NEWSLETTER #141
Folk Music - American, British Isles, etc.
Tim Eriksen
->
Chris Wood
| WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
An Inside History Of The Folk Music Revival In America
by Dick Weissman |
BOOK $24.95 |
Hardback, 296 pages, counts as five CDs for shipping
Another perspective on the American folk music revival (what Dave Van Ronk
doesn't have a publishing deal?) that differs from the others by covering
not only the classic characters that you expect (Harry Smith, Woody
Guthrie, Dylan, Baez etc.) but also more modern performers, like Ani
DiFranco, Bela Flek and Nickel Creek. Also less common is Weissman's
dissection of the Folk music business itself; like any other in the music
business, Folk has its fair share of shady dealings and scandals, some of
which are exposed here. This is part history, part cautionary tale--a
solid read for the weathered Folk buff as well as the eager new convert.
Dick Weissman was a member of the Journeymen and has also written "The
Music Business: Career Opportunities and Self Defense" and co-authored
"The Folk Music Sourcebook" with Deems Taylor. (JM)
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| AMERICAN |
TIM ERIKSEN |
Appleseed 1053 |
Tim Eriksen |
CD $16.98 |
14 tracks, 56 mins., recommended
Well-traveled solo artist
and member of the band Cordelia's Dad, Eriksen is one powerful performer,
whether singing unaccompanied, or playing guitar, fiddle, or banjo. This
is a really mournful, in-your-face collection of songs from old American
traditions or assembled by Eriksen from words or ideas cribbed from the
tradition. It all comes across with absolute honesty and freshness,
recorded live without overdubs, and running the emotional gamut from the
bone-chilling opening track Farewell to Old Bedford to the only
baldly happy track, the infectious guitar instrumental Mobile Serenade
Polka/Shep Jones Hornpipe. Expect a moody but riveting experience. As
Eriksen says in his final self-penned track, "I love the sadness in every
song". (DC)
|
| ENGLAND |
DAVY GRAHAM |
Fledgling Records 3053 |
Midnight Man |
● CD $16.98 |
Reissue of Davy's second Decca LP from 1966. Another
eclectic mixture of material drawing on songs and tunes from the
repertoire of Lalo Schifrin, Lennon & McCartney, T-Bone Walker, Rufus
Thomas, Blind Willie Johnson, Junior Mance, Oscar Brown Jr. and others as
well as a couple of originals. All of it filtered through Davy's unique
sensibilities. On most of the tracks he is backed by bassist Tony Reeves
and drummer Barry Morgan.
|
| ENGLAND |
JACK THE LAD |
Virgin 39639 |
It's Jack The Lad |
● CD $11.98 |
14 tracks, 54 mins, very good Newly remastered. Here's a
very good 1970s band that most British folk-rock fans probably missed.
With strong American country-rock influences mixed with plenty of Beatles
and Brit folk club ballad tradition, Jack the Lad grew from the ashes of
the band Lindisfarne in 1973 to tour widely and produce four albums before
dissolving. The songs by founding members Billy Mitchell, Rod Clements,
and Simon Cowe are well-crafted and very much a product of their era.
There's something about this album, recalling bands like Poco or the
Burrito Brothers at times as much as Fairport or Steeleye, that's very
70s. But that's not meant as criticism. In fact, this album (with 2 bonus
tracks not on the original) is considerably more interesting than some of
Fairport's or Steeleye's less inspired work from the same period. Not as
wild as the band was said to be in concert, but worth a listen. (DC)
|
| IRELAND |
EILIS KENNEDY |
EK 02 |
One Sweet Kiss |
● CD $21.98 |
10 tracks, 42 mins, essential
I loved Eilis Kennedy's
first album ("Time To Sail" - $21.98) and this one is another winner.
Eilis has one of the most beautiful voices in current Irish folk music
and, like the first album, this is mostly traditional songs sungs with
great warmth and conviction with discrete and sensitive accompaniments
from a range of Irish musicians including Barry Coulter (guitar), Paddy
Keenan (Uileann pip*es), Jon sanders (mandolin, guitar, bass & harmonium)
and others but throughout the focus is on Eilis's sparkling vocals.
Highlights for me are her rendition of one of my favorite traditional
songs Helen Of Kirkonnell and the gorgeous Gaelic song Beauty
Deas an Oileain. The only disappointment is her rendition of Dylan's
Boots Of Spanish Leather which doesn't really work but the rest of
the album is so good that it doesn't really matter. An absolute delight.
(FS)
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| ENGLAND |
MR. FOX |
Castle CMRCD 1049 |
Join Us In The Game |
● CD $14.98 |
17 tracks, 78 mins., fans only English 60s hippie folkies
Bob and Carole Pegg released two LPs in 1970-71 under the name Mr. Fox.
