Harry Jackson – The Cowboy: His Songs, Ballads & Brag Talk

Folkways Records – FH 5723

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1959
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Ballads, Spoken
[Tracklist]
A1 Morning Grub-Holler (00:19)
A2 The Round Up Cook (00:48)
A3 The Dally Roper's Song (02:51)
A4 I Ride an Old Paint (03:46)
A5 Some Cowboy Brag-Talk (01:35)
A6 Little Joe the Wrangler (03:53)
A7 Utah Carroll (07:59)
A8 Old Iron Pants Pete (02:57)
B1 The Saddle Bum (02:16)
B2 Strawberry Roan (04:56)
B3 I Ain't Got No Use for the Women (03:38)
B4 Blood on the Saddle (00:34)
B5 The Ridge Running Roan (05:20)
B6 Roll On, Little Dogies (03:42)
B7 The Hangman's Song (03:34)
C1 Boastin' Cowboy (00:31)
C2 Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail (03:09)
C3 Clayton Boone (02:54)
C4 Old Blue was a Gray Horse (03:00)
C5 Little Joe the Wrangler's Sister Nell (03:28)
C6 The Gal I Left Behind (03:38)
C7 Zebra Dun (03:55)
C8 When the Work's All Done This Fall (02:27)
D1 The Pot Wrassler (01:44)
D2 Streets of Laredo (04:59)
D3 Windy Bill (02:42)
D4 Cowboy Talking to a Bucking Horse (00:21)
D5 As I Went Walking One Morning for Pleasure (04:01)
D6 Cowboy Jack (03:00)
D7 Jack O' Diamonds (04:13)
D8 I'm Gonna Leave Old Texas Now (02:24)
[Credits]
Harry Jackson (vocals)
Liner Notes: Kenneth S . Goldstein, Cover design: Ronald Clyne
[Notes]
Fascinated by horses and cowboys, but not by school, Harry Jackson (1924–2011) left his home in Chicago at age 14 to become a ranch hand and cowboy in Wyoming. While there, he learned cowboy songs from traditional singers, and he sings them here in the traditional unaccompanied manner. The songs portray the life of a cowboy in an authentic, unadorned fashion that is light-years removed from Hollywood and country western simulations. After serving in World War II, Harry Jackson became a prominent artist, focusing on realistic western paintings and sculpture portraying cowboys and Native Americans. Extensive liner notes, written by folklorist Kenneth Goldstein, provide background information about Jackson and each song.

I'm Old But I’m Awfully Tough

Traditional Music of the Ozark Region

Missouri Friends of the Folk Arts - M.F.F.A.1001

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1977
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
A01 I'm Old but I'm Awfully Tough: Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney (01:23)
A02 Lighthouse: Emmanuel Wood and Family (01:42)
A03 Story: Emmanuel Wood and Family (01:10)
A04 Dixie Blossom: Emmanuel Wood and Family (02:00)
A05 Walk Along John: Emmanuel Wood and Family (02:13)
A06 Spokane Waltz: Emmanuel Wood and Family (02:25)
A07 Bear Creek Sally Goodin: Emmanuel Wood and Family (02:32)
A08 The Rattlesnake and the Texas Pony: Green Berry Horton (01:28)
A09 Story: Green Berry Horton (01:11)
A10 Over the Woods and Through the Snow: Green Berry Horton (00:37)
A11 Bunker Hill: Green Berry Horton (01:33)
A12 Mignight Shuffle: Green Berry Horton (00:42)
B01 Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (02:37)
B02 Old Fort Smith: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (02:03)
B03 Unnamed Schottische: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (01:42)
B04 Durang's Hornpipe: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (02:02)
B05 Whiskey Before Breakfast: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (03:08)
B06 Kentucky Waltz: Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt (01:38)
B07 Gone to View That Land: Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney (02:59)
B08 Gypson Davy: Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney (04:07)
B09 Wandering Boy: Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney (04:07)
B10 Heaven Bells Are Ringing: Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney (01:23)
C01 Dance Around Molly: Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard (01:56)
C02 Coming Down From Denver: Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard (01:51)
C03 Marmaduke's Hornpipe: Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard (01:47)
C04 The Death of the Old Sow: Lawrence Baker (01:16)
C05 The Old Man Who Lived in the West: Lawrence Baker (02:28)
C06 She Oughta' Been A Lady: Vesta Johnson and Don Womack (00:58)
C07 Story: Vesta Johnson and Don Womack (01:19)
C08 Fat Meat and Dumplings: Vesta Johnson and Don Womack (01:27)
C09 Middlegrove: Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren (01:15)
C10 Stoney Point: Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren (01:21)
C11 Massa Bill: Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren (01:22)
C12 Fox Chase: Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren (01:26)
D01 Story of La Guignolee: Rose Pratt (00:37)
D02 La Guignolee: Rose Pratt (01:49)
D03 Story: Rose Pratt (01:01)
D04 La Guignolee: Charlie Pashia and Joe Politte (01:39)
D05 Rustic Dance: Charlie Pashia (01:28)
D06 Father's Schottische: Charlie Pashia (02:13)
D07 Jenny Put the Kettle On: Joe Politte (00:54)
D08 Story and Unnamed Tune: Joe Politte (02:34)
D09 Molly Musk: Joe Politte (02:00)
D10 Mule Stories: Joe Politte (03:46)
D11 The Old Rock Road: Joe Politte (01:40)
D12 Old Man Portell's Tune: Joe Politte (01:10)
D13 Grand Picnic: Joe Politte (01:50)
[Credits]
Field Recording: Julia Olin, Jim Olin and Barry Bergey, Remastering and Editing: Steve Fuller, Designer: Elizabeth Shepard, Photographer: Scott Dine, Barry Bergey and Julia Olin
[Notes]
I'm Old But I'm Awfully Tough: Traditional Music of the Ozark Region is a collection of field recordings made in southern Missouri and in northern Arkansas over the period of 1975–76 by members of the Missouri Friends of the Folk Arts. The singers, instrumentalists, and storytellers who appear on these records reveal the variety and richness of the folk traditions in the Ozark region. Many of these tunes and songs are unique and none of these performers had appeared on record before [the original release of this album in 1977]. Some of the music may surprise you because it is not normally associated with the Ozark region. Some of the conversation may enlighten you, providing a historical perspective not often found in Ozark history books. We hope that all of it will entertain you.

Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music in Florida

Arhoolie Records – CD 450

Format: CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: United States
Released: 1997
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Gospel
[Tracklist]
01 Don't Let the Devil Ride: Sonny Treadway (03:03)
02 In the Garden: Sonny Treadway (03:08)
03 At the Cross: Sonny Treadway (02:49)
04 Call Him by His Name: Glenn Lee (03:36)
05 Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior: Glenn Lee (02:35)
06 Joyful Sounds: Glenn Lee (04:27)
07 Just a Closer Walk with Thee: Willie Eason (04:59)
08 Little Wooden Church on a Hill: Willie Eason (04:28)
09 Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Poor Man's Friend: Willie Eason (05:59)
10 This Is a Holy Church: Sonny Treadway (07:17)
11 At the Cross: Sonny Treadway (02:18)
12 Amazing Grace: Sonny Treadway (01:52)
13 God Be with You: Sonny Treadway (00:55)
14 Closing Prayer: Sonny Treadway (00:25)
15 Praise the Lord Everybody: Henry Nelson (07:55)
16 Amazing Grace: Henry Nelson (04:47)
17 Praise Music: Aubrey Ghent (04:22)
18 Father in Jesus' Name: Aubrey Ghent (03:13)
19 House Of God March: Aubrey Ghent (04:29)
20 God Be with You: Aubrey Ghent (01:42)
{Credits]
Producer: Robert Stone, Executive producer: Chris Strachwitz, Re-release Coordinator: Teresa Hollingsworth, Photographer and Liner Notes: Robert Stone, Designer: Dept. of State/Graphics & Dix Bruce, Remix and mastering: Bay Records, Berkeley, Ca.
[Notes]
Originally developed for playing Hawaiian music, the steel guitar was integrated into the sacred music of two branches of the House of God, an African-American Holiness Pentecostal church in the late 1930s. This collection is drawn from sacred music recorded between 1993 and 1997 and is divided into instrumentals/concerts and live religious services. The liner notes provide a brief history of the steel guitar and its sacred music traditions.

Mural by Rocco Manno, painted on the side of Manno Dairy Farm

Who are those guys?

Anyone who has driven from Warwick to Sugar Loaf on Kings Highway has seen the huge mural of a group of well-known Hollywood actors on the side of a barn. The building, now a local landmark, is on the Manno family farm and the artist is Rocco Manno, who teaches art at Warwick Valley High School. "Over the years hundreds of people have stopped to take a picture of something I did just because I thought it would be fun," said Manno. "I would love to now document in book form as many of these photos as possible and possibly the story to go with it if there is one." Manno, who first painted Elvis Presley and James Dean on the barn in 1996, is looking to obtain a copy of a photograph from anyone who had ever taken a picture of the mural, posed in front of it alone or with family and friends, taken one with their car or motorcycle or anything else.

The first version of Dean and Elvis was repainted white and a second version of Elvis, James Dean and Marlon Brando was painted in 2006. The most recent third version added Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman in 2016. "The number of people that have stopped is really amazing and that’s just the ones I know about,” said Manno. “From cool cars, models, friends and wedding parties and then of course just the image taken of the mural itself from each person’s own perspective is great. Never would I have thought when I painted some of my favorites on the barn that it would have generated such a buzz. I appreciate everyone who has ever looked at it and enjoyed a glimpse as you passed."

Source: Warwick Valley High School teacher and artist Rocco Manno seeks photos for new book

Fannie Lou Hamer – Songs My Mother Taught Me

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40216

Series: African American Legacy Recordings
Format: CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: United States
Released: 2015
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Gospel, Struggle
[Tracklist]
01 Precious Lord (06:22)
02 On Being a Sharecropper (05:13)
03 Run Mourner, Run (01:23)
04 City Called Heaven (03:31)
05 All the Pretty Little Horses (01:34)
06 I'm Gonna Land on the Shore (02:29)
07 Oh Lord, You Know Just How I Feel (04:04)
08 I’m Going Down to the River of Jordan (02:42)
09 Jesus Is My Only Friend (03:03)
10 Pick a Bale of Cotton (00:44)
11 Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (01:09)
12 Walk With Me (01:41)
13 This Little Light of Mine (03:08)
14 Mass Meeting Speech (05:08)
15 Certainly Lord (01:39)
16 Woke Up This Morning (02:36)
17 Amazing Grace (01:27)
[Credits]
Fannie Lou Hamer (talking/vocals)
Producerand Liner Notes: Mark Puryear, Liner Notes Editor: Carla Borden, Designer: Sonya Cohen Cramer, Photographers: Louis H. Draper and Herbert Randall, Recorders: Worth Long, Vivian Tseng, Julius Leste and Moses Moon, Mastering Engineer: Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
The 20th child of a Mississippi sharecropper family and a commanding voice of the Civil Rights Movement, Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977) stood tall against the brutality, indignities, and intimidation of implacable racism. She harnessed her mother's gifts of song and plain-spoken wisdom to steel her fellow seekers of social justice, the cause to which she gave her life. Songs My Mother Taught Me, a re-release of limited-edition 1963 field recordings, breathes new life into Fannie Lou Hamer's inspiring legacy and her uncompromising call for a righteous world. 47 minutes, 32-page booklet with photos. This recording is the eighth release in the Smithsonian Folkways African American Legacy Series, co-presented with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Fast Folk Musical Magazine Volume 5 Number 9

Live at the Postcrypt Coffeehouse Columbia University

Fast Folk Musical Magazine – FFFF509

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1992
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Baltimore: 5 Chinese Brothers (03:16)
02 Take Me to Juarez: Michael Jerling (05:04)
03 Wake Up!: Professor Louie and Fast Eddie (06:01)
04 I'll Cry Tonight: Wendy Beckerman and Tom Spanardi (02:44)
05 Your Hair: David Hamburger (02:56)
06 Swimming to the Other Side: Pat Humphries (03:30)
07 The TVA Waltz: Eddy Lawrence (04:31)
08 Sparrow's Point: Richard Shindell (05:09)
09 Rodeo Weddings and Rockabilly Lives: Beverly Greenfield (03:00)
10 Cool Conception: Susan Firing and Rob Glick (04:05)
11 Missing Keys: David Ray (02:35)
12 The World of Tomorrow: Jeff Wilkinson (05:48)
13 Teacher of the Game: Jane Byaela (04:04)
14 The Phenomenology Sing-Along: Hugh Blumenfeld (02:54)
15 Fall in Montreal: Tom Dickie (03:28)
16 Momentary Lapse of Taste: David Cantor (02:55)
17 Tracey: Flathead (03:21)
18 Ghost of a Girl: Richard Julian (03:19)
19 Whiskey and Rain: Frank Tedesso (04:05)
[Credits]
Producer: Richard A. Meye, Field Worker: David Seitz
[Notes]
Begun in 1982 by veteran folksinger Jack Hardy as a music cooperative for folksingers and songwriters living in New York City, Fast Folk Musical Magazine was issued in both magazine and recording formats. In this edition, "Live at the Postcrypt – Columbia University," the magazine's emphasis is on the intimate performances of music by new, emerging, and touring artists. The result is a collection of songs of love and marriage ("Rodeo Weddings and Rockabilly Lives"), love lost ("Ghost of a Girl"), places ("Baltimore" "Take Me to Juarez" and "Fall in Montreal"), and spoken word stylings ("Wake Up"). A 20-page facsimile of the magazine is included.

