Stoneking cut this great single in less than a hour at Lewis Durham studio. A side is a new version of his own composition that first appeared on his debut album and the B-side is a cover of the traditionnal Maggie Mae that first appeared on a cd "Let It Be Revisited" going with the magazine Mojo in UK.
This is a very limited edition.
Jungle
Blues
King Hokum Records KHR-02 Jungle Blues -
Talkin' Lion Blues -
Jungle Lullaby - Brave
Son Of America -
Jailhouse Blues -
Housebound Blues - I
Heard The Marchin' Of The
Drum - The Love Me Or Die
- Early In The Mornin -
The Greatest Liar
"Jungle blues" marks the return of CW Stoneking two years after "King Hokum". The title track, featuring the Primitive Horn Orchestra (trumpet, trombone, clarinet, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, sousaphone, piano, harmonium, drums and double bass), sounds like an impromptu jam between Emmett Miller and Duke Ellington's jungle jazz. Stonekings repeats in interviews that this is based upon a true story, maybe, who knows, but don't forget that the last song of this album, is called "The Greatest Liar" . The next song is a fable about a trial, a talkin' Lion and a judge who's a monkey (I let you guess what happens to the narrator). It opens with chords from the French popular song of the 30's "Parlez Moi D'Amour" and evolves into a Jimmie Rodgers / Cliff Carlisle blues with yodel and spare instrumentation. "Jungle lullaby" comes next, but this lullaby keeps you wide awake in awe. Imagine a cross betwen Jimmie Rodger's Prairie Lullaby and the best sides of Leon Redbone from his "Double Time era like "If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven" with beautiful strings arrangement. The Primitive Horn Orchestra returns on "Brave Son Of America" the sole cover of the album from the pen of the self crowned "king of Calypso" : Wilmoth Houdini. Though it can seem odd to hear an Aussie singing about an American general of the fourties, Stoneking's talent makes you accept that without any hesitation. "Jailhouse Blues" is a sad country blues that Stonekings sings alone with his guitar. The talented Kristy Fraser, Stoneking's partner and already present on King Hokum, complains about her man who's never home, drinking and singing, while she swaps the floor and changes the dappers on Housebound Blues in the style of the great blues/jazz female singer of the early 20's. The spirit (the ghost?) of New Orleans floats upon "I Heard The Marching Of The Drums", a haunting jazz song with a martial beat and a funeral feel. Back to Calypso with the sinister "Love Me Or Die", a sad tale about a bad hoodoo. Imagine Sam Manning's style of Calypso jazz with a spooky side. "Early In The Morning" evokes both Robert Johnson and Tom Waits' "Murder In The Red Barn". The album ends on a lighter note with a talkin' blues about the "Greatest Liar" who "while servin in the Armed Force (...) was wounded at the Battle Of Hastings. That was back round ten sixrty six, in the morning".
If you're wise, you'll
quickly get this 10
little nugget of pre-war
inspired music by one of
the most authentic
musician of today.
