American Folk Songs for Christmas

Peggy Seeger, Barbara Seeger, and Penny Seeger

Folkways Records FC-7553

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1957
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Children's, Holiday
[Tracklist]
A01 In the Morning When I Rise (00:14)
A02 Oh, Watch the Stars (01:10)
A03 Shine Like a Star in the Morning (00:51)
A04 Bright Morning Stars Are Rising (01:50)
A05 Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (01:18)
A06 Joseph and Mary (The Cherry Tree Carol) (02:18)
A07 Oh, Mary and the Baby, Sweet Lamb (01:04)
A08 Babe of Bethlehem (01:25)
A09 Cradle Hymn (01:22)
A10 Ain't That Rockin' All Night (01:55)
B01 Sing Hallelu (01:25)
B02 Mary Had a Baby (02:26)
B03 Jesus Born in Bethlehem (01:01)
B04 January, February... (The Last Month of the Year) (00:36)
B05 Poor Little Jesus (01:38)
B06 The Angel Band (01:13)
B07 The Twelve Apostles (03:24)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Charles and Peggy Seeger, Cover Artwork: Bilal
[Notes]
A collection of Christmas Folksongs by Ruth Crawford Seeger selected and performed by her daughters; Peggy, Barbara and Penny and with children from the South Boston Music School. This compilation of less-commonly known Christmas songs represents a variety of Folksongs that find their origin in European and British Isles Ballads, as well as several African-American spirituals, hollers and chants from the slave era that express a deeply spiritual celebration of Christmas. Liner notes include history of each song by Charles and Peggy Seeger.

Pete Seeger: Traditional Christmas Carols

Folkways Records FAS-32311

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1967
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Holiday
A1 'Twas On A Night Like This (03:32)
A2 Mary Had A Baby (02:46)
A3 Glory To That New Born King (2:37)
A4 What Child Is This? (1:49)
A5 Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow (1:40)
A6 Carol Of The Beasts (2:06)
A7 Traditional Tune (1:48)
B1 The First Noel (5:44)
B2 Behold That Star (2:18)
B3 Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (2:00)
B4 Masters Of This Hall (1:37)
B5 Traditional Tune (On Hillel) (0:57)
B6 Twelve Gates To The City (3:24)
[Credits]
Pete Seeger (banjo/guitar/vocals)
Recorder and Designer: Moses Asch, Liner Notes: Leslie Shepard, Photographer: John Vachon
[Notes]
Long a seasonal favorite, this collection of 13 charming Christmas carols from French, English, Italian, and African American traditions captures the Christmas spirit with wonderful universality. These international holiday favorites include Twelve Gates to the City, Mary Had a Baby, and The First Noel. "A real alternative to the wall of strings or the overly sweet sound of many Christmas collections." — Dirty Linen

Little Folkies: Songs for Winter

Smithsonian Folkways - SFW CD 45092

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 2024
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Children's
[Tracklist]
01 Family Band (01:58)
02 The Tiny Little Tadpole (03:38)
03 Dinosaur Song (02:43)
04 I Put on My Pants (01:15)
05 Oh If I Were (03:02)
06 I Had a Rooster (02:58)
07 Little Roly Poly (02:35)
08 Riding in the Buggy (02:21)
09 Shake and Twist (02:08)
10 See the Horses (02:56)
11 Ten Little Fingers (01:31)
12 Walk Along John (01:30)
13 Clap Your Hands My Darling (01:41)
14 Jenny Jenkins (04:26)
15 Go to Sleep (02:51)
[Credits]
Little Folkies (guitar/banjo/fiddle/mandolin/rain stick/tambourine/bass/vocals)
Producer & Recorder: Irena Eide, Liner Notes Editor: James Deutsch, Illustrator: Amelia Heron, Designer: Pharis Romero, Mastering Engineer: Dirk Powell, Recorders: Robert Cheek, Jeremy D'Antonio and Mark Allen Piccolo
[Notes]
Little Folkies is a multi-award winning family folk music class for parents and kids ages 0-5. The Little Folkies music classes are pure fun and enjoyable for both kids and parents! Our talented teachers engage kids and adults with finger play, hand movement, singing, dancing, and instrument jamming. Every child is musical, in fact we are all music at the core. Here at Little Folkies we encourage everyone to sing with voice they have. You do not need to be a trained musician to make good music. All you need is your voice, hands and feet, rhythm and some good songs to sing. Your child will love listening to you singing the melodies, tapping the beat and doing the movements; and soon enough they’ll be singing and moving along themselves!

