the st. james sessions (nifty appalachian mp3s, 1929-30)

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a knoxville dude i know has put together this fairly awesome site with a bunch of mp3s transferred from 78s recorded during (locally) legendary sessions in a hotel there. it's a nice grab-bag of stuff, blues and stringbands and gospel and dance orchestras &c. not for the surface-noise averse, obviously, but some of it's real good. leola manning is especially worth some attention (and not just because one is called "satan is busy in knoxville" -- maybe my favorite song title ever).

anyway, there's 60-some songs there for listening or download.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 7 September 2006 05:14 (eighteen years ago)

from the site:

In 1929, and again in 1930, representatives from the Brunswick Recording Company brought their recording equipment to the WNOX studio located in the St. James Hotel in Knoxville, TN. During that time, many artists from around the region, including the middle Tennessee area, went there to record. Most of the songs are rare and hard to find but fortunately do still exist in private collections. Many have been obtained and are available below.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 7 September 2006 05:15 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe Satan's *phone* was busy. Or did he have a party line?

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 7 September 2006 06:05 (eighteen years ago)

This is way cool, Gypsy -- thanks. My mom was born in Maryville.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 7 September 2006 06:06 (eighteen years ago)

i have in-laws just outside maryville.

anyway, credit goes to jeff bills at lynnpoint. he put it all together.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 7 September 2006 06:13 (eighteen years ago)

You know, thanks for sharing. I used to have tons of family in and around Knoxville, but not many of them are around anymore.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 7 September 2006 06:50 (eighteen years ago)

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