Bulletin - December 2008
Folk Music - American, British Isles, etc.
Angel Band
->
Various Artists + DVD
| LUCINDA WILLIAMS |
New West 8065 |
Live From Austin, TX |
● DVD $15.98 |
This versatile and talented performer on her debut
performance on Austin City Limits in October 1989 performing 16 songs with
her original band - Gurf Morlix, John Ciambotti & Donald Lindley. This is a
considerably expanded version of the show that was originally aired on TV.
Lucinda does folk, blues, country and rock 'n' roll. Songs include Big
Red Sun Blues/ Crescent City/ Abandoned/ Price To Pay/ Passionate Kisses/
Happy Woman Blues and more.
|
| ANGEL BAND |
Appleseed 1108 |
With Roots & Wings |
● CD $16.98 |
13 tracks, 47 min., highly recommended
Angel Nancy
Josephson writes most of the better songs here and, with bandmates Jen
Schonwald and Kathleen Weber, manages to weave beautiful harmonies around
intelligent, uplifting lyrics. (Kudos to her for the creative near rhyme
of "wide open" and "tightropin'" on Jump Back In The Ditch.) The AB
is at its best when in hovers above bluegrass and country territory, as it
generally does. The original blues Drown In The Fountain Of Good
tries too hard and feels self conscious, and ultimately is a better idea
for a song than a song. But the seeming simplicity, beauty and charm of
Cold Lonesome Down In Blackbird Creek/ Patron Saint Of Opportunity,
and I'll Sing This Song For You demonstrate absolutely the immense
talent of this under-appreciated band. It helps that their back-up band,
which includes David Bromberg, is first rate. Another fine release from
the little West Chester, PA, Appleseed label. (JC)
|
| DAVID BROMBERG |
BGO BGOCD 811 |
David Bromberg/ Demon In Disguise |
● CD $18.98 |
18 tracks, 80 mins, highly recommended
Compiles what are
probably Bromberg's two best-known albums on one CD; his major label debut
"David Bromberg" from 1972 and the follow up "Demon in Disguise" from '73,
both released on Columbia records. Bromberg is an eclectic artist to say
the least, with elements of Folk, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, and more
popping up throughout his recordings. Bromberg was definitely well known
by the time his self-titled album came out. He had already worked with
Jerry Jeff Walker, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, and George Harrison, not bad
company and almost as impressive is the fact that while attending Columbia
university, Bromberg took guitar lessons from Reverend Gary Davis; his
pedigree was pretty undisputable and the record label only lightly held
the reins, allowing him to deliver some funky, interesting records. His
lengthy version of Mr. Bojangles off of "Demon" garnered him the
most radio airplay at the time, but mostly Bromberg was a critical success
loved by other musicians and a hardcore, albeit not huge following of
fans. Bromberg is highly regarded for his guitar playing and there are
countless great examples of it throughout these albums. Other standout
tracks include The Boggy Road to Midgetville (Arkansas Traveler,)/
Dehlia/ The Holdup (co-written with George Harrison,) / Sammy's
Song/ Hardworkin' John/ Diamond Lil/ Demon in Disguise as well as his
fantastic Medley of Irish Fiddle Tunes, which includes Rodney's
Glory/ The Rights of Man, and The First of May. Bromberg is
truly an enormously talented musician and this captures him in his prime
(although he is still going strong). (JM)
|
| SHIRLEY & DOLLY
COLLINS |
EMI 28404-2 |
The Harvest Years |
● CD $26.98 |
Two CDs, 41 tracks, essential
These recordings made
between 1969 and 1977 are possibly the very finest recordings made by
these two outstanding artists in a career full of superb achievements. It
combines their two original Harvest albums from 1969 and 1970 plus the six
tracks recorded in 1976 to replace the second side of "Anthems In Eden"
when it was reissued as "Amaranth" along with four outtakes from the
"Love, Death & The Lady" album plus with a track from the "Son Of Morris
On" album from 1976 and a track from the Albion band's 1977 album "The
Prospect Before Us". The first 16 tracks on disc one comprise the original
"Anthems In Eden." The first 28 minutes of disc one are a suite of 7
mostly traditional songs describing the breakup up of relationships
