Junk Man Rag (1914) played by the composer

As a response to my last video of the very interesting -- and almost unrecognizable -- arrangement of this tune played by the Sullivans and Robyn Drivon, I thought I'd present the "real" Junk Man Rag for comparison.

It doesn't get any more real than from Luckey Roberts himself. However, because he doesn't play it anywhere near like the published score, I give you the opportunity to compare that too (use the "watch in high quality" feature for a better view).

I also include a small part of the home recordings of Luckey teaching the rag and talking about it in 1962 -- the only known recordings of his voice, which first came to light in November 2007.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ragtime
• piano
• 1914
• luckey
• luckyth
• luckeyth
• luckeyeth
• lucky
• junkman

[robchalfen]

dont think this is a piano roll from 1914, that may be the copyright - this is prob from '58, Good Time Jazz lp

[Keeper1st]

@robchalfen Yes, 1914 is the date the music was published -- not the recording, obviously.

[KawhackitaRag]

Hey Ron, you know what would be great to post as a follow-up to this? A long clip including versions of "Pork and Beans" played by Luckey, and then James P. Johnson, and finally Roy Bargy! (all disciples of Luckey). Or better yet, it could have a different order with Luckey's version last! Contact me or Luigi if you are interested and need these sound files to put together said video. I also have a version of "Pork and Beans" played by Donald Lambert.

[Keeper1st]

That would make for interesting comparisons. But yeah, I don't have any recordings other than Luckey's from Brad's seminar CD.

[paullingle]

Forgot to add that perhaps what we hear when Luck was trying to remember the dates was a result of his massive strokes he had. Having experienced one myself (thank God I still can play!) it knocks the socks off one's memory! Hooray for Luckey

[Keeper1st]

Yeah, you're absolutely right. It's certainly expected for him to be a bit addled at that point in his life. Other parts of the recording include Luckey describing how he tutored George Gershwin, and even gave Gershwin a song, which Gershwin published under a different name.

[CooCurrent]

I think I actually like the slow version better to be honest!

[KawhackitaRag]

@KawhackitaRag I have no idea if these particular masters still survive or were scrapped. The masters that survive are in a state-of-the-art storage facility in the East Coast region, I believe.

Unfortunately, I don't believe the moron executive who issued the order to scrap those metal masters was ever punished (although both Miles Krueger and John Hammond tried hard to put a stop to it, and it was finally halted, which is why any masters survive at all). He deserves to rot for what he did.

[KawhackitaRag]

@robchalfen Luckey Roberts did indeed record his fox-trot "Shy and Sly" again at the same 1946 Circle session as this recording of "Junk Man Rag", so we know how he played it. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any other recordings of his tune (song?) "Shoo Fly". It may exist on the home recordings of Luckey Roberts made by Brooks Kerr and Mike Lipskin.

[KawhackitaRag]

@robchalfen Close again. Regarding the unissued sides, the discography "Tantalizing Tingles" lists them.

They are: Columbia matrix # 47099 (2 takes made), title "Shoo Fly"; and Columbia matrix # 47100 (4 takes made), title "Shy and Sly". Both were recorded in New York, October 26, 1916, and unissued.

They were NOT rejected, which is good, because it means the masters were probably saved for a few decades. However, some bonehead at Columbia sold many metal masters for scrap in the '50s.

[KawhackitaRag]

@robchalfen Sorry Rob, you're close but no cigar. "Junk Man Rag" is not on the 1958 Good Time Jazz LP. This comes from the 1946 Circle recording which HAS been reissued on the modern Good Time Jazz label (after it was taken over by Fantasy) and coupled with some early Ralph Sutton recordings and the other 1946 Luckey Roberts sides.

[robchalfen]

@Keeper1st

well he did cut some unissued sides in 1915, so hope springs eternal

[MartinRaetzJr]

A great ragtime. I didn't know before. I think this original recording says a lot about the music in the beginning of the 20. century. Thank you very much for sharing.

[Glophoras]

this is a fun sprightly rag

but its not mega man 7 :c