Pete Seeger - The Folksinger's Guitar Guide: An Instruction Record

Folkways Records – CRB 1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1955
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Music Instruction
[Tracklist]
A1 Tuning Up (02:49)
A2 The First Chord (01:59)
A3 Two More Chords (02:02)
A4 Use of the Capo (02:16)
A5 Methods of Strumming (02:30)
A6 Bass Runs (03:03)
A7 Bass Countermelody (00:53)
B1 a: The "Church Lick"; b:"Hammering On" (02:21)
B2 The Blues (03:38)
B3 Two Finger Plucking (02:14)
B4 Other Tunings (03:49)
B5 A Hint of Flamenco (01:54)
B6 A Rhumba Rhythm (01:47)
B7 The Mexican Blues (02:18)
[Credits]
Pete Seeger (guitar/vocals)
Liner Notes: Pete Seeger, Photographer: David Gahr
[Notes]
Icon of the American folk music revival Pete Seeger teaches folk guitar through a detailed written instruction guide (included in the liner notes) which accompanies in-depth teaching and classic folk song examples on the album itself. He advises: " … if you enjoy playing the guitar, you shouldn’t think of it as practicing, in the formal sense. Rather, simply play for your own enjoyment … "

Anthems of All Nations Vol. 1

Folkways Records – FS 3881

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States, La Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Turkey and U.S.S.R.
Released: 1956
Genre: Pop, Brass & Military
Style: Military, Brass Band, Political, Marches
[Tracklist]
A1 United States: The Star Spangled Banner (01:20)
A2 La Belgium: Brabanconne (02:50)
A3 Canada: O Canada (01:19)
A4 Canada: The Maple Leaf Forever (01:12)
A5 Czechoslovakia: Kde Domov Muj (00:53)
A6 Great Britain: God Save the Queen (03:27)
A7 Great Britain: Rule Britannia (01:04)
A8 Germany: Deutschlandlied (02:18)
B1 France: La Marseillaise (02:28)
B2 Israel: Hatikvah - Tikvatenu (02:57)
B3 Japan: Kimi-Ga-Yo - The Emperor's House (02:17)
B4 Mexico: Himno Nacional Mexico (01:27)
B5 Netherlands: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe (01:43)
B6 Turkey: Independence March (01:56)
B7 U.S.S.R.: Anthem of the Soviet Union (01:32)
[Credits]
Producer: Michael J. Schwartzman
[Notes]
These aren't really all of the national anthems out there, but you do get to hear a sampling, from Belgium to Turkey, Mexico to Japan. Liner notes provide background and lyrics.

Jean Ritchie - The Appalachian Dulcimer: An Instructional Record

Folkways Records FI 8352

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Folkways Records
Released: 1964
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Appalachian Music
[Tracklist]
A01 Introduction (01:42)
A02 How to Hold the Dulcimer (01:20)
A03 Tuning Up in the Major Key (01:17)
A04 How to Hold the Noter (02:21)
A05 Playing the Scale (01:29)
A06 Simple Thumb Strum (02:13)
A07 Use of a Pick (00:32)
A08 Singing with Counter-Melody (01:32)
A09 Strumming Variations (02:02)
A10 Picking with the Fingers (01:26)
A11 The Minor Key-Aeolian Mode (03:29)
A12 The Mixolydian Mode (02:49)
A13 The Dorian Mode (02:00)
A14 The Phrygian Mode (02:17)
A15 The Lydian Mode (02:35)
B01 Pleasant Ohio (02:07)
B02 Old Crumley (01:02)
B03 Common Bill (02:16)
B04 Warrenton (02:39)
B05 Civil War March (00:57)
B06 Play-Party Medley (02:24)
B07 Went to See My Susie (02:05)
B08 In Good Old Colony Days (02:48)
B09 Shady Grove (01:20)
[Credits]
Jean Ritchie (dulcimer/vocals)
[Notes]
What better way to learn a musical instrument than from someone who is generally acknowledged to be the foremost performer and authority on that instrument? This recording provides just such an opportunity. Jean Ritchie has long been regarded as a master traditional Appalachian dulcimer player, as well as a superb traditional folksinger. (The Appalachian dulcimer, usually having three or four plucked strings, is not to be confused with the many-stringed hammered dulcimer.) During the first half of this recording, Ritchie provides easy-to-follow spoken instructions for the beginner, with many demonstrations. The second half of the recording includes examples from a variety of traditional dulcimer players, who often sing as well as play; several of them can be heard on Folkways recordings of their own. Liner notes provide a complete transcription of Ritchie's spoken instructions, song lyrics, and a biography.