Album Description

This latest NPR Classics CD features studio performances recorded exclusively for NPR programming.All performances were recorded live in the studio, usually in one take, with no overdubs.Some re-mixing was done to get the balances right. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A glimpse at the American Folk Music
I discovered American country/folk music through Iris DeMent's songs and was looking for more music of the same kind. So I thought this CD could help me to discover new artists which are overlooked in the music mainstream. From this point of view, this CD doesn't disappoint: you'll find such unknown gems as "Bon Soir Moreau", which has a catchy beat, "Poor Man's house", "I push right over" and, naturally, "That's the way love goes", poignantly performed by Iris DeMent. The list could go on, since almost all songs are worth mentioning. So why just four stars? Because, being a collection of country/folk/blues and creole music, you'll inevitably find a few songs that dont' match your tastes; but, on the whole, the balance will hang on the plus side. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spanning the worlds of country, blues, folk, gospel, Cajun, Tejano, andNative American music, this 19-song sampler offers listeners a little taste ofwhat they'll find in the four-discAmerican Roots Music boxset and the PBS documentary thatspawned it. For the most part, these selections are veritable cornerstones oftheir respective genres, and the artists are all worthy of deep exploration inand of themselves. But for those looking to dip a toe into the vast ocean ofroots-based American music, this is a fine place to start. --MarcGreilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great overview of folk in the 60's
Troubadours of the Folk Era is a great series. If I had to choose which volume was the best, it would between this one and 3. This one wins by a bit because it has more tracks of people you won't easily find on cd.
So they're the real surprises here like the Simon Sisters cute "Wlinken, Blinken, and Nod". The Simon Sisters was the group Carly and Lucy was in before Carly went on her own and it's pretty much unrecognizable from her later sound. Jim and Jean's take on Changes is fantastic. They're like an electric Ian and Sylvia. The picture of them in the linear notes is adorable. This cd introduced me to several artists. After hearing the introspective "Other Side of this Life", I was an instant Fred Neil fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once the denizen of passionate preservationists, folk music after Dylan has become a singer-songwriter affair, a genre in which a song gains force as an expression of self rather than tradition. The Newport festivals heeded that change, and this solid anthology has striking, nervy performances of originals like Robert Earl Keen's "Mariano," Shawn Colvin's "Cry Like an Angel," and Cheryl Wheeler's "Arrow," all of which surpass their studio predecessors. The rare tracks from Greg Brown and Richard Thompson are also welcome. Indeed, only the opening and closing contributions from Pete Seeger seem out of place. No matter: Chris Smither's gorgeous solo acoustic version of "Killing the Blues" is ample compensation. --Roy Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Variety of Folk Giants!
I got this CD 3 years ago, and I have loved it ever since. At the time I didn't know much about folk music except for people like Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthery, whom I had heard my parents play. I didn't realize at the time what a good album this was. It contains a variety of really good folk songs from groups like Indigo Girls and Sweet Honey in the Rock. All of the recordings are live, which just adds to the effect of these really good songs. I especially enjoyed Arrow (Cheryl Wheeler), American Tune (Indigo Girls), and Cry like an Angel (Shawn Colvin). Some of each artist's best efforts are on this disk. Pete Seeger is the exception, but he is getting a bit old to sing so his music can't be rated on the same scale. If you like the folk music traditions of Bob Dylan and pete seeger, or enjoy any of these groups, I strongly encourage you to get the CD. It is a great compliation of the new generation folk singers and it introduced me to several of my favorite groups. ... Read more

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A Compilation Worth Checking Out !
This 2cd compilation was released to celebrate Topic Records sixtieth birthday , but I suppose it`s really an introductory cd to the delights of Topic`s rich array of artists , and the legacy that they`ve left over the last forty years .

If you`re open minded to music , you`ll discover over 2 hours of ecletic folk music performed by some of the finest talent that the British Isles , and Ireland has to offer .

This cd is a great listening experience in it`s own right , but once these songs are etched in your brain , you`ll be out hunting down the original Topic albums that they came from .

