“Reefer Man” – Cab Calloway
Initially titled “Have You Ever Met That Humorous Reefer Man,” this track was written in 1932 by J. Russel Robinson, with lyrics by Andy Razaf, and recorded by Cab Calloway. Because the track was written 5 years earlier than the Marihuana Tax Act—reefer was nonetheless authorized in virtually all of America on the time. It was first recorded by Calloway, with a number of standard covers, together with one by Large Dangerous Voodoo Daddy. Calloway lived an extended life—lengthy sufficient to look within the 1980 Saturday Evening Reside-inspired movie The Blues Brothers.
“You’se A Viper” – Stuff Smith
In Harlem, New York, individuals began calling reefer people who smoke “vipers” within the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties. “Viper tradition” was centered on good jazz music and reefer. This traditional B-side was first recorded by Stuff Smith and the Onyx Membership Boys in 1936. It was launched because the B-side to the track “After You’ve Gone.” The track was retitled many times to appropriate the damaged, informal English. Fat Waller’s 1943 cowl model mentions “Mighty Mezz”—referring to Milton Mezzrow, a Jewish saxophone and clarinet participant who is also synonymous with viper tradition as a famed marijuana provider.
“Once I Get Low I Get Excessive” – Ella Fitzgerald
This track was recorded in April 1936 by Chick Webb and his orchestra, with beautiful vocals on the refrain carried out by none apart from Ella Fitzgerald. For essentially the most half, Fitzgerald tried to domesticate a healthful picture, however she additionally was very avenue savvy regarding the underground jazz group. Within the Thirties, Fitzgerald sang about each reefer and cocaine, comparable to in Wacky Mud, additionally recorded with Webb. Fitzgerald went on to scoop up 13 Grammy Awards and a further 20 nominations.
“Jack, I’m Mellow” – Trixie Smith
This track was used comparatively not too long ago because the collection theme track for Disjointed starring Kathy Bates. Initially recorded in November 1938, the track was included on Reefer Blues: Quantity One, a compilation album of classic blues songs, that includes a few of the different tunes on this listing. Louis Armstrong performed the cornet on a few of Smith’s greatest recognized songs, and he or she was lively through the vaudeville period. Smith’s birthdate is totally unknown, however she was born someday between 1885 and 1895.
“That Cat is Excessive” – The Ink Spots
That’s one excessive cat… Right here’s one that may take you again in time. The Ink Spots initially launched “That Cat is High” written by J. Mayo Williams and The Ink Spots, and launched it on the only “Oh! Purple” in 1938. The Ink Spots have been an American vocal jazz group that gained worldwide stardom within the Thirties and Forties. Their accessible vocal fashion is believed to have helped result in doo-wop and fashionable R&B. The Ink Spots have been lastly inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1989.
This text seems within the June 2022 subject of Excessive Instances. Subscribe right here.