~Every week from the vaults… a vinyl rarity which crackles, grinds, moves, grooves, hurts, or just awfully tickles…

The smasher of the week: #8

Peter or “Doc” Clayton (aka Cleighton) is an eccentric blues singer who seeks consolation in booze after his wife and children die in a home fire in 1937. Clayton closely follows the world news and writes unusual lyrics addressing current events. In September 1941 he urges the wavering American government to let him undertake action against Hitler in his song “’41 Blues”. He is probably accompanied by Big Bill Broonzy on guitar, Blind John Davis on piano and Ranson Knowling on bass.

The American war intervention only really takes shape after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December ’41. Not surprisingly Dr. Clayton immediately fter the Japanese attack issues the song “Pearl Harbor Blues”, in which he expresses his disbelief: “we sold the Japanese brass and scrap-iron, and it makes my blood boil in the veins, cause they made bombs and shells out of it, and they dropped them on Pearl Harbor just like rain. “

Clayton dies in solitude in 1947: he succumbs to the effects of years of heavy drinking and tuberculosis, a disease he had cursed upon Hitler in ’41 Blues. After his death several of his songs are covered by, among others, B.B. King, such as “Hold That Train Conductor”.

Lyrics ’41 Blues

War is raging in Europe on the water, land, and in the air
War is raging in Europe on the water, land, and in the air 
If Uncle Sammy don’t be careful, we’ll all soon end up right back over there

Radios and newspapers, they all force me to believe
The Radios and newspapers, they all make me believe
Yeah, Hitler, Mussolini, they must have a snatchin’ disease

Ain’t gonna be no peace in Europe, ’till we cut off Hitler’s head
Ain’t gonna be no peace in Europe, ’till we chop off Hitler’s head
Mussolini have heart failure, when he hear Stalin is dead

I hope Hitler catch consumption*, I mean the galloping kind
Yes, I hope Hitler catch consumption*, I mean the galloping kind
Stalin catch leprosy, Mussolini lose his mind

This whole war would soon be over, if Uncle Sam would use my plan
This whole war would soon be over, if Uncle Sam would use my plan
Let me sneak in Hitler’s bedroom with my razor in my hand

*tuberculosis, the kind that progresses rapidly toward death