brought about by the huge numbers of men slaughtered on the battlefields
of Europe during the First World War including the spine chilling "Whitsun
Dance" written by Shirley's husband at the time and producer of both
albums Austin John Marshall. On these Shirley is accompanied David Munrow
and members of the early music group Musica Reservata on renaissance
period instruments (rebec, harpsichord, cornett, sackbut, bass viol,
crumhorn, etc) plus occasional added singers. Arrangements are by Dolly
who also plays her distinctive flute organ and piano and the result is
absolutely spellbinding. On the remaining tracks from the original album
she is accompanied by the same group on traditional songs like
Rambleaway/ Bonny Cuckoo/ Gathering Rushes In The Month Of May and
others plus Robin Williamson's odd God Dog. The first 12 tracks of
the second disc comprise the original "Love, Death & The Lady" LP from
1970 which like "Anthems" features Shirley singing a collection of
traditional songs with accompaniments by members of the Early Music
Consort on renaissance period instruments (harpsichord, sackbut, bass
viol, rebec, etc). Arrangements are by Dolly who also plays her
distinctive and beautiful flute organ and piano. The songs here are even
better than on the first album as are the arrangements - the empathy
between Shirley's subtle melancholy vocals and the instrumentation is
stunning. Just listen to the interplay between vocals, flute organ,
harpsichord, rebec and sackbut on The Outlandish Knight. Other fine
songs include Death & The Lady/ The Oxford Girl/ Young Girl Cut Down In
her Prime/ Salisbury Plain/ Six Dukes and others. But the highlight is
the truly incredible version of Plains Of Waterloo with Shirley's
sensitive vocals perfectly complemented by the sombre but beautiful
instrumental work. This performance is one of my all time favourites. The
four bonus tracks (Sailor From Dover/ Young John/ Short Jacket & White
Trouser and The Bold Fisherman are up to the standard of the
rest of the album and are featured at the end of disc one. The six tracks
from the second incanation are varied including several with electric band
accompaniment by members of the Albion band and a couple with the eerie
accompaniment of John Sothcott on viele. The booklet includes new notes by
David Suff. If you don't already have the long deleted CD reissues this
double set should be the cornerstone of any collection of the English folk
revival. (FS)
|
| KAREN DALTON |
Delmore OMEGA 15 |
Cotton Eyed Joe |
● CD $32.98 |
2 CDs + 1 DVD, 25 tracks, 100+ mins, recommended
Greenwich
village folky gets an artful two-disk collection to help tell the story.
Dalton was kind of a native American beatnik, folk version of (or attempt
at) Billie Holiday (a performance of God Bless The Child from 1969
appears on the accompanying DVD), who passionately sang in a husky, down
trodden style that won over a lot of fans in the musician community, but
not a whole lot of commercial success. A strong musician as well, she
would accompany herself on twelve string guitar or a long neck banjo.
Dalton only released two albums in her lifetime; the set on the CDs was
recorded in 1962 but is making its first appearance here. The informal
setting of the live recording lends to a fair amount of guitar tuning,
audience rumblings and coughing, that could have easily been edited some,
while still keeping the intimate vibe. Contains strong versions of songs
like Every Time I Think of Freedom/ Cotton Eyed Joe/ Pastures of
Plenty/ Pallet on Your Floor/ Darlin' Corey, and much more. 1962 was
early on in her career, while she was getting strong in the folk clubs,
but little known outside of them. All of the CD tracks are recorded at the
"Attic" club in Boulder Colorado, while the four DVD tracks come from
performances in 1969 and 1970. "Attic" co-owner and scene-maker Joe Loop
provides compelling liner notes. Not everyone will be able to get into
Karen Dalton, but Bob Dylan loved her and he knows a thing or two about
music, so you might want to check her out as well. Fans of Nick Drake and
other laconic, under-achieving, outsider artists of the Aquarian Age
should find something to dig about this. (JM)
|
| DICK GAUGHAN |
Topic TSCD 419 |
Handful Of Earth |
● CD $14.98 |
10 tracks, essential
Finally available again in the U.S.A.
