Whereas some superstars date many ladies, most of the mortal
gal-seeking universe knows that, once you’ve got yourself a gal, you ought to assemble
the ensemble and set everybody to dancing. The James Cole String Band thought
so, ‘round about 1928. Behold the keen roof-raising principles of “I Got A Gal,”
which emphasize the piercing fiddle and capering rhythm.
The James Cole String Band was likely an African American group.
Its musicians may have hailed from Indianapolis. Cole, the bandleader and fiddler,
may have recorded additional records in the 1930s, yet there could have been a
different James Cole by that point. Not much can be said with certainty about
the ensemble, except that “I Got A Gal” rattles the windows.
Our Musicology Department has been working overtime on the particulars,
and we’re proud to present lyrics, below, followed by discographic information.
We love the pun “She’s a moonshine gal and I love her still.”
Lines like that — as well as “I turned out and told turn in” — could represent square
dance banter or, you know, some early century inn-you-end-dough. The gal is
either “mighty thin” or “big and fat” but either way she lives on the hill in
her bathing suit. Of course, and thankfully, silliness prevails. (That, or a touch
of the corn liquor.)
Do we think you should play this song on high volume, grab
your sweetie pie, and jump around? Why, yes, we do!
James Cole String Band
[1]
I got a gal she’s mighty thin,
I turned out and told ‘turn in.’
I got a gal she’s mighty cute,
I saw her in a bathing suit.
[2]
I got a gal she lives on the hill,
She’s a moonshine gal and I love her still.
I got a gal she lives in town,
Going to see if I can run her down.
[3]
I got a gal she wastes her time,
I ain’t seen her for a long, long time.
I got a gal she’s big and fat,
But I can’t tell just where she’s at.
likely personnel / recording data
James Cole, fiddle; Tommie Bradley, guitar; Eddie Dimmitt,
mandolin; unknown, string bass; unknown, vocal. Vocalion 5226 b/w “Bill Cheatem.” Recorded on June 22 or
June 25, 1928, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
sources
of information
DAHR (discography) page
for “I Got A Gal”
DAHR (discography) page
for James Cole String Band
Document Records page
for James Cole / Tommie Bradley compilation
Allen Lowe. Turn Me Loose White Man. Constant
Sorrow Press, 2020
Diane Pecknold. Hidden in the Mix: The African
American Presence in Country Music. Duke University Press, 2013
Great stuff. They don't "sound" African-American. What is the evidence that they are?
ReplyDeleteTPW, Good Sir, thanks for the comment. Scholarship by Allen Lowe and Diane Pecknold (books are listed at the end of the article) suggest that the group is African American. At the same time, the writers admit to some uncertainty. I have no special insights myself, except to say that repertoire and "sounds" were shared in surprising ways, in that era. I found myself thinking that this band and the one led by Peg Leg Howell (earlier post) had similarities, and both were Black string bands. But in any event, yes, it's not certain who James Cole really was, in the end. ----- b.a.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad and amazing that such recent history could be so shrouded in mystery.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, and it's why we need to keep looking backward, so we don't forget, and so we can preserve as much as possible. BA
ReplyDelete