Go on , buy it , it`s cheap enough ! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Laid Back and Unpretentious
But a lot of fun at times. All of these selections were recorded live in a small (and extremely relaxed) radio studio. The results range from charming to just sloppy. It's particularly refreshing to hear a different side of the more well-known performers (Muldaur, Danko and Kaukonen) without the usual bells and whistles. Muldaur's performance is particularly engaging. At it's best, this CD makes you feel like you're sitting in the artist's living room, a friend more than an audience member. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It was distinctly ironic: at the very zenith of America'spostwar space-age love affair with TV, 3-D, and rock & roll (and otherdisposable cultural ephemera), a grassroots movement set out torecapture the country's lost musical heritage. These curious minds notonly found it in a wealth of seemingly forgotten protest songs,spiritual blues, and country laments, but also forged new songs in itsimage. That this crusade sprang from lower Manhattan's WashingtonSquare and the doorstep of New York University made the paradox all thesweeter. Ted Myers, the producer of this triple-disc anthology, grew upjust blocks from the epicenter of that folk-quake, and his generoussense of place and time permeates this rich collection. Generallymisunderstood and historically pigeonholed, the era finally gets itsdue, chronicled here by 72 tracks that extend far beyond theroots-conscious work of Woody Guthrie, theWeavers, Ramblin' JackElliott, and Pete Seeger on onehand, and the more popular material by the Kingston Trio, Limeliters, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan on theother. Culturally, the Folk movement was the alt-rock of its day--ifeminently more conscious of history and politically committed.Musically, it encompassed an ethos that enthusiastically blurred theboundaries between blues, Appalachian ballads, jug music, pure country,honky-tonk, work songs, and even unbridled novelty; this set exploresthem all, often with a palpable sense of discovery. Historically, themovement championed preservation at the same time it gleefully tweakedold sensibilities in pursuit of new inspiration. Listen and you'll hearmusic that became touchstones for artists as diverse as the Byrds, Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart,and--wittingly or not--every passionate coffeehouse minstrel who's strode onstage with a guitar ever since. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Best folk revival anthology ever!!
Since CDs started predominating the form in which music is available to the consumer, there have been many folk reissues. But this one is by far, the best collection of reissues I've seen or heard. It's only problem -- if it's even a problem -- is that after you've listened to all 72 tracks, you're left wanting more. The sound quality too is excellent. Go for it!

A Satisfying Compendium
About 6 years ago, I bought Rhino's "Troubadours of the Folk Era" CD's. They introduced me to many folk singers whom I now know intimately. Taking that one better, Rhino now has this 3 CD set with pictures, liner notes and personal essays. Buyer beware, if you do have the Troubadours CD's, you may be disappointed to learn that many of the same recordings do pop up here. The good news is that there is a wealth of other material here to select from. Joni Mitchell is explained as not appearing due to licensing restrictions in this collection, yet oddly, she appeared on the Troubadour series. Conversely, Dylan appears here although he was not on Troubadours. The times are a'changin' I guess. I do have some minor quibbles with the material selected... "There but for Fortune" is not, in my opinion, the best Joan Baez choice for this collection, as it was released later in the 60's and doesn't have as much of that Washington Square flavor as say, "We Shall Overcome" or any of her broadside ballads do. Also, why do they select "Codine" from Buffy Sainte Marie, which is one of the hardest songs of hers to appreciate at first listening? Also, with lesser known artists such as Judy henske whose older material is NOT available on CD, why do we have "High Flying Bird" yet again, as on Troubadours? It's an amazing song, but for those of us starved for Henske, another selection would have been adequate.

That said, this is still worth having, for its historical impact and musical pleasure. Enjoy!

Boomer nostalgia trip
I can't write about this CD in the third person as the other reviewers have because many of the songs bring up vivid memories of the singers and other events happening at the time that were related to those songs. I'm listening to this CD at work, and I would have gotten through all three CDs if I didn't keep repeating some of the songs endlessly. As one who owned about half of these songs on LP, if I were to create a CD with representative songs of the era, many of the same songs would be on it.

Some of my all time favoritesongs are included like "Pack up your sorrows," "Thirsty boots," and "I can't help but wonder where I'm bound." These are on CDs I've already bought, but it is still great to have them all in one place. Other's enter my CD collection for the first time. Finally "Reason to believe," "Suzanne," "Hard Traveling," "Euphoria," "Sing and turn Jubilee" and "The motorcycle song" can be played in the car.

If you are new to this music or this era, this is just a sampling. Some of these artists you will probably want in more depth. When they play "Cod'ine," I want to run home to also hear Buffy Sainte-Marie sing "Pineywood hills" and "Until it's time for me to go." But start here, it's a great introduction. It's hard for me to listen to "Four strong winds" without also hearing "Early morning rain," but if you've never heard Ian & Sylvia, this is one of the two best songs to start with.

If you grew up/old with this music too, how can you resist?

Was it that long ago?
It is encouraging that this set may have been prompted by success of "The Best of Braodside" out on Folkways last year. In this case you get a pretty panoramic look at folk based music in the early 60s and people are certain to disagree on what is good or bad, should be in or should be out. The bottom line is that no matter what your point of view there is a lot of high quality music here and a good look at how folk music planted seeds for a lot of what is still happening in contemporary music. It was a great time, it was (and is) great music and one thing that can be agreed upon is that having Judy Henske's "High Flying Bird" back in print is a real important plus.

revive us again
The New York Times this week refers to the "new folk revival." Even from that elevated vantage it is clear that rooted sounds are rising from the ground once more, and that's a cause for rejoicing. Along with it, there's what might be called a folk-revival revival, a growing interest in the legendary folksong movement that reached its apex in the early to mid-1960s, leaving an indelible mark on American popular music ever after.

