034: Reefer Madness: A Collection of Vintage Drug Songs, 1927-1945, by Various Artists

Various Artists (USA)
Reefer Madness: A Collection of Vintage Drug Songs, 1927-1945 (2006)
18 tracks, 54 minutes
YouTube playlist · Spotify (only a handful of tracks available in the UK) · iTunes

Not to be confused with the so-bad-it’s-good anti-pot propaganda film from 1936 (you can watch it in its entirety on YouTube)…or, for that matter, at least one other compilation of drug-related early-20th century music that’s also called Reefer Madness. This one is a budget compilation on the Buzzola record label of the sort that you’ll see bins full going for £3 down in Camden Market or wherever.

It’s actually a cracking collection of songs that take a look at the more hedonistic side of early jazz and blues, one that is perhaps overshadowed in comparison with the exploits of the 50s and 60s scenes. There’s some big names featured on this album including Ella Fitzgerald, Leadbelly, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith and Cab Calloway (‘Minnie the Moocher’ is probably the best-known piece here) as well as lesser-known musicians, and there’s also a pleasing number of female artists included too, whose contributions to the scene (particularly its more bawdy elements) are often unfairly ignored.

There’s catchy tunes, excellent solos and wicked humour all over this – every track is a winner; it probably helps that the compilers had so many out-of-copyright gems to choose from. It means that it’s hard to pick a highlight (‘Dope Head Blues’ by Victoria Spivey, ‘Reefer Man’ by Don Redman and ‘Knockin’ Myself Out’ by Lil Green are definitely up there), but the one that I keep coming back to is ‘Here Comes the Man with the Jive’ by singer and violinist Stuff Smith. Not only is it a bit of a novelty to have a solo violin in that era of jazz-blues, it’s also just all-over cool: cool tune, cool rhythm, lyrics, lingo, solos, everything. He’s an artist that I’ve never really got around to exploring, which is a shame, but if this track is anything to go off, there’s a treasure trove waiting out there.

And speaking of treasure troves, price is not an absolute indication of quality – get stuck into those £3 bins in Camden Market!