Customer Reviews

Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

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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.

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.

I hemmed and hawed for a long while before actually buying this, .. and two other CD's ... but I'm so glad I did. I can listen to this music for hours one end and still listen to more. If I could, I'd start collecting all I could lay my hands on .... but at my age you are supposed to start clearing out, not adding to your stuff. I have to say Thank You amazon, for giving a person a chance to actually listen to the music before you buy, I listened to the CD's samples quite a few times, and every time, I was gladdened for being able to in this way. It's an excellent way to get CD's purchased !! ;-) Also I'm very grateful you stock and sell this type of music, as it's getting harder to buy in regular stores, it's not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. To me it's sort of eternal and I hope to get a lot more of like listening done before I kick the bucket ;-)
L.B.

I purchased the cd because for years I've wanted to get the Folkways recordings of the original singers/recordings of these American Folk classics. I am not disappointed, and plan to purchase the rest of the series over time.Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

Great recordings of a wide variety of songs. Entertaining, great to just listen to, or to learn music from. Nice variety of classic sounds.

Great collection of songs echoing the roots of American music. A very good number of songs, so a lot of music for the dollar. If you want a taste of Scottish/English ballads you'll find it here. See the movie "Songcatcher" for a visual perspective on where this music form comes from.

I love Appalachian Folk Music and this CD included most of the best. It was true blue original recording of this music.

The Classic Mountain Songs is truly a fine collection of the songs that belong to the history of your country. I am for reasons I do not kwow for sure, since a very long time attracked to the music from the Appalachians. I admire the strength of the music, the musicanship of the musicmakers. I do admire the ernest of the music itself. What may help if you also love the music, the Passions and Cantates, of the old Johan Sebastiaan Bach himself. And what for me started in 1961 with Hank Williams (The Blue Collar Shakesspeare.) is now in my very late sixties (69)a lifelong admiration of this wonderfull rich folk music. And this album has it all.

Buy it, listen to it and love it.

Richard H.K. Pohlmann The Hague, the Netherlands.

P.S. I bought my first H.W. album when I visited as a wortking student New York in 1961.

Makes you feel like you are back in the mountains hearing the locals sing their music as it was handed down through genereations. Very enjoyable.

This is an excellent introduction to the folk and traditional music of the Southern Highlands, both instrumental and vocal, sacred and secular. 24 tracks and not a dud to be found. My favorites include ballads by Doc Wallin and Jean Richie, accompanied lyrical songs by Clarence Ashley and Doc Boggs, and fiddle tunes from Wade Ward. Best track of all has be Lesley Riddle's `John Henry' - I have lots of recordings of this quintessential American folk ballad, and nothing quite approaches Riddle's performance. If you love this music you may already have many of these recordings, but it's nice to have them all in one place. If not but you're interested, this CD is a great place to start.