Anthology Of American Folk Music Volume 4 (Edited By Harry Smith)

Disc: 1

1. Memphis Shakedown - Memphis Jug Band

2. Dog And Gun (An Old English Ballad) - Bradley Kincaid

3. Black Jack David - The Carter Family

4. Down On The Banks Of The Ohio - Blue Sky Boys

5. Adieu False Heart - Arthur Smith Trio

6. John Henry Was A Little Boy - J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers

7. Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy - Monroe Brothers

8. Southern Casey Jones - Jesse James

9. Cold Iron Bed - Jack Kelly And His South Memphis Jug Band

10. Packin' Trunk - Lead Belly

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Hello Stranger - The Carter Family

2. Stand By Me - Sister Clara Hudmon

3. West Virginia Gals - Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters

4. How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live? - Blind Alfred Reed

5. Wreck Of The Tennessee Gravy Train - Uncle Dave Macon

6. Governor Al Smith - Uncle Dave Macon

7. Milk Cow Blues - John Estes

8. No Depression In Heaven - The Carter Family

9. I'll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called) - Roosevelt Graves And Brother

10. He's In The Ring (Doing The Same Old Thing) - Memphis Minnie

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Originally released in 1952, Harry Smith's landmark three-volume Anthology of American Folk Music literally instigated a revolution in music--suddenly, this collection of scratchy 78 sides made "folk" cool again (it would stay that way forever after). But Smith--filmmaker, guru, and alchemist--originally intended for a fourth volume of the set to be created. Thanks to Revenant, we have it now--nearly five decades after its gathering. Smith's two-CD collection takes works from the Blue Sky Boys, the Carter Family, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, and a dozen or so forgotten blues and old-time artists, mostly from the '20s and '30s. In the copious liner notes, the late Smith confesses that this volume was "lost" because his original liner notes went missing; he had hoped to create a thorough analysis of how each song's theme was interrelated. Thus, there are some truly great transitions--"John Henry Was a Little Boy" by J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers leads ironically into "Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy" by the Monroe Brothers; Lead Belly's breakup ode "Packin' Trunk" segues into Big Joe Williams's "Baby Please Don't Go." Gorgeous packaging and thorough liner notes by Dick Spottswood, Greil Marcus, Ed Sanders, and others makes this set even more essential. Like so many of the musicians he admired and promoted, Harry Smith's real genius wouldn't be recognized till after he died. Here it is, folks. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Memphis Shakedown - Memphis Jug Band
Dog And Gun (An Old English Ballad) - Bradley Kincaid
Black Jack David - The Carter Family
Down On The Banks Of The Ohio - Blue Sky Boys
Adieu False Heart - Arthur Smith Trio
John Henry Was A Little Boy - J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers
Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy - Monroe Brothers
Southern Casey Jones - Jesse James
Cold Iron Bed - Jack Kelly And His South Memphis Jug Band
Packin' Trunk - Lead Belly
Baby Please Don't Go - Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers
Last Fair Deal Gone Down - Robert Johnson
Parchman Farm Blues - Bukka White
Mean Old World - Heavenly Gospel Singers

Tracks:

Hello Stranger - The Carter Family
Stand By Me - Sister Clara Hudmon
West Virginia Gals - Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live? - Blind Alfred Reed
Wreck Of The Tennessee Gravy Train - Uncle Dave Macon
Governor Al Smith - Uncle Dave Macon
Milk Cow Blues - John Estes
No Depression In Heaven - The Carter Family
I'll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called) - Roosevelt Graves And Brother
He's In The Ring (Doing The Same Old Thing) - Memphis Minnie
The Cockeyed World - Minnie Wallace
Barbecue Bust - Mississippi Jook Band
Dans Le Grand Bois (In The Forest) - Hackberry Ramblers
Aces' Breakdown - The Four Aces

