// Folks, this will be the last digest for about a week, as Dawn-Marie
// and I are moving this week to Wisconsin (Appleton area). Please try
// to keep the administrative requests to a bare minimum (since they
// will sit idle until I get to a computer), and play nice.
// Today we continue discussions of our researh project.
// Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: Folk Music, History thereof...
   From: "Robert Pugsley" (RMP6@leicester.ac.uk>

This is one of the most interesting and enlightening
threads we've had for a while. One thing I like about
it is the sheer breadth of reference, from Jolson to
John Fahey and beyond.  From John Fahey there's really
nowhere you can't go!

Just one thing, I think I must have missed something,
why are we stoppping at 1970.  That way we miss really
widening out the discussion to such personal favourites as
Billy Bragg, Michelle Shocked, Nick Cave (oh yes...),
Beck (oh yes again) and

I'd have just a few other small recommendations, firstly,
it's kind of an old timey country record but I always put
it on my folk compilations - Riley Puckett's Peach Pickin'
Time in Georgia - at least I think it's peaches I haven't got
the record in front of me and now I'm worried it might be
apples...secondly, something by Terry Callier from the 60's.
Nice folk/blues/jazz crossover thing going on there. And
one of Big Bill Broonzy's country blues folk numbers, probably
"Hey Bud Blues"...of course many of these primarily blues
artists were picked up by the folk scene in the 60s so there
is a connection.

This discussion makes me want to leave work and listen to vinyl
all day long.

Robert (Pugsley)

"If you knew what I paid for this room and what's in it, by the time
I come down those clothes'll be out of style..." Hey Bud Blues

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Subject: Re: NN: Re: History of "F" Music - Al Jolson
From: odddduck@deltanet.com (Bill Lukesh)

Folks,
  Al Jolson performing in blackface brings up an interesting entomology.
According to Michelle Shocked, the term 'jigaboo' was originally meant not
as a racial slur against blacks. But, came into being as a term used for
irish immigrants who could only get jobs performing in blackface at minstrel
shows.(Hence the 'jig' part) MS has also shown that several  'spirituals'
actually have their roots in  Irish folks songs. Pete Seeger in his
'Incomplete Folksinger' actually shows the similarity without giving any
reason. I don't own the Seeger book anymore so I can't reference those
examples. But to show that its not that far fetched, the origin of the tune
used in the spiritual 'goin' home' was written by Dvorak for the slow
movement of his 'new world' symphony(9th) in 1894.(  Using folk tunes is a
common practice when a  classical composer tries to 'capture' a certain
regional  sound. So its easy to assume that it was the other way around.) 
  On Al Jolson proper,  I just picked up a two disc Sony set entitled 'From
Gershwin's time', and includes him singing 'Swannee'. The album notes even
have a photo of him in Blackface. Anyone who thinks they know what
Gershwin's songs are 'supposed' to sound like will be delighted to hear
these originals. Long before they were mucked up of the likes  Nelson
Riddle and other fiends to become those boring standards we all know and
can not stand, these songs were great.
 One last note on Custer LaRue, she many of the songs she sings on her 'The
daemon lover' album she uses the book written by Ewan McCall and his wife
Peggy Seeger as the reference.  Again,  Do yourself a favor, walk into the
classical section and ask for 'Custer LaRue-Ballads' on Dorian. Its only
been out a few months and its midpriced so it shouldn't be difficult to
find. If you like real folk music at all, you have to hear this woman.
BilBao

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Subject: NN: Re: History of Folk Music
   From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>

Part Four: Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly
---------------------------------------

A couple of folks have reminded me that we had already listed a few
Leadbelly songs and the names of a couple of Mississippi bluesmen. And
sometimes confusion arises because a song is written by one well known
performer, but achieves its greatest popularity when performed by
someone else. If I'm able to compile this into a master list, you can be
sure that both the songwriter and the major performers will be given credit.

After bringing up Leadbelly, I remembered that I had one example of his
music in my collection, and, on review, it turns out to be a very good
one. It's a video called "A Vision Shared: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie
and Leadbelly". Narrated by Robbie Robertson (no relation) with
commentary from John and Alan Lomax, it features performances by
Springsteen, John Mellencamp, U2, Taj Mahal, Sweet Honey in the Rock,
Little Richard, Willie Nelson, Emmylou, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and
Bob Dylan. According to the credits, the editor's name is Lisa Day.
Could it be? Are you out there, Lisa? Inquiring minds want to know.

