The artists on this record, some well-known and some nearly forgotten, were caught up in the 1923 “population exchange” between Greece and Turkey, in which nearly two million people were forcibly relocated from their homes to a new country, as nationalist states tried to purge their borders of inconvenient minorities (with Europe’s enthusiastic support, of course). These 78s are the material history of that upheaval - historical testimony and the highest art. You don’t have to speak the language to understand.

Meanwhile, both LPs by The Cosmic Tones Research Trio are back in stock. These records have been resonating with people all around the world. They are deeply peaceful, assured, rooted - everything we need right now. The Tones are a young band, but they channel generations of great artists before them, and we’re grateful to be part of the journey.

The mysterious Cairo Records keeps quietly placing perfect records into the world. Men With Broken Hearts and The World Can’t Stand Long are deep spiritual country music and janky snotty garage rock for the ages, respectively. If you’re in our CSR record club, your copies are assured, but what’s left is available on the website while they last.

Finally, we have represses of two of Michael Hurley’s greatest records. Parsnip Snips and Bad Mr. Mike were recorded nearly 50 years apart, yet come from the same world, like he came to us fully formed.

Today is Bandcamp Friday and we’re contributing 20% of all sales on that site to Red Hook Mutual Aid, supporting our local community networks.

Hoping this music brings you some warmth, and you can pass it on. All the love,

• Mississippi Records

MRI-217
Various Artists
Aman Aman - Greek Anatolian Laments

A particularly haunting bouquet of elegiac folk music from the Greek mediterranean, presenting many tunes to the outside world for the first time, all dwelling on historic schisms between shared cultures, and the fall out they derived from. If you’re into the forlorn sound of rebitika, this one will get ya proper...

• Boomkat

My pain is buried and my sorrow is great
Hopeless things have come to my head
- Antonis Diamantidis aka Dalgas, the Voice of Constantinople

“Aman Aman” cry the singers on these recordings, their voices preserved on 78rpm discs cut between 1911-1935. The phrase roughly translates to “mercy,” a call of despair, but also one of joy and admiration. On many of these sides, that full range of emotion is transmitted at once.

Some of these artists are legends, others lost to time. Nearly half are female vocalists, a big part of the Cafe Aman tradition but not as well represented on contemporary releases. All were affected by conflicts leading up to the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1923, and the forced migrations of millions of people between Greece and Turkey before and since. Their work reflects these journeys - devastating poems about losing love and losing home, backed by some of the best musicians of the era.

We hear the powerful vocals of prolifically recorded artists like Antonis ‘Dalgas’ Diamantidis, Sofroniou, and Stellakis Perpiniadis, alongside revelatory recordings by largely unknown female vocalists like Hrysa Thivaiou. 

Beautifully remastered and restored by Jordan McLeod at Osiris Studio, the LP includes detailed historical and discographical notes by Stavros Kourousis, and lyric translations by Tony Klein. Pressed on highest quality vinyl at Smashed Plastic in Chicago and co-released with the great Olvido Records. 

Michael Hurley
Bad Mr. Mike LP
Parsnip Snips LP

Bad Mr. Mike: Michael Hurley's 2016 masterpiece. Stripped down home recordings of some of his finest songs such as The Corridor, The Moon Song, Beasley's Release and Boone And Jocko. Boundary pushing new material such as the banjo instrumental Dragging The Indian and Charona. Very personal and deep covers of some of Michael's favorite songs such as Lo Bonney and Cuckoo Rock.

Michael Hurley was one of the greatest songwriters ever to walk this green earth. This late period classic proves that he didn't lose a beat in his autumn years. 

Parsnip Snips: A collection of Michael's home recordings made between 1965 and 1972. Killer songs with just acoustic guitar and vocals. Some of his most intimate recordings. Comes with a printed inner sleeve with Michael's notes. 

V/A - MEN WITH BROKEN HEARTS - A double LP country comp with a beautiful poster. All existential. A real journey. For those who love and miss Melted Radio, here is your salve. Well known hits and ultra deep cuts sit side by side to tell the story of the men with broken hearts. Hank Williams said it best -

You'll meet many just like me
Upon life's busy street
With shoulders stooped and heads bowed low
And eyes that stare in defeat
Or souls that live within the past
Where sorrow plays all parts
For a living death is all that's left
For men with broken hearts

You have no right to be the judge
To criticize and condemn
Just think but for the grace of God
It would be you instead of him
One careless step or a thoughtless deed
And then the misery starts
And to those who weep, death comes cheap
These men with broken hearts

Oh, so humble you should be
When they come passing by
For it's written that the greatest men
Never get too big to cry
Some lose faith in love and life
When sorrow shoots her darts
And with hope, all gone, they walk alone
These men with broken hearts

You've never walked in that man's shoes
Or saw things through his eyes
Or stood and watched with helpless hands
While the heart inside you dies
Some were paupers, some were kings
And some were masters of the arts
But in their shame, they're all the same
These men with broken hearts

Life sometimes can be so cruel
That a heart will pray for death
God, why must these living dead
Know pain with every breath?
So help your brother along the road
No matter where he starts
For the God that made you made them, too
These men with broken hearts

Community Links

Mississippi Records Website
Visit the site to get our label's records and tapes direct from us - we are constantly rotating our selection of mixtapes, new records from labels we distribute, and discounted out-of-print records, so be sure to check in often!
www.mississippirecords.net

Mississippi Records Portland Store
We are open EVERY DAY from 12 to 7 PM!
(our stereo repair and retail shop is open Friday - Sunday, 1 to 6 PM).
WE ARE EXCITED TO BUY YOUR RECORD COLLECTIONS!
Please drop by anytime to sell stuff. We always have a buyer on duty and you do not need an appointment. Paying out 50 - 60% of our retail price (NOT - dumb internet prices though...Mississippi store prices) Email mississippierici@gmail.com if you have any questions about the shop.

Mississippi Records CSR
Our Community Supported Records program directly supports the label. Get each Mississippi LP at a discount as it's released, no matter how limited, plus special schwag and gifts on occasion. Limited to 300 spots. The CSR contributions help us pay for record pressings and generally stay afloat.
More details here…
www.mississippirecords.net/csr

Mississippi Records Bandcamp
There are hours and hours worth of albums available for free listening, and a whole lot of the releases are "pay what you want" if you want to download ‘em. Check it out -
https://mississippirecords.bandcamp.com/

Toody Cole/Junkstore Cowboy
Toody Cole has shuttered her Junkstore Cowboy Shop in our basement, but that does not mean you can't get your Dead Moon / Pierced Arrows / Rats / Range Rats / Tombstone schwag and records still from her badass online store.
https://www.deadmoonusa.com/

Humboldt Neighborhood Association
The neighborhood association for the zone the Mississippi shop rests in recently got taken over by some social activists who are working on mutual aid projects, youth programs, anti-gentrification/tenants rights activities, and a community child care circle. If you are in the neighborhood and want to get involved, our first general membership meeting takes place on November 23rd. Check-in with the website for a link! We got some work to do...
https://humboldtneighborhood.org/

Red Hook Mutual Aid
We’re proud to have a studio in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, which hosts one of the most active mutual aid groups in the city. Learn more about the organizing activity here.