Customer Reviews

Songs From the Mountain

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Old time country music has been kept pure and pristine hidden in the mountains of North Carolina ... and wherever else the immigrants from Ireland, Scotland and England settled in the 1700s. The music is played on the fiddle, the guitar, the mandolin, occasionally the banjo and in some instances accompanied on the hammered dulcimer (but not on this CD). Before "Cold Mountain" the book was written by Charles Frazier and before the movie was conceived -- this music endured for several centuries. Musicians, Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien, and John Hermann will guarantee it will be preserved for centuries to come in the future on such fine CDs as this.

The alluring fiddle notes remind one of the haunting beauty of the Appalachian mountains in track #1, "Mountain Air/ Washington's March/ Bonaparte's Retreat". It uses the 8 beats to a measure ... so well known to "contra dancers" who dance the steps as did the ancestors of the immigrants from the shores of the English-speaking Old World. Other memorable songs are, "Wayfarin' Stranger" which is mentioned in the book "Cold Mountain". Sung with poignant emotion, the listener is transfixed by the mournful tune and words. Two gospel-type songs ... "When I Die I'll Live Again" and "Bow Down" have refrains that keep repeating themselves like a mantra the rest of the day after being heard. They are reminiscent of a time when strong physical endurance were accompanied by strong faith and a strong spirit ... to build a new life. Music lifted the spirit and maintained faith in G-d ... and the future. Two other songs mentioned in "Cold Mountain" (the book) are "Backstep Cindy" and "Fair Margaret and Sweet William". The liner notes include passages and references to scenes and events in the book, "Cold Mountain" next to the title of each track. This enhances the meaning and enjoyment of the music. The book was written in 1997. This CD was produced in 1998. The musicians were ahead of their time in recognizing and predicting the popularity of this musical genre ...

This music is eery, haunting, poignant, heart-stopping and soul-searching ... it will appeal to anyone who wants to remember the best in both the book and film, "Cold Mountain". While it takes one back to a time when there was no TV, radio, computers or television ... by closing one's eyes, you feel caught up in the era when music stood for more than entertainment. It represented man's indominatable spirit against the elements and hope for the future ... even in the midst of the Civil War. This is a most highly recommended piece of musical history. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

The music on this CD is pure and powerful as Appalachian moonshine. Like white lightning, it can set you to shivering while fire shoots through your brain. It's powerful stuff; traditional tunes distilled from droning fiddles, ringing banjos, raw vocals, and subtle guitars by absolute masters of the craft into its essential essence. `Songs from the Mountain' is 180 proof pure Appalachian folk music.
This CD was inspired by the outstanding Civil War novel, `Cold Mountain', and predates both the movie made from that novel and its soundtrack. All of these songs and tunes were popular in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1860s, and each of them was mentioned somewhere in the novel. Together with its excellent, extensive liner notes, this CD is a wonderful complement to the book.
While every track on this CD is excellent, I am a fiddler, and so the showpiece fiddler tunes Bow Down, Backstep Cindy, and Stobrod's Tune stand out as my favorites. Also worthy of mention is Wayfarin' Stranger, performed as a mournfully beautiful dirge, and the mountain standards Jack of Diamonds and Skillet Good and Greasy, which together create a picturesque sketch of Appalachian life. But listen to it yourself and pick your own favorites, because every track here is a winner.

Theo Logos

Fans of the book or movie Cold Mountain absolutely need this album in their collection. It contains some of the most beautiful, haunting renditions of some of the finest 19th century Appalachian ballads and reels currently available. The 3 excellent musicians who recorded it are not stars or scene-makers; they are historically informed, well-read and well-traveled musicians with a genuine lifelong commitment to American roots music, its many deep origins and its many branches. More importantly, they rock, swing, and make these old songs come vividly to life.

Most of the selections on this album are all either songs that author Charles Frazier refers to in the text of the book, or similar period songs that would have been common in the daily lives of the characters. The remainder are original compositions inspired by the book.

This album came out a few years before the movie, and is true to the beautiful spirit of the book. Now the movie of Cold Mountain comes out and a major studio and major label (Sony) get a whole new soundtrack together -- with only token participation by 2 of the three guys who so brilliantly crafted this moving, gorgeous riff on the book's themes. It's a sad statement on the Hollywood world and the major label record companies (not to single out T Bone Burnett) that Tim O'Brien, John Hermann and Dirk Powell were not retained to oversee at least part of the Cold Mountain soundtrack.

And nothing against Jack White either -- I dig the White Stripes as much as the next aging punker with a roots music jones -- but why is he so involved with a soundtrack for a 19th-century Appalachian period piece? Yes, he's roots-informed and bluesy, sure he's got a touch of the Dock Boggs death obsession in his music, but he's not the kind of committed, passionate acoustic old-time musician who should have anchored the soundtrack. Tim, Dirk and John work modern-day magic into their old-timey stuff, no museum pieces here, yet a firm grip on the time and place that are at the heart of Cold Mountain. BUY THIS ALBUM before getting the soundtrack, or there's no justice!