The video includes a lot of photographs and a lot of history. They
explain that "Goodnight Irene" was Leadbelly's most popular song, and it
remained popular after his death (in 1950) because it was recorded by
the Weavers and a host of other performers- including Willie Nelson.
Some of Leadbelly's other songs include:

1. Bring Me Lil' Water, Sylvie
2. The Bourgeois Blues
3. Rock Island Line
4. Midnight Special
5. Jump Down, Turn Around, Pick a Bale of Cotton

Woody's songs have been covered by others, but Arlo tells an interesting
story about how Woody was hired by the Bonneville Power Authority to
write a series of songs- designed to convince residents living near the
Columbia River that the Grand Coulee dam was a good idea. It probably
was, but today the idea of a folksinger siding with a conservative
bureaucracy seems strange.

Hidin' Out in the Georgia Pines,
Steve Robertson  

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Subject: Fw: NN: Re: History of "F" Music - Af Am
   From: "Shawn Kimbro" (skimbro@bhset.org>

Bill writes:

> MS has also shown that several  'spirituals' actually
> have their roots in  Irish folks songs.

I'm sure that's true.  It's interesting to me how styles of
music get all mingled and melted together like that.  The
flip side of course, is that a great many of the songs we
still sing today as "folk" songs started out as slave
songs--"Michael Row The Boat Ashore," "Jacob's Ladder," and
"The Blue-Tail Fly," are just a few of many. When Nanci
Griffith joined the scores of contemporary artists who've
recorded "Hard Times Come Again No More," she recorded a
melody that Stephen Foster likely borrowed from a black
slave song.  Although some may argue, the fact is that
during the time when he was writing for the Christy
Minstrels, Foster borrowed a great deal from African
American tunes and lyrics.  He referred to them as
"Ethiopian songs."  In later years, he asked that his name
be taken off those songs because of growing, post-civil war
prejudice against them, but then had his name reinstated
once the style began to re-emerge in popularity.  That isn't
meant to discount his songwriting genius, merely to state
the fact that he was heavily influenced by African-American
traditions.

Robert writes:

> I'd have just a few other small recommendations, firstly,
> it's kind of an old timey country record but I always put
> it on my folk compilations - Riley Puckett's Peach Pickin'
> Time in Georgia - at least I think it's peaches I haven't
> got the record in front of me and now I'm worried it might
> be apples...

Riley Puckett was the first great country music guitar
picker.  He was from Georgia so he was probably pickin'
peaches too, but I've not heard of that record. His band,
The Skillet Lickers, are legendary in old-time music circles
and I believe them to be one of the most influential early
bands in folk music.  Gid Tanner played hell-for-leather
fiddle with the Skillet Lickers and Puckett, who was totally
blind, played rhythm guitar.  His style included licks and
runs that were later immortalized, although not played as
well, by A.P. Carter and then included in nearly every
country and bluegrass song which followed.  Once again,
their songs, like "Sittin' In A Chimney Jam," "Sugar In The
Gourd," and "How Many Biscuits," were heavily influenced by
African American lyrics and rhythms.

Warm Regards,
-Shawn

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Subject: Re: NN: Hiistory of "F" Music
   From: "Mark L. Schaad" (mls235@bluemarble.net>

Actually, I got a chance to see Mother Maybelle Carter back in '76. Talk
about a rub with destiny. Here was a little ol' Granny who, when she sang,
sang like the angels. Nanci borrowed from her; nafter you borrow from
friends with no strings attached.

Subject: Re:NN: Re: History of "F" Music - Irish
   From: Annavedo@aol.com

  While you are all on the subject of the roots of folk music, I thought I 
might squeeze in here and relate my experience with the roots of folk music.  
A couple of years ago, we went to see a musical here in Denver, about the 
origins of "hillbilly" music.  It was called "Appalachian Strings" and it was 
fabulous!  It told the story of how the Irish immigrated to this country 
during the Irish potato famine, and were so poor and ostracized, they settled 
in the Appalachian mountain range.  You could really hear the Irish influence 
when they pointed it out to you.  Banjos, tinwhistles, guitars, fiddles;  
they were all there, as well as the mournful sadness.  Anyone have something 
to add?  Surely John, Shawn and Reid know something about this...
*Anne*

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Subject: NN: Anthology ideas
   From: "Kristina Plath" (flyer23@angelfire.com>

Hi All 

Great thread!  Nothin' like a new discussion to pull some longtime lurkers out
of the mud (like me).  It's strange-- during the school year, I still read NN,
but I don't read all of it, I skim. When summer comes, I squeeze every last
drop of Nanciness out of the digest, go spelunking in archive land, read
articles, follow links... and pray that one day she'll come to NY again!

