June 11 extract

Freddie Hall-This Crooked World-Chance Records 7” single

This was originally issued on the Ebony label as a 78 in about 1952 (this is kind of unclear, as for a long time the only known copies were the re-issues on Chance in 1954). Until recently the only known link to Ebony were the matrix numbers on the Chance single indicating that it had originally been an Ebony 78.  As this year progresses, I fear that I will become increasingly trainspottery about old records, and fully expect that by mid-October I’ll have started subscribing to Record Collector.

Although there are no known photographs of Freddie Hall and his last recordings were 3 singles for the tiny CJ Record label in 1959, he sounds like he was a bit of a lad if the evidence from the label on the Ebony 78 is to be believed. He is named as Freddie “Bama Boy” Hall with his Gadsden Band. (He was from Gadsden, Alabama, which was named in 1989 as one of the seven worst places to live in the United States. Like St Helens in the Deep South I guess). Anyway, unlike the Chance reissue, the Ebony 78 proudly claimed that Freddie was “Gadsdens Gift To The Girls”. This was printed on the label where they usually gave advice about how to keep the record dust free and which needles to use for best phonographic sound. (It would be interesting if today’s rock stars similarly promoted themselves. Imagine-“Mark E Smith-Salfords Gift to Pigeon Fanciers” or “Muse-Devons Gift To The Sadly Deluded”?). Maybe Freddie decided to tone it down a bit when he got the chance to release his record on a bigger label. He also dropped the “Bama Boy” nickname as well. Probably for the best, as I can only speculate exactly what a “Bama Boy” is (or was). I’m sure that there are some latter day rap artists who would love to go by the moniker of Bama Boy.

This track however, is entirely built upon Freddie Hall warning the listener that the whole world is corrupt and only after money.  Any idea of records from the past not being cynical and hardbitten are blown away when you listen to this. Lyrically it’s like something Immortal Technique could record minus the swearing. All the great and the good are accused of duplicity and thievery just for a quick buck. Even Jack and Jill going up the hill are not immune as Freddie warns us that, “Jill came down with a ten dollar bill, if you know what I mean.” I think we do, Freddie-the inference is clear. He is known as a blues shouter, but to me, it has the sound more of a big band/swing record with Freddie bellowing rather than singing,and with a couple of great saxophone solos thrown in for added effect. The whole thing only lasts for two minutes or so -and that includes the sax solo. I don’t know if the brevity is due to the fact that it was originally a 78, or that Bama Boy said all he needed to in such a short time, but it’s a great record nevertheless.