Friends of Old Time Music: The Folk Arrival 1961-1965

Smithsonian Folkways – SFW CD 40160

Format: 3 x CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 2006
Genre: Blues, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Bluegrass, Blues, Gospel, & Old Time
[Tracklist]
1-01 I'm Troubled: Doc and Arnold Watson (03:10)
1-02 The Country Blues: Dock Boggs (04:24)
1-03 Going Down to the River: Fred McDowell (03:09)
1-04 East Virginia Blues: Roscoe Holcomb (04:51)
1-05 The Storms Are on the Ocean: Maybelle Carter (03:03)
1-06 The Dream of the Miner's Child: The Stanley Brothers (04:03)
1-07 Soldier's Joy: Hobart Smith (01:45)
1-08 Coffee Blues: Mississippi John Hurt (04:47)
1-09 Live and Let Live: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (02:46)
1-10 Lonely Tombs: The Watson Family (02:25)
1-11 Rockin' Boogie: Jesse Fuller (03:46)
1-12 Brown's Dream: Gaither Carlton and Doc Watson (01:43)
1-13 Down South Blues: Dock Boggs (03:17)
1-14 Knoxville Blues: Sam McGee (02:30)
1-15 Have a Feast Here Tonight: The Stanley Brothers (03:12)
1-16 Riley: John Davis and the Georgia Sea Island Singers (02:09)
1-17 Buck and Wing: Jesse Fuller (01:22)
2-01 Hell Among the Yearlings: Arthur Smith (01:47)
2-02 Amelia Earhart's Last Flight: The Greenbriar Boys (03:47)
2-03 The Brakeman's Blues: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (02:32)
2-04 Foggy Mountain Top: Maybelle Carter (02:07)
2-05 Hicks' Farewell: Doc Watson (05:00)
2-06 Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel: The New Lost City Ramblers (02:42)
2-07 Write Me a Few of Your Lines: Fred McDowell (02:54)
2-08 Bimini Gal: Joseph Spence (02:44)
2-09 Shady Grove: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (01:37)
2-10 Grey Eagle: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (01:36)
2-11 Walkin' the Dog: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (02:03)
2-12 San Francisco Bay Blues: Jesse Fuller (03:24)
2-13 Short Life of Trouble: Doc and Arnold Watson (03:41)
2-14 John Henry: Roscoe Holcomb (01:59)
2-15 Kneelin' Down Inside the Gate: Stanley Thompson (03:45)
2-16 Tell Me Why You Like Roosevelt: McKinley Peebles (04:29)
2-17 Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow: Maybelle Carter (02:34)
2-18 Mansions for Me: The Stanley Brothers (02:27)
2-19 Before This Time Another Year: Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers (05:02)
3-01 My Creole Belle: Mississippi John Hurt (02:54)
3-02 Guitar Lesson: Jesse Fuller (01:26)
3-03 Cincinnati Blues: Jesse Fuller (02:27)
3-04 Poor Boy in Jail: Dock Boggs (02:41)
3-05 He's Solid Gone: Maybelle Carter (02:44)
3-06 Maggie Walker Blues: The Clarence Ashley Group (03:43)
3-07 Chevrolet: Ed Young and Emma Ramsay (03:14)
3-08 Rising Sun Blues: Roscoe Holcomb (03:03)
3-09 Lord, Build Me a Cabin in Glory: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (01:37)
3-10 Frankie and Albert: Mississippi John Hurt (05:20)
3-11 Hard Times: The Stanley Brothers (02:23)
3-12 The Miller's Will: Horton Barker (03:17)
3-13 The Coo Coo Bird: Clarence Ashley (04:04)
3-14 Double File: Gaither Carlton and Doc Watson (01:30)
3-15 The Wandering Boy: Annie Bird (03:22)
3-16 Stranger Blues: Jesse Fuller (03:29)
3-17 I Saw the Light: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys (02:24)
3-18 Sugar Hill: Maybelle Carter (01:06)
3-19 Amazing Grace: The Clarence Ashley Group (04:29)
[Credits]
Producer, Recorder, Mastering Engineer and Liner Notes: Peter K Siegel, Photographer: David Gahr, John Cohen, Alan Lomax, Mike Seeger, Guy Droussart, and Anton Mikofsky
[Notes]
From 1961 to 1965, New York City's trailblazing Friends of Old Time Music presented 14 concerts that brought dozens of legendary traditional musicians before city audiences for the first time. This "folk arrival" changed the course of American folk music, expanding the vision of the Folk Song Revival and leaving an indelible mark on the musical landscape. For Friends of Old Time Music, Peter K. Siegel, who personally recorded most of the concerts, handpicked 55 tracks from the original master tapes. They include the first concert appearances by Doc Watson, Roscoe Holcomb, Clarence Ashley, and Joseph Spence, and the triumphant return visits to New York by Dock Boggs and Mississippi John Hurt, who had made classic recordings in the city during the 1920s. Three CDs of live concert recordings. 55 tracks, including 53 never before released tracks. Accompanied by a richly illustrated 60-page book. Recorded, produced, and annotated by Peter K. Siegel A Henry Street Folklore production Produced in association with City Lore, Inc.

