[78-L] Buster Keaton 'party tape' 1962 - vaudeville, blue, and blues

Thomas Stern sternth at attglobal.net.invalid
Sat Aug 13 14:17:45 PDT 2016


I recently became aware of this tape, recorded at a party in 1962.  Buster
Keaton sings with ukulele and talks about vaudeville (19teens), blue
material,

and sings a bit of a blues with mention of "high yeller woman".  The
recording is an extra in the new UK blu-ray Keaton Shorts 1917--23 dvd set,
but

has been issued previously on a Masters of Cinema DVD set, and there was an
NPR show (seems sound file now deleted).  I have difficulty understanding

a good part of this - not a great recording, but also my diminished hearing.

1. Does anyone know of a transcript of this material ??

2. Is there a better sound CD or other source for this recording ??

3. Has there been any discussion of the tape and the sources for the songs
Keaton performs ??  I am particularly curious about the HIGH YALLER verses

which I associate with blues performers and wonder where Keaton would have
heard this material ??

 

Thanks!

Best wishes, Thomas.



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