Classic African-American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW40191

Series: Smithsonian Folkways Classic Series
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2006
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Mouse on the Hill (Froggie Went a-Courting): Warner Williams with Jay Summerour (3:44)
02 Casey Jones: K.C. Douglas (1:23)
, 03 John Hardy: Lead Belly (2:43)
04 Railroad Bill: John Jackson (3:33)
05 Stewball: Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon (3:33)
06 John Henry: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (4:04)
07 St. James Infirmary: Snooks Eaglin (2:20)
08 Staggerlee (Stackolee): John Cephas and Phil Wiggins (5:03)
09 Lost John: Convict Group, Ramsey and Retrieve State Farms (4:54)
10 Betty and Dupree: Josh White (3:45)
11 Old Riley / Here, Rattler, Here: Lead Belly (1:58)
12 The Race of the Jim Lee and Katy Adam: Jazz Gillum, Memphis Slim (2:27)
13 The Titanic: Pink Anderson (2:49)
14 Frankie and Johnny: Big Bill Broonzy (2:07)
15 White House Blues: Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys (1:59)
16 Louis Collins: John Jackson (3:18)
17 Bad Lee Brown (Late One Night): Woody Guthrie (2:14)
18 Luke and Mullen: Horace Sprott (2:25)
19 Duncan and Brady: Dave Van Ronk (3:00)
20 Gallis Pole (The Maid Freed from the Gallows): Lead Belly (2:45)
21 Boll Weevil: Pink Anderson (3:04)
22 Delia's Gone: Josh White Jr. (3:45)
[Crtedits]
Producer and Liner Notes: Barry Lee Pearson, Designer: Joe Parisi, Engineer: Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
Classic African-American Ballads is a sampling of an important, historic, and engaging slice of America's Black music heritage. The heyday of the Black ballad tradition (1890-1920) left a lasting strain of creativity and a monument to African American life of the time. Ranging from songs created from the heritage of the English ballad, to social commentary vilifying abusive white authority figures, to "blues ballads," this album reminds us of the enormity and constant evolution of African American musical tradition. 36-page booklet. 22 tracks. 67 minutes.

Classic Bluegrass Vol. 2 from Smithsonian Folkways

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40163

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2005
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Blue Grass Breakdown: David Johnson (3:12)
02 Roving Gambler: The Country Gentlemen (3:06)
03 Daniel Prayed: Doc Watson, Fred Price, and Clint Howard (2:53)
04 Fourteen-Carat Mind: Half & Half (2:28)
05 Won't You Come and Sing for Me?: Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (2:45)
06 Rocky Run: Jerry Stuart, Pete Kuykendall, Smiley Hobbs, and Tom Gray (2:47)
07 The Girl Behind the Bar: Red Clay Ramblers (2:06)
08 Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me: B. Lilly, Chubby Anthony, Don Stover (2:16)
09 Are You Afraid to Die: Red Allen and Frank Wakefield (2:38)
10 Walls of Time: Bill Monroe and Peter Rowan (4:05)
11 Back Up and Push: The Friendly City Playboys (1:50)
12 I've Endured: Ola Belle Reed (2:48)
13 Carolina in the Pines: Harley Allen (2:42)
14 Jesse James: Eric Weissberg (2:30)
15 Two Orphans: The Georgia Pals (3:19)
16 China Grove, My Home Town: The Nashville Grass (2:31)
17 Bluegrass Spectacular: Bill Price (2:38)
18 Stoney Creek: Sonny Miller (1:22)
19 Little Maggie: Larry Richardson (1:13)
20 Miss Ferris: John Hartford (3:51)
21 Foggy Mountain Top: Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys (2:00)
22 Sinner, You Better Get Ready: The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover (2:58)
23 Sitting on Top of the World: Doc Watson (3:05)
24 Renegade: Bob Everhart (1:59)
25 Possum Holler: Bill Price (2:58)
26 Red Wing: Tom Morgan (2:33)
27 I'll Take the Blame: Red Allen (2:21)
28 Watson's Blues: Bill Monroe and Doc Watson (2:26)
[Credits]
Producer: Lee Michael Demsey, Liner Notes: Jacob Love & Jeff Place, Designer: Sonya Cohen Cramer, Photographer: Stephanie P. Ledgin, Mastering Engineer: Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
Compiled from over 40 years of classic bluegrass recordings on the Folkways and Smithsonian Folkways labels, Classic Bluegrass, vol. 2 showcases many of the key artists who shaped the sound of this internationally-acclaimed, all-American music. "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Hazel Dickens, The Country Gentlemen, Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, John Hartford, and many others bring us the best of this diverse music tradition. 32-page booklet. 28 classic tracks. 73 minutes.

