The Even Dozen Jug Band (album)
Encyclopedia
The Even Dozen Jug Band is the debut and only album by the American
jug band
Even Dozen Jug Band
, released in 1964.
Founded in 1963, the Even Dozen Jug Band recorded this, their only recording for Elektra Records
. Members who later went on to successful music careers included Stefan Grossman
, David Grisman
, Steve Katz
, Maria Muldaur
(then Maria d'Amato), Joshua Rifkin
, and John Sebastian
.
Production notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jug band
Jug band
A Jug band is a band employing a jug player and a mix of traditional and home-made instruments. These home-made instruments are ordinary objects adapted to or modified for making of sound, like the washtub bass, washboard, spoons, stovepipe and comb & tissue paper...
Even Dozen Jug Band
Even Dozen Jug Band
The Even Dozen Jug Band was founded in 1963 by Stefan Grossman and Peter Siegel in New York City, New York...
, released in 1964.
Founded in 1963, the Even Dozen Jug Band recorded this, their only recording for Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. Members who later went on to successful music careers included Stefan Grossman
Stefan Grossman
Stefan Grossman is an American acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and singer, music producer and educator, and co-founder of Kicking Mule records.-Early life and influences:Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Herbert and Ruth Grossman...
, David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
, Steve Katz
Steve Katz (musician)
Steve Katz is a guitarist and record producer who is best known as a member of the rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears. Katz was an original member of the rock bands The Blues Project and American Flyer...
, Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
(then Maria d'Amato), Joshua Rifkin
Joshua Rifkin
Joshua Rifkin is an American conductor, keyboard player, and musicologist. He is best known by the general public for having played a central role in the ragtime revival in the 1970s with the three albums he recorded of Scott Joplin's works for Nonesuch Records, and to classical musicians for his...
, and John Sebastian
John Sebastian
John Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
.
Reception
Music critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. in his Allmusic "Mandolins, banjoes, pianos, guitars, fiddles, kazoos, and trombones vie with one another, creating a raucous free-for-all. The vocals on pieces like "Overseas Stomp" and "Evolution Mama" have a loose, just-for-the-heck-of-it feel that keeps the material lively and irreverent. The multiple combinations of instruments and voices, along with an exuberant approach, guarantee no boredom on this lovely disc. Certainly no stickler for strict traditionalism, the band shows how blues, ragtime, and jazz can be used to freshen up worn-out material."Reissues
- Ten of the songs were reissued in 1978 on Jug Band Music & Rags of the South by Everest Archive of Folk & Jazz Music.
- The Even Dozen Jug Band was reissued on CD in 2002 and again in 2008 by Collectors' Choice MusicCollectors' Choice MusicCollectors' Choice Music is a company primarily in two businesses. They are best known for re-issuing albums originally recorded in LP record form as compact discs...
. - The Even Dozen Jug Band was reissued on CD in 2005 by Elektra Records.
Side one
- "Take Your Fingers Off It" (Will ShadeWill ShadeWill Shade was an African American Memphis blues musician, best known for his membership in the Memphis Jug Band. Shade was commonly called Son Brimmer, a nickname from his grandmother Annie Brimmer, because "son" is short for "grandson"...
, Charlie BurseCharlie BurseCharlie Burse was an African-American blues musician, best known for his skill with the ukulele. He was nicknamed "Uke Kid Burse" because of his talent, which extended to other musical instruments....
, J. Jones, C. Pierce) – 2:26 - "Come on In" – 2:42
- "Mandolin King Rag" – 1:47
- "Overseas Stomp" (Will Shade, Jab Jones) – 1:45
- "Evolution Mama" – 3:19
- "The Even Dozens" (Josh RifkinJoshua RifkinJoshua Rifkin is an American conductor, keyboard player, and musicologist. He is best known by the general public for having played a central role in the ragtime revival in the 1970s with the three albums he recorded of Scott Joplin's works for Nonesuch Records, and to classical musicians for his...
, G. Davis) – 2:55 - "I Don't Love Nobody" – 2:56
Side two
- "Rag Mama" – 2:13
- "France Blues" – 2:42
- "On the Road Again" (Shade, Jones) – 3:18
- "Original Colossal Drag Rag" (Rifkin) – 2:59
- "All Worn Out" – 2:51
- "Lonely One in This Town" (Walter Jacobs, Lonnie Carter) – 3:02
- "Sadie Green" – 2:10
Personnel
- Stefan GrossmanStefan GrossmanStefan Grossman is an American acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and singer, music producer and educator, and co-founder of Kicking Mule records.-Early life and influences:Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Herbert and Ruth Grossman...
– vocals, guitar, banjo - Pete Jacobson – vocals, guitar, banjo
- Pete Seigel – vocals, guitar, banjo
- Frank Goodkin – banjo
- David GrismanDavid GrismanDavid Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
– mandolin - Fred Weisz – violin
- Steve KatzSteve Katz (musician)Steve Katz is a guitarist and record producer who is best known as a member of the rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears. Katz was an original member of the rock bands The Blues Project and American Flyer...
– vocals, washboard - Josh RifkinJoshua RifkinJoshua Rifkin is an American conductor, keyboard player, and musicologist. He is best known by the general public for having played a central role in the ragtime revival in the 1970s with the three albums he recorded of Scott Joplin's works for Nonesuch Records, and to classical musicians for his...
– vocals, piano, kazoo - John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
, credited as John Benson – harmonica - Danny Lauffer – jug
- Peggy Haine – jug
- Maria MuldaurMaria MuldaurMaria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, then Maria D'Amato – vocals - Bob Gurland – trumpet, vocals
Production notes:
- Paul RothchildPaul A. RothchildPaul A. Rothchild was a prominent American record producer of the late 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Rothchild grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1953....
– producer, editing - Paul NelsonPaul Nelson (critic)Paul Nelson was a folk and rock music critic who wrote for Sing Out! and Rolling Stone. He was instrumental in launching and supporting the careers of Bob Dylan, The New York Dolls, Elliott Murphy, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon...
– original liner notes - Richie UnterbergerRichie UnterbergerRichie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
– reissue liner notes