Folk

Many of my old folk LPs (and LPs in general) have been displaced, or scratched beyond recognition. Alternatively, if you sold most of your vinyl during the onset of the late 80s, Compact Disc craze then this 3-CD set should signify a welcome event. This offering features a comprehensive overview to coincide with “Vanguard Records” capitalization of folk music’s increasing popularity commencing back in 1950. Naturally, these selections are culled from the now historical “Vanguard Records” archives. The three CDs are divided into distinct folk based genres: Roots of Folks (CD-1), Singers & Songwriters (CD-2), and Folk Blues (CD-3). You will hear Cisco Houston’s patriotic classic, “This Land Is Your Land,” and Doc Watson’s “Tom Dooley.” Vietnam protest singers such as Phil Ochs and the inimitable Northern California band, “Country Joe & The Fish are featured as well. Essentially, this three-pack is awash with one masterwork after another. The producers also include an informative timeline style glimpse of the progression and outgrowths of folk.
This wonderfully appealing product conjures up memories of both the good and bad while also serving as a testament to America’s beauty and wherewithal. More importantly – we are treated to a series of topical statements from many of this genre’s most prolific raconteurs. Highly recommended.

It was distinctly ironic: at the very zenith of America's postwar space-age love affair with TV, 3-D, and rock & roll (and other disposable cultural ephemera), a grassroots movement set out to recapture the country's lost musical heritage. These curious minds not only found it in a wealth of seemingly forgotten protest songs, spiritual blues, and country laments, but also forged new songs in its image. That this crusade sprang from lower Manhattan's Washington Square and the doorstep of New York University made the paradox all the sweeter. Ted Myers, the producer of this triple-disc anthology, grew up just blocks from the epicenter of that folk-quake, and his generous sense of place and time permeates this rich collection. Generally misunderstood and historically pigeonholed, the era finally gets its due, chronicled here by 72 tracks that extend far beyond the roots-conscious work of Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Pete Seeger on one hand, and the more popular material by the Kingston Trio, Limeliters, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan on the other. Culturally, the Folk movement was the alt-rock of its day–if eminently more conscious of history and politically committed. Musically, it encompassed an ethos that enthusiastically blurred the boundaries between blues, Appalachian ballads, jug music, pure country, honky-tonk, work songs, and even unbridled novelty; this set explores them all, often with a palpable sense of discovery. Historically, the movement championed preservation at the same time it gleefully tweaked old sensibilities in pursuit of new inspiration. Listen and you'll hear music 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 on stage with a guitar ever since. –Jerry McCulley

First time on CD for this collection of early Folk recordings from Barry 'Eve Of Destruction' McGuire and other members of The New Christy Minstrels, originally recorded in 1963 for the Horizon label, a short lived American Folk label whose most prominent artist at the time was Hoyt Axton. McGuire recorded a number of tracks for the label in the company of Karen Gunderson , Art Podell, Paul Potash, Barry Kane, all members of the New Christy Minstrels. These were collected together as Star Folk volumes 1 and 2 . The material is for the most part originals by McGuire and his contemporaries such as Hoyt Axton, Art Podell, Rod McKuen. These classic American Folk recordings have not been available since the mid '60s and include many standout recordings including 'Greenback Dollar', 'Town And Country' and 'So Long Stay Well'.

This 4 CD collection gathers together for the first time the entire Ian Campbell Folk Group catalogue recorded for Transatlantic Records, covering the period 1963-1968. This collection includes 6 studio albums plus related bonus material from the period. The Ian Campbell Folk Group were one of the most respected, influential and best known British folk groups of the 1960’s. Taking their origins from Aberdeen, the band formed in Birmingham in 1958. They signed to Transatlantic Records in 1963 and proceeded to record the content of this collection over the next 6 years. They topped the bill at the Royal Albert Hall, made numerous TV appearances, attended the Newport Folk Festival in 1964 and were prolific live performers throughout Europe. Dave Swarbrick and Dave Pegg who both achieved fame with Fairport Convention, are featured in this collection.

Rhino's Troubadours of British Folk series, encompassing three volumes, four decades, 49 songs, and almost as many performers, is a model genre retrospective. For those who want a representative collection of the style's highlights, it covers virtually all of the major performers and innovators of British folk, represented by their best-known (and usually best) songs. For those who want an introduction/guide to the form, it's equally useful, serving as an excellent foundation to build upon if you're motivated to seek out more albums by these performers after an initial taste. Volume One covers the mid-'50s to the early '70s, encompassing skiffle (Lonnie Donegan), elder statespersons (Ewan MacColl), virtuoso guitarists (Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, Martin Carthy), traditional singers (Jean Redpath, Shirley & Dolly Collins), singer-songwriters (Donovan), and early efforts by the major players of British folk-rock (Fairport Convention, Pentangle, The Incredible String Band, Steeleye Span).

Recorded live in a studio in Hamburg, Germany, in October 1962. Includes artists involved with that year's American Folk Blues Festival tour. With generally relaxed and reflective performances. The artists include Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Shakey Jake, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and John Lee Hooker.

WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED explores the folk horror phenomenon from its beginnings in a trilogy of films - Michael Reeves' Witchfinder General (1968)