@TheDrmedina Actually, that's Geoff Muldaur singing (with guitar), up front, and Fritz Richmond in the back left, on the bass. Who's the fiddler? That's not Richard Greene, is it?
@KaptKan1 Maria is a matronly 68 year old woman, but I'd hardly describe her as "fat as hell". Granted, she doesn't look like she did 47 years ago, when this video was made, but neither do you or I.
@PHJimY I'm sure she's a lovely person to this day and still a great singer too. That said, "matronly" translates to "fat as hell". I don't look like I did 47 years ago, but I'm in excellent shape for an old guy of my years, and I don't accept being fat and unfit. Too many in our culture do and it's a real shame.
I recommend "The Paleo Solution" [google it] to everyone of all ages, btw.
@fluxstringer I was at a birthday party for a friends mom who was turning 90 a few years back. A lot of Jimmy's relatives (cousins and aunt) and they hadn't heard from him in years. I remember that just as the band was headed big time, Jimmy went off to cultville. He recently reappeared in a catalog from Happy Traum's company with a new guitar lesson CD. So I guess he hasn't totally disappeared off the face of the earth.
This is one of my favorite songs with Geoff on vocals. It is also featured on Elektra's early '60s compilation album The Blues Project--which also features Mark Spoelstra, Danny Kalb, Eric Von Schmidt and Dave Van Ronk.
"Great band, great days! And Maria D'Amato/Muldaur was fantastic! Anyone who doesn't like her should hide in the corner!!! Of course, it's too bad Mel Lyman was born, but there it is.
Maria Muldaur is (was) an OK but unexceptional singer. The Kweskin band and Geoff Muldaur, on the other hand, was was sheer genius, and unjustly forgotten today.
He actually gets legitimate music out of that washtub...! Fritz Richmund, He was a hot rodder and a drag racer too. Died of cancer about three years ago.
This is bloody good, very happy clappy! Both Geoff and Maria worked with Paul Butterfield in 'Better Days' and did a slendid version of 'Baby please don't go'.
On the book suggestion front, also check out Joe Boyd's book "White Bicycles" - before moving to England and producing Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and Incredible String Band he was pals with Geoff Muldaur, and later produced records by Maria and Geoff.
Let's give some credit where credit is due. In addition to Mr. Kweskin, the band consisted of Fritz Richmond on jug & washtub bass, Mel Lyman-banjo & harmonica, Richard Greene-fiddle, Bill Keith-pedal steel, Geoff Muldaur-vocals and Maria D'Amato-vocals (as she was known before marrying Geoff). Outstanding band. What a joy it was to see & hear them perform back in 1966-67 in San Francisco.
STILL HAVE THE JUG BAND LPs ~& BEN SINGING ALONG SENCE 1964. MY FAMILY ALWAYS WANTS ME TO PLAY MY GUITAR & SING "RICHLAND WOMAN" I JUST DISCOVERED YOUTUBE~~~ THANKS!SO HAPPY ALL WAS NOT LOST~ IT WAS ONLY MY BLUES
The legendary Bill Kieth doing 4 string style on his banjo. Many won't know of Bill's contribution to Bluegrass styles. His melodic playing earned the name Keith style!
The Lymans didn't completely disband; and he dies more than a couple years back (1978). The family still lives somewhat communally, and has property in Roxbury, MA (the original site), Kansas and California. I am good friends with two of his grandsons, who assure me that music is still very important to them (and they don't do really wierd cult stuff; that kind of died out with Mel) and that Jim Kweskin is like their honorary grandfather. They are musicians as well, but in the metal vein.
Kweskin and Muldahr played at the Portland Blues Festival this summer, headlining a jugband tribute to Fritz who lived and died here. They were both absolutely fabulous.
I don't think so. I haven't seen anything from him, or of him, for years. Geoff still plays. I've seen him 3-4 times; he's excellent. Low key - great player. Of course his ex-wife Maria, who was Maria D'Amattio when this performance was done, still plays & records. Good as ever too! She is SO YOUNG in this clip. What is she, 14 maybe? And she could sing even then! Incredible. How did she ever get tied up with these guys at such a young age? Anyone know the story?
Considering this video is from about 1966 Maria would have been about 22 or 23 years old. I had a crush on her back in those days.
As to how they got together perhaps VanRonk's book The Mayor of McDougal street would be edifying. There's another book on the Boston folk scene which I can't remember the name of and which may be out of print.
I have a CD of his that was released in '04 called "Now and Again". He still sounds the same. His voice sends me back to the 60s and the scene at Club 47.
Don't be so sure. There was some dark drama, at least on the fringes. Jim Lyman formed a cult (with himself as the center) and some strange things happened. Don't remember details, but there was a long story in Rolling Stone about it in the 70s.
