BLUE YODEL #8
The Blue Yodel songs are a series of thirteen songs written and recorded by Jimmie Rodgers during the period from 1927 to his death in May 1933. The songs were based on the 12-bar blues format and featured Rodgers’ trademark yodel refrains. The lyrics often had a risqué quality with “a macho, slightly dangerous undertone”. “Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues)” was recorded on 11 July 1930 at Hollywood Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California and was released on 6 February 1931 (PBVE 54863-3). (More from Wikipedia)
An amped-up version of a song by the country & western foundational musician Jimmie Rodgers (“The Singing Brakeman”, not the Jimmie Rodgers who recorded “Honeycomb”) was the most popular song by the Fendermen. The song is called “Mule Skinner Blues” (originally named “Blue Yodel #8”), and they were convinced to record the song with just the two of them, with no bass guitarist or drummer.
(December 2014)
