Customer Reviews

Harlan County Usa: Coal Miner's Struggle

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Playing Time - 70:50

Who They Are: The songs (largely self-penned) are sung or played by Hazel Dickens, Old Home String Band featuring Tracy Schwarz, Sarah Ogan Gunning, Jim Garland (Sarah's brother), Johnson Mountain Boys, Country Cooking, Norman Blake, Merle Travis, Phyllis Boyens, Nimrod Workman (Phyllis Boyens' father), Doc Watson, Connie and Babe, J.P. Fraley, and Florence Reese

What They Do: This CD has songs featured in Barbara Kopple's Academy Award-winning film "Harlan County USA" along with additional material from Doc Watson, Norman Blake, and the Johnson Mountain Boys

The Songs: All but two of the songs (Hard Working Miner, The Death of Harry Simms) have been previously issued on Rounder (or Flying Fish) album releases. This is a nice thematic compilation with a strong traditional flavoring and edge. Si Kahn's "Lawrence Jones" was a splendid cover choice sung by Phyllis Boyens, accompanied by Pat Enright (guitar), Blaine Sprouse (fiddle), Mark Hembree (bass), Roland White (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro) and Bela Fleck (banjo). Yup, three cuts feature these guys who were known as The Dreadful Snakes. There are also plentyof songs with leaner arrangements presented a cappella or with minimal instrumental accompaniment. And there's even "Trouble Amonst the Yearlings," with just mandolin and fiddle, as well as "One Morning in May" with only fiddle.

Of Special Note: Some of the strongest and most expressive emotion is evoked by those who have lived the tumultuous life below gorund where pitch black by the ton is mined.

Any Recommendations: Reckon I'd try to mix out the sneezing and coughing in the background of the song "Come All You Coal Miners" sung a cappella by Sarah Ogan Gunning.

The Bottomline Is: A generous collection of chilling lyrical tales about those places and hard-working men who toil where the sun never shines. I wonder how a similar thematic CD would sell of disaster, tragedy and weather event songs.

Reviewed By: Joe Ross (staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Voices whine as if constricted by coal dust. There's nothing cheerful here, though "Dark as a Dungeon" has a sweet tune and appealing lyrics, but the words and singers are authentic and true. This grim history produced bonafide music. The stories sung in this collection are intriguing; recommending the documentary.

The songs on this CD is a history of the struggle of the common man in the coal mines. While the songs might seem dated they are none the less a musical tour of the struggle. It is a great CD to play when driving.

The songs here represent and an incredible history, some are bluegrass, some are old time, some are folk, its NICE to see such a variety and collection in one place. Of NOTE: Hazel Dickens makes this work, no Hazel, no magic