Agree 100%. He went on to do great stuff with Amos Garrett and then Paul Butterfield's Better Days. His Blue Railroad Train and Brazil (with Maria) are wonderful.
Geoff Muldaur on washtub bass. Maria was originally D'Amato, and played violin. Bill Keith is on banjo. I heard and met him ca. 1964.
TheDrmedina 10 months ago
@TheDrmedina Actually, that's Geoff Muldaur singing (with guitar), up front, and Fritz Richmond in the back left, on the bass. Who's the fiddler? That's not Richard Greene, is it?
EricFlatpick 8 months ago
@EricFlatpick Yes, that's Richard.
13loomisst 2 months ago
Somebody didn't like me pointing out that Maria Muldaur went and got fat as hell. Tough. It's a fact, and a sad one, too.
KaptKan1 1 year ago
@KaptKan1 And why do you give a damn?
cooltooth112 1 year ago
@KaptKan1 Maria is a matronly 68 year old woman, but I'd hardly describe her as "fat as hell". Granted, she doesn't look like she did 47 years ago, when this video was made, but neither do you or I.
PHJimY 3 months ago
@PHJimY I'm sure she's a lovely person to this day and still a great singer too. That said, "matronly" translates to "fat as hell". I don't look like I did 47 years ago, but I'm in excellent shape for an old guy of my years, and I don't accept being fat and unfit. Too many in our culture do and it's a real shame.
I recommend "The Paleo Solution" [google it] to everyone of all ages, btw.
KaptKan1 3 months ago
A miracle this was made and survived. Too bad Jim hadda go all schizo.
fluxstringer 1 year ago
@fluxstringer I was at a birthday party for a friends mom who was turning 90 a few years back. A lot of Jimmy's relatives (cousins and aunt) and they hadn't heard from him in years. I remember that just as the band was headed big time, Jimmy went off to cultville. He recently reappeared in a catalog from Happy Traum's company with a new guitar lesson CD. So I guess he hasn't totally disappeared off the face of the earth.
DrJohn40 1 year ago
@DrJohn40
He's playing on Geoff Muldaur's new album, "The Texas Shieks," and sounds great.
msconsulting 1 year ago
This is one of my favorite songs with Geoff on vocals. It is also featured on Elektra's early '60s compilation album The Blues Project--which also features Mark Spoelstra, Danny Kalb, Eric Von Schmidt and Dave Van Ronk.
RoyFive 1 year ago
"Great band, great days! And Maria D'Amato/Muldaur was fantastic! Anyone who doesn't like her should hide in the corner!!! Of course, it's too bad Mel Lyman was born, but there it is.
Vodichka9 2 years ago 2
Maria was such a foxy chick, man! And she was always a great singer, too. Some just can't dig her style. Tough luck on their part.
KaptKan1 2 years ago 8
Maria Muldaur is (was) an OK but unexceptional singer. The Kweskin band and Geoff Muldaur, on the other hand, was was sheer genius, and unjustly forgotten today.
AdamHeilbrun 2 years ago
Wrong and right respectively. Maria was and is a terrific singer.
ivelosthewilltolive 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Yeah, but now the broad's fat as hell. What a pity.
KaptKan1 2 years ago
It is a total gas..JV Misson Hill.
Injun20 2 years ago
god....I loved those miniskirts then
flatblackrose 2 years ago 3
He actually gets legitimate music out of that washtub...! Fritz Richmund, He was a hot rodder and a drag racer too. Died of cancer about three years ago.
ThomasDeLello 2 years ago
these guys were part of the mel lyman cult in the early 70's. real freak outs!
popartafterflash 2 years ago
True unfortunately but I don't think they all were...
ivelosthewilltolive 2 years ago
Man Geoff Muldaur rocks on this one!
bdeivert 2 years ago
I just saw Jim Kweskin in Cambridge, MA last Saturday.
OgadaNosaFasu 2 years ago
This is bloody good, very happy clappy! Both Geoff and Maria worked with Paul Butterfield in 'Better Days' and did a slendid version of 'Baby please don't go'.
blaudrogist 3 years ago 2
cool baby please don't go is the biggest song ever!
john lee hooker, lightning hopkins, they all did it.
HeyHeyHarmonicaLuke 2 years ago
You're right! Gary Glitter also did a splendid version of this particular song. Alas, I must now make my excuses and leave.
blaudrogist 2 years ago
On the book suggestion front, also check out Joe Boyd's book "White Bicycles" - before moving to England and producing Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and Incredible String Band he was pals with Geoff Muldaur, and later produced records by Maria and Geoff.
larrybob 3 years ago
Let's give some credit where credit is due. In addition to Mr. Kweskin, the band consisted of Fritz Richmond on jug & washtub bass, Mel Lyman-banjo & harmonica, Richard Greene-fiddle, Bill Keith-pedal steel, Geoff Muldaur-vocals and Maria D'Amato-vocals (as she was known before marrying Geoff). Outstanding band. What a joy it was to see & hear them perform back in 1966-67 in San Francisco.
bateriadepetaluma 3 years ago
Thank you.
