My Precarious Life in the Public Domain [Import]

John Jacob Niles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Rev-Ola
• ASIN: B000CSTJVQ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Henry (aka Young Bunting)

2. Our Goodman (aka Old Cuckold)

3. The Maid Freed from the Gallows

4. Edward

5. Jimmy Randal

6. The Ballad of Barberry Ellen

7. Bonnie Farday (aka Babylon)

8. The Cherry Tree

9. The Gypsy Laddie

10. Mary Hamilton

Editorial Reviews

First time available on CD for this amazing, influential performer. Niles was featured in Martin Scorsese's Bob Dylan documentary. Rev-Ola. 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Jacob Niles, "Folk Balladeer", September 19, 2006

By 

Scott Whitman "alchemist" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Precarious Life in the Public Domain (Audio CD)

In 1948, John Jacob Niles wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly entitled: "My Precarious Life in the Public Domain", an amusing account of plagiarization of his original work. Revola appropriated this ironically inappropriate title for their reissue of Niles' "Folk Balladeer" LP, a compilation released on RCA Victor in 1965. Unlike the recent Tradition re-release of "I Wonder As I Wander" of the late 50's containing both original and collected material, "Folk Balladeer", recorded between 1939 and 1941, consists entirely of ballads collected by Dr. Francis James Child of Harvard University. These seminal recordings include Niles' signature ballad, "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" (a.k.a. "The Hangman"), "The Ballad of Barberry Ellen", and other folk classics long in the public domain. Vocally Niles was at his peak and these recordings are arguably the finest of his career. Excellent remastering by Revola with original linear notes intact. "My Precarious Life..." is highly recommended, public domain or not, and no folk music collection is complete without it.