Stephen Mejias

Blue Yodel #7

Stephen Mejias  |  Mar 16, 2010

John Fahey cites Bill Monroe’s “Blue Yodel #7” as the song that changed/destroyed his life. After hearing that song, he knew he had to play guitar.

After reading Fahey’s book, How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life, I knew I had to have the record. I searched eBay for "Blue Yodel #7," and there it was! I bought it! A sweet Bluebird 78rpm disc (Bluebird B-8861, released in 1941, b/w "In The Pines") from the RCA Manufacturing Co., in Camden, NJ!

I kept it in my office, on top of my filing cabinet, neglecting to bring it home. Minutes ago, our publisher, Keith Pray, came into my office and accidentally leaned on it. Then, after hearing it crack, he picked it up and tried to bend it.

"Ah, ah, ah...Keith, 78s don't bend like vinyl records..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I gotta say, though, they really should be more flexible."

My sweet copy of Bill Monroe’s “Blue Yodel #7,” the song that changed/destroyed John Fahey’s life, ain’t sweet no more.

Oh well. Now it's art.
I'll hang it in my listening room.

COMMENTS
tzed's picture
Submitted by tzed (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 6:09am

Wow, you sure took that calmly!I guess you can't very well freak out on your publisher though :-)What cartridge were you planning on using to play it?(if that's not too painful a question to ponder at this early stage in your grief)

KJ's picture
Submitted by KJ (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 7:05am

Oh boy, that just set off a horrible sinking in my stomach .... :'( The following website describes how to repair a crack, but not one as badly off as yours I'm afraid:http://78rpmrecord.com/repair.htmA couple weeks ago, after several years away from vinyl, I serendipitously picked up a 78rpm Victor recording of Telemann's Suite in A Minor with William Kincaid (flute) and Ormandy at -- wait for it -- Goodwill. I have never even seen a 78rpm before, let along pick one up! Too bad I gave my TT to my dad years ago. Time to acquire a new one!

Nick's picture
Submitted by Nick (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 7:05am

If you never took it home to listen to then you were never meant to listen to a song that could have changed/destroyed your life. Thank Keith Pray.

Stephen Mejias's picture
Submitted by Stephen Mejias (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 7:13am

What cartridge were you planning on using to play it?I hadn't thought that far ahead. I'd figured I'd bring it over to one of my friends' places, since I don't have a 78 player.It's really no big deal. It's only a thing, and it's my own fault for not bringing it home. I looked at it every day for a week, and thought, "Aw, I'll bring it home tomorrow."Maybe I'll find another one.I serendipitously picked up a 78rpm Victor recording of Telemann's Suite in A Minor with William Kincaid (flute) and Ormandy at -- wait for it -- Goodwill. Awesome find, KJ! I hope you do get a new 78 player. It could be a lot of fun.

Bob Hawkey's picture
Submitted by Bob Hawkey (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 10:13am

Your publisher seems to be a bit of a dick.NRN

Stephen Mejias's picture
Submitted by Stephen Mejias (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 10:10am

It was totally an accident. Keith is a great dude. The whole situation was very funny.

Peter Galbavy's picture
Submitted by Peter Galbavy (not verified) on March 17, 2010 - 10:52am

I did much the same to a 78 recording of the coronation of Kind Edward the something-th. Rats.

Jimmie Rodgers's picture
Submitted by Jimmie Rodgers (not verified) on March 18, 2010 - 8:22pm

Not cool at all. People that can't take care of LPs shouldn't be handling them at all. That's a nearly 70 year-old treasure that's been destroyed. How many copies of this record do you think still exist?

nunh's picture
Submitted by nunh (not verified) on March 27, 2010 - 5:53pm

Obvious he didn't mean to break it but, that sucks - I like the art idea :)

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