Anyway, my contributions to the list:
Everything everybody's said till now (sorry if I repeat anything)
Kate Campbell-- Moonpie Dreams, Bud's Sea Mint Boat, Tupelo's Too Far, Wrought
Iron Fences
Kate Wolf-- Across the Great Divide, Eyes of a Painter, Here in California
Mary Chapin-Carpenter-- Stones in the Road, This Shirt, John Doe #24, Only a
Dream, Halley Came to Jackson, Family Hands 
Joan Baez-- In The Quiet Morning, Prison Trilogy, Imagine, Forever Young,
Diamonds and Rust
Townes Van Zandt-- Tecumseh Valley, To Live is to Fly, Pancho and Lefty, If I
Needed You
Tom Russel-- Canadian Whiskey, and a lot from "Man From God Knows Where," based
solely on reviews I've heard
aNGel (too obvious?)-- Love at the Five and Dime, Gulf Coast Highway,  These
Days in an Open Book, The Flyer, Goin' Back to Georgia, So Long Ago, It's a
Hard Life, I Wish it Would Rain, Love Wore a Halo, Two For the Road, There's a
Light Beyond These Woods, Trouble in the Fields, West Texas Sun
Emmylou Harris-- Jerusalem Tomorrow 

Anyway, just my spare change....

Kristina "fair summer evening" Plath 

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Subject: NN: History of Folk Music
   From: "Mark Gardner" (markdgardner@mindspring.com>

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by Robbie Robertson.

Subject: Re: NN: History of Folk Music
   From: "Mark" (catfan@radiks.net>

> "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by Robbie Robertson.

I wondered when that one would finally be mentioned.  If that isn't a 
classic, I don't know what one is!

Mark

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Subject: NN: Nanci/Stacey
   From: MMcLean7@aol.com

Please forgive me if this has already been posted--I've been out of the 
country and bit behind on my digest reading--but I thought you guys would 
like to see this short AP review and the comparison the writer makes.

Mickey McLean
Greensboro, NC

Sound Bites: Audio Reviews
.c The Associated Press
 By The Associated Press

``Simple Gearle'' (Gearle Records) - Stacey Earle

The many pleasures of ``Simple Gearle'' unfold slowly, growing richer as the 
songs take on familiarity with repeated listening. There's nothing flashy 
about the arrangements, playing or singing - just heartfelt words from a 
singer with a plainspoken voice and simple musical arrangements. "Simple 
Gearle" is a charming album that stakes out a spot where folk and country 
meet. It is sure to appeal to fans of early Nanci Griffith or Iris Dement. 
And yes, Stacey Earle is Steve Earle's sister.

By Eric Fidler, Associated Press Writer.

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Subject: NN: getting caught up
   From: JOHN PRIVE (prive@internetcds.com>

I just had a digest reading marathon trying to get caught up on
everything. I wanted to add my two cents worth on a couple of things.
This song may not be up to NNet standards, but I love it and I am
suggesting it for Maureen's tape: Harvest Moon by Neil Young.

I  did celebrate Nanci's birthday. I brought a cake to work and made my
staff sing Happy Birthday to Nanci. What those kids will do for a piece
of ice cream cake!!!

I can't wait to see Nanci at Sokol Blosser,
Molly P.

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Subject: NN: I'm outta here!
   From: Catelaw@aol.com

Dear fellow NNers:

I am embarking on an open-ended "walkabout" the United States, from Graceland 
to the Straits of Juan de Fuco to Santa Cruz to the Marfa lights in Texas.  
Then I'll be Travelin' Back to Georgia.  Just wanted to wish you all the best 
-- I'll be checking in occasionally from the road...

Cate, "sprinting like a new spring doe" and it's only 2pm, in Atlanta

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Subject: NN:MR Prine (miniscule nanci content)]
   From: "jenny.frog" (jenny.frog@virgin.net>

Somebody spoke of the great john prine and my ears pricked up:

> Anyway, I did think that at first I would
> rather hear the songs from the "horse's mouth" but when I heard John
> Prine's version of "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" after I first heard
> it on Nanci's Other Voice/Other Rooms album--I liked Nanci's version of the
> song better because both her and John sound great together.  But it also
> led me to discover John Prine's other songs. 

Well, had it not been for nanci i would have not taken myself along to
the royal concert hall here in glasgow and friday. and i would have not
had such a wonderful evening opening my ears for the first time to the
speed of the sound of john prine. i know a total of five of his songs,
courtesy of tom paxton's radio special on him and nanci's verison of
'SPOTSOL', but i thought it'd be a worthwhile show. and boy, was it!! it
was great!
     he came onstage wearing suit and tie ( i can safely tell you that he
looks not unlike a tellytubby from the side nowadys), to the amusment of
the crowd, who were almost the best i have ever been a part of.  they
soon began to singing, cheering, clapping, dancing...whatever. his set
was great, the song that really struck me though was one about peaceful
waters, lake elizabetha dn lake marie and blood on a black and white
video. he didn't play SPOTSOL, which annoyed me a lot, i was ready to
sing that one. the guys sitting next to me said that this was a lot more
low-key than the way he usually plays , but it sounded like the cause of
this was his voice, getting worse because of his neck cancer two years
ago. but john reassured us he would be around for a while and he'd
defintely be out on the road and back here in scotland....:) looking
forward to the next time and on my way to buy his live cd :)
jenny*

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Subject: NN: Zac Tullet (no nanci)
   From: "jenny.frog" (jenny.frog@virgin.net>

Hi all,
i hate to use the NN, but i need to find Zac Tullet, my e-mail to him
was returned his adress used to be Zac.Tuller@eclipse.co.uk. anybody
know where i can find him now? i owe him a video tape...
jenny*

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Subject: NN: Re: Nanci on Ovation
   From: "Steve Makarsky" (makarsky@vvm.com>

Afternoon, All:  Saw the note posted about Nanci appearing on Ovation... 
We don't get that channel around these parts... I would greatly 
appreciate if someone who can tape it for me contact me privately...

Thanks... ;-)

Steve

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Subject: NN: KPFA has been shut down
   From: "Matthew J.Baker" (matbaker@pacbell.net>

i'm sure most of you have heard by now that KPFA radio in berkeley,
california, has been shut down. they are still broadcasting, but only
prerecorded material. everyone has been shut out of the station. and
there is currently a sizable crowd gathered in front protesting the
events. the police and news vans are out in force. maybe this time
something will change.

for complete information visit this site
http://www.savepacifica.net/index.htm

please join the fight. this is was a listener supported station. a
station for the *folks*.

and there was announced a benefit concert at the berkeley community
theater, monday july 19th. you see all the people shut out of the
station have also lost their jobs. and those arrested last night need
assistance for legal costs.
--
matthew j. baker
matbakerATpacbellDOTnet

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Subject: Re: NN: KPFA has been shut down
   From: odddduck@deltanet.com (Bill Lukesh)

>i'm sure most of you have heard by now that KPFA radio in berkeley,
>california, has been shut down. they are still broadcasting, but only
>prerecorded material. everyone has been shut out of the station. and
>there is currently a sizable crowd gathered in front protesting the
>events. the police and news vans are out in force. maybe this time
>something will change.

Folks, 
 I've been reading about this fascinating  saga since I first heard about it
a few months back. Though this latest  has yet to be posted there you can
check out the history on the website 'www.radiodigest.com' under the San
Francisco/San Jose section. 
Bill' because I'm all about people" Lukesh

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Subject: NN: History of 'modern' folk music
   From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>

It was interesting when someone brought up "The Night They Drove Old 
Dixie Down", written of course by Robbie Robertson, but performed by The 
Band. If we bring, what I would term 'modern' folk, into the equation 
then a lot of tracks from The Band and their eponymous second album would 
have to be included. I think that record has been so far reaching in it's 
influence, and new performers are still coming through to this day who 
were seemingly influenced by it. I am sure Gillian Welch is an apostle of 
their music. If you listen to virtually any track on that marvellous 
record it reeks of old time music, old world values and the realism is 
brought to life by the sheer genius of the musicianship. "The Unfaithful 
Servant" and "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" are from another time and 
place and so evocative. It is one record that anyone with an interest in 
the type of music we promote on this list should have in their 
collections. Sheer pleasure, a masterpiece.