Mostly history has rightly expunged them from memory. Why Transatlantic
has chosen to ressurect both LPs on one CD is a mystery, as the music is
embarrassingly weak and digital advances only serve to reveal the
productions as tepid and cheap-sounding. By turns these earnest
singer-songwriters try to be Fairport, the Albions, and the Incredible
String Band and fail utterly in each attempt. Lacking the String Band's
endearing lunacy and even Ashley Hutchings' sense of fun, Mr. Fox's clunky
songs are shakily played and more shakily sung. They ladle on the
folkloric references and rather than being swept into auld mythic Britain,
one feels one has been beaten with the ladle. The only bright spot is
Aunt Lucy Broadwood, an unwitting precursor to British rap. If you
retain fond memories of Mr. Fox in some Yorkshire folk club, go wild. The
rest can save their money. (DC)
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| AMERICAN |
JOHN JACOB NILES |
Rev-Ola 138 |
My Precarious Life In The Public Domain |
● CD $15.98 |
10 tracks, recommended (I think)
First CD reissue of
Kentucky born folk performer John Jacob Niles who made a brief but
memorable appearance in Martin Scorsese's Bob Dylan documentary. Here he
performs 10 lengthy interpretations of traditional Child ballads with his
otherworldy vocal style that is part traditional mountain singer and part
something completely different with it's soaring leaps into falsetto. He
accompanies himself on gently strummed dulcimer or lute on songs like
Love Henry/ The Maid Freed From The Gallows/ Jimmy Randal/ Bonnie Farday/
The Gypsy Ladie and others. Niles was a popular performer whose
recording career lasted from 1938 to 1972 and the fact that he made an
impression on Dylan and other upcoming singers in the early 60s is not to
be discounted. Niles's style is not to everybody's taste but there's no
doubt that his approach as a unique and haunting quality to it. (FS)
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| AMERICAN |
PHIL OCHS |
Collector's Choice 615 |
All The News That's Fit To Sing |
● CD $12.98 |
15 tracks, 43 min., highly recommended
The welcome reissue
of this topical and often poignant LP by one of the most talented,
intense, and often driven angry young men of song. It's his first album,
from 1964, and is offered here in stereo sound, with original cover art
and notes, and one additional track. Among the many self-penned highlights
are Celia/ Automation Song/ Talking Cuban Crisis/ Bound for Glory,
and Bullets of Mexico as the bonus track. The wonderful music is
filled with youthful energy and angst, of course, and the lyrics are
worthy of reactions that range from nostalgia for the idealism of the
1960's to wonder, perhaps, that so little has really changed. The first
song One More Parade could easily have been written yesterday. CD
reproduces original cover art and has new notes by Richie Unterberger.
(DH/FS)
|
| AMERICAN |
PHIL OCHS |
Collector's Choice 616 |
I Ain't Marching Any More |
● CD $12.98 |
14 tracks, 51 min., recommended Reissue of this troubadour
/satirist's second LP, from 1965, an outing highlighted by his musical
interpretation of Alfred Noyes' romantic poem The Highwayman. Other
numbers, more typical of Och's output, combine his keen songwriter's sense
of topical irony with his wry sense of the absurd. Chief among these are
his well known comic look at conscription, Draft Dodger Rag, his
farewell to John Kennedy, That Was the President, and his sorrowful
look at the establishment status of mid-60's labor unions, Links on the
Chain. Fine music from a voice that was stilled much too soon,
featuring original cover art and notes and new notes by Richie Unterberger.
(DH)
|
| IRELAND |
NIAMH PARSONS |
Green Linnet 1232 |
The Old Simplicity |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, 54 mins., recommended
Veteran Irish singer
Parsons has been on the scene for many years now, performing and recording
with groups large and small, most notably Arcady. But this is her most
introverted and understated outing yet, and both her intimate delivery and
her choice of songs make it a lovely experience indeed. She begins with
David Olney's dark and sad First World War love song, 1917, setting
up the simple voice and guitar texture she works for the remainder of the
CD. Guitarist Graham Dunne gets a solo turn on his sweet self-penned
Cumha an Ghra, but the rest of the spotlight is all Parsons', as she
sings of heartache and loss and eccentricity. Ye Rambling Boys of
Pleasure may be the best-known track here, while Parsons presents
wonderful underappreciated works of contemporary songwriters. Among the
best is Kieran Halpin's The Old Simplicity, which Parsons delivers
with a softer regret than Halpin did. A sweet and hypnotic set. (DC)
|
| ENGLAND |
JOHN TAMS |
Topic TSCD 551 |
The Reckoning |
● CD $16.98 |
11 tracks, 48 mins., recommended
British folk scene
veteran Tams's world on this CD is a moody one, as his baleful expression
on the package might telegraph. His lyrics focus on hard work, hard lives,
physical separation, and a poignant tang of regret seems to linger over
the whole CD. Even the highly singable choruses are more sad than hopeful.
