I Am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow - Old Regular Baptists
Sixteen Tons - George Davis
John Henry - Lesley Riddle
Lost Indian - Marion Sumner
Southbound - Doc and Merle Watson
High on a Mountain - Ola Belle Reed
Coal Creek March - Pete Steele
Coal Miner Blues - Hazel Dickens/Alice Gerrard
Railroad Blues - Sam McGee
Cuckoo Bird - Clarence Ashley
Conversation with Death (Oh Death) - Berzilla Wallin
Lone Prairie - Wade Ward
Rain and Snow - Dillard Chandler
Mole in the Ground - Bascom Lamar Lundsford
Moonshiner - Roscoe Holcomb
Wildwood Flower - Kilby Snow
Barbry Ellen - Jean Ritchie
Daniel Prayed - Watson, Price and Howard
Wreck of the Number Nine - Pop Stoneman
Red Jacket Mine Explosion - The Phipps Family
Kingdom Come - Norman Edmonds
Amazing Grace - Horton Barker
Riding the wave of the renewed interest in traditional American music, Classic Mountain Songs From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings showcases a handful of the greatest mountain ballads as performed by some of the most influ... more »ential folk singers and songwriters of the 20th century. This collection features many classic performances from a wide variety of regional instrumental and song styles. These diverse styles and songs types from the mountain communities of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee include old-time fiddle and banjo pieces, early bluegrass, and traditional ballads, with a special emphasis on Appalachian vocal traditions. Doc and Merle Watson, Roscoe Holcomb, Clarence Ashley, and Dock Boggs are just a few of the revered roots artists who appear on this stellar compilation. This is an essential album for both old and new fans of American mountain music. Compiled and annotated by Jeff Place.« less
Riding the wave of the renewed interest in traditional American music, Classic Mountain Songs From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings showcases a handful of the greatest mountain ballads as performed by some of the most influential folk singers and songwriters of the 20th century. This collection features many classic performances from a wide variety of regional instrumental and song styles. These diverse styles and songs types from the mountain communities of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee include old-time fiddle and banjo pieces, early bluegrass, and traditional ballads, with a special emphasis on Appalachian vocal traditions. Doc and Merle Watson, Roscoe Holcomb, Clarence Ashley, and Dock Boggs are just a few of the revered roots artists who appear on this stellar compilation. This is an essential album for both old and new fans of American mountain music. Compiled and annotated by Jeff Place.
"The spate of worthy compilations riding on the coattails of O Brother, Where Art Thou? continues with Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways, 25 tracks of serious bluegrass untarnished by rock, pop or other corrupting influences. Recorded between 1956 and 1992, it includes three numbers from what's purportedly the first bluegrass LP ever, Folkways'American Banjo: Three-Finger And Scruggs Style. Dashing mandolin runs by Earl Taylor (and his Stoney Mountain Boys) and bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe (with Peter Rowan) open and close this crisp disc while Ralph Stanley, singing with older brother Carter, offers clawhammer banjo picking.
Many of the performers - Red Allen, Doc Watson and Hazel Dickens, for example - grew up with the music. The Harley Allen-Mike Lilly Band (Harley being Red's son) shows how the genre's trademark tight harmonies can turn smooth (in an Osborne Brothers style) rather than sharp, without sacrificing the essence of true bluegrass. The New Lost City Ramblers' The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake as well as The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover's Neath That Cold Grey Tomb Of Stone evince mountain music's darkness, but then a wildfire fiddle breakdown such as David and Billy Ray Johnson's Grey Eagle comes along to show its fun side. It's a well-balanced set of early bluegrass highlights."
Terrific sound recordings!
PLH | Corvallis, OR | 11/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great recordings of a wide variety of songs. Entertaining, great to just listen to, or to learn music from. Nice variety of classic sounds.
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Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways
N. S. Houston | Austin, TX | 07/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love Appalachian Folk Music and this CD included most of the best. It was true blue original recording of this music."
Amazing
Bernadette Smith | WA | 04/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A wonderful collection of true folk music. These recordings haven't been softened by the modern sounds or current bluegrass. These recordings sound like they're of neighbors out singing on their porches having a great time. Some of the vocalists are a little rough around the edges, but that's what makes this truly great! Music like this is hard to find and I'm thrilled by my copy of this album."