RAGGED BUT RIGHT

Created on 24/06/2007
Latest update on 11/10/2021

Artist: Blue Harmony Boys
Author: traditional
Label: Paramount
Year: 1929

Alias Rufus & Ben Quillian. Reissued on Document cd Hokum: Blues & Rags. Also the title of a book: Ragged But Right - Black Traveling Shows, Coon Songs And The Dark Pathway To Blues And Jazz (U.P. Of Mississippi) written by Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff, about the success of ragtime in the early 20th century, following black performers from underclass to mainstream. The tone of this song was originally out and out racist.

Covers:

1934:

Riley Puckett [the oldest recording?]

1937:

Mitchell Brothers

1938:

Bob Howard [black swing variation as Raggedy But Right]

1951:

Ruby Wright [white swing variation on King]

1956:

George Jones [influential Starday single; crediting himself]

1957:

Wilf Carter

1957:

Dick Curless

1959:

Shel Silverstein & The Red Onions [on folk lp Hairy Jazz]

1960:

Slim Whitman

1961:

Moon Mullican [also on Starday; this time a hit]

1964:

Greenbriar Boys

1966:

Johnny Bond

1970:

Waylon Jennings

1979:

Rosanne Cash

1980:

Johnny Paycheck

1983:

Johnny Cash

1987:

Jerry Garcia

1991:

Hi-Jinks

1996:

Sleepy LaBeef

2002:

Lightnin' Wells [using the original lyrics]

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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