No-No Boy: Empire Electric

Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40255

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: 2023
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
01 The Onion Kings of Ontario! (03:21)
02 Nashville (04:35)
03 Mekong Baby (03:41)
04 Western Empress of the Orient Sawmill (03:31)
05 Jakarta (04:09)
06 Nothing Left But You (04:02) 07 Little Monk (03:29)
08 Sayonara (03:21)
09 Minidoka (03:39)
10 1603 (05:31)
[Credits]
Producer: Julian Saporiti, Liner Notes Editors: James Deutsch and Carla Borden, Designer: Caroline Gut, Mixing Engineer: Seth Boggess, Mastering Engineers: Mike Monseur and Axis Audio
[Notes]
There are seemingly infinite layers of meaning to be found in No-No Boy's third album, Empire Electric. You can listen closely to singer-songwriter Julian Saporiti’s lyrics, which juxtapose true stories of struggle from throughout Asia and its diaspora with Saporiti's own reckoning with intergenerational trauma. You could also let the majesty of Saporiti’s songcraft wash over you, his captivating melodies cloaking those themes in a veneer of hope and ecstasy. But the deepest storytelling happens at the sonic level, as sounds drawn from across the Eastern hemisphere mingle freely with distinctly American instrumentation – banjo and koto, lap-steel and guzheng – while electronically manipulated field recordings of rushing water, chirping birds and other natural sounds ground us in the now. Adventurous and affecting, Empire Electric offers a vision for a new kind of folk music, one that tells unorthodox stories through unorthodox means and finds new pathways through our tangled roots.

Fisk Jubilee Singers

Folkways Records – FA 2372

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1955
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: African American Music, Gospel, Sacred
[Tracklist]
A1 I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray (03:13)
A2 O the Rocks and the Mountains (02:44)
A3 Rockin' Jerusalem (02:16)
A4 When I Was Sinkin' Down (02:36)
A5 You May Bury Me in the East (03:11)
A6 He Arose (04:01)
B1 The Angels Bowed Down (03:37)
B2 Great Camp Meeting (02:07)
B3 Were You There (04:18)
B4 Done Made My Vow to the Lord (02:28)
B5 I'm A-Rolling Through an Unfriendly World (02:09)
B6 Lord, I'm Out Here on Your Word (04:04)
[Credits]
Jubilee Singers (chorus)
Director: John W. Work
[Notes]
Credited with introducing the African-American spiritual to the wider world, the Fisk Jubilee singers made their debut in Cincinnati in 1871. Since then, the ensemble has drawn a host of wonderful young singers to Fisk University, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers have continued to be popular for over a century. This recording is from 1955.

Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children

Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 45087

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: 2023
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Children's
[Tracklist]
01 Little Wilma Wiggly Worm (02:22)
02 Friends from All Around the World (Hello Version) (01:54)
03 J-O-B (02:09)
04 Requiem for Ruth Bader Ginsburg (03:01)
05 A Builder’s Got a Hammer and Nails (02:39)
06 Each One of Us (02:39)
07 What’s Your Favorite Kind? (01:23)
08 I’m a Nocturnal Animal (02:31)
09 Paper Airplane (01:23)
10 My Skull is Made Outta Bone (02:35)
11 Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk (03:22)
12 Things That Go in the Recycling Bin (03:05)
13 Roll Around Downtown (02:06)
14 Deciduous Tree (01:26)
15 We Build a Lot of Muscle as We Exercise (01:02)
16 The Sounds that the Letters Make (01:52)
17 Who Are You? (02:39)
18 Together with You (02:33)
19 Oona Louise, My Friend (01:12)
20 Friends from All Around the World (Goodbye Version) (03:48)
[Credits]
Producer and Engineer: Cass McCombs, Liner Notes Editor: James Deutsch, Illustrator: Greg Gardner, Designer: Cooley Design Lab, Engineers: Robby Joseph, Jeremy Brown, Sean Trott, Chris Cohen and Pete Reinige
[Notes]
The tender and curious songs on the first album by songwriter and pre-school teacher Mr. Greg and acclaimed indie chameleon Cass McCombs celebrate the joys of learning and discovery. The pair of longtime friends make connections for young children just beginning to find their own way in the world and for parents regaining their own childlike sensibilities. Set to tunes straight from the mold of Ella Jenkins and Woody Guthrie, the duo sings about the importance of friendship, understanding those different from yourself, and taking care of your body. They also pay musical tribute to heroic figures of bravery and justice like Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Harvey Milk. These songs are bridges to many adventures in the making and include suggested activities for youngsters to supplement their listening and exploration.