Down Home Saturday Night

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40182

Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2007
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Cajun, Hillbilly, Hill Country Blues, Texas Blues
[Tracklist]
01 Minglewood Blues: John Sebastian and the J Band with Geoff Muldaur (3:41)
02 White House Blues: Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys (1:58)
03 Le Vieux Soulard Et Sa Femme: Balfa Toujours (2:37)
04 El Sinaloense: Mingo Saldívar y y sus Tremendos Cuatro Espadas (4:07)
05 It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day): Erbie Bowser, T.D. Bell, and the Blues Specialists (4:09)
06 Big Ball’s in Cowtown: The Texas Playboys (3:06)
07 Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie: Memphis Slim (4:10)
08 Bill Morgan and His Gal: The New Lost City Ramblers (2:55)
09 You Keep On Doggin’ Me: Sonny Terry, J.C. Burris, Sticks McGhee (2:41)
10 Bosco Stomp: Nonc Allie Young, Bessyl Duhon, Rodney Balfa (3:01)
11 Walking Blues: Arbee Stidham, Memphis Slim, and Jump Jackson (3:10)
12 Hey Bartender, There’s A Bug In My Beer: Warner Williams and Eddie Pennington (2:43)
13 Oh Baby, You Don’t Have to Go: The Chambers Brothers (2:45)
14 Chiquitos Pero Picos: Los Polkeros de Ben Tavera King (2:00)
15 Uncle Bud: Boozoo Chavis and the Magic Sounds (2:56)
[Credits]
Compilers: Mark Gustafson, Brian Scott and Jeff Place, Mastering Engineer: Pete Reiniger
[Notes]
On any Saturday night, rollicking down-home music can be heard throughout the USA, be it bluegrass, blues, boogie woogie, country, Cajun, zydeco, Texas swing, or Texas Mexican conjunto. Down Home Saturday Night has them all. Smithsonian Folkways archivist Jeff Place compiled these 15 tracks of American regional and ethnic roots music with one idea in mind: to bring people together and have fun with music and musicians from across the land.

Appalachian Mountain Gospel: 25 Bluegrass Gospel Classics

Rural Rhythm Records RHY-326

Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2008
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Gospel, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 There Is Power in the Blood: The Marksmen (2:04)
02 No Hidin' Place Down Here: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (1:47)
03 Take Me in Your Life Boat: Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups (2:03)
04 Old Country Church: House Brothers (1:26)
05 The Great Speckled Bird: Reno & Harrell with The Tennessee Cut-Ups (2:30)
06 Keep on the Sunny Side: Lee Moore 1:13)
07 A Beautiful Life: Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups (1:33)
08 I'm on My Way to Canaan Land: House Brothers (1:44)
09 Oh Why Not Tonight: The Marksmen (1:38)
10 Is She Praying There: Mac Martin & His Dixie Travelers (2:38)
11 Golden Slippers: Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (1:25)
12 Somebody Touched Me: Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups (2:35)
13 Where the Soul of Man Never Dies: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (2:00)
14 Uncloudy Day: J.D. Jarvis (2:13)
15 Angel Band: House Brothers (2:35)
16 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms: Red White & the Country Gospel Singers (1:45)
17 Paul & Silas: Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (1:52)
18 If I Could Here My Mother Pray Again: Happy Land Gospel Singers (1:46)
19 Lonely Tombs: J.D. Jarvis (1:54)
20 Precious Memories: House Brothers (2:36)
21 I Am a Pilgrim: Raymond Fairchild & the Maggie Valley Boys (1:48)
22 Let the Church Roll On: Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups (1:53)
23 I Feel Like Traveling On: Happy Land Gospel Singers (2:04)
24 Walking Cane: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (2:12)
25 I'm Getting Ready to Go: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:04)
[Credits]
Compilation Producer: Sam Passamano, Jr., Designner and Photographer: Marty Rosamond, Engineer: Steve Hoffman
[Notes]
Part of the ongoing Sound Traditions series of bluegrass anthologies from the Rural Rhythm label, Sound Traditions: Appalachian Mountain Gospel (25 Bluegrass Gospel Classics) gathers 25 rare examples of vintage bluegrass gospel. Artists include the Marksmen, Hylo Brown & the Timberliners, and Jim Greer & the Mac-O-Chee Valley Boys. Many of these songs have never been available on CD before.

