time, as well as later once the hubbub died down and he and a local stalwart, Mr. Bones, carried on the tradition in smaller venues and in front of smaller crowds.”
Well, according to this film documentary by Tony Glover, at various times part of the sporadic musical team of Koerner, Ray and Glover, there was more, much more to the Spider John story that I was aware of. And to the stories of Ray and Glover, as well. That said, it is nevertheless true that Spider John fell off the charts and became more of a regional influence. All of this seemingly by choice and by personal circumstance. That brings up the final point that I would make (other than recommending that if you are interested in the fates of the secondary occupants of the folk revival pantheon to view this very informative, if somewhat eccentric piece). Not everyone was cut out by disposition, drive, personal inclination or personal limitations to be “king of the hill” in the folk revival (or any other endeavor). But, damn they can still make good music and we owe a lot to this trio for preserving it for us.
"Me & My Chauffeur" lyrics by Memphis Minnie
Won't you be my chauffeur
Won't you be my chauffeur
I wants him to drive me
I wants him to drive me downtown
Yes he drives so easy I can't turn him down
But I don't want him
But I don't want him
To be ridin' his girls
To be ridin' his girls around
So I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down
Well I must buy him
Well I must buy him
A brand new V8
A brand new V8 Ford
Then he won't need no passengers, I will be his load
Yes... take it away...
Wanna let my chauffeur
Wanna let my chauffeur
Drive me around the
Drive me around the world
Then he can be my little boy, yes I'll be his girl
When First Unto This Country
Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name
I courted her for love
Her love I didn't obtain
Do you think I've any reason
Or right to complain
I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both night and day
I stoled a fine stallion
From Colonel Charles Grey
I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both day and night
I courted fairest Nancy
My own heart's true delight
The sheriff's men they followed
And overtaken me
They carted me away
To the penitentiary
They opened up the door
And then they threw me in
They shaved off my hair
And they cleared off my chin
They beat me and they banged me
And they fed me on dry beans
'Til I wished to my own soul
I'd never been a thief
With my hands stuck in my pockets
And my cap set on so bold
My coat of many colors
Like Joseph's of old
When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name
Tony Glover performing "Last Lonesome Blues" at , appropriately, the Dinkyfest in 2007.
**Dinkytown refers to the student/hip ghetto, etc. of Minneapolis back in the days (and perhaps today as well). It also seemingly reflects on the geographic range of the Koerner/Ray/Glover ambition.
DVD Review
Blues, Rags& Hollers: The Koerner, Ray& Glover Story,directed by Tony Glover, MVD Visual, 1986
In a review of Spider John Koerner’s CD “Stargeezer” (see review entry accompanying this blog on this date, August 29. 2009) earlier this year I made the following comment that related to a question I was then asking about the fate of various male folk singers from the folk revival of the 1960s:
“Okay, Okay those of you who have been keeping tabs know that I have spend much of the last year, when not doing political commentary or book or movie reviews, reviewing many of the old time folk artists that, along with the blues, were the passion of my youth in the early 1960's. You might also know, if you are keeping tabs, that I have been attempting to answer a question that I have posed elsewhere in this space earlier about the fate or fates of various performers from that period. Spider John Koerner was a lesser known, but important, fixture on the Cambridge/Boston folk scene during that time, as well as later once the hubbub died down and he and a local stalwart, Mr. Bones, carried on the tradition in smaller venues and in front of smaller crowds.”
Well, according to this film documentary by Tony Glover, at various times part of the sporadic musical team of Koerner, Ray and Glover, there was more, much more to the Spider John story that I was aware of. And to the stories of Ray and Glover, as well. That said, it is nevertheless true that Spider John fell off the charts and became more of a regional influence. All of this seemingly by choice and by personal circumstance. That brings up the final point that I would make (other than recommending that if you are interested in the fates of the secondary occupants of the folk revival pantheon to view this very informative, if somewhat eccentric piece). Not everyone was cut out by disposition, drive, personal inclination or personal limitations to be “king of the hill” in the folk revival (or any other endeavor). But, damn they can still make good music and we owe a lot to this trio for preserving it for us.
"Me & My Chauffeur" lyrics by Memphis Minnie
Won't you be my chauffeur
Won't you be my chauffeur
I wants him to drive me
I wants him to drive me downtown
Yes he drives so easy I can't turn him down
But I don't want him
But I don't want him
To be ridin' his girls
To be ridin' his girls around
So I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down
Well I must buy him
Well I must buy him
A brand new V8
A brand new V8 Ford
Then he won't need no passengers, I will be his load
Yes... take it away...
Wanna let my chauffeur
Wanna let my chauffeur
Drive me around the
Drive me around the world
Then he can be my little boy, yes I'll be his girl
When First Unto This Country
Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional
When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name
I courted her for love
Her love I didn't obtain
Do you think I've any reason
Or right to complain
I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both night and day
I stoled a fine stallion
From Colonel Charles Grey
I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both day and night
I courted fairest Nancy
My own heart's true delight
The sheriff's men they followed
And overtaken me
They carted me away
To the penitentiary
They opened up the door
And then they threw me in
They shaved off my hair
And they cleared off my chin
They beat me and they banged me
And they fed me on dry beans
'Til I wished to my own soul
I'd never been a thief
With my hands stuck in my pockets
And my cap set on so bold
My coat of many colors
Like Joseph's of old
When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name
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