The Bookhouse Records

Special: The Haunted Jukebox No. 4 — Mysterious Blues

A Bookhouse Records special.

In Episode 3 of this show, "Ghosts on the Groove," you heard the Synco Jazz Band play "Mysterious Blues" — a fox trot by J. S. Zamecnik, recorded in November 1921. This special is that tune's second life.

First, twenty seconds of the original 1921 disc. Then the rebirth — Bookhouse re-imagines the fox trot as slow Jamaican dub in the manner of the great Kingston studios of the 1970s: a deep melodic bass leading the mix, rimshot drums echoing into spring reverb, muted trumpet and clarinet drifting through long tape echo, and a short chant written for this recording — "Something's moving in the midnight blue."

Own the new recording: The Haunted Jukebox No. 4 — Mysterious Blues (Dub Reimagining), by Bookhouse

Get the track: https://bookhousereadings.gumroad.com/l/haunted-jukebox-4-mysterious-blues

Hang the cover, spin the record: this episode's cover art is a Bookhouse Prints poster — square 12x12 https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601749533 and portrait https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601777932

The original recording (1921) and the composition (1921) are public domain in the United States. Source for the original: Internet Archive, Great 78 Project.

The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.

From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

A Bookhouse Records special.

In Episode 3 of this show, "Ghosts on the Groove," you heard Bessie Smith sing "Haunted House Blues" — recorded on January 9, 1924. This special is that song's second life.

First, a few seconds of the original 1924 disc: the last verse, the way it sounded a hundred and two years ago. Then the rebirth — Bookhouse re-imagines J. C. Johnson's 1924 blues as snappy 1950s rockabilly: slapback guitar, a slapping upright bass, a hiccupping lead vocal, and new verses written for this recording around the song's own famous couplet — "I'm scared to stay here, I'm scared to leave this town."

Own the new recording: The Haunted Jukebox No. 3 — Haunted House Blues (Rockabilly Reimagining), by Bookhouse

Get the track: https://bookhousereadings.gumroad.com/l/lrlda

The cover painting is also a poster at Bookhouse Prints on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601643554/bookhouse-prints-haunted-house-blues-o (square) and https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601646246/bookhouse-prints-haunted-house-blues-o (portrait).

The original recording (Columbia, 1924) and the composition (1924) are public domain in the United States. Source for the original: Library of Congress National Jukebox.

The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.

From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

Ghosts on the Groove — Episode 3 of The Bookhouse Records.Twelve discs from the haunted side of the shelf: ghosts, graveyards, haunted houses, and skeletons that dance at midnight, 1904 to 1924. Billy Murray's The Ghost That Never Walked, The Skeleton Rag, Danse Macabre, the Funeral March of a Marionette, Ida Cox's Graveyard Dream Blues, two from Bessie Smith, and Fred Waring's haunted fox trot to close the set.The discs:1. The Ghost That Never Walked — Billy Murray (Victor, 1904)2. The Skeleton Rag — American Quartet (Victor, 1912)3. That Mysterious Rag — Arthur Collins and Albert Campbell (1912)4. Danse Macabre — Vessella's Italian Band (Victor, 1914)5. The Ghost of the Terrible Blues — Peerless Quartet (Columbia, 1915)6. Spooky Spooks — Victor Military Band (1917)7. Mysterious Blues — Synco Jazz Band (1921)8. Funeral March of a Marionette — Victor Symphony Orchestra, Josef Pasternack (Victor, 1922)9. Graveyard Dream Blues — Ida Cox with Lovie Austin and her Blues Serenaders (Paramount, 1923)10. Cemetery Blues — Bessie Smith (Columbia, 1923)11. Haunted House Blues — Bessie Smith (Columbia, 1924)12. I'm Haunted by That Swanee River Song — Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians (Victor, 1924)Every recording you heard is public domain in the United States (recorded 1904–1924). Sources: the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project and the Library of Congress National Jukebox. The crackle is not damage — it's the sound of a hundred years, still spinning.The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

Special: The Haunted Jukebox No. 2 — Moonlight and Roses

A Bookhouse Records special.

In Episode 2 of this show, "Moonlight and Roses," you heard John McCormack sing the title song — recorded in 1925. This special is that song's second life.

First, a few seconds of the original 1925 disc: the chorus, the way it sounded a hundred and one years ago. Then the rebirth — Bookhouse re-imagines the 1925 song by Ben Black and Neil Moret (its melody adapted from Edwin H. Lemare) as a 1960s Las Vegas showroom record: big brass, sweeping strings, a crooner's lead, and two new verses written for this recording. It went in meant to swagger and came out crooning — a happy mistake.

Own the new recording: The Haunted Jukebox No. 2 — Moonlight and Roses (Vegas Reimagining), by Bookhouse — $5

https://bookhousereadings.gumroad.com/l/eskkzt

The cover painting is also a poster at Bookhouse Prints on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601631373 (square) and https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601658680 (portrait).

The original recording (Victor, 1925) and the composition (1925) are public domain in the United States.

The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.

From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

Special: The Haunted Jukebox No. 1 — Let Me Call You Sweetheart

A Bookhouse Records special.

In Episode 2 of this show, "Moonlight and Roses," you heard the Columbia Male Quartette sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" — recorded in July of 1911. This special is that song's second life.

First, a few seconds of the original 1911 disc: the chorus, the way it sounded a hundred and fifteen years ago. Then the rebirth — Bookhouse re-imagines the 1910 song by Leo Friedman and Beth Slater Whitson as 1990s West Coast G-funk, with two new rap verses written for this recording.

Own the new recording: The Haunted Jukebox No. 1 — Let Me Call You Sweetheart (G-Funk Reimagining), by Bookhouse — $5

https://bookhousereadings.gumroad.com/l/cghdqr

The cover painting is also a poster at Bookhouse Prints on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601628697 (square) and https://www.etsy.com/listing/4601655978 (portrait).

The original recording (Columbia, 1911) and the composition (1910) are public domain in the United States. Source for the original: Library of Congress National Jukebox.

The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.

From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

Moonlight and Roses — Episode 2 of The Bookhouse Records.Twelve discs under one sky: songs of the moonlit hours, 1910 to 1925. Moonlight Bay, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Shine On Harvest Moon, John McCormack's Moonlight and Roses, Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, and the long goodnight — Silver Threads Among the Gold.The discs:1. Moonlight Bay — American Quartet (Victor, 1912)2. By the Light of the Silvery Moon — Ada Jones and chorus (1912)3. Shine On, Harvest Moon (barn dance) — Arthur Pryor's Band (Victor, 1910)4. When the Harvest Moon Is Shining — Joseph Samuels' Music Masters (Edison, 1920)5. Moonlight and Roses — John McCormack (Victor, 1925)6. Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland — Henry Burr (1910)7. I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls — Mabel Garrison (Victor, 1917)8. In the Gloaming — Meta Orred, Will Oakland, American Quartet (Victor, 1910)9. Let Me Call You Sweetheart — Columbia Male Quartette (Columbia, 1911)10. Down by the Old Mill Stream — Brunswick Quartette (1911)11. After the Ball — Vernon Dalhart and Company (Edison, 1925)12. Silver Threads Among the Gold — Harold Barr and Henry Burr (Columbia, 1920)Every recording you heard is public domain in the United States (recorded 1910–1925). Sources: the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project and the Library of Congress National Jukebox. The crackle is not damage — it's the sound of a hundred years, still spinning.The Bookhouse Records is value for value, like its sister show, The Bookhouse Readings. If these records gave you value, return value in kind: share the show with a friend, or send a contribution at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints is our sister shelf of public-domain wall art — vintage plates and engravings, verified one by one and prepared ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — 20 vintage owl prints. Old art, brought home again. Find the shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints

Three records that each started something. 'Livery Stable Blues' — the Original Dixieland Jass Band (Victor 18255, 1917), the first jazz record ever released. 'Whispering' — Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra (Victor 18690, 1920), the polished sound that sold in the millions and crowned Whiteman King of Jazz. 'Down Hearted Blues' — Bessie Smith (Columbia, 1923), her very first record, written by Alberta Hunter and Lovie Austin. All three recordings are public domain in the United States. Sources: the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project and the Library of Congress National Jukebox. A plain note: the hosting narration is synthesized — a computer voice, not a human presenter. The records themselves are the real thing.Value for value: The Bookhouse Records is listener-supported. If these records gave you value, return value in kind at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BookhouseReadings — whatever it was worth to you.

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From the print room of the Bookhouse: Bookhouse Prints gathers public-domain art that deserves to still be on walls — vintage plates and engravings, checked one by one, ready to print and frame. Collection No. 1: A Parliament of Owls — twenty vintage owl prints. Visit the shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BookhousePrints