The Carmichael-Moenkhaus Society for the Appropriation of Hoosier Folklore

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Comment by DBJ on January 27, 2009 at 12:03pm

Have you guys checked out the Hoagy collection online?

Hoagy digital

They haven't digitized much audio yet, however. They have some really cool stuff--Tom Roznowski dipped into it for his WFIU Hoagy special a few years back, as did WFHB when they did their Hoagy-thon. They let me borrow a 1939 radio broadcast last year for Afterglow, in which Hoagy plays with the Tommy Dorsey band up at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis, and Hoagy's mom sits in for a version of "Maple Leaf Rag."

Comment by mike whybark on January 26, 2009 at 11:57pm

nope, diff book for sure, david, but that one sounds pretty interesting. I think I was looking at two books at my folks' house, both IUP pubs, one from the 30s or 40s and one from the 70s.

Comment by DBJ on January 26, 2009 at 11:02pm

Mike W mentioned a Hoosier folklore book in the original Hoagy-photo thread--not sure if it's the same, but one worth checking out is the WPA/Federal Writers' Project Hoosier Tall Stories, published in 1939. There used to be a copy on the shelf at the IU Main Library. (And anybody interested in the Federal Writers' Project in Indiana should definitely check out George T. Blakey's Creating a Hoosier Self-Portrait.)

On Gennett: Jelly Roll, Bix and Hoagy.

Comment by Eric Kinsey on January 19, 2009 at 11:28pm

I'm late to this discussion but here's a few thoughts.

There was/is a Speed Records comp out about 10 years ago called "Hillbillies On Speed" featuring artists like Fountain Square's own Lattie Moore. I don't own it but here is the label code, Redita RLP 116.

As far as I know Indiana had LOTS of Rockabilly! Bobby Helms at one point, please correct me if I am wrong, played with Hank Williams's The Drifting Cowboys/Cherokee Cowboys after they were fired by Ray Price. Most of his early hits were recorded in Bloomington at a local radio station. He later recorded many of his hits at the legendary Quonset Hut in Nashville with various members of the Drifting Cowboys and the A-team/Owen Bradley session legends. Viz, 'Hangin' Round', 'Tennesee Rock n Roll', 'Freedom Lovin' Guy', etc. There were many other great early Indiana rockabillies like Boyd Bennett and The Rockets, Keetie and The Kats, Lattie Moore, Ronnie Haig, Art Adams, Tommy Lam, etc. Also, the very wild "Flyin Saucers Rock n Roll" recorded by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men on Sun was written by Indiana native Ray Scott. Scott also recorded the minor hit "Boppin Wig-Wam Willie".

Comment by DBJ on December 24, 2008 at 12:11am

Don't know if this is of direct interest to the group or not, but it's a website I kind of dig--"Lost Indiana":

http://www.lostindiana.net/index.html

Strangely enough, I don't think there's anything there about the Lost River--which really fascinated me as a kid (my grandmother grew up in French Lick/West Baden of the 1920s and used to tell me stories about the hotel, Lost River, etc.).

Comment by Jbarge on August 3, 2008 at 2:39pm

Hey I was searching for a couintry musician from bloomington back in the eighties (little guy with a mustache and acne who used to play at the Union Jack - he also made a Live From Bloomington sampler at one point - help!) when I came across this about Bobby Helms:
Surprisingly good stuff. I would not have thought that the man known primarily for the pop hits My Special Angel and Jingle Bell Rock would have recorded enough good material to justify a 62 cut double CD reissue, but, thanks to his solid country roots, he does. In fact, much of his output compares favorably with other Decca country artists from the same era. And the folks at Bear Family have wisely put his most country-flavored numbers on the first disc and his most pop-sounding cuts on the other. The country disc even includes his little-known first two records, made for the tiny Speed record label of Bloomington, Indiana in 1955. Helms' hits are here, of course, as well as Tennessee Rock 'n Roll, Far Away Heart, Sad-Eyed Baby, two versions of Just A Little Lonesome, one in a country vein and one in a pop vein, and others. The first disc is, not surprisingly, the stronger of the two, but even the second disc has its good moments. And everything else about this package is up to Bear Family's normal high standards. Excellent sound and notes. (DH)
Anybody know about the Speed Label from Bloomington?

Comment by Ed on August 1, 2008 at 1:40am

Just posted Anne Z's IDS piece on "Hoagy Picks the Hits" from 1988.

Comment by Bill Zink on June 2, 2008 at 1:33am

Message to anyone who is hooked up with the Rhapsody online music site: I just put together a "Hoagy Carmichael by Hoagy Carmichael" playlist - 33 versions of Hoagy doing his own songs. All you have to do is go to "Playlist Central", Single Artist mixes. Or, contact me through this site, and I will e-mail you the list.

Peace.

Comment by Holly on May 21, 2008 at 10:44pm

These comments don't register on the sidebar, so you have to check in to see. Mike, your comment to Bill is fun to read aloud.

Comment by mike whybark on May 21, 2008 at 2:12am

SHEEYIT I missed all the comments in here!

Um. BILL: I have gone so far as to telephone ans speak to teh Weave regarding the teeming masses seeking Mowenkhouse science. He averred his intent to drop said. Perhaps a postal card wopuld be a better prod.

STEPHEN: Sou les pierres, le plage.

JEB: you git my back on this, bruddah.

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