The Two Poor Boys

The Two Poor Boys were an American folk-blues duo, composed of Joe Evans and Arthur McLain (or McClain). Evans and McLain were performers, based in Tennessee.^[1] The Two Poor Boys recorded between 1927 to 1931. Their songs typically featured Evans' laid-back vocals, with a musical approach based on “beautifully matched guitar and mandolin accompaniment”.^[2] On some records, they are listed under the pseudonym, 'Colman and Harper'.

Collected songs

The Two Poor Boys: Complete Works (1927-1931) – 1991. Document Records
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Little Son of a Gun (Look What You Done Done)" (recorded c. July 25, 1927 in Birmingham, Alabama)	2:50
2.	"Two White Horses in a Line"	2:51
3.	"John Henry Blues" (Take 1)	3:21
4.	"John Henry Blues" (Take 3)	2:44
5.	"New Huntsville Jail" (Take 1)	3:13
6.	"New Huntsville Jail" (Take 2)	2:54
7.	"Take a Look at That Baby"	3:14
8.	"Mill Man Blues"	2:37
9.	"Oh You Son of a Gun"	2:49
10.	"Georgia Rose"	3:00
11.	"Early Some Morning Blues"	2:38
12.	"Cream and Sugar Blues"	2:37
13.	"Old Hen Cackle"	2:42
14.	"Sitting on Top of the World"	3:04
15.	"My Baby Got a Yo-Yo"	3:01
16.	"So Sorry Dear"	2:47
17.	"Sourwood Mountain"	2:40
18.	"Down in Black Bottom" (Take 1)	2:40
19.	"Down in Black Bottom" (Take 2)	2:43
20.	"Shook It This Morning Blues"	3:01

Tracks 2-13 recorded May 20, 1931; tracks 14-20 recorded May 21, 1931, in New York City.

References

1. D. K. Wilgus, ‘Hillbilly Music’, The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 81, No. 320. (April–June 1968), pp. 179-185. available on-line
2. Paul Oliver, Songsters and Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records, (Cambridge University Press: 1984), p. 231.