In the 70s and early 80s nobody on the British Isles folk scene was better
than Dick Gaughan with his rich smoky baritone voice and dazzling guitar
technique. This 1981 album is the most fully realized expression of Dick's
artistry and a masterpiece in every respect. He has never sung or played
as well and his choice of material cannot be faulted. Several songs are
from or about Ireland. Craigie Hill and Lough Erne are two
fairly well known traditional songs about emigration which he sings with
great feeling and conviction. Phil Colclough's beautiful Song For
Ireland depicts the beauties of the country against a backdrop of the
Troubles and Dick's wistful singing is sure to send shivers down your
spine. Ed Pickford's stirring Worker's Song is brought to vibrant
life with its lovely melodic guitar accompaniment. In fact, none of the
tracks is less than superb. Unequivocally one of the greatest folk
recordings of the 80s! (FS)
|
| TOM RUSSELL |
Shout Factory 31099 |
Veterans Day - The Tom Russel Anthology |
● CD $23.98 |
2 CDs, 37 tracks, 160 mins, recommended
Texas Country
music artist Tom Russell is one of those artists whose work I like best
when other artists are covering it. His versions are good, but he seems to
inspire greatness in others like Ian Tyson, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris
etc. when they record his compositions. That said, in addition to his own
voice being heard on this, there are many tracks that feature him in duet
with such artists as Dave Alvin, Iris Dement, Nanci Griffith, Jimmie Dale
Gilmore, and more. This collection gathers up all of Russell's best known
and best loved songs, like his tribute to Gram Parsons Joshua Tree,
as well as U.S. Steel/ Veteran's Day/ Manzanar/ Navajo Rug/ Throwin'
Horseshoes at the Moon, etc. Also includes a couple of tasty cover's
of other artists like Merle Haggard's Tulare Dust, and Van
Morrison's Cleaning Windows. Plus you get a previously unreleased
acoustic version of Dark Angel, as well as a brand spanking new
recording Roll the Credits. So all in all, fans of Russell's will
totally love this, but if you are not familiar with him and are looking
for a good starting place, I would first recommend picking up the "Wounded
Heart of America" collection that features a whole host of great artists
covering Russell along side him doing a couple of his own. (JM)
|
| JUNE TABOR |
Topic TSCD 298 |
Airs And Graces |
● CD $14.98 |
10 tracks, essential
Finally available again in the USA.
This is a reissue of June's debut album from 1976 which immediately
established her as one of the finest interpreters of traditional and
contemporary songs on the British folk scene. This album reflects more of
a purist approach to largely traditional material than her later albums do
- with Nic Jones/ guitar & fiddle, Jon Gillespie/ bassoon, sopranino &
keyboards - While Gamekeeps Lie Sleeping/ Bonny May/ The Band Played
Waltzing Matilda (possibly the best version of this song and the one
that first drew attention to the talents of Eric Bogle)/ Waly Waly
& others. (FS)
|
| JUNE TABOR |
Topic TSCD 360 |
Ashes And Diamonds |
● CD $14.98 |
11 tracks, 44 mins, essential
Finally available again in
the USA. The CD issue of June's second solo album from 1977 is
particularly welcome as it is a personal favorite of mine. June's smokey
sensuous voice has rarely sounded better, the choice of songs is superb
and the arrangements are impeccable and imaginative. Two of the songs are
contemporary from the pen of the brilliant Australian songwriter Eric
Bogle - June was one of the singers to bring this remarkable writers
talents to a wider audience. Now I'm Easy features an electric band
and doesn't quite come off but the anti-war No Man's Land is given
a truly chilling performance with sensitive piano and synthesizer
accompaniment by Jon Gillaspie. Most of the other 9 songs are traditional
- some sung acapella and some with accompaniments featuring Nic Jones/
guitar and fiddle, Jon Gillaspie/ piano and sytnthesizer and Tony Hall/
melodeon. And what a selection of songs they are! Including the Australian
outlaw ballad Streets Of Forbes, the powerful unaccompanied murder
ballad Clerk Saunders, the tragic Earl Of Aboyne with some
truly stunning guitar by Nic Jones and more. A stunning disc in every
respect from one of the major talents on the British music scene. (FS)
|
| TOWNES VAN ZANDT |
Charly SNAPCD 294 |
Legend - The Very Best Of |
● CD $14.98 |
2 CDs, 46 tracks, 157 mins, highly recommended
Charley has
