In his liner notes, Ewan MacColl writes, "In the days before TV, radio, and newspapers, the broadsides helped both to mould and reflect public opinion; their authors acted as political commentators,... more

This second volume (see Folkways FW03043, Broadside Ballads, Volume 1) continues Ewan MacColl's exploration of English broadside ballads. It features songs about the exploits of women, from a woman... more

Blacklisted actor and tireless social activist Will Geer toured government work camps with Guthrie and Burl Ives long before Geer and Guthrie released this 1956 LP. They tell it like it is the songs... more

Banjo player and raconteur Rufus Crisp (1880-1955) was born, lived, and died in mountainous eastern Kentucky. This album, whose liner notes provide extensive biographical and contextual information,... more

Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Dave Van Ronk was Bob Dylan's "first New York guru," writes Dylan's biographer Robert Shelton. "Dave Van Ronk was the musical mayor of MacDougal Street," Shelton continues,... more

When he recorded this album, Mark Spoelstra was heading to the Southwest to work with American Indians instead of joining the military-but he said he felt he was getting into something rather than... more

This doyen of the Greenwich Village folk scene began his long recording career with this 1959 Folkways LP. He was just 23 (and already a local hero) when he wrapped that big rasp around these great... more

After attracting attention with his live sets in NYC (where he often played in a duo with Dylan), Spoelstra signed to Folkways and got the chance to show off his inspired takes on folk classics and... more

Jean Ritchie is a national treasure, one of America's finest and best known traditional singers. She grew up in Viper, Kentucky, and is part of a large family, the famous "Singing Ritchies of... more

The seventeen singers featured on this album hail from the valleys of eastern Tennessee around Sevierville and Maryville, where they sing songs from the famous shape note collection The Harp of... more

Shanties and foc'sle (forecastle) songs lightened the burden of work aboard ship and provided entertainment to off-duty sailors. This recording features Massachusetts singer Paul Clayton and the... more

Reagon writes, "My history was wrapped carefully for me by my fore-parents in the songs of the church, the work fields, and the blues. Ever since this discovery I've been trying to find myself, using... more

Singer, activist, and founder of Paredon Records (now also under the stewardship of Smithsonian Folkways), Barbara Dane was born in 1929 and was still going strong last time we spoke with her. This... more

In this album's liner notes, John Cohen writes, "After seven years of performing, The New Lost City Ramblers play in a great many country styles. We have each developed our own individual... more

The mountain dulcimer is more accurately described as a fretted zither. Performing the songs of traditional mountain folk and contemporary urban musicians, as well as composing his own, Kevin Roth... more

In 1964, after five winters living and working with the people of the Sea Islands of South Carolina (helping with adult literacy programs and recording singing traditions), musician and musicologist... more

Milton Rettenberg was the first pianist other than Gershwin himself to perform Rhapsody in blue(with Paul Whiteman's orchestra) and, with Gershwin, debuted Concerto for F on radio. In this collection... more

This album is the fifth in a series of volumes dedicated to " American negro music," showcasing spirituals performed by Dock Reed (1878-1958) and Vera Hall Ward (1902-1964). Reed was a deeply... more

The songs on this 15-track album were contributed to Broadside Magazine by folk singer-songwriters during the early 1960s and are performed by The Broadside Singers. Featured in the collection are... more

George Davis began working in the coal mines at thirteen. After he injured his arm in a mining accident, Davis knew he'd never be a great guitarist, so he concentrated on writing songs about the... more

The Youngbloods and Holy Modal Rounders covered songs from this 1964 Folkways LP, the debut by this Pennsylvania-born singer-songwriter (whose unconventional singing and songs made him a hero in '60s... more

The performers on this 1974 homegrown classic are two blind vocalists in their 20s and several teenage "groove masters" from Indiantown, Florida. Directed by Mr. Sandy Montgomery and known as The... more

On this 1977 Folkways release, New Mexico cowboy Ray Reed (1917-1998) sings songs about the old West; many of them he learned from his father, and he composed some as well. He had spent some years in... more