[Dixielandjazz] Composers

[Bill Haesler]

domitype (Dave Richoux) wrote:
> The Mudcat forum has a different story on "50 Miles of Elbow Room" -
> http://mudcat.org/detail_pf.cfm?messages__Message_ID=2500071
> They tend to be accurate, but it is like a specialized Wiki sometimes...

Dear Dave,
I too came across the Herbert Buffum claim as composer of "Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room", which seems to have originated with the Carter family.
Yet I was unable to prove it.
The Carters recorded the song for Bluebird 9026 on 14 October 1941. 
I have not found a label image, but assume it will show (Herbert Buffum).
Herbert Buffum is well represented in the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries, but I did not locate his "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room".
Which is not to say that it isn't there.
The F. W McGee 1933 registration is certainly there.
But surely a Christian composer would not rip off another Christian's gospel song?
<just kidding>
Nor is it listed here:
   http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/b/u/f/buffum_h.htm
I also found a reference to "the first recording" of the song by the Vaughan Happy Two.
It was recorded at Gennett on 10 June 1930 and issued at the time on the specialist label Vaughan (#1850).
But, again, I was unable to find a label image with (composer) credit.
However, prompted by your comment, I decided to revisit the Rev, FW McGee composer credit. 
The Victor ledgers do not actually provide a composer's name for the song, which remained unissued (on Victor 23401) until 28 July 1933.
The 'F. W McGee' copyright was registered by Southern Music Publishing. Co. (Victor) on 7 September 1933. 
Possibly based on his status as the artist. 
The Victor ledger shows the following Title Note: From booklet 'Songs of the Kingdom.' Songs collected by Evangelist Sister A. M. Stokes.
Hopefully, the answer may be there. If we can find that booklet.
More soon.
Very kind regards,
Bill.