Frank Prophet of Clark's Creek, Kan.
Unus dies par omni est.
Anathemas and Ephemera
It has been quite a while since anything's happened here on the Frank Prophet site. Winter in the Middle West. At a friend's request, I'm putting 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' back up here. Free to download.
brcm.
*******
Probably goes without saying, but, after reflection, it seems that no one should even attempt "Too Close" after hearing Prof. Alex Bradford. Actually, all versions can be stricken from the record.
Also, in Sam Chatmon news, it doesn't get any better than Willie Lofton for E string snapping. I think I'll share the aforementioned in the future, but I've had a bit to drink and I don't trust myself with public domain knowledge at this hour.
1 October 2009
New Ephemeral Material
Payday: Carlsbad 2002
What's The Matter?: Carlsbad 2002
Revelation Blues: Kansas City 2003
SO, I've picked up one of those reissue LPs from Mississippi Records in Portland. That'd be 4007 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227. Two, actually: "True Story of Abner Jay" which is phenomenal; "Oh Graveyard, You Can't Hold Me Always" which is incredible beyond words. It appears Mr Prophet is backtracking. This is probably the best thing to happen to American music lovers since the steel guitar. Some of the rarities in the Mississippi Records catalogue are new to my collection, which, not to brag, is saying something.
Rather than paying a premium, the consumer picks up the LP for between nine and thirteen dollars, depending upon the seller. At my local, Love Garden Sounds, I paid all of twelve dollars for arguably the best listening experience I've had in years. Bring the reissues on, especially in real music's natural format. Thankyouthankyouthankyou Messrs Yusimov and Isaacson.
By the way, does it strike anyone that Abner Jay might've listened to a fair bit of Marty Robbins?
4 August 2009
We should speak more about Furry Lewis and Reverend Pearly Brown, among others. Somehow, they don't receive the canonical designation they so richly deserve. For Furry Lewis, saying nothing of his bottleneck prowess, there are time-tested works like "Big Chief" and "I Will Turn Your Money Green," the latter being one of the great prewar compositions.
As for Reverend Pearly Brown, it is unconscionable that this Georgian's masterful gospel music is so bloody hard to find. Thanks to Rounder, one can still get it online, but it is past time to release "It's A Mean Old World To Try And Live In" on vinyl anew.
Speaking of which, why is the music industry (the subjects of the next jab being "the music industry" in the way Organic Valley is "the dairy industry" to be fair) coming to claim my dollars again with things I already have but know I can't resist? Exhibit A. "Charley Patton: Electrically Recorded Prayer of Death."
Do I need this? No. Do I have all these songs? Of course. Must I have another incarnation of the one picture of Patton extant? Well.... maybe a little. Also, there is "What Are They Doing In Heaven Today" a newer vinyl of Washington Phillips songs which features possibly the most minimalist set of notes I've seen yet. Sorry, Dylan, you lose there.
So, really, if there is a lost two take of "Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues" just let us know now. I'm running out of acquisition cash and NOW the George Mitchell Collection is in stock.
9 July 2009
The Nature of Things
The night's entertainment was "Brave New West," a film about Jim Stiles, The Canyon Country Zephyr, Ed Abbey and the ongoing industrialization, commercialization and overpopulation of the American West. The morning's entertainment, courtesy of The New York Times, were articles on the death of the Polaroid, with its insistent imperfection and caught moments of artful honesty, and the music industry merging with the advertising industry. A lot of industry going on out there.
The onion peels in predictable ways. When presented with a world digitized, homogonized, computerized and sanitized; asphalted, contaminated, desecrated and desiccated, every solution creates its own problem. Crass commercialism driving you mad? Well, move out to the desert to be with the nature mystics. When on that sacred road you might discover that the things making everyday life unpardonable are twice as troubling out in the holy lands of Santa Fe, Taos, Truth or Consequences. Maybe the best thing is to not add to the problem. Right at home, in a place like Kansas, there are acres upon acres. Not as transcendent or lovely as New Mexico or Utah or California... then again, if they were, there'd be a scarcity of silence. So, maybe find a cheap place in the outback and subsistence farm. Did we mention that there'll be a new biochemical weapons plant in the Flint Hills soon?
I'VE GOT THE BLUES, THOSE FLINT HILLS BLUES
I'VE GOT THE BLUES, THOSE FLINT HILLS BLUES
I HAVEN'T AN ASSENT IN THIS WORLD TO LOSE.
IT'S FUNNY WHAT LANDSCAPES WILL DO
IT'S FUNNY WHAT LANDSCAPES WILL DO
THEY'LL TAKE YOUR ASSETS AND LEAVE YOU BLUE.
So it goes.
And then there's artistic endeavor, dictated by the same structures that brought us billboards and advertisements and biochemical weapons. Not worth doing really, but we'll keep on.
Finally, a picture. The world as it is, not as we wish to see it or as we'd make it if only we could. In the final accounting, that's where the Industrial Age, the Advertising Age, the Information Age and the ongoing March of Empire lands its subjects. It has all made the world a difficult place to look at. So difficult that it goes out of its way, with all its devices and coercions, to make sure we can't see it for what it is. Our temporal reality is such that we dare not witness it with all its tattered edges and sun aging. We couldn't take it, or we'd go out of our way to change it. Then we'd all lose, and the winners are pretty content with where they are... even in the face of what they've done.
28 December 2008.
It has been quite a while since anything's happened here on the Frank Prophet site. Winter in the Middle West. At a friend's request, I'm putting 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' back up here. Free to download.
brcm.