Hear Me Howling: Blues, Ballads, and Beyond

As recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960s

Arhoolie Records – ARH00518

Format: 4 x CD, Compilation, Box Set
Country: United States
Released: 2011
Genre: Jazz, Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: African American, Blues, Cajun & Zydeco
[Disk One]
01 Hump in My Back: Jesse Fuller (2:46)
02 Brother Low Down: Jesse Fuller (2:41)
03 Berkeley’s Junco Partner: Skid Band (4:04)
04 Tight like That: Skid Band (3:38)
05 Moose March: Bob Mielke's Bearcats (3:22)
06 Highway 49: Big Joe Williams (3:49)
07 Oakland Blues: Big Joe and Mary Williams (2:46)
08 Greystone (Alameda County Jail) Blues: Big Joe Williams (2:32)
09 I Know You Didn’t Want Me: K.C. Douglas (2:15)
10 Night Shirt Blues: K.C. Douglas (2:07)
11 Stop Time: K.C. Douglas (1:26)
12 Hear Me Howling: K.C. Douglas (2:10)
13 Stand Alone Blues: Lonnie Johnson (3:24)
14 Brenda: Lonnie Johnson (4:12)
15 Changed the Lock on My Door: Sonny Terry (3:14)
16 Bald Eagle Train (Take 1): Bukka White (11:44)
17 Tom Moore’s Farm: Lightnin' Hopkins (5:12)
18 Up on Telegraph (Avenue): Lightnin' Hopkins (3:13)
19 Lady Luck: Mercy Dee (2:47)
[Disk Two]
01 I Feel like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag: Country Joe and the Fish (2:58)
02 You Turned Your Back: Toni Brown (2:19)
03 How Could I Stand It: Toni Brown (2:42)
04 Don’t Forget Me, Love: Toni Brown (2:03)
05 Charles Giteau: Crabgrass (3:32)
06 Midnight Blues: The Joy of Cooking (4:08)
07 Depression Gone from Me: T.A. Talbott (2:57)
08 Mr. Brakeman: T.A. Talbott (3:52)
09 Who’s Going to Be My Man?: Debbie Green (4:21)
10 Come See: Bob Neuwirth (4:26)
11 Lady Gay: Janet Smith (3:16)
12 Talking Protest Blues: Merritt Herring (2:37)
13 Black Jack David: Alice Stuart (2:05)
14 Eventually: Perry Lederman (2:20)
15 Impressions of John Henry: Perry Lederman (6:27)
16 Deportees: Barbara Dane (5:50)
17 Big Texas (Grand Texas): Hackberry Ramblers (3:50)
18 Jolie Blonde: Hackberry Ramblers (3:50)
19 Turtle Tail: Hackberry Ramblers (2:18)
20 The Beatles Are in Town: The Fondettes (2:02)
[Disk Three]
01 Willie Poor Boy: Mance Lipscomb (3:25)
02 The Titanic: Mance Lipscomb (3:34)
03 Mean Boss Man: Mance Lipscomb (2:55)
04 Sugar Babe: Mance Lipscomb (3:20)
05 Working on a Building: Rev. Louis Overstreet (6:38)
06 The Old Ship of Zion: Rev. Louis Overstreet (3:40)
07 I’m a Soldier: Rev. Gary Davis (6:09)
08 Floor Sweepin’ Rag: Rev. Gary Davis (5:07)
09 Courtin’ Boy: Rev. Gary Davis (5:42)
10 Shake 'Em on Down: Fred McDowell (3:11)
11 Louise: Fred McDowell (6:06)
12 Write Me a Few of Your Lines: Fred McDowell (3:18)
13 Low Down Dirty Things: Skip James (4:04)
14 22-20 Blues (Mr. Kress): Skip James (3:37)
15 Sea Walking Jesus: Skip James (4:07)
16 No Special Lover: Skip James (4:57)
17 Peace in the Valley: Skip James (4:29)
[Disk Four]
01 Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong: Vern and Ray (2:34)
02 The Touch of God’s Hand: Vern and Ray (2:59)
03 ’Fore Day in the Mornin’: Big Mama Thornton (5:00)
04 Ball and Chain: Big Mama Thornton (5:34)
05 Hound Dog: Big Mama Thornton (4:55)
06 Monsieur Leonard: John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (3:08)
07 Chi Ca Nai (Slow Drag): John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (2:56)
08 Bye Bye Rosa: John Simien and The Opelousas Playboys (2:32)
09 Mr. Charlie: Clifton Chenier (3:22)
10 Louisiana Rock: Clifton Chenier (2:54)
11 What Am I Doing Here?: Notes From The Underground (2:19)
12 To Be a Thief: Stanley Willis (4:39)
13 Pretty Good: Now Creative Arts Jazz Ensemble (8:31)
14 In the Breeze: Jerry Hahn (5:39)
15 To 'Trane (Two Trains): Smiley Winters (9:21)
16 The Beauty of Isis: Sonny Simmons (6:52)
[Credits]
Producer and Photographer: Chris Strachwitz, Producer: Tom Diamant, Editor: Haley Ausserer, Artwork:John Seabury, Illustrator: Robert Armstrong, Designer: Hugh Brown, Engineer: Bay Records
[Notes]
Founder of Arhoolie Records Chris Strachwitz recorded music wherever he found it: in coffee houses, music clubs, living rooms, festival stages, and recording studios. To celebrate Arhoolie’s 50th anniversary, Strachwitz released a box set of recordings he made during his early years in the record business. Of the 72 tracks of music in the set, spread over 4 CDs, over half (38) had previously been unreleased by Arhoolie. The music is a true representation of Strachwitz's eclectic musical interests and span the spectrum from raw country blues and folk to gospel and free-form jazz. This anniversary collection includes versions of "Ball and Chain" and "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton, "Tom Moore's Farm" by Lightnin’Hopkins, "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, "Shake ʼEm On Down" by Mississippi Fred McDowell, "Deportee" by Barbara Dane, "Highway 49" by Big Joe Williams, and "Changed the Lock on My Door" by Mance Lipscomb, Lonnie Johnson, Brownie McGhee, and Sonny Terry. The box set captures a time and provides a template that Arhoolie would follow for 50 years in presenting and preserving Americana roots music.

