BIZARRE FUNK/BLUES 45 from K.C.: A.J. ROWE Smoke My Pipe (The Sign Ain't Right)

$

100

BIZARRE FUNK/BLUES 45 from K.C.: A.J. ROWE Smoke My Pipe (The Sign Ain't Right) ORIGINAL - HEAR IT

A.J. Rowe: Smoke My Pipe—Part One (The Sign Ain’t Right)/ Smoke My Pipe—Part Two (The Sign Ain’t Right), Cave 5839. This is original 45 (not a reissue) in VG+ condition. This is a strange one all right. As the story goes, A.J. Rowe, an elderly gentleman from Kansas City, saved up his money because he always wanted to make a record, then went to the studio that was located in an underground cave in Independence, Missouri. The studio provided the musicians to back up his bizarre recitation, which involves various episodes of illness and a drunken shooting spree, always ending with him walking the floor and smoking his pipe, “can’t go to bed, the sign ain’t right.” The backing is straight funk (guitar, bass and drums).

 Here are just some of the lyrics:

I came this morning ‘bout half past four,

 My gal was standing in the bedroom door

I didn’t know hardly know what to say or do,

She had a pocket knife and a pistol too.

I just walked the floor and I smoked my pipe, 

I said, I can’t go to bed, the sign ain’t right

I washed your feet every day in the week,

I wanted you to sleep on clean white sheets

You was so sick I didn’t know what to do,

So I called the doctor and the undertaker too.

Then on Part 2:

I slipped on out but I come back soon,

Some jitterbug made me dust my broom

I looked under the pillow and got my gun,

I went back out, I had a little fun

It wasn’t a big gun, it was just the right size

And on the handle was Colt, a 4 and a 5

I made one shot, it was late that night

One jitterbug said, “The sign ain’t right.”

That 4-5 hit him, he was spinnin’ round and round

He tried to stand up but he had to go down

Oh yes, I saw him when he dropped

I was lookin’ in his face when he blowed his top

I’m goin’ on home and smoke my pipe

I can’t go to bed, the sign ain’t right

When they had my trial I knowed where I was bound

I saw the clerk of the court when he wrote it down

I been there once and I done ten

I believe I got to go back again

Listen to an excerpt of SMOKE MY PIPE here: AJ Rowe Smoke My Pipe excerpt

LPs, 45s, and EPs are graded M (mint), NM (near mint), VG+, VG (very good), VG-, G+, G (good), G-, F (fair), and P (poor). A VG+ record may have some visible scuffs and light scratches and plays well with little surface noise. Scratches on records graded VG, VG-, and below are deep enough to feel with your fingernail, or there may be scratches throughout that cause surface noise. On records in the G+, G and G- range the level of the music is still above the surface noise caused by scuffs and scratches. Surface noise is as loud as the music on records graded F and louder than the music on P records.

Picture sleeves and EP jackets graded VG+ have only slight wear; jackets graded VG are more worn but still intact unless defects are noted. G jackets show definite damage and F and P jackets are probably falling apart. Splits, markings, cut corners, and other defects will be noted.

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