Amazon.com

Originally released in 1952, Harry Smith's landmark three-volume Anthology of American Folk Music literally instigated a revolution in music--suddenly, this collection of scratchy 78 sides made "folk" cool again (it would stay that way forever after). But Smith--filmmaker, guru, and alchemist--originally intended for a fourth volume of the set to be created. Thanks to Revenant, we have it now--nearly five decades after its gathering. Smith's two-CD collection takes works from the Blue Sky Boys, the Carter Family, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, and a dozen or so forgotten blues and old-time artists, mostly from the '20s and '30s. In the copious liner notes, the late Smith confesses that this volume was "lost" because his original liner notes went missing; he had hoped to create a thorough analysis of how each song's theme was interrelated. Thus, there are some truly great transitions--"John Henry Was a Little Boy" by J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers leads ironically into "Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy" by the Monroe Brothers; Lead Belly's breakup ode "Packin' Trunk" segues into Big Joe Williams's "Baby Please Don't Go." Gorgeous packaging and thorough liner notes by Dick Spottswood, Greil Marcus, Ed Sanders, and others makes this set even more essential. Like so many of the musicians he admired and promoted, Harry Smith's real genius wouldn't be recognized till after he died. Here it is, folks. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

I'd give this album six stars if I could!.......2001-07-29

It's hard to imagine that anything could be better than the original Folkways box set (Volumes 1-3), but this album is. Everything I love about V1-3, there is even more of here. The eerie juxtaposition of darkness and jubilation pretty much sums up the whole 20th Century in an hour and a half. Yes, it's short and pricey, but better in my mind to preserve Smith's original vision - after all, he scuttled the original release of this album in order to stay true to that vision.

Way Overpriced but..........2000-10-10

it's an excellent collection. I mean, for about the price of two of these you can almost buy the original 6-CD Anthology. Fortunately, the songs are beautiful, and like the original Anthology, way weird. The Carter Family cuts are scary in their dead-pan beauty; Bukka White's Parchman Farm Blues is one of the saddest blues ever and the Blue Sky Boys' On the Bank of the Ohio is sort of like Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me meets Bill Monroe. A great selection.

Is it worth the hefty price though?

My 2 cents.......2000-09-07

The price is too high and the discs too short. It really does lack the magic of the original mainly due to the lack of Harry Smith's original notes and overall design. What it does have is a brilliant biography of Smith who was an all around oddball and flake (he refused to release this originally because the label wanted to include a pro FDR song!). However he came about compiling this list from his enormous collection (shortly before he sold it the New York Public Library), the result is a brilliant mix of obscure and known tracks from the depression.

So, if you liked the original, you know you are going to buy this someday (where else can one find such an appreication for jug band music?). If you are a fan of "Race and Hillbilly" like me you'll give blood to get this.

Vol. 4, H. Smith's Anthology Of American Folk Music.......2000-07-20

Volume 4 fits very well with the previous three. There are a lot of old-time music anthologies out there these days but there's something going on with Mr. Smith's work that seems to be lacking in the others. I find all of the tracks of Vol-4 to be memorable performances. The Leadbelly cut particularly sticks in my mind, but on another day I might single out any of the others as well.

The accompanying notes are extensive & well-presented although it's black ink on dark brown paper in tiny font, so the reading can be tough. And you are paying for the presentation in the pricetag.

I was half-expecting to be disappointed by this album because the earlier release was so important to me, but it turns out that this one makes for great listening as well i.e. it has the elusive 'HS-factor' going for it too. If you are the type of person who got changed by the 3-Volume Folkways Anthology, then you will dig Volume 4. Really, it's been a rumor for so long .. it's incredible that it is now generally available.

Overdue Closure for Harry's American Folk Masterpiece.......2000-06-21

Thanks to John Fahey and The Harry Smith Archives 'The Anthology' has now been respectfully completed (sans Harry's original liner notes and design). Volume 4 is a well qualified supplement to 'Smithsonian Folkways' volumes 1 through 3, and is very close to what Harry originally intended. The Monroe Brothers, The Carter Family, The Memphis Jug Band, Leadbelly, Sleepy John Estes, Bukka White, Uncle Dave Macon, Robert Johnson---the forgotten folk masters who became American icons after Harry shared his record collection with us in 1952---are represented here with outstanding performances. Not to mention the several artists you possibly haven't heard---just revel in the acapella beauty of The Heavenly Gospel Singers 'Mean Old World'. Aside from wondrous historic music 'Volume 4' is another loving tribute to the eccentric genius of the irascible Harry Smith. Without this offering, you certainly don't have the entire 'Anthology', and although the packaging doesn't match the Smithsonian set, it is very nicely done---just don't try to put it in your plastic CD rack. If you're into your folk roots don't miss this one!

Jim Otterstrom

Music Album:

Music Album