Appalachian Mountain Bluegrass

Rural Rhythm Records RHY-317

Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2007
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Foggy Mountain Top: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:14)
02 Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee: Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (2:41)
03 Froggie Went a Courtin': Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (1:38)
04 Cumberland Gap: The Cumberlands (2:35)
05 Black Mountain Blues: Mac Martin & His Dixie Travelers (3:07)
06 Home Across the Blue Ridge Mountains: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:02)
07 Poor Ellen Smith: Reno & Harrell with The Tennessee Cut-Ups (2:01)
08 Where the Soul of Man Never Dies: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (2:01)
09 Grandfather's Clock: Mac Wiseman (2:08)
10 Big Sandy: Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups (1:02)
11 Worried Man Blues: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (1:57)
12 Deep Elm Blues: Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (2:08)
13 Wild Bill Jones: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (1:43)
14 Rovin' Gambler: Mac Wiseman (1:49)
15 Soldier's Joy: The Cumberlands with Michael Cleveland (2:36)
16 Darling Corey: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (1:49)
17 Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss: Red White & the Dixie Blue Grass Band (1:36)
18 When the Bees Are in the Hive: Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (2:24)
19 Bread and Gravy: J.E. Mainer & The Mountaineers with Morris Herbert (2:55)
20 Run Boy Run: Michael Cleveland / The Cumberlands (2:20)
21 Gathering Flowers from the Hillside: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:17)
22 Mole in the Ground: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (2:23)
23 Long Journey Home: Reno & Harrell with The Tennessee Cut-Ups (2:01)
24 Rebel Soldier: The Cumberlands (3:40)
25 Fire on the Mountain: Fiddlin' DeWayne Wear & the Wear Family (1:10)
26 The Tie That Binds Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks (1:27)
27 Rabbit in the Log: Frosty Mountain Boyswith Raymond Fairchild (1:31)
28 All the Good Times Are Past and Gone: Hylo Brown & The Timberliners (2:41)
29 Just Over in Glory Land: Mac Wiseman (1:53)
30 Amazing Grace: Raymond Fairchild & The Maggie Valley Boys (2:02)
[Credits]
Compilation Producer: Sam Passamano, Jr., Designner and Photographer: Marty Rosamond, Engineer: Steve Hoffman
[Notes]
Continuing with our successful Sound Traditions series, Rural Rhythm is proud to release this special new 30 Song Heritage Collection title, Appalachian Mountain Bluegrass 30 Vintage Classics which contains over 60 minutes of Historic Bluegrass Music and debuts many classic recorded songs Never-Before-Available on CD. Each song was remastered from the original master tapes by Steve Hoffman, (a leading mastering engineer in the High End Audio market). The end results are some of the best sounding authentic Traditional Bluegrass music available today.

Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways

Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40092

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Whitehouse Blues: Earl Taylor And The Stoney Mountain Boys (1:58)
02 Our Last Goodbye: The Johnson Mountain Boys (2:32)
03 When He Reached Down His Hand For Me: Bill Monroe And His Bluegrass Boys (2:44)
04 Tiny Broken Heart: Hazel Dickens And Alice Gerrard (3:01)
05 New Camptown Races: Red Allen, Frank Wakefield , And The Kentuckians (2:31)
06 Suzanne: Harley Allen-Mike Lilly Band (2:37)
07 I Heard My Mother Call My Name In Prayer: The Nashville Grass (3:07)
08 Teardrops In My Eyes: The Friendly City Playboys (2:26)
09 Cumberland Gap: Snuffy Jenkins (1:31)
10 Live And Let Live: Red Allen And The Kentuckians (2:44)
11 The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise: Roger Sprung And Doc Watson (2:37)
12 Hello City Limits: Hugh Moore (2:19)
13 (Legend Of The) Brown Mountain Light: The Country Gentlemen (2:32)
14 Lonesome Road Blues: Roni Stoneman (1:10)
15 The Train That Carried My Girl From Town: Doc Watson (2:16)
16 The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake: The New Lost City Ramblers (3:29)
17 Little Birdie: The Stanley Brothers (2:37)
18 Rabbit In A Log: The Stanley Brothers (2:20)
19 Grey Eagle: David And Billie Ray Johnson (2:47)
20 Wayfaring Stranger: Cullen Gaylean And The Virginia Mountain Boys (5:07)
21 Billy In The Lowground: The Lonesome Strangers (1:00)
22 The Rebel Girl: Hazel Dickens (2:57)
23 Train 45: Smiley Hobbs (2:19)
24 'Neath That Cold Gray Tomb Of Stone: The Lilly Brothers And Don Stover (3:03)
25 Get Up John: Bill Monroe And His Bluegrass Boys (2:36)
[Credits]
Coordinator: Mary Monseur, Liner Notes: Carla Borden, Frank Proschan, Jeff Place & Lee Michael Demsey, Mastering: Pete Reiniger, Photography: John Cohen & Phil Zimmerman
[Notes]
It all began in 1956 with the release of the historic Folkways album American Banjo: Three-Finger and Scruggs Style (SFW 40037), the first-ever full-length bluegrass LP. From that point on, Folkways Records was synonymous with great bluegrass music. Folkways founder Moses Asch released scores of bluegrass albums, and this collection comprises the cream of the crop from these recordings, including works from giants of the genre such as Red Allen & Frank Wakefield, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, the Stanley Brothers, and The Country Gentlemen. It serves as an outstanding introduction to the wealth of great bluegrass Smithsonian Folkways has to offer. Extensive notes, photos, 62 minutes. Compiled and annotated by Lee Michael Demsey and Jeff Place.

