Podcast 126: Michael Corcoran on Washington Phillips

Podcast 126: Michael Corcoran on Washington Phillips

On December 5, 1927, the day after Blind Willie Johnson recorded some of his most influential blues sides at an impromptu Columbia Records recording studio in Dallas, in walked an equally mysterious and haunting musician, Washington Phillips. Phillips carried a homebrew instrument - later described as a "dulceola" but, as we learn on today's podcast, actually two zithers he fabricated together. The otherworldly music coming out of those zithers, combined with Phillips' powerful singing and songwriting, created some of the most awe-inspiring and mysterious sounds ever recorded. It's no wonder Phillips has been covered by Ry Cooder, Jorma Kaukonen, Will Oldham and others.

On today's podcast, we talk to writer Michael Corcoran, whose research helped fill in the gaps of who, exactly, Phillips was, where he lived and when he died. We also talk about Phillips instrument of choice and how the dulceola theory was finally debunked. All of Corcoran's findings on Phillips can be found on the new Dust to Digital book/CD recording called Washington Phillips and his Manzarene Dreams. It's great music and great writing (the liner notes are actually a 76-page book)… we can't recommend it enough.

"Where did this come from? That still remains the mystery," Corcoran concludes. "I still don't know that… you really will never know the motivation of the artist…"

Discussed in this podcast:
http://www.pickaway.press/fz/wp.html (page dedicated to Washington Phillips' instrument)

http://www.dust-digital.com/washington-phillips/ (Washington Phillips and his Manzarene Dreams)

Episoder(530)

Podcast 544: Thomm Jutz

Podcast 544: Thomm Jutz

Thomm Jutz's story is unlike any other we've ever shared. Born in the Black Forest of Germany, Jutz became obsessed with American music when, at the age of 11, he saw Bobby Bare on TV. He eventually m...

8 Apr 1h 6min

Podcast 543: Rhys John Stubbs

Podcast 543: Rhys John Stubbs

This week, we're chatting with Rhys John Stubbs, founder of UK-based Bigfoot Engineering. Rhys is best known for his effects pedals, but he just released a beautiful album of original acoustic guitar ...

3 Apr 49min

Podcast 542: John Craigie

Podcast 542: John Craigie

Singer-songwriter John Craigie joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'I Swam Here.'  https://johncraigie.com We also talk about Craigie's unique humor during his sets, his Beatles covers, al...

31 Mar 39min

Podcast 541: Ramsey Thornton

Podcast 541: Ramsey Thornton

This week, the Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson talks to Tulsa, Oklahoma-based songwriter Ramsey Thornton. Ramsey is a multi-instrumentalist with a love for both banjo and guitar. In fact, he's one o...

20 Mar 32min

Podcast 540: Jonah Sissoyev & Eric Skye

Podcast 540: Jonah Sissoyev & Eric Skye

Portland, Oregon-based musicians Eric Skye and Jonah Sissoyev join us this week to talk about Jonah's beautiful new EP, 'A Place Called Nowhere.'  The EP's origin story begins with Jonah asking Eric,...

10 Mar 38min

Podcast 539: Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) Returns

Podcast 539: Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) Returns

Acclaimed vintage guitar repairperson Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) joins the Fretboard Journal Podcast once again.  We talk about his early training as a luthier, running Folkway Music, and his approa...

27 Feb 1h 10min

Podcast 538: The Story of Micro-Frets Guitars with Seth Lorinczi

Podcast 538: The Story of Micro-Frets Guitars with Seth Lorinczi

Fretboard Journal contributor Seth Lorinczi joins us this week to talk about the rise and fall of Micro-Frets, the upstart electric guitar brand launched in the late 1960s. Seth penned a lengthy story...

22 Feb 55min

Podcast 537: The 2025 Fretboard Summit Guitar Repair Panel

Podcast 537: The 2025 Fretboard Summit Guitar Repair Panel

In what has become an annual tradition, Evan Gluck (NY Guitar Repair) hosted a guitar repair roundtable at the 2025 Fretboard Summit. This year, he brought Ceil Thompson (StewMac); TJ Thompson (Pro Lu...

14 Feb 59min

Populært innen Underholdning

papaya
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
tusvik-tnne
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
big-5-med-nils-og-harald-2
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
konspirasjonspodden
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
tore-og-haralds-podkast
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
kjendiscrush-med-sofie-karlstad
hovla
nare-venner
vitnemal
gi-meg-alle-detaljene
rss-gammal-maiden
feedback-med-egon-holstad
christine-dancke
singel