[78-L] Theory du jour

[David Lewis]

Here's the source of a good paper, I think. The proposition that hit cover versions of Arthur Collins' "The Preacher and the Bear" occur just before major music industry fallouts or other disastrous occurances. 

* It was a BIG hit for Phil Harris in 1947, just before the second AFM recording ban took hold and the Swing Era came crashing to a halt.

* It appeared as an album track on The Big Bopper's only LP, "Chantilly Lace starring The Big Bopper," in 1959, and I'm not even sure Mercury got that album out before the Big Bopper's own plane crashed and burned with himself, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly inside, taking the center out of early rock n roll.

* The New Christy Minstrels recorded it in a sanitized version in 1963 on their album "The New Christy Minstrels in Person," just before The Beatles came and shoved the folk boom out of the way.

* It was recorded by both Rufus Thomas AND Jerry Reed in 1970, with Reed's version peaking at #16 in the charts. 1970, of course, was the year the Kent State shootings and the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin gutted the counterculture.

The curse of Arthur Collins, perhaps? Like your genre? Like your band? Don't cover this song!

I realize it's a little early for April Fools' day. But you gotta admit, coincidence or not, it's food for thought. Happy Easter! 

Uncle Dave Lewis
uncledavelewis at hotmail.com