Original Folk: Contemporary American Songs Performed by the Writers

Folkways Records – FD 5565

Format: Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1986
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 Liberty: Steve Strauss (02:49)
A2 Bag Lady: Pat Wynne (04:27)
A3 The Well Adjusted Man: Marc Winokur (03:06)
A4 Love Logic: Julie Sullivan (04:15)
A5 Trainsong: John Fizer (02:34)
B1 The Ballad of Mexican Joe: Cris Plata (03:48)
B2 Living Alone: Keith Nichols (02:43)
B3 I Never Had a Love Like This Before: Mary Jean Batten (03:20)
B4 How Blue Can You Get?: Allen Schwartz (03:10)
B5 Hiroshima: Jim Wachtendonk (02:31)
[Credits]
Producer: Marc Winokur, Designer: Alex Pieterson, Engineer: Emile Zoghby
[Notes]
Ten singer-songwriters from across America perform one of their own compositions on this compilation, originally released in 1986. The songs were gathered by producer Marc Winokur during travels across the United States in 1985. Song range from themes of love to a commentary on "The Well Adjusted Man," trains, horses, getting the blues, and the Atomic bomb ("Hiroshima").

Sons of Membertou

Wapna'kik: The People of the Dawn

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40603

Format: CD, Album
Country: Canada, Mi'kma'kik
Released: February 21, 2025
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, World, & Indigenous
[Tracklist]
1 The People of the Dawn / Wejkwita'jik (The Gathering Song) (04:39)
2 Sma'knis (Veteran's Song) (04:08)
3 Kepmite'tmnej (Mi'kmaq Honour Song) (08:29)
4 The Mountain / Mukla'qati (04:08)
5 500 Years (04:21)
6 Kwan'to'te' (02:59)
7 Kwa'nu'te' (04:01)
8 Ko'jua (Partridge Dance) (02:58)
9 The People of the Dawn / Kniskamijinaq (The Ancestors' Song) (08:15)
[Credites]
Producer: David Wilfred Burke, George Christmas, Marcia Ostashewski, Compiler, Liner Notes, Writer: Barrell Bernard, Sr., Liner Notes Editor: J.R. Isadore, Jane Meader, Sharon Farrell, James Deutsch, Cover Artwork: Gerald Richard Gloade, Mastering Engineer: Christopher Jones
[Notes]
Wapna'kik (The People of the Dawn) by Mi'kmaw musical group Sons of Membertou foregrounds the powerful voices of their people. First released in 1995, Wapna'kik documents a vital resurgence of the Membertou community’s music practices. The 2025 updated edition by Smithsonian Folkways includes "Mi'kmaq Honour Song" and "500 Years," introducing a new generation of singers and musicians. Their addition to the album exemplifies the diversity of Mi’kmaw sonic and poetic expressions, which continue, as they have for centuries, to incorporate global influences. Drums play a central role throughout the album, uniting generations of those who strengthen Mi’kmaw language and culture through these songs.

