Listen To Roadhouse Radio: 11/23/11: Harry Smith & The Anthology Of American Folk Music

Happy Thanksgiving

This show is our annual Holiday special program that takes tradition further: beyond turkey, pilgrims, and black friday shopping to the real essence of American culture and identity thru our shared songs. It's a celebration of an oral tradition and American vernacular dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Songs played a million times by millions of people. These are folk songs. And, of course, the best place to start with folk songs is The Anthology Of American Folk Music, arguably the most influencial release of all-time.

Originally released in 1952, and re-issued in 1997, The Anthology is often cited as “one of the most influential releases of all-time” and a cultural document of an Old Weird America. It was really a large-scale bootleg of commercial releases produced by small indie labels from 1920's & 30's. The records were not widely distributed and the songs ultimately reflected an old-time, forgotten America.

In the 1950’s most Americans had never heard this music- or these songs before. Or anything like them. It was well before mass media and Harry’s Anthology displayed the amazing “regional” differences that was the “real” America for many baby boomers of the time, and the folk revival that soon followed.

The man who presented Mose Asch with 84 exotic “hillbilly” and “race” records was Harry Smith, a local boy who Harry grew up in Bellingham, Washington. His mom was a school teacher for the Lummi tribe and his dad worked in a cannery. As a teenager he began a life-long obsession of recording nearyl everything and anything (including the Lummi's) and soon was pursuing studies in ethnograpy and anthropology. He spent a very brief time at UW and working for Boeing before moving to Berkeley in the 1940s, but soon dropped out after discovering reefer and the Bay area Beat scene. It was the end of formal acedemia.

It was in Berkeley that Harry accumulated a mass collection of records -when collecting was virtually unheard of- which resulted in The Anthology. After moving to NYC, Smith sold his collction to Mose Asch who encouraged Smith to complete the project with his typical mad science that included an amazing hand-book of notes, bibliographies, and fake newspaper headlines which discribed the characters and events of each song. It's a DIY masterpiece with mystical qualities to this day, as the 1997 reissue faithfully reproduces all the original contents in the 3 CD box set. If you pull the trigger and purchase a copy, you'll realize this collection is much much more than just music. It's an artifact and creation of the mind of a truly original eccentric, Harry Smith.

In preserving this old music found on old 78s – records that would have been otherwise discarded (vinyl was being donated to the military for the war effort at the time) an American vernacular and oral tradition was saved from the scrap heap of history. The songs were "re-issued" on Folkways and soon urban collge hipsters soon caught wind and the folk & blues revival soon followed. It was the spark.

Thanks Harry

*Don't miss the Harry Smith Tribute at Columbia City Theatre tonight! http://www.facebook.com/events/278516962182005/

*The Old, Weird America is THE DEFINITIVE BLOG if you're interested in exploring The Anthology in incredible depth and insight with plenty of links to song versions and downloads. It's A Must!

Click the link to hear this show which features a live performance from Kevin Murphy of The Moondoggies

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 (LISTEN TO THIS SHOW)

Time	Artist	Song	Album	Label
6:00	Lesley Riddle	John Henry	Classic Mountain Songs	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: It's the annual Trad Thanksgiving show! All about the American Anthology of Folk Music....
6:02	Johnny Cash	The Legend of John Henry's Hammer	The Legend	Columbia Records
	DJ Comments: Released on 1963 album Blood, Sweat, and Tears ; Cool page of John Henry songs: http://www.ibiblio.org/john_henry/songlist.html ; NPR piece about the man and legend: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/johnhenry/
6:11	Beck	Stagolee	Avalon Blues: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt	Vanguard
	DJ Comments: More about this tribute to Mississippi John Hurt featuring other artists like Steve Earle w/his son Justin Townes Earle, Gillian Welch, Taj Mahal, Geoff Muldaur, John Hiatt and more: http://www.allmusic.com/album/avalon-blues-a-tribute-to-the-music-of-mississippi-john-hurt-r535386/review
6:14	Beth Orton	Frankie	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 1)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: Another song that has Mississippi John Hurt recording considered the definitive version ; more about the song (and a Johnny Cash version) here: http://thesearesongs.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/song-1-frankie-and-johnny/
6:19	Norman Baker	John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man	Ball of Wax 26: A Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music	Ball of Wax
	DJ Comments: From the latest Ball of Wax comp 26, "A Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music" http://ballofwax.org/ ; get a copy at the live Tribute show Friday night at Columbia City Theater: http://www.hearthmusic.com/concerts.html#HarrySmith (feat Kevin Murphy of Moondoggies, who's on tonight's show live at 7:30! So much Harry Smith!)
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6:24	Mississippi John Hurt	Spike Driver Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc B)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: The definitive version, from 1929 ; read all about the Anthology (and even download the amazing liner notes!): http://www.folkways.si.edu/explore_folkways/AnthologyFolk.aspx
6:27	Dave Van Ronk	Spike Driver Blues	Your Basic Dave Van Ronk	Folklore
	DJ Comments: Great article by Doug Harvey in LA Weekly a few years back, "Dismembering Harry Smith": http://www.laweekly.com/2001-05-10/art-books/dismembering-harry-smith/
6:31	Marianne Faithfull	Spike Driver Blues	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 2)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: Collection recorded at tribute concerts in 1999 and 2001 including Beck, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Richard Thompson, Wilco and others: http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=185
6:34	David Johansen	James Alley Blues	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 2)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: Former frontman for the New York Dolls calls his backing band The Harry Smiths
6:38	Richard 'Rabbit' Brown	James Alley Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc A)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: Recorded in 1927
6:41	Jeff Tweedy	James Alley Blues	The Harry Smith Connection	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: Another collection of tribute songs, these recorded live in 1997 and featuring other folks like Roger McGuinn (also on this track), The Fugs, John Jackson, and The New Lost City Ramblers ; live version w/Jeff Tweedy and the late Jay Bennett : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZTAaMaWorI
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6:47	Cannon's Jug Stompers	Minglewood Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc A)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: 1928 ; Noah Lewis, Gus Cannon, Ashley Thompson, feat. Ashley on vocals
6:51	Old Crow Medicine Show	Minglewood Blues	Big Iron World	Nettwerk
	DJ Comments: Produced by David Rawlings ; vid of them playing this song live at Austin City Limits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JzO0FCCirw
6:54	Chicken Tractor Deluxe	Minglewood Blues	Ball of Wax 26: A Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music	Ball of Wax
	DJ Comments: Another from the Ball of Wax comp Anthology Tribute ; don't forget the show Friday @ Columbia City Theater, a tribute show to The Anthology: http://www.hearthmusic.com/concerts.html#HarrySmith
6:57	Happy Johnny & Family	Sugar Baby
6:57	Happy Johnny & Family	Sugar Babe	Fonotone Records	Dust-to-Digital
	DJ Comments: Stay tuned---Kevin Murphy of the Moondoggies is LIVE in The Roadhouse @ 7:30 to pay tribute to Harry Smith & the Anthology!
6:59	Kate & Anna McGarrigle	Sugar Baby	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 1)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: Live vid, w/Emmylou Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDCveG-m-5o
7:04	Dock Boggs	Sugar Baby	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc A)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: 1928 recording ; guitar by Hub Mahaffy
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7:13	Ernest Phipps & His Holiness Singers	Shine on Me	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 2: Social Music (disc B)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: 1928 recording ; they were from a Kentucky church and recorded this in Tennessee
7:16	Blind Willie Johnson	Let Your Light Shine on Me	Dark Was the Night	Columbia Records
	DJ Comments: Recorded 1929 in New Orleans
7:21	Jeremy Burk	Shine on Me	Ball of Wax 26: A Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music	Ball of Wax
	DJ Comments: Fri 11/25 @ Columbia City Theater as part of the big Tribute Show: http://www.hearthmusic.com/concerts.html#HarrySmith