John "across the great divide" Graveling.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Show Info, Athens, GA
   From: "nathaniel calhoun" (natecalhoun@hotmail.com>

Here's some ticket/show info. for Nanci at UGA this October. I got this from 
the Univeristy web page.  If anyone is interested in going as a group from 
the Atlanta area, I would be glad to coordinate, just email me and let me 
know. I'll keep a list.  natecalhoun@hotmail.com

Tickets for all shows will be on sale at the Tate Student Center Cashier's 
Window in late July-early August. If you are not already on our mailing 
list, call (706) 542-6396 to receive a copy of the brochure. Programs and 
dates are subject to change.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVENT DATE DESCRIPTION TIME AND PLACE

Nanci Griffith Oct. 27, 1999 Dubbed "the Queen of Folkability" by Rolling 
Stone and "the torch-bearer of American Folk music" by Telegraph Magazine, 
Grammy-winner Griffith celebrates two decades of writing and performing 
music with folk and Rock and Roll roots. 8 pm - Hodgson Hall

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Artists and Groups
   From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>

As the first step in compiling the list of recommended historical folk
recordings, here's a list of all the artists and groups that have been
mentioned so far. A few of these folks probably didn't start recording
until after 1970, but they were close enough.

Hidin' Out in the Georgia Pines,
Steve Robertson

Artists
--------
Andersen, Eric
Ash, Sam
Baez, Joan
Ball, Bentley
Bikel, Theodore
Brand, Oscar
Broonzy, Big Bill
Buckley, Tim
Callier, Terry
Campbell, Albert
Carter, A.P.
Carter, Maybelle
Collins, Judy
Dalhart, Vernon
Dylan, Bob
Elliott, Ramblin' Jack
Fahey, John
Foster, Stephen
Gentry, Bobbie
Gilmore, Jimmy Dale
Griffith, Nanci
Guthrie, Arlo
Guthrie, Woody
Hancock, Butch
Hardin, Tim
Harris, Emmylou
Havens, Richie
Hopkins, Al
Hopper, William
House, Son
Houston, Cisco
Hurt, Mississippi John
Ian, Janis
Ives, Burl
Jolson, Al
Keefe, Matt
Koerner, Spider John
Leadbelly
Ledbetter, Huddie
Lightfoot, Gordon
MacColl, Ewan
Macon, Uncle Dave
McGuire, Barry
McLean, Don
Murray, Billy
Neil, Fred
Nelson, Willie
Ochs, Phil
Ossman, Vess
Odetta
Page, Patti
Paxton, Tom
Prine, John
Puckett, Riley
Raitt, Bonnie
Reynolds, Malvina
Roberts, Bob
Robertson, Robbie
Rodgers, Jimmie
Rush, Tom
Russel, Tom
Saint-Marie, Buffy
Seeger, Mike
Seeger, Pete
Simon, Paul
Stewart, John
Tyson, Ian
Van Ronk, Dave
Van Zandt, Townes
Wainwright III, Loudon
Watson, George
White, Josh
Williams, Hank
Wolf, Kate

Groups
-------
The Band
The Carter Family
The Clancy Brothers
Columbia Orchestra
Eck Robertson and Henry Gilliland
Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers
Harlan and Belmont
Ian and Sylvia
The Kingston Trio
Nassau
Peerless Quartet
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Revelers
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
That Girl Quartette
The Virginia Reelers with Fiddlin' John Carson
The Weavers

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Artists and Groups
   From: bateman@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca

I'd like to add one name which hasn't been mentioned so far, I think: Mark
Spoelstra. He was a contemporary of Dylan, Ochs and Paxton. He recorded
one album for Folkways (I think) early in the 60s and then 2 for Elektra.
A fourth, a country-flavoured album, came out in the late 60s or early
70s. As far as I know, none of these is currently available on CD. He
was spoken very highly of by Richard Farina, Joan Baez and others at the
time. I've always wondered what happened to him.

Rob Bateman

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Artists and Groups
   From: bateman@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca

Two more names to add to the list, under groups: Richard & Mimi Farina.

Rob Bateman

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Subject: NN: Gold mine
   From: nannynan@earthling.net

Hi NNetters,

This morning I suddenly remembered that two years ago I had bought 
The Real Music Box, an 8 CD set put out by Rounder Records to 
celebrate their 25th year.  Two CDs each of folk, New Orleans, Blues 
and Bluegrass, and a bonus CD with "Highlights, oddities and 
surprises.  I am now listening to them all again.  I suspect there is 
much here that will go in our Ultimate Collection.

Nancy with a y.
  Practice random acts of intelligence & senseless acts of self-control.

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