That being said, the whole thing is beautifully done, well-paced, and
arranged with unexpected touches of brass. Tams's voice soars and cries
out to be heard, and often it's impossible to hold back from singing
along, as on the sweet Amelia or the smoky, after-hours final
thought Including Love, that observes "everything goes up in price
including love." Tams also reimagines Man of Constant Sorrow,
giving the lyrics real personal immediacy. Sad, yes, but worth a listen.
(DC)
|
| ENGLAND |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Talking Elephant 062 |
Great Grandson Of Morris On |
● CD $17.98 |
The latest in the imaginative series of electrified Morris
dance songs and tunes produced by the indefatigable Ashley Hutchings.
Joining Ashley are Roger Wilson/ vocal, acoustic guitar & fiddle, Ken
Nicol/ guitars & vocal, Simon Care/ melodeon & concertina and Guy
Fletcher/ fiddle & drums as well as various guest performers (John Spiers,
Jon Boden, Neil wayne, etc) and several Morris dance groups. Lots of fun.
|
| AMERICAN |
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III |
Collector's Choice 632 |
Album 1 |
● CD $12.98 |
11 tracks, 39 min., highly recommended
Originally issued
in 1970 and out of print pretty much ever since (with only a very brief
flash of availability on the pricey Rhino Handmade label), Wainwright's
first album for Atlantic Records (untitled originally but here labeled
"Album I") produced critical acclaim, a loyal if small fan base, and some
of his most memorable songs. Just LW3 and a guitar for company here; his
voice owes itself in large part to Neil Young, despite being tagged
another "new Dylan," usually a kiss of death. Songs such as Glad To See
You've Got Religion, and Four Is A Magic Number are bitter and
playful jabs at religion and self-righteousness, while Central Square
Song paints an unromantic picture of a drunken romance. Wainwright's
point of view and lyrical cleverness appear here full blown, sprung from
his head fully realized, as it were. Nothing here got near the charts,
although School Days, a brilliant account of his prep school days a
Saint Andrew's, remains a common request at concerts. And Black Uncle
Remus is an unforgettable piece of Americana, as intense and biting as
anything he would ever record. (JC)
|
| AMERICAN |
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III |
Collector's Choice 633 |
Album II |
● CD $12.98 |
12 tracks, 36 min., highly recommended
No other songwriter
has examined his own impulses, desires, and fears more thoroughly or more
entertainingly than LW3, choosing to sing about the sometimes painful,
awkward, and small-minded business of being a human being, and always with
a sense of humor and an air of self mockery. Prince Hal with a guitar.
Album II continues the spare production approach of his eponymous LP for
Atlantic Records and brings his wicked sense of humor to the foreground,
or at least lit up the background enough to get a better look--a sense
that would be the hallmark of his deservedly lengthy career. He couldn't
write a "normal" song to save his soul, and for that his fans will always
love him. Be Careful, There's A Baby In The House takes an
insightful look at parenthood, a subject he would return to again and
again. Samson And The Warden tells the story of a minor pot bust
(back when that was no laughing matter) that landed him in an Oklahoma
City jail. Motel Blues is a poignant stare at the loneliness of
life on the road and infidelity, while Old Friend, which beat
Springsteen to the subject matter in Glory Days by about 20 years,
includes the lines "The good old days are good and gone/ That's why
they're good-because they're gone." The morbid masterpiece Suicide Song
is included--death being another of Wainwright's favorite obsessions; only
Hamlet was more fond of thinking about it. (JC)
|
| ENGLAND |
CHRIS WOOD |
RUF 10 |
The Lark Descending |
● CD $19.98 |
8 tracks, 47 mins., recommended
After 25 years on the
British folk scene playing from everybody from Oysterband to Martin
Carthy, it's about time Wood recorded a real solo CD. This stark and
honest set of songs is beautifully recorded and conceived, split between
trad songs arranged by Wood and originals, plus two by Wood's friend and
collaborator Hugh Lupton. Wood's considerable arranging skills come to the
fore on the trad ballad Lord Bateman, which tells this story of
longing in both menacing and haunting terms. Wood's guitar work on this CD
is particularly fine, with echoes of Carthy and Jansch, but confidently
understated as the story songs uncoil themselves. Wood adds his own
low-strung fiddle and harmonium touches, but the intensity of his voice
hangs onto the spotlight throughout. (DC)
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