[Dixielandjazz] Public Domain Songs

[Stephen G Barbone]

> Don Ingle <dingle at nomadinter.net>  wrote:
> Make Me A Pallet on the Floor is also known as Atlanta Blues -- try
> looking under that name.
> Ballin' the Jack may be in public domain and was a vaudeville era tune
> and eccentric dance number. It's old for sure.
> Don

"Ballin The Jack" is in Public Domain.  The PD Music list has the  
composers as
Chris Smith and James Reese Europe. About a year ago I heard a wax  
cylinder recording of it that dated from 1914 so it is definitely  
Public Domain..

"Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor" is also Public Domain and referenced  
to 1911 in the Journal of American Folklore XXIV 278. Atlanta Blues,  
the same tune, was copyrighted by W.C. Handy in 1923 and is not in  
public domain. Every list I see shows "traditional" instead of an  
author.

Also, I remember Jelly Roll Morton describing this tune to Alan Lomax  
as one of the "whorehouse songs" he used to play in N.O. pre 1920.  
(with lewd lyrics) pre-1920.

As for Handy, he copyrighted a lot of "traditional blues" under new  
names.
<grin>

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband