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The Two Poor Boys were an American, Tennessee based, [1] folk- blues duo consisting of Joe Evans and Arthur McLain (or McClain) [2] who recorded between 1927 and 1931. [2] Their songs typically featured Evans' laid-back vocals, with a musical approach based on “beautifully matched guitar and mandolin accompaniment”. [3] On some records they were listed under the pseudonyms, 'Colman and Harper'. Between the two of them, they played an array of instruments including guitar, kazoo, piano, mandolin and violin. [2]

Collected songs

The Two Poor Boys: Complete Works (1927-1931) – 1991. Document Records
No.TitleLength
1."Little Son of a Gun (Look What You Done Done)" (recorded c. July 25, 1927 in Birmingham, Alabama)2:50
2."Two White Horses in a Line"2:51
3." John Henry Blues" (Take 1)3:21
4."John Henry Blues" (Take 3)2:44
5."New Huntsville Jail" (Take 1)3:13
6."New Huntsville Jail" (Take 2)2:54
7."Take a Look at That Baby"3:14
8."Mill Man Blues"2:37
9."Oh You Son of a Gun"2:49
10."Georgia Rose"3:00
11."Early Some Morning Blues"2:38
12."Cream and Sugar Blues"2:37
13."Old Hen Cackle"2:42
14." Sitting on Top of the World"3:04
15."My Baby Got a Yo-Yo"3:01
16."So Sorry Dear"2:47
17." Sourwood Mountain"2:40
18."Down in Black Bottom" (Take 1)2:40
19."Down in Black Bottom" (Take 2)2:43
20."Shook It This Morning Blues"3:01

Tracks 2-13 recorded May 20, 1931; tracks 14-20 recorded May 21, 1931, in New York City.

References

  1. ^ D. K. Wilgus, ‘Hillbilly Music’, The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 81, No. 320. (April–June 1968), pp. 179-185. available on-line
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 125. ISBN  0-85112-673-1.
  3. ^ Paul Oliver, Songsters and Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records, (Cambridge University Press: 1984), p. 231.