Firemen's Centennial Parade

Folkways Records – FH 5120

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1965
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Brass & Military
[Tracklist]
A1 Lambertville Drum and Bugle Corps (01:28)
A2 Bordentown Drum and Bugle Corps (02:34)
A3 North Hunterdon Regional School Band (05:23)
A4 Warren County Police Athletic League Band 01:28)
A5 Hunterdon Central High School Band (02:34)
A6 Hunterdon Central H.S. Band (05:23)
A7 The Harbourton Highlanders (01:56)
A8 Harboutron Highlanders (03:04)
A9 High Bridge H. S. Band (02:50)
B1 High Bridge H. S. Band (01:35)
B2 High Bridge H. S. Band (02:41)
B3 Titusville Drum and Bugle Corp (02:16)
B4 Lakeland Drum Bugle Corp (02:16)
B5 St. Rose of Lima Drum and Bugle (01:47)
B6 Greenlanders Drum and Bugle Corp (02:38)
B7 Charlie Kineck (02:46)
B8 Milltown Firemen's Junior Ban (03:20)
[Credits]
Recorder: Frederic Ramsey and Amelia J. Ramsey, Designer: Ronald Clyne
[Notes]
On June 6, 1964, 16 marching bands came together in Lamberville, New Jersey, to mark the centennial of two local volunteer fire companies with a pageant that showcased the region’s history and fire equipment. Drum and bugle corps performed energetic marches, with high school bands and pipers also contributing to the music of the day. The low chugging of passing fire equipment and incidental sounds capture the atmosphere of the celebration. While a recording of overlapping music and sounds may seem unlikely, it evokes the informal and joyous spirit of a festival.

Toronto: Fast Folk Musical Magazine Volume 4 Number 8

Fast Folk Musical Magazine - FFFF408

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: Canada, United States
Released: 1992
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 UIC: Jamie Snider (01:51)
A2 Railroad Line: Bill Garrett and Curley Boy Stubbs (02:45)
A3 Down on the Station: Marie-Lynn Hammond, Allan Soberman, and Evelyne Datl (04:16)
A4 Les Raftsmen: Tamarack (02:38)
A5 The Stolen Child: Loreena McKennitt, David Woodhead, and Brian Hughes (05:23)
A6 The Ballad of the Springhill Mine Disaster: Tex Konig (05:16)
A7 Shorelines: Eye Music (04:40)
B1 Isabella Gunn: Eileen McGann and Sean Mulrooney (04:38)
B2 North Vancouver Island Song: Ian Tamblyn and Fred Guigion (03:59)
B3 Falling Night: Bob Carpenter and David Woodhead (04:17)
B4 A Young Girl Cut Down in Her Prime: Catherine Crowe, Ian Goodfellow, Martin Gould (04:01)
B5 Innocent Eyes: Tim Harrison, Ron Sellwood, Paul Mills, and David Woodhead (04:41)
B6 New Swing Reel: Rare Air (04:50)
[Credits]
Producer: Richard A. Meyer, Recorder: David Seitz, and Field Worker: David Dobbs
[Notes]
Fast Folk Musical Magazine was formed to serve as an outlet in the promotion of "noncommercial artistic music," also known as American folk music. In this edition, the magazine journeys to Toronto to spotlight Canadian folk musicians. The musical tour covers the Maritime Provinces ("The Ballad of the Springhill Mine Disaster"), Hudson Bay ("Isabella Gunn"), the Pacific coast ("North Vancouver Island Song"), a poem by William Butler Yeats set to music ("The Stolen Child"), a song about unemployment ("U.I.C."), and a song featuring Highland pipes ("New Swing Reel"). The baker’s dozen of songs are performed before a live audience. A 24-page facsimile of the magazine accompanies the recording.

