Annotation:Limber Neck Blues

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LIMBER NECK BLUES. AKA and see "Mason-Dixon Schottische (The)," "Parkersburg Landing." Old-Time, Schottische (brisk). USA, Mississippi. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The melody, which is obviously not a blues tune but a schottische (the title 'blues' is something of a regional honorific), was recorded in 1930 (OKeh 45548) under this title by Mississippi musicians Willie Narmour (1889-1991) and Shell Smith (1895-1968). It was known as "Parkersburg Landing" to east Kentucky fiddler Ed Haley. Allin Cottrell points out that fast accurate playing in the key of C was one of the hallmarks of Narmour's fiddling. The 'A' part, at eight measures is twice as long as the 'B'. See also the related "Leake County Two-Step."

The title, like that of "Jake Leg Blues", refers to the visible symptoms incurred by drinking Jamaican Ginger during prohibition. The tonic was marketed as a medicinal aid after the Civil War and could be legally purchased during the 1920's. It's high alcohol content (60-80% ethanol) made it popular. However, in the spring of 1930 the manufacturers another ingredient, triotolyl phosphate. Immediately those who imbibed quantities of Jamaica Ginger began to have physiologic symptoms such as loss of muscle control in the hands and feet, producing the 'Jake Leg Wobble' when sufferers would have to pick up their feet higher than usual when walking to compensate for loss of muscular function in the toes.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Old Time Herald, vol. 5, No. 3 (Spring, 1996); p. 49.

Recorded sources: Musical Traditions MT 104, Narmour and Smith - "Where the Southern Crosses the Dog: Mississippi Fiddle Music 1928-35." Okeh 45548 (78 RPM), Narmour & Smith (1930)

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]

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