This 1953 LP from Pete Seeger is one of the most delightful recordings I've had the opportunity to present. It has its genesis in the 1948 book American Folk Songs for Children, compiled by his father's second wife, the composer Ruth Crawford Seeger. Pete chose 11 of the 90 or so songs in that collection for this Folkways album, where he accompanies himself on his long-necked banjo.
I have to say, the banjo is not an instrument that I love. Growing up during this time, I automatically associate it with the demonically grinning Eddie Peabody or the moronically grinning Freddy Morgan. Or, even worse, Art Mooney's 1948 atrocities "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover" and "Baby Face," both of which also feature the bellowing band chorus - an inexplicable 40s sensation.Thankfully, Pete has more taste than that, and he presents these simple materials with great humor and considerable artistry. Many, if not all the songs are very familiar to someone of my background. "Jim Crack Corn," which probably derives from a slave song, was even a pop hit in 1945 for Burl Ives, under the title "Blue Tail Fly."
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| Pete Seeger |
Like most if not all Folkways recordings of the time, this originally came with a text insert. Mine was missing, but through the Smithsonian Folkways site, I have been able to add a badly scanned (and incomplete) copy sourced from the University of Alberta. The order of songs in the insert differs from what I am presenting here. I am following the label order from my pressing.
By the way, the sound on this record is quite good.
Link (Apple lossless format):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediafire.com/download.php?76z9ufr2k2zpbg9
Just wanted to share that I have given copies of this wonderful recording to more than one infant as "baby's first record." Just as my dad did for me.
ReplyDeletePete's always a good share. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteHi Buster,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful record. Superb transfer. This one goes right to my granddaughter. I cleaned up that text insert--now it should be more readable, should anybody want it:
http://www.mediafire.com/view/?9ulh3o24946i4va
Great stuff, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteMindy, what a touching note! My parents did give me records early, but they were more like Bibbidi-Bobbidy-Boo.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Buster! This is one of my favourite records and one of the earliest I can remember my parents playing for me. I'm sure it's at least partially responsible for having put me on a musical career track.
ReplyDeleteThanks Buster
ReplyDeleteSo, I'm guessing you're not dying for a rip of "Those Happy Banjos" (Art Mooney's early MGM sides, on Lion)! Actually, I was going to put that up at one point, but the tracks are full of (what I assume to be tape) drop-outs, so I passed. As far as Mooney-style band choruses go, I think of them as part of the glee club tradition--as such, even to the many folks of the day (critics, esp.) who found them corny and tasteless, they at least had a context. I also think the postwar resurgence of musical theater had listeners hungry for unison choruses of the "Oklahoma" type. That would explain a lot of what was happening in '40s and '50s pop arrangements. This is a topic I've actually devoted lots of thought to, which is probably a sign I need professional help. (At the moment, my budget is limited to unprofessional help.)
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Seeger is awesome! Oddly enough, my Republican, jazz-fan father admired Pete to no end.
Lee - Your comments about band vocals make great sense. I have seen "Those Happy Banjos" many times and have been happy to pass them up every time. I actually listened to Mooney's hit records before posting this item, just to reassure myself that they were as awful as I remembered. Well, although not to my taste, they weren't all THAT bad, which may indicate I am turning into my grandfather.
ReplyDeletePete was/is a wonderful musician, no doubt.
Delightful!
ReplyDeleteThis is enchanting - thank you !
ReplyDeleteStumbled in this morning (sober, I might add) and was looking for something for our grandson and lo and behold, this gem popped up out of your blog. I have a battered recording vrom Seeger and like the style and the artist, so I'm sure this will fit the bill completely. Thanks for the posts and I'll be back for more goodies.
ReplyDelete