Dave Van Ronk Sings Ballads, Blues & A Spiritual

Folkways Records – FS 3818

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: United States
Released: 1959, 2019
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Blues, Folk, & Spirituals
[Tracklist]
A1 Duncan and Brady (03:02)
A2 Black Mountain Blues (04:02)
A3 In the Pines (03:08)
A4 My Baby's So Sweet (02:35)
A5 Oh, What a Beautiful City (Twelve Gates to the City) (03:15)
A6 Winin' Boy (02:38)
A7 If You Leave Me Pretty Momma (03:09)
B1 Backwater Blues (03:04)
B2 Careless Love (02:59)
B3 Betty and Dupree (03:37)
B4 K.C. Moan (03:04)
B5 Gambler's Blues (02:30)
B6 John Henry (02:28)
B7 How Long (03:56)
[Credits]
Dave Van Ronk (guitar/vocals)
Recorder and Editor: Kenneth S. Goldstein, Photographer: David Gahr, Designer: Craig Mierop
[Notes]
Dubbed "The Mayor of MacDougal Street," Dave Van Ronk (1936–2002) was an iconoclastic folksinger and an influential figure in the American folk music revival of the 1960s. Because of his interest in African American folk music and blues, and his gift (or curse) of a gravelly baritone voice, Van Ronk was often criticized for his approach to his musical repertoire. His rejoinder was that he reserved the right to sing songs in the style that he deemed to be "the right way." This 1959 Folkways recording, his first on any label, is a collection of 19th- and early 20th-century traditional folk and blues songs that persuasively illustrates his stance. The vinyl reissue includes a liner notes booklet with the song lyrics and is part of the Smithsonian Folkways Vinyl Reissue Series, revisiting some of the most iconic and influential albums released on the record label.

Billy Strings - Highway Prayers

Reprise Records – 093624849438

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Country: United States
Released: Sep 27, 2024
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Leaning On A Travelin' Song (3:58)
A2 In The Clear (2:57)
A3 Escanaba (4:34)
A4 Gild The Lily (5:06)
A5 Seven Weeks In County (4:16)
B1 Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You (5:51)
B2 Cabin Song (3:15)
B3 Don't Be Calling Me (3:15)
B4 Malfunction Junction (4:52)
C1 Catch And Release (2:14)
C2 Be Your Man (4:01)
C3 Gone A Long Time (3:02)
C4 It Ain't Before (3:46)
C5 My Alice (4:06)
D1 Seney Stretch (4:34)
D2 MORBUD4ME (2:55)
D3 Leadfoot (2:46)
D4 Happy Hollow (2:46)
D5 The Beginning Of The End (3:57)
D6 Richard Petty (1:57)
[Credits]
Billy Strings (guitar/percussion/vocals) Billy Failing (banjo/vocals) Victor Furtado (banjo) Jarrod Walker (mandolin/mandocello/vocals) Jerry Douglas (dpbro) Lindsay Lou (vocals) Alex Hargreaves (fiddle/mandolin) Jason Carter (fiddle) Peter "Madcat" Ruth (harmonica/jew's harp) Royal Masat (bass/vocals) Cory Henry (piano) Matt Chamberlain (drums) Jon Brion (percussion)
Producer: Billy Strings, Jon Brion and Brandon Bell, Photographer: Dana Trippe, Designer: Bill Orner, Engineer: Brandon Bell, Gary Paczosa, Greg Koller, Chaz Sexton, Jason Tobias, Joe Caldwell, Sklyer Chuckry, Patricia Sullivan, Greg Koller
[Notes]
Highway Prayers, the major-label studio debut from Billy Strings, is a coming out party for the bluegrass wunderkind. Not that Strings necessarily needs an introduction. Over years of touring punctuated by a handful of acclaimed records on the legendary Americana imprint Rounder, the Michigan native has developed a quicksilver style that has earned him widespread appeal and industry recognition: Home, his second record, won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021, right around the time his fleet flat-picking found an enthusiastic reception among jam band freaks. Without ever abandoning his roots in traditional bluegrass, Strings ventured into other musical styles, demonstrating his facility with rock, metal, and blues, sounding equally at ease with bluegrass legends Béla Fleck and David Grisman as he is with rapper Post Malone or jam titans Phish.

My Epitaph : Ola Belle Reed

Folkways Records – FA 2493

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Appalachian Music
[Tracklist]
A1 High on a Mountain (05:30)
A2 I've Endured (05:50)
A3 Sing Me a Song (07:56)
B1 My Epitaph (08:10)
B2 Springtime of Life (06:08)
B3 Fortunes (06:13)
[Credits]
Ola Belle Reed (banjo/vocals)
Producer: Kevin Roth, Recorder: King Street Recording Company, Designer: Ronald Clyne
[Notes]
Banjo player and singer created this album and its accompanying notes as an autobiography, a document that describes her childhood in the mountains, her experiences, and her opinions about modern life. Produced by Kevin Roth, one of Reed's protégés, this recording is based on a live interview conducted in 1976.

Sound, Rhythm, Rhyme & Mime for Children with Bilal Abdurahman

Folkways Records – FC 7540S

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1971
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Children's, Spoken, & Educational
[Tracklist
A01 Sounds are all Around Us (03:13)
102 Join the Funny Parade (00:42)
A03 The City Block (00:54)
A04 The Bus (01:29)
A05 The Subway Train (02:39)
A06 The Summer (01:17)
A07 The Journey Through the Forest (02:27)
A08 Saw-a-Rhythm (00:59)
A09 Hammer and Saw (01:27)
A10 Sawyer's March (00:51)
A11 Fan Rythm (01:15)
A12 Fan, Clarinet, Tambourine (01:28)
B01 Pennywhistle, Woodblock Scrapes (03:41)
B02 Witty Ditty and Variations (06:16)
B03 Body Rhythms (02:30)
B04 Typewriter Rhythms (00:23)
B05 Typewriter with Woodblock (00:59)
B06 8 String Harp (Ennaga)
Uganda (03:01)
B07 1 String Ethiopian Viol (01:14)
B08 Bells (00:20)
B09 Rhythm for Mime… (04:00)
[Credits]
Artist & Photographer: Bilal Abdurahman, Photographer: Zenite
[Notes]
This spoken-word and music album was produced by musician/educator Bilal Abdurahman with a fourfold purpose: to encourage children to think and respond more readily to creative play activities through music and body movements; to make children aware of the many interesting sounds in their daily environment; to develop rhythmic coordination and better motor control; and to introduce unfamiliar sounds and musical instruments as a play and learning activity. Abdurahman and his collaborators—including daughters Rahkiah and Zainab— introduce listeners to everyday sounds and rhythms using bells, hammers and saws, electric fans, and typewriters! The liner notes include a transcript of the recording.

Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40579

Format: CD, Album, digipack
Country: United States
Released: 2018
Genre: Mariachi, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Mariachi, & Latin
[Tracklist
01 El pitayero (The Pitaya Cutter) (03:31)
02 Ingratos ojo míos (My Ungrateful Eyes) (02:06)
03 Popurrí de Chihuahua (Chihuahua Medley) (05:59)
04 Son de la luna (Son of the Moon) (03:00)
05 Te llegará mi olvido (My Oblivion Will Find You) (02:28)
06 Lindo Tlaquepaque (Pretty Tlaquepaque) (03:42)
07 A la luz de los cocuyos (To the Light of the Fireflies) (02:38)
08 Quiéreme mucho (Love Me a Lot) (03:54)
09 Terrequeteque (02:56)
10 Arrepentida (Regretful) (02:34)
11 Popurrí Joan Sebastián (Joan Sebastián Medley) (06:36)
12 Querreque (03:50)
[Credits]
Producer: José Hernández and Daniel E. Sheehy, Editor: Jacob Love, Cover Artwork: Juan Solis, Designer: Rick Rawlins, Photographer: Michael G. Stewart, Engineers: David Santos and Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles profoundly changed the course of women in mariachi history. Since their founding in 1994, the internationally renowned, GRAMMY-nominated, all-female ensemble has had enormous impact as a groundbreaker and role model for women in music. This recording displays the group at its best, playing fresh arrangements of gems from the mariachi legacy to create a sound of their own. 43 minutes, 44-page booklet with bilingual notes. This album is the 48th in the Smithsonian Folkways Tradiciones/Traditions Series of Latino music albums, produced with support from the Smithsonian Latino Center.

