Virginia Traditions: Native Virginia Ballads and Songs

BRI Records – BRI 004

Series: Virginia Traditions
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Country, & Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Claude Allen: Hobart Smith (3:33)
A2 Sidney Allen: Spence Moore (1:59)
A3 Poor Goins: James Taylor Adams and Finley Adams (3:59)
A4 The Vance Song: Branch W. Higgins (2:16)
A5 The Fate of Dewey Lee: Spence Moore (2:59)
A6 The Fate of Talmadge Osborne: Ernest V. Stoneman (3:06)
A7 The Wreck of the 1256: Vernon Dalhart (4:16)
A8 The Wreck of the Old 97: Kelly Harrell and Henry Whitter (3:49)
B1 The Life and Death of Charlie Poole: Ted Prillaman (2:25)
B2 The Story of Freeda Bolt: Floyd County Ramblers (3:41)
B3 The Ballad of Caty Sage: J.C. Pierce (3:43)
B4 The Cyclone of Rye Cove: The Carter Family (2:04)
B5 The Story of the Flood: The Stanley Brothers (3:12)
B6 The Pinnacle Mountain Silver Mine: Helen Cockram (2:08)
B7 New River Song: Jim and Artie Marshall (2:59)
B8 Highway 52: Little "Doc" Raymond and The Coleman Pardners (2:54)
B9 The Ballad of Fancy Gap: Jim and Artie Marshall (4:51)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Doug DeNatale, Editor: Linda Linnartz, Recorders: Alan Lomax, Herbert Halpert, Elizabeth Lomax and Bobby Patterson, Engineers: Doug DeNatale and Glen Hinson
[Notes]
Few states in this country can boast of more diverse folkways than Virginia. Many of the material objects—such as barns, tools, and furniture—reflect the traditions that shaped the lives of its earliest settlers and the generations of Virginians who followed. The Commonwealth’s performance traditions of songs, tunes, and tales also tell of a shared heritage involving all classes of people in every facet of life. Because traditions naturally change over time, the documentation of Virginia folk culture is an ongoing process essential to our understanding of the past, present, and future. By recording the folkways of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College and its BRI Record label strive to foster a greater appreciation of our folk roots through an array of interpretive programs. From murders to train wrecks to natural disasters, the ballads on this recording concern events and people of Appalachian Virginia. Performance styles range from traditional unaccompanied singing to sophisticated modern bluegrass.

Wreck of the Southern Old 97: Ernest Thompson

Sung by Ernest Thompson in 1924. From the original 78rpm disk, Columbia 130-D.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Wreck of the Old 97 served as inspiration for balladeers, the most famous being the ballad first recorded commercially by Virginia musicians G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter. Vernon Dalhart's version was released in 1924 (Victor Record No.19427), sometimes cited as the first million-selling country music release in the American record industry. Since then, "Wreck of the Old 97" has been recorded by numerous artists, including The Statler Brothers (feat. Johnny Cash), Charlie Louvin of The Louvin Brothers, Pink Anderson, Lowgold, David Holt, Flatt and Scruggs, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Chuck Ragan, Hank Williams III, Patrick Sky, Nine Pound Hammer, Boxcar Willie, Lonnie Donegan, The Seekers, Ernest Stoneman & Kahle Brewer, Carolyn Hester and Hank Snow. The music was often accompanied by a banjo and a fiddle, while the lyrics were either sung, crooned, yodeled, whistled, hummed, recited, or chanted. The song rivaled that of "Casey Jones" for being the number one railroading song of all time.

The Railroad in Folk Song

RCA Victor LPV-532

Series: RCA Victor Vintage Series
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1966
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Old-time
[Tracklist]
A1 J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers (6/16/39) Orange Blossom Special (2:56)
A2 Carolina Tar Heels (4/3/29) The Train's Done Left Me (3:09)
A3 Carter Family (2/25/29) The Engine One-Forty-Three (3:18)
A4 Harry "Mac" McClintock (3/16/28) Jerry, Go Ile That Car (2:38)
A5 Tenneva Ramblers (2/18/28) If I Die A Railroad Man (2:56)
A6 Blind Alfred Reed (7/28/27) The Wreck Of The Virginian (2:56)
A7 Monroe Brothers (2/17/36) Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy (2:12)
A8 Jimmie Davis (5/26/31) The Davis Limited (3:09)
B1 Delmore Brothers (9/29/38) The Cannon Ball (2:12)
B2 J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers (8/6/35) The Longest Train (3:11)
B3 Vernon Dalhart (3/18/26) Wreck Of The Old 97 (3:17)
B4 Grayson & Whitter (7/31/28) The Red And Green Signal Lights
B5 Byron Parker And His Mountaineers (10/10/40) Peanut Special (2:44)
B6 Johnson Brothers (5/24/28) Crime Of The D'Autremont Brothers (3:02)
B7 Palmer McAbee (2/21/28) McAbee's Railroad Piece
B8 Paul Warmack And His Gully Jumpers (10/1/28) The Little Red Caboose Behind The Train (2:58)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Archie Green, Reissue Producer: Mike Lipskin, Remastering: Don Miller
[Notes]
Reissue of railroad music from the 20's and 30's.