The Dancing Twenties

Folkways Records – RBF 27

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Genre: Genre: Jazz, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Jazz & Ragtime
[Tracklist]
A1 Charleston: The Isham Jones Orchestra (02:49)
A2 Think of Me: The Isham Jones Orchestra (03:09)
A3 Brown Sugar: The Piccadilly Revels Orchestra (02:43)
A4 Mobile Blues: The Gene Rodemich Orchestra (03:16)
A5 Jump Steady Blues: The Original Six (03:23)
A6 Follow the Swallow: The George Olsen Orchestra (02:45)
A7 Footloose: The Okeh Syncopators (02:44)
A8 Red Hot Mama: The Ray Miller Orchestra (02:52)
B1 I'm All Broken Up Over You: The Ted Weems Orchestra (03:10)
B2 All Muddled Up: The Zez Confrey Orchestra (02:57)
B3 I'm Through Shedding Tears Over You: Guyon's Paradise Orchestra (03:00)
B4 He's a New Kind of Man: The Roseland Dance Orchestra (03:10)
B5 Why Should I Believe in You: The Scranton Sirens Orchestra (02:47)
B6 Longing for You: Warner's Seven Aces (02:51)
B7 You'll Want Me Back Some Day: The Lloyd Finlay Orchestra (02:53)
B8 Spanish Shawl: Edwin J. McEnelly's Orchestra (03:09)
[Credits]
Producer: David. A Jasen, Designer: Ronald Clyne
[Notes]
From the wildly popular Charleston to the foxtrot, the music of the 1920s provided entertainment for dancers throughout the United States and beyond. This compilation presents "on location" recordings of popular dance tunes from the Roaring Twenties.

Kentucky Folk Songs and Ballads sung by Logan English

Folkways Records – FA 2136

Format: Vinyl, LP, 10", Album
Country: United States
Released: 1957
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 Bangum and the Boar (01:47)
A2 East Virginia (02:47)
A3 Little Cory (01:45)
A4 Bold Robington's Courtship (02:07)
A5 Wild Bill Jones (03:06)
A6 William and Dinah (03:55)
B1 A Railroader For Me (01:47)
B2 Bruton Town (03:49)
B3 Old Doc Jones (00:38)
B4 Love Henry (02:29)
B5 The Lady and the Glove (02:14)
B6 Durant Jail (04:19)
[Credits]
Logan English (guitar/vocals)
Producer: Kenneth S. Goldstein, Liner Notes: Logan English
[Notes]
Logan English, the grandson of two opera singers, grew up in Kentucky's lowlands, where he learned mountain music from tenant workers on his parents' farm. Every song on this album has roots in English's childhood, and Kenny Goldstein provides informative notes for each track.

