Abner Jay – Swaunee Water And Cocaine Blues
I’ve been blown away by this record for over 20 years, one of my favorites, few others come close to matching the reality found on here. Abner was an old school one man band, sort of a next level Leadbelly meets Dylan. I’m envious of friends who caught his live performance in the south east & mid south. Not to be confused with the same cover/different titled release, search for this & his “Terrible Comedy Blues”. Banjo plucking, bass pedal hitting, harmonica blowing, cymbal tapping with blues hollering, and his original tunes gut hitting lyrics, just listen – The Reason Young People Use Drugs
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I’ve been blown away by the Terrible Comedy Blues for almost 40 years. I first met Abner Jay in 1967. I was working at a little hippie hole in the wall bar in Athens, GA, hustling beer and roasted peanuts. We had live music on the weekends, and Abner Jay did a gig there. We had parties after closing, and he came with us. He of course pulled out his git-tar and regaled us young white folks with more of his turrible jokes and gut-wrenching blues. He was truly one of a kind and those who missed his live performances should envy those of us who have experienced him. We took him back to our house to spend the night (which got us thrown out of the house — Athens in the 60’s was a little more shall we say un-cool than it is now).
We ran into him a few years later in Underground Atlanta and had a marvelous evening listening to him and chatting over old times. He had recently returned from a tour up north and was still on a high from playing for people who did not talk while he was performing. It saddens me to think of how little respect some of our most treasured troubadours have been given.
I have two of his albums: Terrible Comedy Blues on Poison Apple Records, Album No. 3420, and The Story of Dixie put out by Brandie Records. They are autographed and are greatly treasured.
I was dismayed to hear he is gone. It’s awful how time slips away; I had always meant to get back to Atlanta to hear him again, and now I cannot. But I can play his records and see him in my mind. I am glad you have discovered him.
PDB
I couldn’t get the audio files here to work. I’ve got some posted on the purpleheadphones site, but I want more Abner Jay! Can anyone point me to some recordings from the Swaunee Water And Cocaine Blues album? If so, please leave a comment on http://purpleheadphones.blogspot.com with the links!
Thanks!
yes! Abner Jay is one of my favorites! True legend status!
Love that Abner Jay. Insane record. Found mine in an antique store in Red Bank, NJ. “40 Acres and a Mule”!
Great post on a truly great performer. First heard his music in a class with Anthony Braxton and have been obessed ever since. I have a curious 45 that he put out on peacock records, one side of which is billed as Linda & Abner… a bit more straight-laced than his brandie albums.
To Punky Burwinkle: thanks for these great accounts of time spent with Abner Jay. I work for a national oral history project/radio project and have been doing some personal research on one-man bands. I would love to record an interview with you about your memories of Abner… It’s important that these stories are preserved. If you’d be interested, you can email me at:
nyulman (at) wesleyan.edu
He was a great man!! I know this because he is my grandfather!!! I wish i had gotten the chance to know him better!!!
I just recently found out about Abner Jay. I was on vacation in Kauai, Hawaiia in July and met his son CJ who is a horseback tourguide and real cowboy. When he found out I am originally from south Georgia near where Abner Jay was from (Fitzgerald,GA) he gave me an “Abner Jay One Man Band” cd that he had in his saddlebag!I have really enjoyed listening to the cd and reget that I didn’t know about him while he was alive and performing. I graduated from high school and college during the Vietnam era (60’s & 70’s)and feel a real connection to his music.
I would like for Lamonda M. to contact me so we can talk about Abner Jay if possible since she is related. I live in the north metro Atlanta, GA area.
Lamonda M: My e-mail address is corneliuslc@bellsouth.net
i have the abner jay’s lp ” swaunee water and cocanine blues”. the cover and record in excellent condition! for sale, contact me asap…jim
I have no idea how great he was. I only know, for me, he was completely unforgettable. He was my father. I am only one of countless others who can say that. They say greatness costs.
I just found one of Abner Jay’s LP’s, Abner Jay Swaunee Water and Cocaine Blues. The album is in excellent condition and the record is in mint condition and it still has the sleeve and plastic on the outside. I am trying to find out when this record was cut. Anyone who might know when this album was made, I would greatly appreciate it.
I would like to be contacted by Teresa Jay, Larry Cornelius and Lomanda M. I am Abner’s youngest daughter. I found out from a childhood friend who lives in Florida that my father had several websites dedicated to his lifes work. I have all the Masters of Abner’s music to include countless casset tapes and reel to reels. I believe it is time for others to know him as I did.
My email address is brandiewatson1@yahoo.com
i need more abner jay music
i would buy it but cant find it
if anyone has some mp3s that they could share that would be amazing
im a songwriter and i have 2 songs “the reason young people use drugs” and “im so depressed” and they are changing my life
please if anyone has any email to me joeltham@gmail.com
i will share the songs i have if anyone wants them
they are amazing songs
thanks
joel
Just found my copy of Abner’s LP ” The backbone of America is a Mule and Cotton.” Spinning for the fist time ever! Got this at a junk shop in MD a couple years ago. He is now getting some exposure being that Mississippi records released an LP of his stuff. My Lp is on Brandie records. I think it may date to the late 60’s or there abouts…
Thank God for vinyl.
i recently started listening to Jesse Fuller, Juke Boy Bonner, etc one-man-bands and i read somewhere on the internet that Abner Jay was the master. downloaded True Story of Abner Jay and was blown away. first song i listened to was “I’m So Depressed” and i just wanted to cry. i had forgotten how healing music can be until Abner Jay’s music reminded me. to all of his family, or any and all of his supporters, bless y’all. i pray his music spreads through many ears to many hearts.
makes me proud to have grown up in Georgia (savannah).
Hello, my name is Kim Carter. I descendant from the Gilbert Family (originally, in Fitzgerald, GA). We’re getting ready for a family reunion and I need to know any of Abner Jay’s children. Abner Jay is Dommie Lou’s son. There were 18 children in all.
I still own the Abner Jay LP Album, “Swaunee Water And Cocaine Blues” by Brandie Records. LP-1001 33 1/3 Mono. Green label. Contact me asap.
wvajim tarusbull2001@yahoo.com. Please, only serious buyers. Highly collectible and worthy of ownership.
Hi, All. I’ve come across a cassette recording I made of Abner at a Texas flea market in 1984. I’ve contacted Brandie at the e-mail address she listed in a post, above, and hope to hear back so I can get it to her. She might like to hear her dad’s between-song banter as a keepsake. It’s only a handheld amateur recording, but nice to have. If there is any other contact info for her I should have, please let me know! Be well, all. garychilutti@gmail.com