(V/A) -- Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn (Historical, 1971 **HLP-34)

"It is almost axiomatic that religion finds its most eloquent expression in the lives of those peoples who are systematically exploited and whose greatest hopes lie in the promise of a future life free of injustice." (Richard Spottswood, cover notes)

1971 LP collection of pre-war gospel perfections. With the recent cultural enthusiasm for all things "American Primitive", most, if not all, of these cuts have since resurfaced in various collections from the likes of Document, Dust-To-Digital (+), Revenant etc. This record still stands as a crucial artifact, and the depth & power of its music no doubt speaks for itself. If you don't know it, Mother's Prayer is just astounding. Dick Spottswood pens the cover notes, here. As a personal rule, I will immediately grip anything that has that fellow's name on it. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly. Enjoy.



DL: (V/A) -- Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn (Historical, 1971 **HLP-34)

Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers (featuring Frankie Half-Pint Jaxon and Punch Miller)
- Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn
- She's Coming 'Round The Mountain

Blind Willie Johnson
- The Soul Of A Man
- Take Your Stand

Blind Mamie Forehand & A.C. Forehand
- Wouldn't Mind Dying If Dying Was All
- Mothers Prayer
- I'm So Glad Today, Today

Laura Henton
- He's Coming Soon

Blind Willie McTell
- We Got To Meet Death One Day
- Ain't It Grand To Be A Christian
- Lay Some Flowers On My Grave

Arizona Dranes
- He Is My Story
- I Shall Wear A Crown

Edward W. Clayborn
- Jesus Will Make It Allright

Rooseveldt Graves & Brother
- I'll Be Rested (When The Roll Is Called)
- Wake Up This Morning (With My Mind On Jesus)

(V/A) 'Spiew Juchasa: Song of the Shepherd -- Songs of the Slavic Americans (New World Records, 1977 **NW283)

"[This] record offers a concentrated look at one area of eastern Europe through the music of its transplanted peoples.The many other recordings deserve attention and further reissuing, as does the music of all the others they have made over the years equally who brought old traditions to the New World and preserved them for us on recordings." (New World Records)

Yet another richly rewarding Dick Spottswood project, released by New World Records in 1977 in their crucial LP series supporting the Recorded Anthology of American Music (*now known as DRAM) around the time of of the U.S. Bicentennial (thanks for the lead, Gil). 78rpms of raw Polish & Ukranian delights. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly. PDF of the liner notes included. Dig it.



(V/A) 'Spiew Juchasa: Song of the Shepherd -- Songs of the Slavic Americans (New World Records, 1977 **NW283) *Re-upped 7/20/12

Side A

1. J. Baczkowskiego Orkiestra - Oberek Pulawiak (Oberek from Pulawy)
2. Orkiestra Dukli - Zawzieta Dziewczyna (Stubborn Girl)
3. Orkiestra Karol Stoch - Wspomnienia Sabaly (Reminiscences of Sabala)
4. Bruno Rudzinski - "Na Obi Nogi" Polka ("On Two Feet" Polka)
5. Sichelski i Bachleda i Karola Stocha Oryginalna Góralska Muzyk - Piesn Zbójników (Song of the Bandits)
6. Sichelski i Bachleda i Karol Stoch - Nie Bede Sie Zynl (I Will Not Marry)
7. Karola Stocha Oryginalna Muzyka Góralska - ’Spiew Juchasa (Song of the Shepherd)
8. Sichelski i Bachleda i Karola Stocha Oryginalna Góralska Muzyk - Zakopianska Piosnka (Song from Zakopane)
9. Sichelski i Bachleda w/Karol Stoch - Dye Se Dolu Bialka (Down the Bialka Valley)

Side B

1. Ukrainska Orchestra Pawla Humeniuka - Kozak Zawydija (Fast Kozak)
2. Ukrainska Orchestra i Chor Pawla Humeniuka - Bohacki Zaruczyny (Engagement Ceremony Among the Rich)
3. Ukrainska Orchestra Pawla Humeniuka - Na Wesiliu Pid Chatoju (At a Wedding Under The Eaves)
4. Ukrainska Selska Orchestra - Ukrainskyj Trisak (Ukrainian Trisak)
5. Wiejska Czwórka "Bracia Kuzian" - Sztajer z Gory Baraniej (Dance from the Sheep Mountains)
6. Ukrainska Orchestra Michala Thomas - Hutzulka w Semereczyni (Hutzulka from Semereczyn)
7. Zlozyw i Widohraw Solo Skrypkowe Pawlo Humeniuk - Poprawyny (Second-Day Feast)
8. Zlozyw i Widohraw Solo Skrypkowe Pawlo Humeniuk - Wiwczar na Supylci (Shepherd Playing the Flute)

V/A - Old-Country Music in a New Land: Folk Music of Immigrants from Europe and the Near East (New World Records, NW 264)

"...For years [by the 1920's] foreign-language records had contained occasional examples of rural vernacular music, but not until record companies discovered the music of souther rural blacks and whites was there extensive recording of the folk music of foreign-born Americans. It marked a radical departure from both the music available from abroad and earlier record-company offerings. By the late twenties foreign-language record catalogs had become heavily augmented by fiddlers, bagpipers, rough voiced singers, plain-voiced choirs, village "orchestras", and other representatives of a bevy of authentic folk styles that were being documented sparsely, if at all, in the Old World. many of these records are priceless documents of genres and traditions virtually extinct today. The best of these recordings represent not only styles that flourished at the time of recording but even styles that preceded those by decades or centuries." (Dick Spotswood, from the liner notes)

Precious gems in 78rpms. Raw folk revelations from many quarters of the "Old World". Illuminating notes & essays from Dick Spotswood & Oscar Handlin. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly.



V/A - Old-Country Music in a New Land: Folk Music of Immigrants from Europe and the Near East (New World Records, NW 264) *Re-upped 7/20/12

1. Mike Lapčak Slovensky Hudba - Sedliacky Zabavny Czardaš (The Farmer's Diversion Czardaš)

2. Krestyanskyj Orkestr - Malenky Barabanshtchik (The Little Drummer-Boy)

3. Aili and Lyyli Wainikainen - Kasakka Polkka - Polka "Tchorny J Ostrov" (Cossack Polka - "Black Island" Polka)

4. Braca Kapugi Tamburica Orchestra - Zalim te Momce (I Saw You, Lad)

5. Patrick Killoran and His Pride of Erin Orchestra - Stack-o-Barley

6. James Morrison and John McKenna - The Tailor's Thimble and The Red-Haired Lass

7. Lydia Mendoza y Familia - El Coco-Cancion (The Coconut Song)

8. Santiago Jimenez y Sus Valedores - La Piedrera

9. New Arkansas Travelers - I Tickled 'em

10. Dennis McGee and Ernest Fruge - Jeuns Gens Campagnard (Young Men From the Country)

11. Elise Deshotel and his Louisiana Rhythmaires - La Valse de Bon Baurche (The Drunkard's Sorrow Waltz)

12. Unknown - Pastorale

13. Rueben Sarkisian - Yar Ounenal (I Love You)

14. Nahem Simon - Sayf lahziq (Your Sword Has Pierced Me)

15. Harilaos Piperakis - Siteiako (Dance of Siteia)

16. Mahanojaus Lietvička Maineriu Orkestra - Kuomet Šokis (When You Dance)