Folkways: The Original Vision

Songs of Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly

Smithsonian Folkways – CD SF 40000

Format: CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: United States
Released: 2006
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie: Lead Belly (00:49)
02 Pretty Boy Floyd: Woody Guthrie (03:00)
03 Do-Re-Mi: Woody Guthrie (02:31)
04 I Ain't Got No Home in This World Anymore: Woody Guthrie (02:45)
05 Jesus Christ: Woody Guthrie (02:37)
06 Cotton Fields: Lead Belly (02:07)
07 Rock Island Line: Lead Belly (02:02)
08 Grand Coulee Dam: Woody Guthrie (02:10)
09 4, 5, and 9: Lead Belly (02:34)
10 Will Geer Reading Woody Guthrie: Will Geer (00:56)
11 Hard Traveling: Woody Guthrie (02:31)
12 Fannin Street: Lead Belly (03:02)
13 Philadelphia Lawyer: Woody Guthrie (02:29)
14 Hobo's Lullaby: Woody Guthrie (02:24)
15 Bourgeois Blues: Lead Belly (02:18)
16 Gray Goose: Lead Belly (01:25)
17 Irene: Lead Belly (01:53)
18 Vigilante Man: Woody Guthrie (03:23)
19 Gallis Pole: Lead Belly (02:45)
20 This Land Is Your Land: Woody Guthrie (02:17)
21 Talking Hard Work: Woody Guthrie (03:23)
22 Midnight Special: Lead Belly (02:02)
23 In the Pines: Lead Belly (02:07)
24 Pastures of Plenty: Woody Guthrie (02:25)
25 Car Song: Woody Guthrie (01:50)
26 We Shall Be Free: Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly (02:33)
[Credits]
Woody Guthrie (guitar/vocals) and Lead Belly (guitar/vocals)
Producer and Liner Notes: Jeff Place, Producer: Anthony Seeger, Liner Notes: Guy Logsdon, Recorder: Moses Asch, Designer: Denise Arnot, Photographer: Sid Grossman and Charles Peterson, Mastering Engineer: Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
Original Vision is the milestone 1989 recordings of classic roots Americana that helped launch the nonprofit Smithsonian Folkways label. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of this historic album, Smithsonian Folkways expanded the original CD with 6 bonus tracks, enhanced packaging, and extended notes. The album now provides even more insight into the impact of Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly over the last half century. 28-page illustrated booklet, 60 minutes.

Ray Reed Sings Traditional Frontier and Cowboy Songs

Folkways Records – FD 5329

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1977
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 Sioux Indians (04:07)
A2 California Joe (14:47)
A3 Billy the Kid (02:32)
A4 Sod Shanty (03:19)
B1 O Bury Me Not (03:53)
B2 Zebra Dun (03:51)
B3 Punchin' the Dough (02:23)
B4 Powderhorn (03:52)
B5 Miss Aledo (02:39)
B6 Cattle Call (02:27)
[Credits]
Ray Reed (guitar/vocals)
Liner Notes: John Donald Robb, Cover Artwork: Will James, Designer: Ronald Clyne
{Notes}
On this 1977 Folkways release, New Mexico cowboy Ray Reed (1917–1998) sings songs about the old West; many of them he learned from his father, and he composed some as well. He had spent some years in California, and his polished style reflects the influence of the 1930s Los Angeles music scene, where he was friendly with some of the Texas Playboys―the group backing legendary Texas Swing singer Bob Wills. In 1990, concerned about the passing of traditional cowboy culture, Reed initiated an annual festival in New Mexico, the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, that continues today. Liner notes provide background information on the music as well as song lyrics.

Pete Seeger - Wimoweh and Other Songs of Freedom and Protest

Folkways Records – FTS 3A18

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1968
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A1 I'm On My Way to Canaan's Land: Pete Seeger (04:20)
A2 Wimoweh: Pete Seeger (02:48)
A3 Wasn't That a Time: Pete Seeger (02:59)
A4 Freiheit: Pete Seeger (03:06)
A5 Study War No More (Down By the Riverside): Pete Seeger and Big Bill Broonzy (05:28)
B1 Hold On: Pete Seeger, Memphis Slim, and Willie Dixon (03:27)
B2 If I Had a Hammer (Hammer Song): Pete Seeger (02:21)
B3 We are Soldiers in the Army: Pete Seeger (04:05)
B4 Mrs. McGrath: Pete Seeger (04:19)
B5 What a Friend We Have in Congress: Pete Seeger (01:58)
B6 Hymn to Nations (Beethoven, Ludwig v.: 9th Symphony): Pete Seeger (02:06)
[Credits]
Pete Seeger (banjo/guitar/vocals) Big Bill Broonzy (guitar) Memphis Slim (piano)
Photographerand Designer: Craig Mierop
[Notes]
This 1968 collection, recorded during live performances, features protest songs as well as old spirituals sung by legendary folk singer Pete Seeger (who is joined on two tracks by Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Slim). With Seeger's modern interpretations the folk process is truly at work, "making past experience meaningful for present-day life." Liner notes include background information on each of the tracks.