Nick Perls
Encyclopedia
J. Nicholas Perls was the founder and owner of Yazoo Records
and Blue Goose Records
.
"Nick" Perls was one of a handful of serious east coast collectors of 78-rpm country
blues
recordings during the 1960s. As a young man, he made two trips through the deep south
, knocking on doors and acquiring old blues records. He also was a frequent patron of antique shops throughout the New York
area, always searching for rare blues sides.
In 1968, Perls began re-recording the sides in his collection, using high tech equipment in his home, and issuing 33-rpm record albums. These releases generally contained 14 blues tunes each, and often included highly informative liner notes by fellow collector Steve Calt. This enterprise was Yazoo Records
, (the catalogue was later acquired by Shanachie Records). Perls operated Yazoo out of his home in New York City's West Village until just before his death, in the 1980s, from AIDS
.
As a recording engineer, Perls' most renowned talent was his ability to ride a phonograph
needle along the grooves of an old record much like a bobsled through an obstacle course, moving left, right, up or down to avoid as many scratches and gouges as possible. Yazoo releases were always derived directly from 78-rpm shellac originals
. By collecting and re-releasing such forgotten blues recordings, Perls managed to preserve many classic blues performances (and later, those in related musical forms like ragtime
) that otherwise might have been lost to the ages.
In 1970, Perls began Blue Goose Records
as a side project, using that label to release music by a variety of live performers that Perls recorded himself, often right in his West Village living room. Perls was also himself a finger-pick guitarist but would only play the guitar socially, and strictly in imitation of one or another 1930s blues master. Stylisticly, his playing ethos was summed up when he stated that the phrase "too choppy" is a contradiction in terms. His one foray as a recording artist can be heard in a single duet that is part of his Blue Goose recording of bluesman Larry Johnson
. Also, Nick Perls is pictured (in blackface
) on the cover of the Yazoo recording "Mr. Charlie's Blues".
Perls operated his business mostly by himself, occasionally employing assistants. The two labels stayed small and rarely caught very much public attention beyond the hardcore blues devotees who clamored for each new release. One notable exception may have been Perls' three Blue Goose albums of R. Crumb
and his Cheap Suit Serenaders. These were enormously entertaining recordings by cartoonist (and fellow collector) Robert Crumb and several of Crumb's California
friends. Perls rarely broke even, financially, on any of his business endeavors. He would state that the "pop" bigtime did not appeal to him. He was doggedly independent and was already independently wealthy from his grandmother's art dealings at New York City's Perls Gallery.
On a personal level, Perls was a verbose New Yorker who strived to be "outrageous", an adjective that he loved attributing to himself. For instance, for several years he made a habit of wearing different colored checkered socks, (such as green and yellow on one foot, red and white on the other), which he cited as evidence of insanity. Further, Perls encouraged business acquaintances to refer to him as a "faggot", for the pure shock value. As explanation of this awkward request, Perls would claim that the term "homo"-sexual did not literally apply to him. The objects of his affections, young, effeminate black men, were not the same as him, rather literally "hetero" from him. Perls saw himself as a politically conservative
, Jewish business man. In contrast, his personal lifestyle was built around "cruising" New York's 7th Avenue
and picking up such individuals, leading to numerous short, intense relationships. Perls greatly enjoyed being seen in public arm in arm with his latest find, emphasizing the shock value of their intimacy.
All in all, it can well be said that Nick Perls epitomized the bombast and social experimentation of 1970s New York City. (Contents of this article written by Nick Perls' 1974 assistant).
Yazoo Records
Yazoo Records is an American record label, founded in the late 1960s by Nick Perls. It specializes in early American blues, country, jazz, and other rural American genres ....
and Blue Goose Records
Blue Goose Records
Blue Goose Records is a record label setup in the early 1970s by Nick Perls.While on Blue Goose' sister label Yazoo Records Perls compiled rare 78 rpm recordings made in the 1920s by such singers and guitarists as Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell, the Memphis Jug Band, Blind Blake and Blind...
.