This welcome, (mostly) judiciously selected collection of songs covers the early revival and follows it to its end, just as "folk" was being redefined as a vehicle for personal introspection rather than as a traditional, communal form of expression. Anyone who was touched by the revival, or who is curious to know what it was about, should claim Washington Square Memoirs as quickly as it takes to retrieve cash, check, or credit card.

Now the inevitable quibbles about choices: Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Simon and Garfunkel aren't here because the editors couldn't get legal clearance, so their absence is excusable. But why not Leonard Cohen? And why Bob Gibson's dopey "Fog Horn" and not Patrick Sky's great reading of "Reuben" or, failing that, "Cape Cod Girls"? Why Ed McCurdy's pedestrian "Darlin' Corey" and not his sterling version of "The Two Sisters"? Why not a less dated, more interesting Paul Siebel song than the mopish hippie ode "Then Came the Children" -- say, "Louise" or "Long Afternoons" or "My Town"? And it is hard to think or speak or write of the Limeliters' arrangement of "The Wabash Cannonball" without conjuring up the adjective "hideous."

As one listens to these three discs, sometimes it is best to keep historical value as much as musical virtue in mind. You might say, if you're in a charitable frame of mind, that some of these songs -- the Big Three's "Nora's Dove (Dink's Song)" and Gibson and Camp's "Betty and Dupree" for two examples -- lose something in the translation from gritty folk plaint to pretty pop tune. Still, there are pleasures to be had in unexpected places. Not having heard the song for some 35 years, I was shocked at the lump in my throat as I was reintroduced to the Chad Mitchell Trio's earnest "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" (a once widely sung anti-war anthem and campfire song [composed by Ed McCurdy], for those of you too young to know what I'm talking about). And there's the almost maddeningly infectious melody of the Kingston Trio's "Molly Dee" (written by a very young John Stewart). Lucinda Williams has never been accused of writing maddeningly -- or even pleasantly -- memorable melodies. Maybe these uncool guys with crew cuts and striped shirts were on to something after all.

Most of the music, though, lays claim to artistic seriousness and esthetic achievement. Lots of highlights, from the familiar to the obscure, and some happy surprises, such as the revelation of Judy Henske's excellence; her bluesy reading of Billy Edd Wheeler's "High Flying Bird" has an emotional and intellectual depth that probably didn't even shine as vague glimmer in the collective imagination of the Journeymen. Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Ian and Sylvia, Koerner, Ray, and Glover, the late Fred Neil, Tom Rush, Odetta, Taj Mahal, Tom Paxton, Kweskin's Jug Band, and other giants of the revival deliver the goods (though -- so kill me -- Joan Baez bores as always). A special delight is the inclusion of the undeservedly forgotten Kathy and Carol's gorgeously harmonized "Wondrous Love," and it's good, too, to be reminded that there once was an Even Dozen Jug Band -- but jeez, why the merely decent "Take Your Fingers Off It" and not the hilariously inspired "Evolution Mama"? Ah, well, complain and listen and smile. Damn if it isn't true, but -- in the Weavers' words -- wasn't that a time? ... Read more

Album Description

International Folk Dance Mixer ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wrong music to song titles
The music samples I heard here couldn't be from this CD! I am a folkdance teacher and am familiar with these tunes listed. The samples do not match!However,this may be a mistake of when it went online, not the fault of the CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

National Council for the Traditional Arts strike gold
The National Council for the Traditional Arts (www.ncta.net) has struck gold in them thar hills ... in the persons of: Wayne Henderson plays guitar with the speed of a banjo - thumb and finger picks; John Cephas of Cephas and Wiggins is a Piedmont blues player. Wiggins makes appearances with his harmonica;Eddie Pennington plays in a thumb-picking style, providing his own bass line on either acoustic or electric guitars;Johnny Bellar plays the Dobro or resophonic guitar as well as lap steel guitar and bass; Linda Lay adds voices and guitar; her husband David provides rythmn guitar.

All have strong credentials as traditional musicians - very traditional, superb musicians. The result is an album with no weak cuts. They are as comfortable on fiddle tunes (I Don't Love Nobody) as with Stamps-Baxter gospel music (Where the Roses Never Fade) as with their own compositions (Northern Lights) as with covers of traditional blues (Cannonball Blues) etc. ...

Personal favorites are Heaven and Walking Mama. The only "problem" with the collection is that it makes you sorry you missed the tour. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amazing collection of rare political songs
This 10 CD set includes some very rare political songs. Many can be considered "folk songs" although there are also some rarities like classical-oriented Communist Party songs. If one is interested in the Almanac Singers, the early recordings of Josh White, or Peekskill, this is a must have. The book which accompanies the collection is very informative. I only give the collection 4 stars instead of 5 since there are some songs which do not hold up so well after so many years, but overall this is fantastic compilation. ... Read more