The Folk Medley
1999 Country/Bluegrass Concert
Here are 18 folk songs from the golden era of folk music. The medley has here been separated into one, two, & three song divisions to provide the listener with more control.
Instrumentation
Dale Chapel: string bass and percussion;
MR: acoustic folk guitar; Diane Maltby: piano/organ.
Musical arrangements: MR
Road To Freedom - Cotton Fields - Early Mornin; Rain: The opener was written in 1961 by prolific folk song writer, John Stewart, a member of the Kingston Trio. Peggy Hunt sings the solo. "Cotton Fields" was written by blues musician, Lead Belly and was first recorded in 1940. "Early Mornin' Rain" was written by Canadian song writer/folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot in 1964. MR sings the lead, as he displays the delineating folk finger-picking styles on his vintage Martin-D35.
Leavin' on a Jet Plane: Goin' Away for to Leave You: "Jet Plane" is a John Denver song (1966), and is here sung by Becky Spence. "Goin' Away..." was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas. The song was made famous by the Kingston Trio.
Guantanamera - La Bamba: The most famous Cuban song of all time is credited to Joseíto Fernández, c. 1929. "La Bamba is a Mexican folk song. At the beginning of Guantanamera, the audience laughs because Becky held up a sign (stealthfully made and deployed) imploring the audience to "sing with the Gringos." Aramis Rios plays the bongos.
Jamaica Farewell: Banana Boat Song: These four island folk songs comprise the Caribbean package within the Folk Medley. Soloists in "Jamaica.." are John Flynt, and a duet by Annette and Dale Chapel. MR provides the jarring solo in "Banana Boat Song." Both songs are traditional Jamaican "mento" songs, a musical form distinct from calypso.
If I Had a Hammer: This beloved folk song was written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays in 1949. Solos are MR, Peggy Hunt, Becky Spence, and Katie Burdick.
Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies: That's What You Get For Lovin' Me: In "Come All Ye..." (an Appalachian folk ballad) alas, the first part of the song is missing, and this recording is the only one in existence. Use your imagination to hear Katie begin with "Come all ye fair and tender ladies, take warning how you treat your men..." The answer to that lament is Gordon Lightfoot's roguish "That's What You Get..." sung by MR.
Michael Row the Boat Ashore: This is a Civil War era Negro spiritual and was first noted on St. Helena Island off South Carolina. Slave owners abandoned the island ahead of an impending blockade by the Union Navy. The left-behind slaves are said to have sung this song as they rowed to freedom. Annette and Dale Chapel provide the solos.
The Bells of Rhymney: a song first recorded by folk singer Pete Seeger, using words written by Welsh poet Idris Davies, it harkens to a mining disaster of 1926 in England. Katie Burdick sings the haunting, heavily symbolic song to MR's guitar in D-tuning, which sonorous tuning works to further enhance the dread and foreboding aura of the song.
MTA: This is a 1949 song by Jacqueline Steiner and recorded and released by the Kingston Trio. It was taken from much older sources and fashioned into a campaign song during the mayoral race in Boston, where a fictional "Charlie" is trapped on the Metropolitan Transit Authority subway because he must pay an additional nickle to exit the train.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?: Another Seeger folk song, and once again, made famous by Peter, Paul & Mary. This arrangement has some interesting devices in play, including sounding two, and then three verses simultaneously in a canonic structure. Nancy Wolfe sings the opening solo.
The Times They Are a-Changin': One of Bob Dylan's most famous songs (1964).
This Land Is Your Land: One of America's most famous folk anthems was written (the tune based on an old Baptist hymn) by Woody Guthrie in 1940, partly as a response to Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" too many times to suit Guthrie's tastes. He varied the lyrics over time to reflect his strong ties to communism, but those radicalized verses have long been omitted to make the song more generally acceptable. In the '60's it was recorded by many folk groups using the verses we know today.
Daddy Sang Bass/Will the Circle Be Unbroken: This starts off with the well-liked country song that features Michael Roy, the bass singer, and Jan, the tenor doing the roles of Daddy and Mama. It then careers full-tilt into "Will the Circle.." with the bluegrass band on fire. The audience is disbelieving as Ken Barret on the five-string, Jim Miauri on the mandolin, MR on the acoustic guitar, and Dale Chapel on string bass turn the old mountain gospel song into a great bluegrass piece. Diane is also back there stealthfully adding a bit of gospel piana to the mix. It was so much fun it hurt for the pickers and grinners,.. and the full-house audience also loved it.
Dry Bones: MR arranged this for the RCC choir, and in time, it also was performed by the Immanuel Singers. Here, the Early American Negro Spiritual is accompanied by MR on guitar, and Diane Maltby at piano. The percussion, amazingly,
is provided by an electronic device operated independently by...someone who's name has been lost down the halls of time.