Uncle "Am" Stuart - George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile

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Review by Marti Zuidam

Album Review: "George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile" by Uncle "Am" Stuart Released in 1925 under the Vocalion label, Uncle "Am" Stuart's George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile is a curious artifact of Appalachian music that captures both the charm and complexity of its era. This folk-style album, deeply rooted in the traditions of the American South, offers listeners a raw and unfiltered glimpse into early 20th-century rural life. With Stuart’s fiddle taking center stage, it’s clear this record wasn’t made for polished radio play but rather to preserve an authentic sound. The track “Nigger In The Wood-Pile” stands out—not because of its problematic title, which reflects outdated language we’d never use today—but due to its lively instrumentation. Stuart’s fiddling feels almost conversational, as if the strings are telling stories passed down through generations. The melody twists and turns with surprising energy, making you forget, at least momentarily, the weight of its historical baggage. It’s hard not to tap your foot along with the rhythm, even as you wrestle with the context. Then there’s “George Boker,” a simpler tune that lingers in your mind like the memory of a summer breeze. There’s something haunting about how straightforward it is; no frills, just pure, earnest playing. You can almost picture Stuart sitting on a porch somewhere, sawing away at his fiddle while the world spins on around him. Tracks like these remind us why folk music has endured—it’s human connection boiled down to its essence. Of course, listening to this album in 2023 comes with some heavy caveats. The terminology used back then doesn’t sit right today, and rightly so. Yet, ignoring works like this means missing pieces of cultural history—warts and all. This isn’t an album you listen to for escapism or comfort. Instead, it challenges you to think critically about where American roots music came from and what it carried with it. In the end, albums like George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile leave you wondering: How much have we really changed since 1925? Sure, the fiddle might be replaced by electric guitars now, but the echoes of those old tunes still ripple beneath modern beats. And honestly? That’s kinda wild to think about.

Download Uncle Am Stuart - George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile
Artist: Uncle "Am" Stuart
Album: George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile

Table of Contents

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Filename: uncle-am-stuart-george-boker-nigger-in-the-wood-pile.zip
  • MP3 size: 8.6 mb
  • FLAC size: 62.4 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
George Boker
Nigger In The Wood-Pile

Images

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Catalog Numbers

14919

Labels

Vocalion

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Formats

  • Shellac
  • 10"
  • 78 RPM
  • Repress
  • Black
  • Red

Companies

RoleCompany
Manufactured ByThe Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company
Record CompanyThe Aeolian Company

Credits

RoleCredit
FiddleUncle "Am" Stuart

Notes

  • Repress (on black shellac) of the red shellac edition.
  • Both sides recorded 7 July 1924 in New York, NY.
  • Side A matrix no. 13324.
  • Side B matrix no. 13321.
  • This coupling also released on Vocalion 5053, Silvertone 3051, and Brunswick (Canada) 1006.

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 14919A
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 14919B
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): A14919 B 50 MADE IN U.S.A.
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): B14919 B MADE IN U.S.A.

About Uncle "Am" Stuart

(18531926) American Old Time Country fiddler. After winning various fiddle contests across the Southern Appalachian region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Stuart made several recordings in June 1924 that would later prove influential in the development of early country music.

Real Name

    • Ambrose Gaines \"Uncle Am\" Stuart

Name Vars

  • Uncle \
  • Stuart

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that in 1925, a fiddle player named Uncle "Am" Stuart released an album called *George Boker Nigger In The Wood Pile*? It’s a piece of Appalachian music history. Back then, the language and titles used were a product of their time, even if they feel jarring today. Stuart’s fiddle playing was captured on a Vocalion label release, showcasing the raw, folk sound of the era. Tracks like "Nigger In The Wood-Pile" and "George Boker" are reminders of how deeply music reflects the culture and language of its time.