Before Janis Joplin

[The Midway Rebel]

There was Janis Martin.

Some of the best rock n' roll shows I ever saw were performed by a little old lady. She kicked my ass.

Get hip children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-6NgUFj-Xw&feature=related



RIP Janis and Janis.

[abq e streeter]

1. I'm envious that you got to see Janis Martin

at least I am familiar with her. I pride myself on being pretty musically knowledgeable, but those Tielman Brothers were a new one for me...Amazing ...Anyway, I don't know if you've seen the hour long PBS documentary "Women of Rockabilly". That's where this is from. It also features Lorrie Collins, Wanda Jackson and Brenda Lee ( with a very cool opening segment on Charlene Arthur). If you haven't seen it, I hope you get a chance to some day............:yourock:

[The Midway Rebel]

2. See it?! I was almost in it.

Almost. Well, not really almost. I WAS at that Vegas show in the film, there in the crowd, I was the guy with black slacks and a pompadour, standing right next to a tall, buxom, brunette girl. Did you see me? lol.

We had seen Janis hanging around the casino smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and playing slots all weekend. She blended right in with the Vegas crowd. I had know idea who she was until she walked on stage and proceeded to kick our asses. What a voice!

I've seen Wanda bunches and Lorrie too but, Janis was the best. They did not call her the female Elvis for nuttin'.

I just got hip to this video yesterday. I had no idea of the involvement of Chet Atkins, RCA and the fact that she was pregnant in the studio while she recorded some of her best tunes.

That Vegas show is the first time I heard about the filming of the documentary. Must have been in '98 or so. I had girls in my fledgling rockabilly band that really, really, really, really, really, really wanted to be in the film. Though talented, they could not hold a candle against Wanda, Charlene, Lorrie and especially Janis.

Believe or not, I have not seen the film.

My local PBS TV sucks.

[abq e streeter]

3. Nope-watched it again...at what time in the video are you on camera? I'll look for it then

Pretty damn cool that you were there. I haven't seen a lot of the old rockabilly greats that I would have liked too ( seen the Blasters a bunch though). But at least did get to see many many blues legends ( and opened for a few of them too) in the bars of Chicago ( opening act gigs were all here in Albuquerque or Santa Fe).I love blues and 'billy about equally; maybe rockabilly just a tiny bit more... By coincidence, I sent a couple of DU friends a short CD (5 songs) of some rockabilly cover material just today, that I'd done live in the studio about 10 years ago. Pretty lame compared to what I listened to ,and watched tonight...oh well...Do you still play rockabilly? I miss it... I sing and also play harp and tenor sax.....and once again.....:yourock: ( and I guess despite being 58 years old, occasionally I still get enough energy to do the same)....abq...

[The Midway Rebel]

4. I miss playing music too! Out of the business for now.

I front a trio sing lead, play lead and rhythm guitar. Been out of the biz since I got into a bad bicycle crash and lost feeling in parts of my left hand about two years ago. Then, bass player/good friend moved to LA to pursue full-time work as musician. That is hard to do in KC. I have not replaced him or worked my chops back up to speed yet. Waste all my time at DU these days.

I need to find a bass player and quit wasting my time reading political, moral, philosophical, circumcision debates on DU.

Always nice to meet a fellow 'billy fan! You are my first at DU, though one of many on the internet.

[MrsBrady]

5. I have a friend with MS that has developed a guitar style

to compensate for the fact that he cannot always use his left hand like he used to.

If you are interested, let me know, and I'll send you a link to his website.

[The Midway Rebel]

8. Can you post it here?

I don't mind the subthread and there are other pickers in the DU lounge who may be interested.

[MrsBrady]

9. my bad...

you know I thought he had something on his website about it, but he doesn't.

however, let me contact him and see what he would like for me to post.

He's been using partial capos and alternate tunings so he can just use one or two fingers at a time.
He makes it easy to understand. Pretty cool stuff.

[The Midway Rebel]

10. Cool. One of the best guitarist ever had only 2 working fingers on his left hand.

His name was Django!

My best guitar teacher told me guitar playing really is all in the right hand. Django proves it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoIJ4W7kXiQ&feature=related

[abq e streeter]

6. and speaking of ladies that could kick ass...

you obviously know your shit, but just in case you somehow were not familiar with Sister Rosetta Tharpe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaBNAXfHfQ

[The Midway Rebel]

7. Thanks for that! Made my Sunday morning complete!

I had not seen that. Sleepy La Beef once told a crowd at a show how Sister Rosetta invented the electric rock n' roll guitar style in the 40's and all the white hillbilly kids stole it and sped up the licks in the 50's. Now I understand what he meant.