*******
Probably goes without saying, but, after reflection, it seems that no one should even attempt "Too Close" after hearing Prof. Alex Bradford. Actually, all versions can be stricken from the record.
Also, in Sam Chatmon news, it doesn't get any better than Willie Lofton for E string snapping. I think I'll share the aforementioned in the future, but I've had a bit to drink and I don't trust myself with public domain knowledge at this hour.
1 October 2009
New Ephemeral Material
Payday: Carlsbad 2002
What's The Matter?: Carlsbad 2002
Revelation Blues: Kansas City 2003
SO, I've picked up one of those reissue LPs from Mississippi Records in Portland. That'd be 4007 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227. Two, actually: "True Story of Abner Jay" which is phenomenal; "Oh Graveyard, You Can't Hold Me Always" which is incredible beyond words. It appears Mr Prophet is backtracking. This is probably the best thing to happen to American music lovers since the steel guitar. Some of the rarities in the Mississippi Records catalogue are new to my collection, which, not to brag, is saying something.
Rather than paying a premium, the consumer picks up the LP for between nine and thirteen dollars, depending upon the seller. At my local, Love Garden Sounds, I paid all of twelve dollars for arguably the best listening experience I've had in years. Bring the reissues on, especially in real music's natural format. Thankyouthankyouthankyou Messrs Yusimov and Isaacson.
By the way, does it strike anyone that Abner Jay might've listened to a fair bit of Marty Robbins?
4 August 2009
We should speak more about Furry Lewis and Reverend Pearly Brown, among others. Somehow, they don't receive the canonical designation they so richly deserve. For Furry Lewis, saying nothing of his bottleneck prowess, there are time-tested works like "Big Chief" and "I Will Turn Your Money Green," the latter being one of the great prewar compositions.
As for Reverend Pearly Brown, it is unconscionable that this Georgian's masterful gospel music is so bloody hard to find. Thanks to Rounder, one can still get it online, but it is past time to release "It's A Mean Old World To Try And Live In" on vinyl anew.
Speaking of which, why is the music industry (the subjects of the next jab being "the music industry" in the way Organic Valley is "the dairy industry" to be fair) coming to claim my dollars again with things I already have but know I can't resist? Exhibit A. "Charley Patton: Electrically Recorded Prayer of Death."
Do I need this? No. Do I have all these songs? Of course. Must I have another incarnation of the one picture of Patton extant? Well.... maybe a little. Also, there is "What Are They Doing In Heaven Today" a newer vinyl of Washington Phillips songs which features possibly the most minimalist set of notes I've seen yet. Sorry, Dylan, you lose there.
So, really, if there is a lost two take of "Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues" just let us know now. I'm running out of acquisition cash and NOW the George Mitchell Collection is in stock.
9 July 2009
The Nature of Things
The night's entertainment was "Brave New West," a film about Jim Stiles, The Canyon Country Zephyr, Ed Abbey and the ongoing industrialization, commercialization and overpopulation of the American West. The morning's entertainment, courtesy of The New York Times, were articles on the death of the Polaroid, with its insistent imperfection and caught moments of artful honesty, and the music industry merging with the advertising industry. A lot of industry going on out there.
The onion peels in predictable ways. When presented with a world digitized, homogonized, computerized and sanitized; asphalted, contaminated, desecrated and desiccated, every solution creates its own problem. Crass commercialism driving you mad? Well, move out to the desert to be with the nature mystics. When on that sacred road you might discover that the things making everyday life unpardonable are twice as troubling out in the holy lands of Santa Fe, Taos, Truth or Consequences. Maybe the best thing is to not add to the problem. Right at home, in a place like Kansas, there are acres upon acres. Not as transcendent or lovely as New Mexico or Utah or California... then again, if they were, there'd be a scarcity of silence. So, maybe find a cheap place in the outback and subsistence farm. Did we mention that there'll be a new biochemical weapons plant in the Flint Hills soon?
I'VE GOT THE BLUES, THOSE FLINT HILLS BLUES
I'VE GOT THE BLUES, THOSE FLINT HILLS BLUES
I HAVEN'T AN ASSENT IN THIS WORLD TO LOSE.
IT'S FUNNY WHAT LANDSCAPES WILL DO
IT'S FUNNY WHAT LANDSCAPES WILL DO
THEY'LL TAKE YOUR ASSETS AND LEAVE YOU BLUE.
So it goes.
And then there's artistic endeavor, dictated by the same structures that brought us billboards and advertisements and biochemical weapons. Not worth doing really, but we'll keep on.
Finally, a picture. The world as it is, not as we wish to see it or as we'd make it if only we could. In the final accounting, that's where the Industrial Age, the Advertising Age, the Information Age and the ongoing March of Empire lands its subjects. It has all made the world a difficult place to look at. So difficult that it goes out of its way, with all its devices and coercions, to make sure we can't see it for what it is. Our temporal reality is such that we dare not witness it with all its tattered edges and sun aging. We couldn't take it, or we'd go out of our way to change it. Then we'd all lose, and the winners are pretty content with where they are... even in the face of what they've done.
28 December 2008.
"All men are ordinary men; the extraordinary men are those who know it."
Chesterton
Chesterton
"The slave has but one master; the ambitious man has as many as can help in making his fortune."
La Bruyére
La Bruyére
Copyright . Frank Prophet of Clark's Creek, Ks. All rights reserved.
