Len Spencer made the original version of this record for Columbia brown-wax cylinder approximately 1898: it was part of a ten-cylinder series of Len performing with the banjo virtuoso Vess L. Ossman (two other records in that
series, "Hot Times on the Levy" and "Crappy Dan," can be heard at "archive.org"). In 1904, when Columbia was re-recording this number for black
wax cylinder, they brought Bob Roberts in to sing it since Len Spencer was unavailable. Vess Ossman was there again playing banjo. This is the result, a rare chance to hear Bob Roberts sing something from the Stephen Foster
songbook instead of a comic song. The record itself was in nice shape with no mold, needing rumble removed and the occasional groove tick.
On Facebook? Click Here and Become a Fan of this Site!