This is a great introduction to traditional music for a modern audience. The tunes are well chosen and performed. The first cut grabs you and your're hooked for the rest of the CD. This is not Bluegrass or country, it is American roots music from which both of the afore mentioned came. If your musical tastes lean in this direction, check it out ... you will not be disappointed.

I've grown up with this music, and I'd about thought I'd heard the best, until I heard this CD. Never did I expect to hear the special resonance that just about sent my teeth vibrating as I've heard on this CD. How many times can one hear, Poor Wayfairing Stranger, and still feel ones heart strings pulled. This one is SPECIAL. The first cut, Mountain Air, etc., was a special blend that truly rings to the mountains of the title. A TRULY SPECIAL addition to the special music of a special part of the planet. This one is a TREASURE!!!!

I think most people who come across this CD will do so because they saw the movie Cold Mountain and were captured by the music from the movie. Of course they will get here by looking at Amazons "Customers who bought this title also bought" links.

Consider yourself fortunate to have come across Songs From the Mountain. Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien, and John Herrmann are experts on this era of music and offer us a chance to hear incredibly accomplished musicians perform simply great songs.

As mentioned, many I think will discover this cd while looking for the Cold Mountain soundtrack. If a comparison needs to be made then it's no question Songs From the Mountain is by far the better cd to hear and enjoy Old Time music. Listen to Cold Mountain first if you buy them both because you will grab this one ever after once you listen to it:) I don't mean to put down the Cold Mountain cd and I certainly respect Jack Whites efforts for his part (I think they are good) and interest in such traditional music. I do listen to Cold Mountain fairly often and readily enjoy it.

Songs From the Mountain, like modern music cd's, evokes a range of emotions through its songs. Unlike much modern music it does it without pretense. Tunes like The Blackest Crow, Wafarin' Stranger, Fair Margaret and Sweet William will leave you with the most melancholy and wistful feelings while tunes such as Raleigh and Spencer, The Drunkards Hiccups (Jack of Diamonds), and Skillet Good and Greasy are rowdy and fun. I don't know if a more fitting song has been placed to finish off a great cd than Angle Band. Listening to it is like looking back on a life well lived and having a feeling of satisfaction and peace that all turned out good. Okay, I little melodramatic on the description (but I was listening to the cd while writing this) but I wanted to impress upon what this cd accomplishes.

There is a little writing on the jacket of the history of Old Time music. You can clearly hear the late 1700's Scot/Irish and English foundation in the songs. This is not Blue Grass or Country. Although from what I read and can hear Blue Grass clearly evolved from it as I imagine Country did somehow. This music is played with pretty much fiddle, banjo, and guitar.

Ironic to think that in this era of mass media produced music and performers and cookie cutter songs something so seeming fresh and original is actually the very root of American music.

The official "Cold Mountain" movie soundtrack has some good tracks
by some fine artists. I've played it 3 or 4 times. It's been put
back for now to be played again in the future.
"Songs From the Mountain", the pre-movie, book "soundtrack" CD
on the other hand, gets played over and over and over...
with no tracks skipped.

I am a big fan of roots music. This album is a beautiful, captivating record that consistently delivers great music, song after song. If you enjoy this album and are looking for some similar great roots albums then I recommend the following:
1) Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics
2) Ain't No Grave: A Tribute To Traditional And Public Domain Songs
3) March 16-20 by Uncle Tupelo
4) Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs Of Stephen Foster
5) Every Sound Below by Tim Eriksen

The music was based on the Charles Fraiser novel "Cold Mountain". The novel was good, but I loved this CD because it succeeds in recreating the music of the Civil War era. The cd captures the sounds and songs of the era. What impressed me the most is the songs were performed by instraments from that era, such as the fretless gourd banjo and fiddle. There are a lot of traditional songs, as well as a song written by Stephen Foster ("Hard Times"). The song "Angel Band" is beautifully moving. The movie version of the novel will be released this year in December, so I'm axiously awaiting the film interprtation of the novel. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be just as beautiful and haunting as the "Songs from the Mountains" cd.

First, I must say that the movie was an incredible experience, I felt as if I were a silent observer of a scene from long ago.

My roots come from Ireland, Germany, Native Americans and God only knows what else. To hear these songs from old stirs alive something from deep within, as if the spirit(s) from the past are trying to tell me something. It's a good feeling and I love this music.

I especially enjoyed the commentary on the inside of the CD, giving you another slice of musical history. Tim O'Brien has done alot of homework on this one.

It's so good to see that people are interested in keeping the songs from our past and heritage alive.

Don't miss out on this one. You'll enjoy each track.