7:22	Henry Thomas	Fishing Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc B)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: Recorded 1929 ; Up soon: Kevin Murphy LIVE in The Roadhouse! He'll be playing Friday at the big tribute show @ Columbia City Theater too
7:25	Canned Heat	Going Up the Country	Canned Heat Cookbook
	DJ Comments: Released as a single in 1967 ; live vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=audxGqo5AkQ
7:28	Taj Mahal	Fishin' Blues	Giant Step / De Ole Folks at Home	Sony
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7:33	Kevin Murphy w/Drew Christie	Down the Old Plank Road	2011-11-23: Live @ KEXP	KEXP
	DJ Comments: Fri 11/25 @ Columbia City Theater as part of the big Tribute to Harry Smith and The Anthology of American Folk Music! http://www.hearthmusic.com/concerts.html#HarrySmith ; Kevin Murphy of the Moondoggies; Drew is his cousin!
7:36	Kevin Murphy w/Drew Christie	Sail Away Lady	2011-11-23: Live @ KEXP	KEXP
	DJ Comments: The version on the Anthology is an instrumental by "Uncle Bunt" Stephens, recorded in 1926 ; an amazing site dedicated to mining deep, deep info about the Anthology and that era in America: http://oldweirdamerica.wordpress.com/
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7:44	Kevin Murphy w/Drew Christie	Spike Driver Blues	2011-11-23: Live @ KEXP	KEXP
	DJ Comments: We heard the Anthology version earlier in the show, recorded by Mississippi John Hurt in 1929 ; also at the live tribute show Friday are two folks we heard earlier: Jeremy Burk and Norman Baker, among others: http://ballofwax.org/2011/10/ball-of-wax-26-a-tribute-to-harry-smith-and-the-anthology-of-american-folk-music-1125-at-the-columbia-city-theater/
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7:48	The Masked Marvel	Mississippi Boll Weevil Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: aka Charlie Patton! 1929 recording
7:51	Vera Hall	Boll Weevil Holler	Sounds of the South	Atlantic
	DJ Comments: A collection of field recordings by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax gathered in the South during the early 20th century
7:54	Odetta	Boll Weevil	One Grain of Sand	Vanguard
	DJ Comments: Stay tuned; Kevin and Drew are still in The Roadhouse and will chat with Greg a little later....
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7:58	Ramblin' Thomas	Poor Boy Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc B)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: 1929 recording ; born Willard Thomas in 1902 in Louisiana ; you're in The Roadhouse for the annual Thanksgiving Tribute to Harry Smith and the Anthology of American Folk Music!
8:00	Jim Jackson	Old Dog Blue	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 2: Social Music (disc A)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: You're in The Roadhouse, for the annual Thanksgiving Tribute show to Harry Smith and the Anthology of American Folk Music!
8:01	Dust Busters	Old Blue	The Dust Busters	Down Home Radio
	DJ Comments: Modern-day old-time string band out of Brooklyn: http://thedustbusters.blogspot.com/
8:04	David Johansen	Old Dog Blue	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 1)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: More about David and his band The Harry Smiths: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-johansen-p4616/biography
8:07	Joan Baez	Old Blue	Joan Baez, Volume 2	Vanguard Records
	DJ Comments: Album recorded when Joan was 20 years old ; http://allmusic.com/album/r105435
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8:21	RedDog	How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live	Hard Times	self-released
	DJ Comments: 11/25 @ Columbia City Theater, part of the big tribute show! Feat. Doug Yule on fiddle, onetime Velvet Underground member and now Seattle violin builder ; http://www.reddogseattle.com/
8:26	The New Lost City Ramblers	How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?	The Early Years 1958 - 1962	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: Friday's live tribute show @ Columbia City Theater will feature animation by Drew Christie, based on New Lost City Ramblers founding member John Cohen on Harry Smith! Not to be missed! http://www.hearthmusic.com/concerts.html#HarrySmith
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8:35	Pharis & Jason Romero	Engine 143	A Passing Glimpse	Lula
	DJ Comments: Fri 12/9 @ Columbia City Theater as part of the Seattle Folk Festival ; http://www.jasonandpharis.com/ ; http://www.seattlefolkfestival.com
8:39	The Way It Is	Engine 143	Ball of Wax 26: A Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music	Ball of Wax
	DJ Comments: Thanks again to Kevin Murphy and Drew Christie for playing and talking tonight in The Roadhouse! Don't forget the tribute show Fri 11/25 @ Columbia City Theater, and check Kevin Murphy solo and with his band the Moondoggies around soon!
8:43	The Carter Family	Engine 143	The Anthology of American Folk Music	Smithsonian Folkways
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8:49	Ramblin' Thomas	Poor Boy Blues	Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith ed.), Volume 3: Songs (disc B)	Smithsonian Folkways
	DJ Comments: Read up on the man of the hour, Harry Smith, here: http://www.harrysmitharchives.com/
8:54	Geoff Muldaur	Poor Boy Blues	The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (disc 2)	Shout! Factory
	DJ Comments: DJ El Toro up next!
8:58	Robert Johnson	Come on in My Kitchen	The Complete Recordings (disc 1)	Universe Italy
	DJ Comments: According to legend as a young boy Johnson me the devil who imparted him with the skill of the blues in exchange for his soul. http://www.loyno.edu/~history/journal/1999-2000/Compagna.htm