done a very thorough job re-issuing Towns Van Zandt's Tomato Records
catalog and now they turn to providing us a fantastic "Best of" CD,
starting off with his two most famous and most famously covered songs
If I Needed You and Poncho and Lefty, and then taking off from
there to a wealth of material from one of the greatest songwriters of the
last 35 years or so. St John the Gambler/ Flying Shoes/ Waiting Around
To Die/ Mr. Gold & Mr. Mudd/ Our Mother the Mountain/ For the Sake of the
Song, and so many more great tracks. Includes a handful of tracks from
Van Zandt's excellent live album, "Live at the Old Quarter." Other notable
cuts include bonus duets on both CDs singing with the likes of Willie
Nelson, Freddy Fender, Emmylou Harris, Doug Sahm etc. This is a great
place to get a whole lot of great Towns Van Zandt in one place. I
recommend pretty much all of his work, but before you jump into the full
catalog, this is an excellent starting point. (JM)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Repertoire 5102 |
Songs From The Invisible Republic - Music
That Inspired Bob Dylan |
● CD $24.98 |
2 CDs, 55 tracks, 142 mins, highly recommended You could
easily fill your bookshelf with dozens of books that try and unravel the
supposed mystery that is Bob Dylan. There is practically a cottage
industry devoted to understanding this most enigmatic artist and this CD
fits in there with the better attempts. The best aspect of this collection
is the wide range of material that it covers, with the basic notion that
it all inspired Dylan, or that he covered or borrowed from it. There is a
heavy amount of Blues, which was a bit surprising; also good portions of
Folk, Pop, Country and Rock'N' Roll. Muddy Waters' Rolling Stone,
Bill Monroe's Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Billie Holiday's Strange
Fruit, and Woody Guthrie's 1913 Massacre,, are all obvious choices,
but this collection wins most on the lesser known choices, like the great,
odd, Rockabilly of Johnny and Jack's Uncle John's Bongos, the ethereal
Folk of Karen Dalton's Ribbon Bow, or Bert Jansch's Nottamun Town. No
matter what the point of this CD is, it is most certainly full of all
kinds of great music with a lot of it rarely compiled. Includes great
tracks by Josh White, The Stanley Brothers, Lonnie Johnson, Tommy Duncan,
Bing Crosby, Curtis Jones, Leadbelly, Bukka White, Hank Williams, Blind
Arthur Blake, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and many more fantastic artists. Does
this collection reveal the true story of what made Bob Dylan who he is?
How the hell would I know? But, it's definitely a great collection, well
worthy of your hard earned dollars. (JM)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG: St. James Infirmary/ GENE AUSTIN:
Lonesome Road, The/ CHUCK BERRY: Too Much Monkey Business/ BLIND BLAKE:
You Gonna Quit Me Baby Blues/ RICHARD "RABBIT" BROWN: James Alley Blues/
BING CROSBY: Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day)/
KAREN DALTON: Ribbon Bow/ REVEREND GARY DAVIS: Baby Let Me Lay It On You/
TOMMY DUNCAN: Daddy Loves Mommy-O/ RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT: Diamond Joe/ THE
GRAHAM BROTHERS: Hard Times (Come Again No More)/ WOODY GUTHRIE: 1913
Massacre/ SLIM HARPO: Shake Your Hips/ BILLIE HOLIDAY: Having Myself A
Time/ Strange Fruit/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Automobile Blues/ Someday Baby/
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT: Louis Collins/ Stack-O-Lee/ THE INK SPOTS: We Three
(My Echo, My Shadow & Me)/ BERT JANSCH: Nottamun Town/ JOHNNY & JACK:
Uncle John's Bongos/ LONNIE JOHNSON: Tomorrow Night/ ROBERT JOHNSON:
Little Queen Of Spades/ CURTIS JONES: Highway 51 Blues/ JACK KELLY:
Highway 61 Blues/ B.B. KING: Thrill Is Gone, The/ FRANKIE LAINE: That
Lucky Old Son/ LEADBELLY: In The Pines/ CURTIS MAYFIELD: People Get Ready/
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL: Delila/ THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS: Sitting On Top Of The
World/ BILL MONROE: Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ ODETTA: Another Man Done Gone/
CHARLEY PATTON: High Water Everywhere Pt. 2/ THE STANLEY BROTHERS: Man Of
Constant Sorrow/ TAMPA RED: It Hurts Me Too/ MUDDY WATERS: Rollin' And
Tumblin Pt.1/ Rollin' Stone/ Rosalie/ BUKKA WHITE: Fixin To Die Blues/
JOSH WHITE: Barbara Allen/ The House Of The Rising Sun/ HANK WILLIAMS:
Alone & Forsaken/ The Pale Horse & His Rider
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