This is the tale of two men, two black men, two tough sons of bitches immortalized in American song. Two ballads and identities that tell us all we need to know about sex, and race, and danger in America's first 200 years.
John Henry was a working man, 6 foot 2, 200 pounds, a giant in his day, born a slave some time in the 1840s. He punched holes into mountains so the mountains could be dynamited for railroad tunnels and died after competing with a steel driving steam drill.
Stagger Lee was a pimp who owned the Modern Horseshoe Club in the notorious Deep Morgan section of St. Louis in 1895. He lived in two story house on North 12th with half a dozen crib apartments in back where the girls worked.
These men, and the ballads that grew up around them, launched the careers of two of America's greatest public identities. It's no surprise then that the ballads of John Henry and Stagger Lee have remained core parts of the American repertoire for more than a century.
Listen to Down in the Flood Episode 6: John Henry & Stagger Lee (39:00 min, 43 MB)
Another great show Jason. Becks version of Stagger Lee on Peter Cases' tribute album to Mississippi John Hurt called Avalon Blues is quite exceptional if you get a chance to check it out.
I've got your Doc Boggs recommendation in the car player right now. Amazon owes you big time since I've picked up at least 10 discs since reading your blog!
Posted by: Tony Alva | July 14, 2005 at 04:29 PM
Thanks. I've heard about that Beck cover but never heard it. It's on my list of things to check out actually.
That Revenant collection of Dock Boggs stuff is absolutely one of my faves. Probably among my top ten favorite albums.
Glad to hear you're buying some of the disks. It's ridiculous for the music industry, which has been struggling to find new market channels, to consider podcasting anything but a great new marketing channel.
I guess I should set up an Amazon referral account. At least it might subsidize a couple of my own Amazon purchases every year.
Posted by: Jason Chervokas | July 14, 2005 at 06:55 PM
FYI, I actually DID arrange for an amazon referral program that pays me in amazon credits, so if there's stuff you do want to buy listed in the sidebars, I would love it if you clicked through from here or from Trickster. More to the point my wife would love it!
Posted by: Jason Chervokas | July 15, 2005 at 12:07 PM
Found your site via Scobleizer - I'll be listening later this afternoon. FYI, a great MP3 compendium of Stagga Lee versions was done about 4 months ago by Pre-War Blues:
http://prewarblues.org/2005/03/stagolee-recap-and-remaining-titles.html
My favorite is probably Lloyd Price's soul version.
Posted by: Jason Bennett | July 29, 2005 at 03:57 PM
Yeah, I saw that Stagger Lee compendium. Great stuff.
Posted by: Jason Chervokas | August 02, 2005 at 08:08 AM
The Black Keys do a nice one too, "Stack Shot Billy" off their most recent ablum, Rubber Factory.
The songs' good (while not mindblowing) but I'm really digging the band right now. Fits right into the garage rock revival scene. Reminds me of a dirtier Kings of Leon.
Posted by: Eddie LeBreton | August 05, 2005 at 01:24 PM
Great shows. I'm getting caught up with all of them. Keep 'em coming.
Who did the Stagger Lee toast?
Thanks!
Posted by: Elixir Sue | October 27, 2006 at 12:35 PM
This theme has interested me! That Revenant collection of Dock Boggs stuff is absolutely one of my faves. Probably among my top ten favorite albums.
Posted by: Free Senior Dating | May 10, 2011 at 07:09 AM
The interesting information, the tonic on a note! It's ridiculous for the music industry, which has been struggling to find new market channels, to consider podcasting anything but a great new marketing channel.
Posted by: date black women | May 10, 2011 at 07:17 AM
Magandang impormasyon. Ako ay masuwerteng at natagpuan ang iyong site mula sa isang random na paghahanap sa Google. Sa kabutihang palad para sa akin, ito ang mangyayari sa paksang ito para lamang maging isang bagay na aking sinubukan upang mahanap ang karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa pananaliksik. Panatilihin sa amin ang mahusay at salamat sa inyo.
Posted by: Generic Cialis | June 18, 2011 at 03:21 AM
Hey, Great post **
Posted by: デトルシトール | July 09, 2011 at 04:56 AM
The interesting information, the tonic on a note! I've got your Doc Boggs recommendation in the car player right now. Amazon owes you big time since I've picked up at least 10 discs since reading your blog!
Posted by: Camarad | September 14, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I've got your Doc Boggs recommendation in the car player right now. Amazon owes you big time since I've picked up at least 10 discs since reading your blog!Good luck
Posted by: Colin Farrell | September 20, 2011 at 08:02 AM
I am very glad that I have found your blog. So many fresh and great ideas! I like very much your posts. online single chat rooms live girls private chat rooms for adults
Posted by: adult free chat | January 31, 2012 at 04:02 AM
Hi, This just came across my desk and I had to pass it on to you ASAP…
Internet multi-millionaire Mack Michaels has a few new positions available right now…
If accepted you can easily rake in $11, 917 per month starting from scratch.
==> http://www.maverickmoneymaking.info/maverick.html
Once you’re accepted just follow the training Mack gives you. It’s really quite simple…
Learn how Mack went from not being able to afford Christmas gifts to a millionaire lifestyle and how you can too!
BUT…
Due to the extremely high level of Hands-On time Mack spends with every new member he has to limit the number of positions that are open.
Right now there are only 2 available in your area. If you’re interested you should move quickly.
==> http://www.maverickmoneymaking.info/maverick.html
Your Friend, – Mike
Posted by: WeenCheancy | February 06, 2012 at 04:02 AM
www.highwatereverywhere.com In whom it is possible to order the ? Who can help? [url=http://viagra-2012.webstarts.com]cialis levitra sales viagra , PUCH [/url], URNX [url=http://buy-viagra-online-shopping.yolasite.com]viagra joke , CADJ [/url], WQPQ and very creative : [url=http:// http://viagra-order.webstarts.com]how does viagra work , IEUR [/url], NLYW [url=http://weight-loss-1.webstarts.com]enzyme therapy for weight loss , OQTL [/url], MQNN [url=http://genericviagracheapest.com]viagra erection , CHQL - 29868 [/url] Three (20%) patients had three late complications.EF was assessed with use of the EF domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and with assessments of erection hardness (Erection Hardness Grading Scale [EHGS] and IIEF Q2 [the frequency of erections hard enough for penetration]). buying online risk viagra viagra pill , and [url=http://www.routan.org]cheap generic viagra , MGVT [/url], Median PAPs was 90 mmHg; 8 dogs were reevaluated after therapy, and the median decrease in PAPs was 16.5 mmHg. [url=http://viagrashop4usa.com]viagra on line , IGYZ [/url] or [url=http://www.viagrashopping.com]cheapest viagra , GNRT [/url] . Sincerely
Posted by: stydaytrons | February 14, 2012 at 03:58 AM