The Electric Rag Band
Here's what is on the disc.
1. Bull Frog Moan (intro.) - Lonnie Johnson & Eddie Lang 1929
2. Guitar Swing - Casey Bill Weldon 1937
3. Do That Messin' Around - Arthur (Blind) Blake 1926
4. Laughing Rag - Roy Smeck 1926
5. You Gotta Change Your Mind - Blind Boy Fuller 1935
6. Delia - Blind Willie McTell 1940
7. Betty Mae (Jivin' Woman Blues) - Blind Boy Fuller 1938
8. Go Ahead Buddy - Casey Bill Wldon 1937
9. Tip Out Tonight - Pink Anderson
10. Just As Well Let Her Go - Casey Bill Weldon 1937
11. Rag Mama Rag - Blind Boy Fuller 1935
12. Twelves - Kokomo Arnold 1935
13. Rope Stretchin' Blues - Arthur (Blind) Blake 1931
14. Bull Frog Moan - Lonnie Johnson & Eddie Lang 1929
(p) Copyright 1996 The Electric Rag Band ERB-1000
We like to think of our versions of these songs as adaptations. We have taken considerable artistic liberty with these songs, and we think these guys would have approved. Although the dates listed may not be the first versions of these songs and the people listed may not be the authurs of these songs, they represent the recordings that our version is based on.
From Blues Review Magazine
This Oklahoma blues trio has drawn its inspiration from some of classic blues reperoire of the 1920s and 30s, and for their first CD it's picked some of the finest examples of the exuberant rags and blues. You cannot accurately reproduce classic solo blues with an electric guitar, electric bass and drums, and the Electric Rag Band knows this. In this self released CD, the band reinterprets these classics for the end of the 20th century, But doing it with with respect and affection, and thats good. The CD starts out with a Lonnie Johnson-Eddie Lang classic from 1929, "Bull Frog Moan," and the same piece ends the CD at the 14th cut. In between there's Casey Bill Welden's "Guitar Swing" (1937) and "Just as Well Let Her Go" (1936), and two of Blind Blake's pieces, "Do That Messin' Around" (1926) and his "Rope Strechin' Blues" (1931). They do Blind Willie McTell's "Delia's Gone" and three by Blind Boy Fuller, "You Gotta Change Your Mind" (1935), " Jivin' Woman Blues" (1938), and "Rag Momma Rag" (1935). Add to that Kokomo Arnold's "Dozen's," which they call "Twelves," Pink Anderson's "Tip out Tonight," and a reproduction of a really early Roy Smeck Hawaiian slide tune, "Laughing Rag" (1935) and you've got a full range of great tunes to inspire you. These songs, for the most part, are by many of the greatest East Coast ragtime finger-picking blues artists, and the original performances are often on a virtuoso level. The covers of Lonnie Johnson, Casey Bill Weldon and the Hawaiian slide tune of Roy Smeck work well and sound fine on the electric. However, to my ears, an electric guitar does not sound quite right in an intricate finger-picking Blake or Blind Boy Fuller song. In these cases, the lead-guitarist, Pat Cook, plays his electric in a style that strongly suggests the original runs and performances without attempting to reproduce the finger-picking pieces note for note. The band does manage to capture the feeling of the music, and that's what is important. It works. -- BOB ZEUSCHNER
From Living Blues Magazine
A semi-acoustic two guitar and drums trio that revels in the prewar blues, the Electric Rag Band covers Lonnie Johnson, Blind Blake, Casey Bill Weldon, Pink Anderson, Blind Boy Fuller, and Willie McTell. While they obviously love their music, they don't take it too seriously; as a result, this disc is a lot of fun. If you haven't forgotten that these old blues were meant for good times, this is a band to check out. -- PRA
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"In this self-released CD, the band reinterprets these classics for the
end of the 20th century, but doing it with respect and affection, and
that's good."- Blues Review
"...a full range of great tunes to inspire you."
- Blues Review
"It works."
- Blues Review
"If you haven't forgotten that these old blues were meant for good times, this is a band you should check out."
- Living Blues
"These three guys hail from Tulsa OK, but listening to their record you get the feeling they REALLY live in the back of the Yazoo Warehouse."
- Smitty Ray Barlow