I love Maria's voice but I get annoyed that she is billed higher than the band. She was not the front man.
CalgarySandy 2 years ago
I saw them in 1964, La Cave, Cleveland, Ohio. I stared at Maria all night. So did most of the men there, I'd bet.
llamov 3 years ago
The book is "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" by Eric Von Schmidt and Jim Rooney. Out of print but findable used.
MaabudZ 3 years ago
Damn if that doesn't look like the stage at Club 47,I'd say around 1966 or so; what a great time it was ,and Kweskin's still got it;
bloozlvr 4 years ago
WOW!NICE TO FIND OUT ~I AM NOT ALONE.
STILL HAVE THE JUG BAND LPs ~& BEN SINGING ALONG SENCE 1964. MY FAMILY ALWAYS WANTS ME TO PLAY MY GUITAR & SING "RICHLAND WOMAN" I JUST DISCOVERED YOUTUBE~~~ THANKS!SO HAPPY ALL WAS NOT LOST~ IT WAS ONLY MY BLUES
SINGDJOY 4 years ago
The legendary Bill Kieth doing 4 string style on his banjo. Many won't know of Bill's contribution to Bluegrass styles. His melodic playing earned the name Keith style!
banjobilly32 4 years ago
The Lymans didn't completely disband; and he dies more than a couple years back (1978). The family still lives somewhat communally, and has property in Roxbury, MA (the original site), Kansas and California. I am good friends with two of his grandsons, who assure me that music is still very important to them (and they don't do really wierd cult stuff; that kind of died out with Mel) and that Jim Kweskin is like their honorary grandfather. They are musicians as well, but in the metal vein.
muswellhillbillygirl 4 years ago
The song is Downtown Blues--Geoff did a solo version of this on the Elektra Blues Project LP in the '60s.
RoyFive 4 years ago
Downtown Blues by Jim Jackson....early 20th century minstrel from Hernando, MS.
newhokum 4 years ago
Kweskin and Muldahr played at the Portland Blues Festival this summer, headlining a jugband tribute to Fritz who lived and died here. They were both absolutely fabulous.
avamac 5 years ago
Damn, this brings back memories! Loved these guys!
bixntram 5 years ago
Lynne to Cyclist1051
Maria name was D'amato
regards
lynettekomidar 5 years ago
I don't think so. I haven't seen anything from him, or of him, for years. Geoff still plays. I've seen him 3-4 times; he's excellent. Low key - great player. Of course his ex-wife Maria, who was Maria D'Amattio when this performance was done, still plays & records. Good as ever too! She is SO YOUNG in this clip. What is she, 14 maybe? And she could sing even then! Incredible. How did she ever get tied up with these guys at such a young age? Anyone know the story?
Cyclist051 5 years ago
Considering this video is from about 1966 Maria would have been about 22 or 23 years old. I had a crush on her back in those days.
As to how they got together perhaps VanRonk's book The Mayor of McDougal street would be edifying. There's another book on the Boston folk scene which I can't remember the name of and which may be out of print.
MaabudZ 3 years ago
Anyone know if Jim Kweskin still plays? I love this stuff!
thejoggler 5 years ago
Add Video to QuickList
Jim Kweskin live 12/23/06 Passim
01:25
From: mknave
Views: 40
lynettekomidar 5 years ago
I have a CD of his that was released in '04 called "Now and Again". He still sounds the same. His voice sends me back to the 60s and the scene at Club 47.
musicstopped 4 years ago
Does anyone know what this video is from?
cotyhogue 5 years ago
I'm not positive, but considering the narration, it may be a clip from "Chasing Cus' Ghost", a documentary about jug band music.
woodbelly2 3 years ago
what a fun band that must've been to play in.
SteerforthBinoculars 5 years ago
Don't be so sure. There was some dark drama, at least on the fringes. Jim Lyman formed a cult (with himself as the center) and some strange things happened. Don't remember details, but there was a long story in Rolling Stone about it in the 70s.
cluelessxpanda 5 years ago
That should be...Mel Lyman, not Jim.
Fritz Richmond died of loung cancer about two years ago. Sad
ThomasDeLello 5 years ago
Geoff Muldaur is a great singer; highly underrated and under appreciated!
dylanpresley 5 years ago
Agree 100%. He went on to do great stuff with Amos Garrett and then Paul Butterfield's Better Days. His Blue Railroad Train and Brazil (with Maria) are wonderful.
cluelessxpanda 5 years ago