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Dear loyal viewers :-)...heeding the advice of the New Orleans Police Department...at least 1/2 of it. I mean ... really...who wants to deal with 'pickpockets' ... (pause for big ol' Kat belly laugh). I'm not against 'loose women' but I have to tell ya that it was so funny this morning over breakfast to look up and see this sign! I almost choked.
For the last few days I've been here at the University of Mississippi (Ole' Miss) in Oxford, Mississippi. A beautiful campus hosting the world's most extensive collection of blues called the Blues Archives. Greg Johnson, the curator, a young hippie lad has been awesome to me! And let me tell you I've put them and myself through the paces searching out records, articles and photos with a whole lot of dust on them. In fact, for the first time on this trip I'm extending my stay here so I can see all I want/need to see this first time 'round.
I am learning more than I can possible write. It's a book's worth of learning. I will however tell you that there was a certain energy charge and mojo that got cookin' when I held the weighty, thick Paramount recordings of Ma Rainey. Yes indeed I held it, listened to it on headphones through a great turntable system and smelled it! They waited since 1924 for me to get my mitts on 'em and I'd just like to thank them all. (I'm feelin' very weird tonite.) Let me tell you that the CD remastered releases which are accessible from all kinds of sources can't hold a candle to the tongue an' groove!
Other highlights include the VHS of "Wild Women Don't Get The Blues". It is an old documentary and it was incredible as were the "Yazoo Delta Blues & Spirituals" 78 record and the VHS "Bluesland: A Portrait of American Music". Wow! Wow! Wow! There are alot of videos out there on the market but nothin' like these two. And the 78 drew a perfect picture of blues and spirituals.
I really could go on an on but...why? I'll save it all for the house party you host where I present the summary and such of this trip -- ha ha! Second time I've mentioned it on this blog site so it must be a wish or somethin'.
Take good care,
Kat
