Robert Crumb`s 78 RPM Record Collection

“I was always snooping around in second hand stores, looking for old comic-books. One day I noticed some old 78 records with very intriguing labels, they radiated some kind of power-a magical aura, even though the names of the tunes and the bands were unknown to me. At ten cents apiece, I bought a few of them. Ten seconds after putting the needle down on that Charlie Fry record I knew-this is it! I was thrilled to the core, over-joyed! This was the music I`d been searching for!” R. Crumb, August, 1998

Robert Crumb is well known for his underground comics, such as Fritz the Cat or Mr. Natural, I know you know that, but he is less well known for his passionate collecting of 78 RPM records. He has issued several CDs that comprise only a fraction of his 78 collection. I possess three of these gems, and since I don`t own any 78s, I am able to experience vicariously a bit of this old timey music. But I wouldn`t mind hittin` the flea-markets and cubby-hole-discount-shacks for obscure booty!

The first Crumb title that I purchased was “That`s What I Call Sweet Music,” released on the Songbook Series in 1999. These are early jazz (jass) recordings from the 1920s, and feature many little known musician-greats from a by-gone era. This is a miracle that I am even able to listen to and enjoy this music! There are twenty-four sides on this CD, and Robert Crumb himself has provided wonderful illustrations of a few of the clubs and orchestras from the twenties. Let`s see, there`s one of The California Ramblers and one of Doc Cook & His 14 Doctors Of Syncopation.

Lat year I picked up “R. Crumb`s Heroes Of Blues, Jazz & Country.” This includes the famous trading card illustrations of R. Crumb *(wish I had `em!). This puts a face to many of the greats, such as Son House, Frank Trumbauer, “Tiny” Parham, and Jimmy Rodgers. A succinct biographical summary of the artist is on the leaf preceding the color portrait page. And I have worn out the bonus 21 song CD that is included with this charming monograph! Let`s not forget the double CD, “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of,” which includes extremely obscure blues, country, and folk, where the boondocks are really the boondocks! Ya record collectors out there, keep diggin` in grandma`s attic!

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