Folk Songs from the Blue Grass: Earl Taylor & his Stoney Mountain Boys

United Artists Records UAL-3049

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: United States
Released: 1959
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Cripple Creek (2:00)
A2 Ruby (3:25)
A3 White Dove (3:40)
A4 Ho, Honey, Ho (2:30)
A5 Foggy Mountain Special (2:40)
A6 In The Pines (2:20)
A7 John Henry (2:30)
A8 Mama Blues (2:10)
A9 Little Maggie 2:10
B1 Flint Hill Special (2:30)
B2 The Children Are Cryin' (2:05)
B3 Lee Highway Blues (2:00)
B4 The Prisoner's Song (3:30)
B5 Race Between A Locomotive And A Model T (2:00)
B6 Pretty Polly (2:45)
B7 Rabbit On A Log (2:15)
B8 Molly And Ten Brooks (2:50)
[Credits]
Earl Taylor (mandolin/vocals) Sam Hutchins (guitar/banjo/vocals) Walter Hensley (banjo) Curtis Cody (fiddle) Vernon McIntyre (bass)
Liner Notes: Alan Lomax, Cover Art: Ike Millman
[Notes]
Issued with a 2 p. sheet of notes and lyrics by Alan Lomax. Reissued 1968 by King Records Japan (SR 209)

Mountain Music Bluegrass Style

Folkways Records ‎FA-2318

Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1959
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Katy Hill: Tex Logan (1:46)
A2 Short Life Of Trouble: Earl Taylor And The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:43)
A3 Katy Cline: Don Stover, Mitchell B. Lilly & Don Chubby Anthony (2:38)
A4 The Philadelphia Lawyer: Bob Baker & The Pike County Boys (3:23)
A5 Natchez Under The Hill: Tex Logan (2:20)
A6 Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone: Don Stover, Mitchell B. Lilly & Don Chubby Anthony (2:16)
A7 Old Joe Clark: Bob Yellin, Mike Seeger & Eric Weissberg (2:04)
A8 Little Willie: Bob Baker And The Pike County Boys (3:03)
A9 White House Blues: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (1:57)
B1 Nine Pound Hammer: Smiley Hobbs (2:25)
B2 Cricket On The Hearth: Don Chubby Anthony & Don Stover (2:15)
B3 All The Good Times Have Past And Gone: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (2:55)
B4 New River Train: Don Chubby Anthony, Mike Seeger & Bob Yellin (2:58)
B5 Leather Britches: Smiley Hobbs (1:20)
B6 Fox Chase: Earl Taylor & The Stoney Mountain Boys (1:58)
B7 Feast Here Tonight: Bob Baker & The Pike County Boys (2:37)
B8 Bile 'Em Cabbage Down: Don Stover, Mitchell B. Lilly & Don Chubby Anthony (2:11)
B9 Rocky Run: Jerry Stuart, Pete Kuykendall, Smiley Hobbs & Tom Gray (2:45)
B10 Snow Dove: Bob Baker & The Pike County Boys (3:19)
[Credits]
Recorded, Edited, Liner Notes and Annotated by Mike Seeger
[Nots]
Unforgettable performances by Don Stover, Earl Taylor, Chubby Anthony, Tex Logan and many others. Traditional bluegrass played by some of the genre's most talented and committed musicians. For over 30 years, Mountain Music Bluegrass Style remains a superb anthology. "Listeners who value spirit over polish...will find many of these selections to be as exciting and powerful as they were over 30 years ago." — Bluegrass Unlimited