CHRIS BOUCHILLON
Chris Bouchillon (1893–1968) was a South Carolina musician, songwriter and humorist best remembered as the creator of the talking blues. Raised in a musical family, he first recorded with his brothers in the mid-1920s before launching a solo career with Columbia Records. His 1927 recording of "Talking Blues" became a surprise hit and established a style of rhythmic spoken storytelling that would later influence artists such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Although remembered primarily for his spoken performances, Bouchillon also recorded a number of traditional songs accompanied by guitar and string band instrumentation, making him an important figure in the formative years of commercial country music.
LET IT ALONE
Recorded March 26, 1927 – Atlanta, Georgia
Matrix W 143772-1 - Columbia 15178-D
Rather than an original composition, it is Bouchillon's adaptation of Bert Williams' 1906 stage song from the Broadway musical Abyssinia. Bouchillon transforms the vaudeville number into a relaxed country performance built around voice and guitar, adding at least one verse not found in Williams' original recording. The Columbia files do not identify the guitarist; some discographers credit Chris himself, while others believe the accompaniment was played by his brother Uris Bouchillon.
