Cliff CARLISLE - Mouses' Ears and Barnyard Metaphors, 1930-1937

These are Vintage (1930s) Country recordings, comprising risqué, double-entendre songs and others of a similar ilk, with plenty of yodelling - effectively, the po' white trash equivalent of pre-war Blues.

While Country artists chasing mainstream acceptance were generally cautious, CLIFF CARLISLE routinely ignored the boundaries that had been drawn in the sand.

Indeed, Carlisle was perhaps the man for whom the concept 'Non-PC' might have been invented.

And in an era when Blues musicians routinely sang 'risqué' material, heavy with innuendo, he gave them a run for their money.

This compilation draws from the seedier side of Cliff's recorded legacy, concentrating on his 'earthy' repertoire.

He sings, joyously, of his little mama's 'mouses' ear' (and boasts of 'hauling her ashes'), of 'barnyard sex' (Cliff was fascinated by the activities of cocks and pussies), of 'wild cat mamas' and 'pay-day fights', the horror of being 'married alive', and much, much more.

Track Listing

1. NO DADDY BLUES
2. SHANGHAI ROOSTER YODEL
3. GUITAR BLUES
4. HIGH STEPPIN' MAMA
5. TOM CAT BLUES
6. SHANGHAI ROOSTER NO.2
7. ASH CAN BLUES
8. SEVEN YEARS WITH THE WRONG WOMAN
9. MOUSE'S EAR BLUES
10. SAL GOT A MEAT SKIN
11. RING-TAIL TOM
12. DANG MY ROWDY SOUL
13. GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELIN' BAD
14. SUGAR CANE MAMA
15. ONION EATING MAMA
16. CHICKEN ROOST BLUES
17. GOODBYE OLD PAL
18. A WILD CAT WOMAN AND A TOM CAT MAN
19. THAT NASTY SWING
20. IT AIN'T NO FAULT OF MINE
21. IT TAKES THE OLD HEN (To Deliver The Goods)
22. WIGGLIN' MAMA
23. MY ROCKIN' MAMA
24. PAY DAY FIGHT
25. SHOT THE INNOCENT MAN
26. ROOSTER BLUES
27. HOBO'S FATE