The Greenwich Village Folk Scene

Not Now Music NOT3CD168

Format: 3×CD, Box Set, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: Oct 24, 2014
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Folk Revival
[Tracklist]
Disk One
101 Talkin' New York: Bob Dylan (3:20)
102 Willie Seton: Tom Paxton (2:51)
103 If I Had A Hammer: Peter, Paul & Mary (2:01)
104 House Of The Rising Sun: Joan Baez (2:57)
105 Yes I See: Bob Gibson (1:59)
106 John Hardy: Mike Seeger (2:42)
107 Where Have All The Flowers Gone?: The Kingston Trio (3:03)
108 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine: Pete Seeger (2:59)
109 Take This Hammer: The Tarriers (2:35)
110 Little Sadie: Doc Watson (2:19)
111 Nine Pound Hammer: The Brothers Four (2:48)
112 I Ain't Got No Home In This World Anymore: Ramblin' Jack Elliott (2:17)
113 Fannerio: Judy Collins (3:08)
114 Those Were The Days: The Limeliters (3:07)
115 Johnny With The Bandy Legs: The Highwaymen (3:18)
116 Down The Road: The Greenbriar Boys (2:00)
117 Jessie James: The Swagmen (2:21)
118 Cotton-Eyed Joe: Oscar Brand (1:34)
119 Lonesome Traveler: The Tarriers (1:54)
120 This Land Is Your Land: Woody Guthrie (2:18)
Disk Two
201 Turn! Turn! Turn!: Pete Seeger (3:13)
202 Nine Hundred Miles: The New Christy Minstrels (2:22)
203 Wildwood Flower: Joan Baez (2:36)
204 Early In The Morning: Peter, Paul & Mary (1:37)
205 Freight Train Blues: Bob Dylan (2:18)
206 Little Brown Dog: Judy Collins (3:15)
207 Daddy Roll 'Em: Bob Gibson (2:53)
208 Tom Dooley: The Kingston Trio (3:04)
209 Worried Blues: Mike Seeger (3:28)
210 Peg And Awl: Doc Watson & Clarence Ashley (2:13)
211 Sweet Water Rolling: The Limeliters (2:29)
212 Amelia Earhart's Last Flight: The Greenbriar Boys (3:43)
213 Greenfields: The Brothers Four (3:04)
214 Jack O'Diamonds: Ramblin' Jack Elliott (2:23)
215 New York Town: Woody Guthrie (2:38)
216 Whiskey In The Jar: The Highwaymen (2:45)
217 This Train: Peter, Paul & Mary (2:11)
218 Pretty Peggy-O: Bob Dylan (3:24)
219 Don't Let Your Deal Go Down: Mike Seeger (3:19)
220 My Dog's Bigger Than Your Dog: Tom Paxton (1:40)
Disk Three
301 Silver Dagger: Joan Baez (2:28)
302 Stream Of Whiskey: Doc Watson (2:09)
303 Highway 51: Bob Dylan (2:53)
304 Death Of John Henry: Ramblin' Jack Elliott (4:07)
305 Nobody Knows: The Brothers Four (2:59)
306 A Wayfaring Stranger: The Limeliters (3:09)
307 Sad And Lonesome Day: Mike Seeger (3:30)
308 Mean Talking Blues: Woody Guthrie (3:28)
309 Springhill Mine Disaster: Bob Gibson (2:04)
310 Lemon Tree: Peter, Paul & Mary (2:57)
311 Golden Apples Of The Sun: Judy Collins (3:52)
312 A Worried Man: The Kingston Trio (2:52)
313 Dona Dona Dona: The Chad Mitchell Trio (3:14)
314 Tough Luck: Doc Watson (2:27)
315 The Green Leaves Of Summer: The Brothers Four (2:57)
316 Everywhere I Look This Mornin': The Limeliters (2:03)
317 Careless Love: Joan Baez & Bill Wood (2:27)
318 The Water Is Wide: Carolyn Hester (3:44)
319 Baby, Let Me Follow You Down: Bob Dylan (2:36)
320 We Shall Overcome: Pete Seeger (4:51)
[Notes]
Folk music had been an integral part of American culture for decades. But the folk revival that flowered in the Coffee houses of New York’s Greenwich Village as the Fifties closed would inspire a new generation to pick up their acoustic guitars and play. To take yourself back to the halcyon days of Bob, Joanie and Tom Dooley, just press play on this superb 3 disc compilation.