Little Folkies: Songs for Fall

Smithsonian Folkways - SFW CD 45091

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 2024
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Children's
[Tracklist
01 Little Grey Squirrel (03:07)
02 See the Little Spider (01:21)
03 Rocketship (01:39)
04 Look at the Colors (02:35)
05 Cooking in the Kitchen (01:39)
06 Sally Go Round the Sun (00:43)
07 Wise Old Owl (04:28)
08 Up and Down (01:00)
09 Clouds Clouds (01:41)
10 Planets (03:09)
11 When We Go Outside (02:55)
12 Listen to the Train (02:38)
13 Come Dance Around (01:35)
14 The Wind Blow East (01:49)
15 There Was a Little Mouse (00:32)
16 Horses in the Stable (02:18)
[Credits]
Little Folkies (guitar/banjo/fiddle/mandolin/rain stick/tambourine/bass/vocals)
Producer & Recorder: Irena Eide, Liner Notes Editor: James Deutsch, Illustrator: Amelia Heron, Designer: Pharis Romero, Mastering Engineer: Dirk Powell, Recorders: Robert Cheek, Jeremy D'Antonio and Mark Allen Piccolo
[Notes]
Little Folkies is a multi-award-winning early childhood folk music program for parents, teachers, and kids ages 0-5. Developed by acclaimed musician and educator Irena Eide, the curriculum features a joyful treasury of original and traditional folk songs to inspire singing and movement. Songs for Fall, the first of four seasonal volumes of music, embodies the season of transition and gathering with playful tunes about animals, the universe, and more. Whether listened to at home, in the classroom, out-of-doors, or on the move, these 16 fun-loving folk songs encourage sharing and discovery, and nurture everyone’s love of music and play.

Jerron Paxton: Things Done Changed

Smithsonian Folkways - SFW CD 40265

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: October 18, 2024
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Blues, & Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Things Done Changed (05:15)
02 Baby Days Blues (03:16)
03 It's All Over Now (02:48)
04 Little Zydeco (02:40)
05 So Much Weed (04:07)
06 What's Gonna Become of Me (03:49)
07 Mississippi Bottom (03:54)
08 Out in This World (04:32)
09 All and All Blues (02:36)
10 Brown Bear Blues (04:05)
11 Oxtail Blues (03:09)
12 Tombstone Disposition (03:43)
[Credits]
Jerron Paxton (guitar/banjo/bones/harmonica/piano/vocals)
Producer & Mixing Engineer: Alex Hal, Liner Notes: Carla Borden, Engineer: Tony Gillis
[Notes]
Growing up in Los Angeles, Jerron Paxton would sit with an ear by the radio, eagerly absorbing the nuances and history of Black American traditional music that connect him to his ancestral roots in the South. A songwriter, inheritor of tradition, and a walking, talking jukebox, Paxton approaches his craft with equal part wit and reverence, with a knack for leg-pulling and cracking wise. Things Done Changed is an album of original songs that sound beamed in from nearly a century ago, when jazz and blues were performed as a means of both personal and cultural survival. Lick by lick, Paxton builds a bridge between generations gone and generations to come, singing the heartaches and joys of the past and present.

CooP - Fast Folk Musical Magazine Vol. 2, No. 3, Humor in Song

Fast Folk Musical Magazine – FFSE203

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1983
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 Billions of Brain Cells Ago: Left Field (02:47)
A2 Rags or Satin: The Belles of Hoboken (02:25)
A3 Another Rainy Thursday: Rich Nardin (03:09)
A4 Cold Pizza for Breakfast: Christine Lavin and Mark Dann (02:43)
A5 Without You I'd Have Never Known: Gary Robinson and Mark Dann (04:26)
A6 Nursery Rhyme: Dixon Enamel the Camel (05:01)
B1 Johnny Macaroon: David Massengill (03:13)
B2 Freshmen: Willie Nininger, Annie Nininger, Jack Hardy, Mark Dann, and Jeff Hardy (03:04)
B3 Goin'Down at Old Long Beach: Sherwood Ross and Mark Dann (02:50)
B4 Post Orifice: Hollywood Dick Doll Revue (03:15)
B5 It Was One of Those Mornings: Sheldon Biber (02:26)
B6 Herpes: Bob McGrath, Grant Orenstein, and Matt Kendricks (04:25)
[Credits]
Producer: Hardy Hardy, Recorder & Field Worker: Mark Dann
[Notes]
Fast Folk Musical Magazine continued its second year of publication with a collection of another dozen songs. Recorded live and subtitled "Humor in Song," this collection demonstrates that folk songs need not be dark and melancholy. Headlining the performances are Christine Lavin's ode to the virtues of "Cold Pizza for Breakfast"; The Belles of Hoboken's lament of urban living, "Rags or Satin"; and David Nininger's song of high school angst, "Freshmen." The a cappella performance of "Johnny Macaroon" by David Massengill, Bob McGrath's cautionary tale of "Herpes," and Sheldon Biber's poem "It Was One of Those Mornings" are also featured. A copy of The CooP is included with the collection.

