In the 1950s and 60s, the blues was the dominant form of Black vernacular music throughout Texas and
the surrounding areas. In segregated neighborhoods, community members gathered in... more
Vinyl LP pressing. Musicologist Sam Charters recorded legendary, Texas country bluesman Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins in 1959 before the revival of rural blues or country music. Nonetheless, this recording... more
During the folk music revival of the 1950s and '60s, the old-time string band New Lost City Ramblers rekindled traditions of southern mountain music, introducing them to wider audiences. Here John... more
In the 1950s and 60s, the blues was the dominant form of Black vernacular music throughout Texas and
the surrounding areas. In segregated neighborhoods, community members gathered in... more
Classic Piedmont Blues From Smithsonian Folkways - With a selection of indelible recordings made over 70 years, Classic Piedmont Blues captures the essence of this fascinating blues tradition.... more
Born of the British ballad, it's American offspring was the blank canvas for all type of tale, the more calamitous or scandalous, the better. Jesse James and Billy the Kid, train wrecks and... more
This field recording reflects several musical traditions of the British commonwealth of St. Lucia. Traditions represented include English-influenced military brass bands and marches for fife and... more
Emory Cook gives listeners a tour of high fidelity recording, demonstrating techniques that enhance the sound quality and using musical performances, orations and sound effects to make his points.
This is not the glossy, occasionally dross calypso that entertains tourists or wins Calypso King competitions. It is more rustic in flavor, speaks more to non-urban audiences and is accompanied only... more
As well as presenting a collection of first-rate piano solos from the likes of Willie "The Lion" Smith, Meade "Lux" Lewis, Art Tatum, Mary Lou Williams, Teddy Wilson, and Erroll Garner, this album... more
The hymns on this 1980 Folkways release were recorded during services in Spiritual Baptist churches in northwestern Trinidad between 1976 and 1979. Worship alternates between "cool" periods of quiet... more
Released in 1960, West Indian Folksongs for Children features original compositions by the Trinidadian Calypso singer Lord Invader. Some of the tunes are twists on other classics. For example,... more
When reading Samuel Charters' saga of his search for Frederick McQueen, one gets the sense that he is chasing a ghost on the Bahamas' largest island of Andros - coincidentally known for it's... more
Calling all shingle-lifters and flat-footers! This collection of music is perfect for dancers of all levels. The Schwarz fiddle band plays tunes based on traditional mountain songs such as... more
Cruise the Caribbean during the mid-twentieth century heyday of "the society ballroom and the honky-tonk [music] of the West Indies." Stop by Martinique, the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Trinidad,... more
Repressing of this installment in the Mickey Hart Collection, a World Music series that the Grateful Dead drummer curated which incorporated his solo projects, other artists productions, and... more
During the folk revival of the 1950s and 60s, documentarians and aficionados searched for country blues singers whose music had previously only been known through old recordings. This album's music... more
If, after perusing the liner notes, the calypso on this compilation "still remains barren of meaning for the gentle listener, he is either blind, deaf, dead, or just a terribly mixed-up kid-what the... more
And now ladies and gentlemen... Lord Melody's coming to knock you out now. The audience roars as the calypsonian king boasts about his ugly looks and the "booboo" his children see in the yard.... more
This omnibus album combines the Earth is Earth 7 recording FWFF369, a collection of bawdy songs by the pseudonymous New Lost City Bang Boys, with four songs from The New Lost City Ramblers' 7 The New... more
Repressing of this installment in the Mickey Hart Collection, a World Music series that the Grateful Dead drummer curated which incorporated his solo projects, other artists productions, and... more
According to the original liner notes, this selection of 1930s Trinidadian calypso is colorful and exuberant and richly expressive and often hilariously funny. From tales of Ethiopian emperor Haile... more