"Nick" Perls was one of a handful of serious east coast collectors of 78-rpm country
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
recordings during the 1960s. As a young man, he made two trips through the deep south
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
, knocking on doors and acquiring old blues records. He also was a frequent patron of antique shops throughout the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
area, always searching for rare blues sides.
In 1968, Perls began re-recording the sides in his collection, using high tech equipment in his home, and issuing 33-rpm record albums. These releases generally contained 14 blues tunes each, and often included highly informative liner notes by fellow collector Steve Calt. This enterprise was Yazoo Records
Yazoo Records
Yazoo Records is an American record label, founded in the late 1960s by Nick Perls. It specializes in early American blues, country, jazz, and other rural American genres ....
, (the catalogue was later acquired by Shanachie Records). Perls operated Yazoo out of his home in New York City's West Village until just before his death, in the 1980s, from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
As a recording engineer, Perls' most renowned talent was his ability to ride a phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
needle along the grooves of an old record much like a bobsled through an obstacle course, moving left, right, up or down to avoid as many scratches and gouges as possible. Yazoo releases were always derived directly from 78-rpm shellac originals
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. By collecting and re-releasing such forgotten blues recordings, Perls managed to preserve many classic blues performances (and later, those in related musical forms like ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
) that otherwise might have been lost to the ages.
In 1970, Perls began Blue Goose Records
Blue Goose Records
Blue Goose Records is a record label setup in the early 1970s by Nick Perls.While on Blue Goose' sister label Yazoo Records Perls compiled rare 78 rpm recordings made in the 1920s by such singers and guitarists as Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell, the Memphis Jug Band, Blind Blake and Blind...
as a side project, using that label to release music by a variety of live performers that Perls recorded himself, often right in his West Village living room. Perls was also himself a finger-pick guitarist but would only play the guitar socially, and strictly in imitation of one or another 1930s blues master. Stylisticly, his playing ethos was summed up when he stated that the phrase "too choppy" is a contradiction in terms. His one foray as a recording artist can be heard in a single duet that is part of his Blue Goose recording of bluesman Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson (musician)
Larry Johnson is an American electric blues singer and guitarist.-Life and career:Johnson's father was a preacher who traveled extensively. This led to Johnson being exposed to blues records by Blind Boy Fuller, who inspired Johnson to learn the rudiments of guitar playing...
. Also, Nick Perls is pictured (in blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
) on the cover of the Yazoo recording "Mr. Charlie's Blues".
Perls operated his business mostly by himself, occasionally employing assistants. The two labels stayed small and rarely caught very much public attention beyond the hardcore blues devotees who clamored for each new release. One notable exception may have been Perls' three Blue Goose albums of R. Crumb
Robert Crumb
Robert Dennis Crumb —known as Robert Crumb and R. Crumb—is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded...
and his Cheap Suit Serenaders. These were enormously entertaining recordings by cartoonist (and fellow collector) Robert Crumb and several of Crumb's California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
friends. Perls rarely broke even, financially, on any of his business endeavors. He would state that the "pop" bigtime did not appeal to him. He was doggedly independent and was already independently wealthy from his grandmother's art dealings at New York City's Perls Gallery.
On a personal level, Perls was a verbose New Yorker who strived to be "outrageous", an adjective that he loved attributing to himself. For instance, for several years he made a habit of wearing different colored checkered socks, (such as green and yellow on one foot, red and white on the other), which he cited as evidence of insanity. Further, Perls encouraged business acquaintances to refer to him as a "faggot", for the pure shock value. As explanation of this awkward request, Perls would claim that the term "homo"-sexual did not literally apply to him. The objects of his affections, young, effeminate black men, were not the same as him, rather literally "hetero" from him. Perls saw himself as a politically conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, Jewish business man. In contrast, his personal lifestyle was built around "cruising" New York's 7th Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
and picking up such individuals, leading to numerous short, intense relationships. Perls greatly enjoyed being seen in public arm in arm with his latest find, emphasizing the shock value of their intimacy.
All in all, it can well be said that Nick Perls epitomized the bombast and social experimentation of 1970s New York City. (Contents of this article written by Nick Perls' 1974 assistant).