Sweeter Shellac
Here’s another disc’s worth of R. Crumb’s Sweet Shellac BBC radio program, wherein the distinguished American cartoonist shares choice 78s from his “fabulous collection” (as Crumb puts it ever so modestly). Highly recommended. The first show here covers wacky French jazz “before Django.” Some mind-bending stuff. The second show is maybe my favorite of the series, highlighting some rare sides of American string bands from the 1920s. In particular, I love the banjo/fiddle duet, a rare-for-the-time interracial collaboration. Sounds like music from another planet. As always, Crumb’s asides and stories are wry fun, and he even attempts a little singing towards the end. This is the last of these Sweet Shellac shows I am in possession of — does anyone know if he did any more?