Been Riding with Old Mosby

Sung by Frank Bode with Tommy Jarrell and Paul Brown

Folkways Records – FTS 31109

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1986
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Od Time
[Tracklist]
A1 Susanna Gal (03:00)
A2 Rank Stranger (02:18)
A3 Roving Gambler (01:52)
A4 Sugar Hill (03:45)
A5 Little Maggie (03:38)
A6 Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot? (02:57)
A7 Wild Bill Jones (02:14)
B1 Precious Jewel (02:25)
B2 Piney Woods Gal (01:42)
B3 Brown's Ferry Blues (01:54)
B4 My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (02:55)
B5 Pretty Polly (03:22)
B6 Sunny Side of the Mountain (02:18)
B7 Tempy (03:46)
[Credits]
Frank Bode (guitar/vocals) Paul Brown (banjo) Tommy Jarrell (fiddle)
Producer: Eric H. Davidson & Ellen Victoria, Designer: Ronald Clyne
[Notes]
Old-time musician Frank Bode sings and plays guitar on this 1984 album of traditional American rural music. He is joined on the recording by banjo picker Paul Brown and legendary fiddler Tommy Jarrell, who sadly passed away just four months later. From murder ballads to songs of moonshiner tales to the blues, this album attests to the richness of a rural tradition passed down from generation to generation. Liner notes include song lyrics and an introduction to each track, including its origins and how it came into the perfomers' lives.

Symbiont: Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin

Smithsonian Folkways - SFW CD 40265

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: September 27, 2024
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Electronic
[Tracklist]
01 Prelude; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin feat. Jeanne Meserve (00:50)
02 What's You Gonna Do When the World's On Fire; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (03:12)
03 No Hiding Place; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin feat. Sidy (03:19)
04 My Way's Cloudy; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin feat. Joe Rainey (03:20)
05 Mother; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (04:28)
06 Stars Beging to Fall; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin feat. Taylor Ho Bynum (03:45)
07 The Green Road; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (02:59)
08 Live Humble; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (04:16)
09 In the Garden; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (04:18)
10 Come Down Ancients; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (02:59)
11 Old Indian Hymn; Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin (03:19)
[Credits]
Producer: Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin, Liner Notes Editor: Carla Borden, Designer: Caroline Gut, Engineer: Joseph DeJarnette at Sudio 808a & Mike Monseur at Axis Audio
[Notes]
From the first notes of symbiont, the radical new collaborative album and document of Black and Indigenous futurism from Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin, the listener is met with rising tidewaters, massive droughts, and the appearance of an iconoclastic uprising amidst the world’s indifference. Questions of future or present tense swirl around the music as the duo unspools the intertwined threads of racial and climate justice. Amid rumbling synthesizer drones, the thrum of banjo, and the thwack of drum machines, a whisper of truth can be heard: this crisis has been unfolding for centuries.

From the Cold Jaws of Prison

Inmates and Ex-inmates of three prisons - Attica, Rikers Island, and the Tombs

Folkways Records – FH 5403

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1971
Genre: Rock, Jazz, & World
Style: Rock, & Spoken
[Tracklist]
A1 Cathedral (03:09)
A2 The Junkie (02:45)
A3 A Word to the Hip (03:37)
A4 Daddy, Daddy Come Dig Me (06:51)
A5 Lord I Want to Be a Christian (03:22)
B1 An Open Letter (08:04)
B2 I'm a Dreamer (04:10)
B3 Screaming (04:37)
B4 He Arose (03:47)
[Credits]
Producer: Attilio J. Cantore and Soul Rock from the Rock, Inc., Designer: Irwin Rosenhouse
[Notes]
"What you will hear on this recording is a cry of a people for justice and human dignity. You don't know what freedom is unless you've experienced the chains from which to break free." The poems and music presented on this album were written and compiled by African-American inmates and ex-inmates of three prisons in the New York system—Attica, Rikers Island, and the Tombs. Their work speaks not only of the conditions faced in prison but to the broader African American experience outside prison walls where "Down went the junkie with the monkey on his back, the white world laughed because the junkie was Black."