kudzurunner
2462 posts
Apr 26, 2011
10:42 AM
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Back in mid-March, I gave a lecture at UNC Chapel Hill on the subject of "The Devil and the Blues." I'm wearing my academic's hat, not my musician's hat--but in the last 12-15 minutes, I talk at length about Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee and draw some unexpected parallels between him and Robert Johnson.
The video below contains my entire 65-minute lecture. It's a a coherent statement, not a quick hit, and I share it here in the interests of scholarship. As you know, Johnson's 100th birthday arrives in less than two weeks. (May 8th.) Here are a few new ideas to carry with you into that anniversary.....
Adam Gussow - The Devil and the Blues from CSAS on Vimeo.
Note to moderators: Given the proximity of RJ's centennial celebration and also given what I do in my scholarly life (i.e., in this video), please allow this thread to stand. But if you see bad tempers and/or manners showing up, don't hesitate to cool things off.
Last Edited by on Apr 26, 2011 10:43 AM
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LeeEdwards
115 posts
Apr 26, 2011
2:18 PM
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Thank you very much for sharing Adam. I enjoyed that immensely.
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"You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
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Miles Dewar
879 posts
Apr 26, 2011
2:26 PM
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I love 65 minute lectures....... No kidding.
It leaves a lot of room for in depth information that otherwise would have been left out.
....... I have never heard a 65 minute Anything about Blues. This should be good. Thank you for sharing.
Last Edited by on Apr 26, 2011 2:27 PM
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Seven.Oh.Three.
52 posts
Apr 26, 2011
2:45 PM
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Yup, there will be no work done the first 65 min at work tomorrow. Thanks, Adam!
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eharp
1291 posts
Apr 26, 2011
3:37 PM
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looks more like 67 minutes. are we given 2 minutes for applause?
this is gonna have to be a weekend view, maybe with popcorn.
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nacoran
4093 posts
Apr 26, 2011
3:43 PM
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Snooky is a bad word. Don't you watch Jersey Shore?
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Nate
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shanester
360 posts
Apr 26, 2011
5:07 PM
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Fascinating, very interesting subject...
once I figured out them big fancy words you were usin'!
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
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Seven.Oh.Three.
53 posts
Apr 27, 2011
11:44 AM
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I've watched it once and plan on watching it again. There's a lot of good stuff to digest! Thanks Adam!!
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The7thDave
237 posts
Apr 27, 2011
12:29 PM
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Well done! Good, chewy stuff. I think you've made an excellent argument regarding the RJ legend and the likely realities behind it; but I'm left wondering about Tommy Johnson, who actually claimed to have sold his soul to the devil for musical gifts (according to his brother, anyway). TJ could well have been motivated to do this by the same factors that you theorize motivated RJ, of course. But, hypothetically, if RJ had actually made that same claim--even if just to cultivate his bad-boy image among the young moderns--your argument might have required considerably more effort!
So... will there be hot cocoa and red-hot spaghetti at HCH?
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--Dave
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* BTMFH *
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arzajac
509 posts
Apr 30, 2011
6:27 PM
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Thank you Adam, that was very interesting.
Maybe the crossroads is the point at which you disembark from faith and hop upon irreverence. It's a hell of a ride!
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Last Edited by on Apr 30, 2011 6:29 PM
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