You've been slowly driving me insane....

Geeze, talk about "ugly ways"......I was so pissed off yesterday about the divshare files that I forgot to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and well wishes concerning the wedding. Thanks a bunch ya'll. Please, just consider that I'm half crazed at this point.

Anyone got an extra Valium?

Took me awhile to land this 45, as copies often sell for more than I wanted to spend. That is, nice copies do. Mine isn't that nice, but it is original, plays through without a skip, and was probably cheaper than it should have been.

These two songs are well loved in this city. Hard to say why without over-generalizing, but it's true nonetheless. Within the last week, I've heard both played around town. "I Remember", re-fashioned into a gorgeous musical puzzle by a very talented pianist...... "Travelin' Mood", pounded out by some kids in the street on a plastic five gallon bucket, a guitar, and fiddle. Both times, I had to stop and listen.

Wee Willie Wayne, aka James Waynes, aka James Wayne is a bit of an enigma. Not much is known about him, even though he recorded a fair amount. By my count, he had records issued on at least six different labels.....not including the three separate occasions he was signed to Imperial. The problem is that sometime in the early 60's, he apparently fell off the face of the earth and was never heard from again.

Wayne/Waynes made the first recording of another local favorite, "Junco Partner", in 1952. It was recorded in Atlanta, but is generally acknowledged as having been a popular motif around New Orleans before that time. I'm one who believes Tuts Washington when he say's his [unrecorded] version of "Junker's Blues" is the source of both "Junco Partner" and Professor Longhair's, "Tipitina".

The two songs are closer than you might think. In fact, I'd say that Wayne had to have heard Fess play some version of what became "Tipitina" prior to recording "Junco Partner". Nothing Wayne recorded before or after sounds quite like it.

In no way do I mean that as a put-down of Wayne's output. There's good reason why the man is revered. His oddly clipped phrasing, combined with an approach so laid back it almost sounds like he's singing to himself, makes for some very beautiful records.

Background vocals on "I Remember" are by the Sha-Weez, aka the Kidds, aka the Pelicans...one of the more interesting vocal groups of the day. I presume Dave Bartholomew produced/arranged the record, as he did with virtually all Imperial releases recorded in New Orleans.

Hope ya enjoy "I Remember" and "Travelin' Mood".

The record's from 1955.