Bluebird 78 RPM Record B-6976 Modern Mountaineers “Dirty Dog Blues” / “Driftitin

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78 RPM Record B-6976 Modern Mountaineers “Dirty Dog Blues” / “Drifting Along” E+ Visible Condition , beautiful disc. (label 1935-1936 – replaced start of 1937 by dark label). (as follows credit: internet) Arkansas-born/Oklahoma-raised pianist Smokey Wood was; according to liner notes of the 1982 reissue The Houston Hipster: Western Swing 1937, he used to raise 20-plus stalks between signboards near Houston's Main Street. Also, they played like adolescent punks: sax and clarinet fart-honking fully down into the dirt, Smokey and southpaw guitarist Lefty Grove yelling choruses way too loud when the boogie-woogie piano kicks in. (credit: internet) Left to their own devices, Wood and company started to make a small name for themselves playing in Houston's many beer joints -- they scraped together a living off of their one dollar a night fee and tips. Eventually the band got some air time at radio station KXYZ.Wood would later start playing with Floyd Tillman, Hezzie Bryant, Charles Keeshan, and Leon Selph under the name of the Blue Ridge Playboys, an outfit that lasted close to a year. The band then changed their name to the Georgia Flyers, moved over to station KTRH, and changed their name again to Modern Mountaineers.

It was about this time that the boys in his band realized that apart from music, Wood's great love was for the wacky tobaccy, or as it's better known: marijuana. According to some accounts, Wood was high most of the time and would even smoke on the bandstand when the notion grabbed him (and when the cops weren't close by, one presumes). And to further put things in perspective, Wood's love was so steadfast -- and big, too -- he usually kept at least a pound or two around for safe keeping and spared his lean budget in the process by growing some plants of his own. Smokey, indeed!

So, with Wood perennially in good spirits, Modern Mountaineers came together around 1937. And to compliment his own predilections, Wood found a bunch of hard-drinking players to swing those blues away. Along with the top fiddler J.R. Chatwell, pedal-steel player J.C. Way, and guitarist Lefty Groves, the band included the Chu Berry-inspired tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Hal Hebert and bassist Rip Ramsey.

"Dirty Dog Blues" is a STOMPING "Country/Blues" song!" One site stated this group was one of "50 Country music bands that don't suck". I AGREE - this is killer. (I won't lower price on this one - it is so good I will keep it if it does not get a bid) (The scratches left of EVERY pic are in my scanner glass)

No joke! This is an outstanding record! Check out pics of Smoky & earlier pre-Modern Mountaineers

1 record - $4.70  Add $1 for each additional record (+ insurance if required). (USA ONLY) (Int?l use eBay calculator and I will adjust to get cheapest rate)

E++, Visibly nearly new with no visible signs of wear or damage.

E+, Looks and plays like new with only few signs of handling and play.

E Still very shiny, near new looking, with slight visible signs of wear and a few nearly inaudible scuffs and scratches

E- Still shiny but without the luster of a new record, few scuffs that have little or no effect on play, some light scratches.

E- - Mostly shiny but with even less of the luster of an E- record, more scuffs than E-that have little or no effect on play, light scratches with some light noise.

VG+, Slightly above average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced.

VG, An average condition 78 - moderate wear throughout, but still very playable and enjoyable. Surface somewhat dull with noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.

VG-, Quite playable still, but with some distortion and may have some graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level.

VG- - Quite playable still, but with distortion and most have some graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches noticeable and may be loud at times.

G+ Quite worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise. Grey may be throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled.

G Not so good. Wear and scratch damage extensive. Listening can become uncomfortable as music and surface noise probably blending. Lowest level music can be understood.

G-, Music barely audible over surface noise & listening is uncomfortable. Record is borderline unplayable.

P Used only for high dollar space fillers like Black Patti, Okeh blues, etc. Music covered by surface noise, scratches, and needle digs, label may be trashed, & listening is almost if not definitely impossible. Record is basically unplayable. What you keep because you can?t bear to toss ? while you look for that E+ copy of Robert Johnson on Vocalion at the local flea markets for $1 (Good Luck!)

See Description, A wildcard grade that can be used when standard grading does not apply or when a record (or item) has special attributes (or defects) that can affect how the item is assigned a grade.