The Seldom Scene: Remains to Be Scene

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40248

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: March 14, 2025
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (03:47)
02 Crossroads (02:46)
03 A Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business (02:09)
04 Hard Travelin' (02:56)
05 Farewell, Angelina (04:01)
06 Walking Down the Line (02:35)
07 Lonesome Day (02:36)
08 I Could Cry (02:29)
09 White Line (03:40)
10 Show Me the Way to Go Home (02:46)
11 The Story of My Life (02:48)
[Credits]
Producer and Mixing Engineer: Seldom Scene, Liner Notes Editor: Carla Borden, Designer: Grass Spot, Photographer: Jeromie Stephens, Recorder and Mixing Engineer: Jim Robeson, Mastering Engineer: Mike Monseur
[Notes]
The Seldom Scene is a bluegrass institution. Since 1971, the group has remained quintessential bearers of the tradition, releasing nearly two dozen albums that cast a wide net for inspiration and repertoire. Remains to Be Scene is no exception, delivering stirring takes on bluegrass standards and providing their signature interpretations on deep cuts from the likes of The Kinks, Bob Dylan, and Jim Croce. The album is the first to be released since the passing of founding member and trailblazing banjo player Ben Eldridge, who contributes impassioned liner notes to the release. Beneath the album’s title lies a plain truth: more than fifty years in, The Seldom Scene is looking ever forward.

Heart of Oak!

Traditional Songs of Our Seafaring Heritage by the X Seamens Institute

Folkways Records FTS-32419

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Chanteys
[Tracklist]
A1 Heart of Oak (02:47)
A2 Rum Runner (02:47)
A3 Strike the Bell (02:29)
A4 Gloucester Boys (02:29)
A5 Hog Eye Man (01:25)
A6 Santianno (01:45)
A7 South Australia (02:27)
A8 Grimbsby Town (03:20)
B1 The Diamond (02:16)
B2 Doodle Let Me Go (01:38)
B3 Black Ball Line (01:26)
B4 The Big Bow Wow (01:45)
B5 Fire Down Below (01:51)
B6 Reuben Ranzo (01:29)
B7 Life of a Leaf (03:22)
B8 Tom Bowling (00:35)
B9 Uncle Nobby's Steamboat (02:59)
[Credits]
X-Seamen's Institute (accordion/guitar/banjo/drum/fiddle/mandola/tambourine/whistle/vocals)
Producer: John Townley
[Notes]
The performance group X Seamens Institute, founded in 1969 in New York City, was dedicated to performing traditional songs of the sea, including both traditional work songs called "chanteys" and "forecastle" songs sung by sailors for recreation. The quartet enthusiastically performed its repertory of American and English sea songs accompanied with rich and varied instrumentation, ranging from 12-string guitars, banjoes, fiddles, and percussion. Penny whistle and ocarina can also be heard. Liner notes provide information about the X Seamens Institute and the lyrics for each song.

Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40159

Format: CD, Album
Country: United States
Released: 2005
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Old Time
[Tracklist]
01 The Carolina Lady: Dillard Chandler (04:14)
02 The Soldier Traveling from the North: Dillard Chandler (03:19)
03 The Sailor Being Tired: Dillard Chandler (03:00)
04 Young Emily: Dellie Norton (02:04)
05 Pretty Fair Miss in Her Garden: Dellie Norton (01:32)
06 When I Wore My Apron Low: Dellie Norton (00:54)
07 Pretty Saro: Cass Wallin (02:57)
08 Fine Sally: Cass Wallin (02:13)
09 Neighbor Girl: Lee Wallin (02:11)
10 Juba This: Lee Wallin (00:40)
11 Gathering Flowers: Dillard Chandler (01:22)
12 Gastony Song: Dillard Chandler (01:30)
13 Cold Rain and Snow: Dillard Chandler (02:23)
14 In Zepo Town: Lisha Shelton (03:19)
15 Don't You Remember: Lisha Shelton (02:35)
16 Awake, Awake: Dillard Chandler (04:12)
17 Mathie Grove: Dillard Chandler (06:07)
18 Scotland Man: George Landers (04:36)
19 Love Has Brought Me to Despair: Berzilla Wallin (02:47)
20 Johnny Doyle: Berzilla Wallin (03:54)
21 Short Time Here, Long Time Gone: Dillard Chandler (01:29)
22 Drunken Driver: Dillard Chandler (04:03)
23 Jesus Says Go: Dillard Chandler (02:00)
24 Meeting Is Over: Dillard Chandler (02:47)
25 Little Farmer Boy: Dillard Chandler (04:26)
26 I Wish My Baby Was Born: Dillard Chandler (01:02)
[Credits]
Compiler, Recorder, Producer and Liner Notes: John Cohen, Mastering Engineer: Pete Reiniger, Designer: Visual Dialogue
[Notes]
These milestone 1960s Folkways recordings of soul-searing Appalachian ballads brought new respect for the time-worn tradition of solo song. Their power to reach deep inside us with stories of love, betrayal, and tragedy dispels the notion that ballad singers are detached and unemotional. An extraordinary bonus DVD of John Cohen's classic film The End of an Old Song brings to life the earthy existence of balladeer Dillard Chandler of Madison County, North Carolina, featured on 14 of the 26 tracks reissued here for the first time. 36-page booklet. 26 tracks, including 4 unreleased performances. 72 minutes. Please note: the DVD video material is not included with a digital download purchase.

Get on Board: Negro Folksongs by the Folkmasters

Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Coyal McMahan

Folkways Records – FA 2028

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1952
Genre: Folk, World, Blues, & Country
Style: Folk, & Blues
[Tracklist]
A1 The Midnight Special (02:38)
A2 Rising Sun (02:42)
A3 In His Care (02:36)
A4 Mamma Blues, No. 2 (02:35)
B1 Pick a Bale of Cotton (02:33)
B2 A Man Is Nothing but a Fool (03:23)
B3 Preachin' (01:09)
B4 I Shall Not Be Moved (02:25)
B5 Raise a Ruckus Tonight (02:54)
[Credits]
Sonny Terry (harmonica) Brownie McGhee (guitar) Coyal McMahan (maracas)
Liner Notes: George Hoefer
[Notes]
This album by harmonica player Sonny Terry and guitarist Brownie McGhee, with Coyal McMahan on maracas features traditional blues songs, spirituals, and originals by the three singer-instrumentalists. Each musician has his own distinctive style, and together they create a sound that is simultaneously melancholy and joyful.

Bernice Reagon: Give Your Hands to Struggle

The Evolution Of A Freedom Fighter

Paredon Records - P 1028

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United Statesbr
Released: 1975
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Struggle & Protest
[Tracklist]
A1 We've Come a Long Way to Be Together (03:49)
A2 There's a New World Coming (03:37)
A3 Room in the Circle (04:37)
A4 Old Ship of Zion (05:02)
A5 Why Did They Take Us Away? (03:14)
A6 In My Hands (07:07)
B1 Joan Little (03:25)
B2 They are Falling All Around Me (03:17)
B3 Freedom in the Air (03:19)
B4 I Won't Crumble with You If You Fall (03:06)
B5 Had, Took, Misled (03:27)
B6 Give Your Hands to Struggle (03:59)
[Credits]br /> Bernice Reagon (vocals)
Producer: Barbara Dane & Amy Horowitz, Liner Notes: E. Ethelbert Miller, Designer: Ronald Clyne, Engineer: Jonathan Thayer, Photography: Guardian
[Notes]
Reagon's strengths as a songwriter, singer, and composer are reflected in this collection of songs performed with powerful layered harmonies. Includes the full-length version of "Freedom in the Air" and the previously unreleased "We've Come a Long Way to Be Together." Originally released in 1975 on Paredon Records and reissued in 1997 by Smithsonian Folkways, this reissue features the original 43 minutes of audio along with an informative 36-page booklet.