Sunday, December 30, 2001

So, while some of you may think that I just sit on my ass all day, watching porno videos, and scouring old issues of HONCHO and MANDATE for tidbits on my favorite porn stars, I actually do venture beyond the realm of big-digged, hairy-assed, heavy-balled men. (heavy-balled?) Like Saturday, I was reading the articles in the Oct '81 issue of Mandate, and saw a rave review of a then new release by Alberta Hunter - someone who I had never heard of, but would guess some of you cooler folks have. So, I did a search on Audiogalaxy, and sorted thru some of the older work versus the newer stuff. Apparently, from the 20's thru the 40's, she sang her way thru the clubs of Chicago, recorded in New York, and toured Europe, did an award-winning stint with the USO, and at age 59 changed careers and became a nurse in Harlem! Then, in 1977, at the age of 81, retired from nursing and returned to music - This great account gives much fuller details of her early days and recordings, plus some great old recordings from the 20's, including the fact that she was a lesbian. Here are a couple recordings from what I believe were later in her career, the late 70's and early 80's.

Black Man
He's Funny That Way - listen up, you unemployed, married guys
I Got Myself A Working Man
My Handy Man Ain't So Handy Anymore