Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes

Elizabeth Cotten | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 14, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Smithsonian Folkways
• ASIN: B000001DGA
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,698 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Traditional Folk
  • #28 in Music > World Music > North America > Appalachian
  • #60 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > General

Editorial Reviews

This complete reissue of Elizabeth Cotten's first LP is best known for containing the original recording of her classic Freight Train. The breadth of her repertoire and endearing style have captivated generations of guitarists and fans of traditional American music. Freight Train includes guitar and banjo accompanied songs and tunes and features Mike Seeger's updated notes that include comments on cotten's life, musical style and song lyrics. Cotten's self-taught, upside-down, left-handed style made her one of the most original guitar and banjo players in the history of American folk music. Several of her deeply personal compositions, such as the immortal Freight Train and Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie, are included. "...[A] classic and belongs in every collection..." — Blues Review Quarterly

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freight Train and other songs, April 29, 2002

By 

Alexander Howard (Bromsgrove, Worcestershire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes (Audio CD)

When I first heard this CD I was astounded not just by the
technical ability of Libba Cotten, but also by the sheer
spiritual feeling she gives to the songs. She also plays really
gently, never overemphasising anything.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move Over John Hurt, February 26, 2002

By 

J. Christmas "joshua-one" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes (Audio CD)

These phenomenal songs were recorded by Mike Seeger in Elizabeth Cotten's bedroom. Elizabeth Cotten had stopped playing guitar for over twenty years when the Seeger family "discovered" her (she was working as their maid!)

Cotten's completely "by ear" playing is among the most subtle and harmonically nuanced in "roots folk music". Strangely, she does not get anywhere near the attention of Mississipi John Hurt, though she is a far better and more interesting guitar player (this is not to knock John Hurt, who is also great.)

Cotten was able to pick up everything from blues, to ragtime, to the UNC "graduation march" just by listening. At risk of sounding cliched, I believe she was a genius who was never fully able to realize her potential. But at least we have these wonderful songs to give us a sense of it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Treasure, December 30, 2005

By 

R. Cousineau (New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes (Audio CD)

What can I say? Elizabeth Cotten was one of the best guitar players of all time and almost no one knows about her.I have enormous respect for all the great guitarists from all genres of modern music and to my ears no one comes close,except maybe Mississippi John Hurt, to her fluid and gentle approach to the guitar.Even the great John Fahey was in awe of her natural talent on their shared instrument.
And to think this was recorded in her bedroom instead of a studio gives this disc a refreshing sound,just like she was sitting on her bed and playing just for you.Great just to listen to and essential to anyone who is a fan of acoustic guitar playing at its finest.
Freight Train is not just a classic song but it sounds like it has always been here like the mountains and the sky.There are stories of the Grateful Dead whenever they were passing through the area she lived in always making it an essential stop to visit her to talk and play with this mostly unknown treasure.I love this disc and everything about it.Essential and highly recommended.