FTX-911 - LOVIN' HENRY - Outstanding Folksongs originally issued on American 78 rpm discs

These early 78 rpm disc recordings, a selection re-released in the early 1950s, greatly influenced the beginnings of the post-war Folksong Movement in the USA. It was at a time when the commercial record was more easily accessible, and easier listening, to the up-and-coming folksingers than the field recordings released by Folkways and Library of Congress. The original selection for the first record was made by Harry Smith, an interesting and unusual artist and visionary in his own right.

1. HENRY LEE (CHILD Ballad #68 "Young Hunting") sung by Dick Justice (with guitar) 1932/ BRUNSWICK 367 - 3'12"

2. FATAL FLOWER GARDEN (CHILD #155 "The Jew's Daughter"/"Little Sir Hugh") sung by Nelstone's Hawaians (duet of gtrs) 1930/ VICTOR V-40193-B - 2'55"

3. THE HOUSE CARPENTER (CHILD #243 "James Harris or The Demon Lover" sung by Clarence Ashley with 5-str banjo 1930/ COLUMBIA 15654-D - 3'10"

4. DRUNKARD'S SPECIAL (CHILD #274 "Our Gudeman"/"Cuckold's Song") sung by Coley Jones with gtr 1929/ COLUMBIA 14489-D - 3'11"

5. OLD LADY AND THE DEVIL (CHILD #278 "The Farmer's Curst Wife") sung by Bill and Belle Reed with gtr 1928/ COLUMBIA 15336-D - 3'00"

6. THE BUTCHER'S BOY sung by Buell Kazee with 5-str banjo 1928/ BRUNSWICK 213-A - 2'58"

7. THE WAGONER'S LAD as previous/ BRUNSWICK 213-B - 2'57"

8. KING KONG KITCHIE KITCHIE KI-ME-O ("The Frog Song") sung by Chubby Parker with banjo & whistling/ COLUMBIAA 15296-D - 3'01"

9. OLD SHOES AND LEGGIN'S ("Old Grey Beard") sung by Uncle E.Dunford with harmonica, fiddle, gtr, banjo & autoharp 1929/ VICTOR V-40060-C - 2'57"

10. WILLIE MOORE sung by Burnett and Rutherford with 5-str banjo and fiddle 1927/ COLUMBIA 15314-D - 2'59"

11. A LAZY FARMER BOY ("The Young man who wouldn't hoe corn"/ "Harm Link") sung by Buster Carter and Preston Young with fiddle and gtr 1930/ COLUMBIA 15702-D - 2'53"

12. PEG AN' AWL (or "The Shoemaker") sung by Carolina Tar Heels with harmonica, banjo & gtr 1929/ VICTOR V-40007-A - 2'52"

13. OMIE WISE (or "Naomi Wise") sung by G.B.Grayson accompanying himself on fiddle 1927/ VICTOR 21625-B - 3'02"

14. MY NAME IS JOHN JOANNA ("Arkansas Traveller") The Virginia String Band 1927/ VICTOR 21520-A - 3'04"

15. BANDIT COLE YOUNGER sung by Edward L.Crain, "The Texas Cowboy", with gtr/ COLUMBIA 15710-D - 2'51"

16. CHARLES GITEAU sung by Kelly Harrell with the Virginia String Band 1927/ VICTOR 2079-B - 3'01"

17. JOHN HARDY WAS A DESPERATE LITTLE MAN sung by The Carter Family 1928/ VICTOR 40190-A - 2'53"

18. GONNA DIE WITH MY HAMMER IN MY HAND ("John Henry") sung by The Williamson Brothers & Curry 1927/ OKEH 45127

Originally edited by Harry Smith and published by Moses Asch on FOLKWAYS FP-253. Used with permission and first published on Folktracks Cassettes in 1975 - re-released on Folktrax CD 2004.