Well, I admit this isn't really folk, early jazz, or blues, although it has elements of all three. It's Western swing and I love it.
This is one of those records I am posting more because I am fond of the music and the cover than because of the inaccessibility of the recordings themselves - although this 10-inch LP is in itself pretty rare.
These sides were made during Spade Cooley's apex of success in the mid-1940s, when he was probably the hottest thing on the Los Angeles country scene. And were these records hot - listen to Three Way Boogie and you can just imagine the dancers stomping the Riverside Ballrooms off its foundation. The accordion solo - by George Bamby, I believe - is almost surreal.
The sad story of Spade's later life is well known - convicted of murdering his second wife, then dying of a heart attack backstage at a benefit concert in 1969, shortly before he was to be paroled.
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6 comments:
Bravo! Spasibo from Russia !
Spade Cooley
Thanks Buster for this gem, Nice to have this Columbia album as i only have a Charly Records compilation of his early 50's work with Decca.
I noticed that one of Cooleys band members the guitarist Jimmy Wyble died recently aged 87. Apparently Cooley stole Wyble from Bob Wills. Wyble was a very advanced player for his time & went on to play with Benny Goodman.
It's been a year or two since I downloaded 'Adolph Hofner - Dude Ranch Dances' from this site. I finally got round to playing it last night and very good it was too. So, if I asked very nicely, is there any chance you could re-up this Spade Cooley gem. (I promise to play it promptly.)
Thanks!
dave - Sure, assuming I can find the files.
dave - I don't have the files, but I will either retransfer it, or make a compilation otherwise. Give me a few days.
A very generous offer, much appreciated.
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