1929 Stock Market Crash

The 1929 Stock Market Crash happened 80 years ago this week. So here are a couple songs on the general theme of money and depression.

The sales of records dropped after the crash, and many recording artists at the time lost their contracts and sank into obscurity. The Carter Family—A.P., Sara and Maybelle—were one of the few recording artist with careers that survived the crash. So to recognize that I am including their song "No Depression In Heaven". Of course this was long before film or video, and I don't want to include anyone else doing the song. So here is the audio of their recording.



The Carter Family first recorded in Bristol Tennessee in the summer of 1927. These Bristol Sessions are generally considered to be the first recordings of Country Music. Also recording there was Blind Alfred Reed, one of the many artist who sank into obscurity during the depression. His song—recorded in 1929—"How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" is still performed today. Bruce Springsteen has covered it, and here is a video of the song sung by Ry Cooder.



It was not my intention to do a post of performers who recorded at the 1927 Bristol Sessions, but since we already have two we might as well add another one. Jimmie Rodgers also made his first recording their. His career almost certainly would have survived the depression, but he died from tuberculosis in 1933. Here is his song "Hobo Bill's Last Ride".



One last song unrelated to anyone from the Bristol Sessions. Here is Del McCoury performing a John Herald song, "Moneyland".