On today’s show I speak with Eric Isaacson, founder of Mississippi Records & owner of the record store by the same name, located on Mississippi Ave. in Portland, OR. Mississippi Records has been releasing some really amazing music, compilations of old 78s which are really well chosen and programmed as well as more modern recordings of vernacular music, a lot of gospel and blues stuff. They are committed to releasing their music on vinyl LPs, but occasionally they do small releases of cassette tapes. Whoever is responsible for the artwork on their record jackets should be commended, they’re really great.
On today’s show we will hear a selection of cuts drawn from various MS Records releases, and then we’ll feature, in fact hear the whole A side of their new release, “True Story of Abner Jay.” This is an amazing record of Abner Jay a one man band and song writer from around Atlanta, GA who passed away in 1993 and had apparently been actively playing since the 1930’s. He has a deep style that is related in some amazing way to Bob Dylan’s music, but is really its own and operating on a number of levels. He plays the guitar or 6-string electric banjo, harmonica and bass drum and high hat with his feet. See below for a video of him.
Some MS Records releases featured on today’s program
See below for the back of the Abner Jay record, notes, etc…
Entrance to Mississippi Records
Abner Jay performs at the Grass Roots Festival, 1993
I couldn’t download the tail end of the Abner Jay episode and I would like an mp3. Any ideas as to how I might get one?
Hmm, seems to play all the way through on my machine. To download mp3 control click where it says audio mp3 under the play button.
Thanks for the Abner Jay, I really like this guy, his songs are so cool. I’m from Georgia and didn’t want to play banjo until I started listening a radio show from New York City. Goddamn. Thanks for the music.
I love this artist. My dad was a sharecropper, these songs make me want to cry.
I just came home from our local record shop with The True Story of Abner Jay. The intensity of the first few tracks make you sit down and listen. Wish he were still with us so I could see him in person. Have fallen in love with his sound and music.