Another taste of Jake

"Jake Bottle Blues" - Lemual Turner: This slide guitar instrumental preceded the epidemic and Turner was identifying the Jake as a source of blues, not of paralysis. Black Ace uses a small medicine bottle as a slide and the softness of Turner's slide attack makes me think it might be a glass bottle as well, perhaps the one of the title.

"Bay Rum Blues" - Dave McCarn & Howard Long: Dave McCarn was from Gaston County, North Carolina. He recorded this selection with Howard Long in 1931 in Charlotte, NC. McCarn played guitar and harmonica on this recording and lamented the need to replace liquor and ginger with the bay rum.

"Jake Leg Blues" - Willie Lofton: Lofton, like many of the black artists who sang about Jake, was from central Mississippi, near Jackson, and was influenced by Tommy Johnson. This late performance was done for the then new Decca label in 1934.

"Bear Cat Papa Blues" - Gene Autry: In the early days of his career, Autry was very much infuenced by, and modeled his performances after, Jimmie Rodgers. This 1931 performance features the blue yodel of Rodgers and refers to an unfaithful sweetheart who numbers among her sins the drinking of Jake. Autry's autobiography refers to his seeing Jake Leg victoms in Oklahoma.

"Limber Neck Rag" - Narmour & Smith: (not mentioned in the liner notes. I wonder why? Just left out or forgotten?)