SONG SYLLABUS / WEEK 4

WEEK 4: Thursday, February 8
Appalachia: RIVERS & HILLS



"BANKS OF THE OHIO"
S&P Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, 1960-62 (Smithsonian CD) **** Listen to this version several times; compare with all the others.

SGS Bascomb Lamar Lunsford *** Also very good / traditional version
MH Ollie Gilbert #1105

YouTube There’s a Doc Watson version (with Ricky skaggs and Allison Krauss) but it’s late—and very “stage performed”—including the diction. What do you think of this? Compare with Clarence Ashley.


"WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN"
S&P Carter Family (Not in SGS—this is on the S&P cd set ****)
S&P Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, 1960-62 Smithsonian CD

SGS The Movement Singers (‘60s civil rights ear) 3:10
SGS Michael Holmes / mandolin part 0:45

MH Henry Crawford, Jr. #1459 With banjo, string band 1972
MH Sam Osterlow #1511 Melodious 1975

AAS Rev. J.C. Burnett (1927-45) 3:22
Silver Leaf Quartette (1928-31) 3:40 Gospel-quartette style
Alphabetical Four (1938-43) 3:04 Gospel-quartette style

SGS Frank Profitt, “Cindy” (for comparison—southern Mountain voices)
SGS New Lost Ramblers (for comparison—folk revival version, 1960s?)

S&P archive: Carter Family, “Wildwood Flower”
S&P Archive: Kirby Snow, “Wildwood Flower” ****

Supplements:
Additional tracks from Doc Watson/Clarence Ashley THESE RECORDINGS ARE CRUCIAL!!! Ralph Rinzler made them in 1961, with Clarence Ashley, Clint Howard and a young Doc Watson, who showed up at the front-porch session with electric guitar in hand; Rinzler convinced him to use an acoustic, and the rest is history. Doc Watson chapter in In The Country Of Country is particularly good on this story. “The Coo Coo Bird,” and “Looking Toward Heaven” especially.

Carter Family (Wildwood Flower) ALSO CRUCIAL!!! Listen to more Carter Family songs; best ones are the earlier ones—late 1920’s.
Bascomb Lamar Lunsford: Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground, on the
Harry Smith Anthology (Selected tracks—discuss this collection in class!)

Wildcards:
Wildwood Flower: Maybelle Carter and daughters
Wildwood Flower: Chet Atkins
Wildwood Flower, Merle Travis et al.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken, with Iris DeMent
Banks of the Ohio: Doc Watson, Ricky Scaggs, Iris Allison Krauss
Numerous other YouTube versions available