Stomp Off 1001 - Dickbaker.org

South African Blues (Lester Melrose;based on Beale Street Mama byRoy Turk–J. Russel Robinson))Jim Snyder /Georgia Grinders 1068Black Bottom Stompers (Switz.) 11309/5: Bob--see earlier notes above. Obviously,we were guessing. Now see what I found inLC copyright registration file:South African Blues. Junie C. Cobb. 4/29.Copyright Lester Melrose.2013 review: Haesler actually found theVocalion studio session records for therecording of this as “South African Stomp” byJunie Cobb & His Grains of Corn, 7/13/29,which shows Cobb as composer. But the cardnotes that this is a remake of master #C3781,which was Cobb’s recording of it as “SouthAfrican Blues” on July 5, shown in Rust as“rejected.” And the “Stomp” version also wasrejected, not released.And he continues:I've had a listen to the several recordings of"South African Blues/Stomp" and offer thefollowing:•The State Street Ramblers/Speed Jefferies/Jim Snyder renditions are the same - andvery similar to the J. Russel Robinson song"Beale Street Mama".•Both the Windy Rhythm Kings/Junie CCobb Grains Of Corn versions are the same,but different from the State StreetRamblers/etc. tune. (Junie Cobb)Oh, hell! That means that the State StreetRamblers were playing a different tune withthe same title! So our Cobb as composer isout the window and we’re back to square 1.And because I thought I had it solved with thatCobb copyright, I didn’t work hard to trackdown record labels. State Street Ramblersrec. 3/13/31, Champion 16279, 40070;Superior 2755 (as Speed Jeffries and HisNight Owls); Savoy 504; Jazz Collector L-83,Jazz Classic 516.LC SONIC says Melrose for 40070. Other thanthat, not a single hit anywhere (Haeslercouldn’t find them either, and he’s better atthis than I am.). Early on, Erdos speculated onFrank M. as likeliest, we’ve since confirmedhim as composer of Georgia Grind andKentucky Blues, two other tunes recorded atthat same 3/13/31 session by the State StreetRamblers.But Haesler has other evidence that points toLester Melrose, if not definitely.Rick Kennedy's excellent 1994 book JellyRoll, Bix And Hoagy contains a wealth ofinformation regarding Gennett and theMelrose brothers. Including that it wasLester who took Jimmie Bythe under hiswing, and also organised the State StreetRamblers' sessions. And collected theroyalties (page 188).And he cites a Superior discography byGeorge Kay serialized in Record Researchmagazine. No 43, May 1962 issue has listingsfor Superior 2755, Tiger Moan and SouthAfrican Blues. The Tiger Moan entry had theextremely obscure Tony “Tee” Cingeranacredit, so I’m inclined to believe its “L.Melrose” for South African Blues. But I’mstaying open to other evidence. I still thinkFrank is more logical, but that’s just a feeling,while this is a source, even if it is secondary atbest. For what it’s worth, Online 78 saysLester Melrose; RHJA says just Melrose.10/22/13 Robbie Rhodes compared theRamblers/Melrose tune with Beale StreetMama and reports,[Ramblers’ SAB] sure sounds like "BealeStreet Mama", by Roy Turk and J. RusselRobinson, and it's so close that across-reference might be warranted.[Cobb’s SAB] is a different tune. It openswith a quote from Morton's "MidnightMama/Tom Cat Blues", otherwise it's a sortof pastiche of blues themes.I'd say [Ramblers’ SAB] and [Cobb SAB]are different tunes entirely. [Ramblers’ SAB]is essentially "Beale Street Mama".Dave Robinson concurs, and points out thatthe Junie Cobb tune too is a pastiche of stolenbits:I agree, the SSR side is the same as BealeStreet Mama (which itself borrows from SeeSee Rider and Tishomingo Blues).The WRK side is a 12-bar blues with twostrains (melodic themes), the first of which isknown as Nobody Knows the Way I Feel DisMornin' (recorded by Bechet), which is alsoheard in Jelly Roll Morton's Midnight Mamaand in George Lewis' Dauphine Street Blues.Not sure who originated it (not Lewis)…probably Morton…but I guess you don'tneed that one sorted out for thediscography.Thievery ran rampant in those days!Does our brain trust have any good ideasabout whether it should be Lester or Frankwho stole Beale Street Mama and made itSouth African Blues?South Bound (Alex Hill–Clarence Williams)Chicago Rhythm 1026Des Plantes’ Washboard Wizards 1231Baker–Baldwin Radiogram Wshbrds 1243Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks 1260We had Southbound by Hill.Rec. Hill aho, 2/8/30, Vocalion 1465,Supertone S-2237. Sam Lanin (as SouthBound), 5/17/28, Cameo 8227, Lincoln 2875.Super Syncopators, 3/25, Autograph 625.[Lanin & Super Syncopators played a 1925Billy Meyers-Elmer Schoebel “South Bound.]Oops, copyright isSouth-bound; words and melody by AlexHill and C. Williams. © 1 c. May 29, 1930; Eunp. 22591; Clarence Williams music pub.co., inc., New York. (although in the index,it’s south-bound under Williams but Southbound under Hill)But what’s on the label? South Bound on theoriginal Vocalion 1465, and composer creditjust Hill.South Bound Rag (Blind Blake)Pam Pameijer’s New Jazz Wizards 1382