The Greenbriar Boys: Best of the Vanguard Years

Vanguard 206/07-2

Format: 2xCD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
From New Folks (1961)
1-01 Katy Clyne (2:22)
1-02 I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When (2:19)
1-03 Stewball (2:31)
1-04 Rawhide (2:01)
From Joan Baez Vol. 2 (1961)
1-05 Banks Of The Ohio (3:06)
1-06 Pal Of Mine (2:47)
From The Greenbriar Boys (1962)
1-07 We Shall Not Be Moved (1:45)
1-08 We Need A Lot More Of Jesus (2:00)
1-09 Girl On The Greenbriar Shore (2:20)
1-10 Life Is Like A Mountain Railway (3:37)
1-11 Down The Road (1:58)
1-12 Rosie's Gone Again (2:18)
1-13 Amelia Earhart's Last Flight (3:41)
1-14 Other Side Of Jordan (1:31)
From Ragged But Right! (1964)
2-01 Sleepy-Eyed John (2:37)
2-02 Ragged But Right (2:57)
2-03 McKinley (2:53)
2-04 Leevee Breaking Blues (3:07)
2-05 A Minor Breakdown (2:19)
2-06 Let Me Fall (1:57)
2-07 The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (2:20)
2-08 At The End Of A Long, Lonely Day (3:41)
2-09 Yellin Holler (2:06)
2-10 I Cried Again (2:56)
From Better Late Than Never (1966)
2-11 The Train That I Ride (2:19)
2-12 I Heard The Bluebirds Sing (2:23)
2-13 Morning Train (2:31)
2-14 Shackles And Chains (2:53)
2-15 Chicken (2:24)
2-16 Alligator Man (2:38)
2-17 Russian Around (2:26)
2-18 Up To My Neck In High Muddy Waters (2:50)
2-19 Little Birdie (2:53)
2-20 Prisoner's Song (2:16)
2-21 Different Drum (3:02)
[Credits]
John Herald (guitar/vocals) Bob Yellin (banjo/harmonica/mandolin/vocals) Ralph Rinzler (guitar/mandolin/vocals) Frank Wakefield (guitar/mandolin/vocals) Joan Baez (vocals) Buddy Pendleton (fiddle) Jackie Cook (bass/vocals) Eric Weissberg (bass) Sandy Block (bass) Russ Savakus (bass) Richard Romoff (bass) Jim Buchanan (fiddle)
Producer: Fred Jasper, Liner Notes: Ed Ward, Designer: Jules Halfant & Amy L. VonHolzhausen, Photographer: Joe Alper & David Gahr, Engineer: David Glasser
[Notes]
This two-CD, 35-song compilation could probably hardly be bettered as a summation of this band's best-recorded work. Disc one focuses on tracks from 1961-1962, including four songs from the 1961 New Folks various-artists compilation, two songs from Joan Baez, Vol. 2 on which they played backup, and eight songs from their proper full-length debut, 1962's The Greenbriar Boys. Though their accent at this time was on traditional songs and covers of bluegrass tunes by the likes of Bill Monroe, this does include "Stewball" (here crediting the band as authors, though different writing credits were used when Peter, Paul & Mary covered it slightly later) and Wayne Raney's sly "We Need a Lot More of Jesus" ("and a lot less rock & roll," goes the end of the couplet when the title is sung on the refrain). Disc two contains 21 songs from their mid-'60s albums Ragged but Right! (1964) and Better Late Than Never! (1966). The first of these was the last to feature the trio lineup of John Herald, Bob Yellin, and Ralph Rinzler. Frank Wakefield replaced Rinzler for Better Late Than Never!, the record that was by far their most contemporary Vanguard effort, with more original material and some very interesting covers, like Floyd Chance's Cajun-flavored "Alligator Man." Far more familiar to rock and pop fans, though, is the original version of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum," a slower and more whimsical arrangement than that used by the Stone Poneys on their 1967 hit cover of the tune. Linda Ronstadt also covered the Greenbriar Boys' best original song, "Up to My Neck in High Muddy Waters," also originally on Better Late Than Never! (and included on this compilation). As a whole, this is a good survey of a band who did a lot to popularize and preserve traditional bluegrass with skill, as well as take some occasional ventures into progressive directions, not only on the above-mentioned songs, but also on unusual (for bluegrass) Bob Yellin-penned instrumentals like "A Minor Breakdown" and "Russian Around." (AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger)