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Memphis troubadour and legend, Sid Selvidge, passed on May 2, 2013. His history is a rich one, filled with Memphian alumni that includes, legendary producer/musician Jim Dickinson, local bluesman Furry Lewis, alternative rock godfather Alex Chilton, and Southern music provocateurs Mudboy and the Neutrons. Selvidge also ran an independent boutique label, Peabody Records, which released all of seven albums in its existence. Some Peabody releases of note include Alex Chilton’s anarchic masterpiece Like Flies on Sherbert, Cybill Shepherd’s Vanilla LP and Selvidge’s own The Cold of the Morning.
The Cold of the Morning was recorded in 1976 by Jim Dickinson and was the first release for Peabody. The monumental record exhibits Selvidge’s rugged understanding of African-American field songs, Tin Pan Alley schmaltz, regional blues, and coffeehouse folk. The album’s striking cover photo was taken by Memphis auteur, William Eggleston, who is also responsible for the cover of Chilton’s 1979 Peabody release, Like Flies on Sherbert, Selvidge’s own 1982 Peabody release, Waiting for a Train, and several Big Star releases.
On the album opener, “I’ve Got a Secret (Didn’t We Shake Sugaree),” Selvidge proclaims “I’ve got a seceret/Ain’t gonna tell/Gonna go to heaven/In a split pea shell,” with nothing but a skillfully played acoustic guitar as his backdrop. The scenery becomes even sparser on the album’s most poignant track, “Boll Weevil.” He reawakens the century old tune using only his unique voice/vocal range to recall lifetimes of southern heritage. Selvidge’s band, Mudboy and The Neutrons, make a rare appearance on the notable, “Wished I Had a Dime.” The track is a great example of the group in their early scattershot prime. The barbarous slide guitar and piano solos on the ragtime-esque track are alone worth the price of admission.
It is safe to say that The Bluff City will not be the same without Selvidge and his many contributions to the region’s music. From his early days as a radio DJ, to being a Rhodes professor, to being a full time musician, his life and work remain a study in refinement with The Cold of the Morning prevailing as his defining work.
