Folkways

From Folkways.si.edu - Educational and culturally significant recordings of American Roots, Blues, Bluegrass, Folk, World, American Indian, Jazz, Latino, protest, etc..

  • Ella Jenkins - This Is Rhythm Ella Jenkins - This Is Rhythm

    Another great educational folk record by Ella Jenkins.  This one endeavours to teach children all about the element of rhythm and a variety of ethnic percussion instruments.  Side One is dedicated to the extended minimalist piece ‘This Is Rhythm’ and then Ella proceeds to demonstrate a number of different rhythmic instruments.  Side two consists of […]

  • Ella Jenkins - Counting Games & Rhythms For The Little Ones Ella Jenkins - Counting Games & Rhythms For The Little Ones

    Ella Jenkins is probably the most legendary name as far as childrens instructional records are concerned.  This record is on Scholastic/Folkways and focusses on teaching kids to count.  There are heaps of cool little counting songs that everyone should recognise, with Ella accompanied by acoustic guitar and children from Lake Meadows Nursery School.  Ella Jenkins […]

  • Kathy Fire - Songs Of Fire Kathy Fire - Songs Of Fire

    This record will catch you off your guard. Put up your usual bias against radical feminist records, flex your hatred of 3rd-wave feminism, despise your own insecurity about all things political, and you will do what most people do when they see this record: laugh and put it back. Certainly when I read about this […]

  • Various Artists - Anthology Of American Folk Music Vols.1-3 Various Artists - Anthology Of American Folk Music Vols.1-3

    Probably the best known Folkways box sets around. These are really an outstanding overview of all genres of american folk music. It goes without saying that as usual with Folkways you get a highly informative booklet to accompany each volume. If you don’t have these you just aren’t folk music and could […]

  • Various Artists - Folk Music USA Vol.1 Various Artists - Folk Music USA Vol.1

    Another Folkways box along the lines of the excellent “Anthologies” LPs. This double LP box dates from 1959 and focuses on field recordings from all genres of american folk music. The comprehensive liner note booklet (including lyrics) is written by Charles Edward Smith and the songs were compiled by Harold Courlander. One of several Folkways […]

  • Pete Seeger - The Folksinger's Guitar Guide Pete Seeger - The Folksinger’s Guitar Guide

    A single record boxset? On Folkways from 1961. Pete Seeger talks you through the intricacies of playing folk guitar. There isn’t a whole lot more to say about this, it was a 10 cent find at a used book fair a few years ago. Luckily I already know how to play guitar […]

  • Barton Smith - Reelizations Barton Smith - Reelizations

    Bedroom electronics from a relatively unknown experimental composer on Folkways circa 1980.  This one is the first of a two part “Reelizations” series. While there are a few acoustic guitar-only tracks on here, the majority of the record contains a real wide selection of instruments; ranging from heavily processed synthesizers to Roland drum machines […]

  • The Entourage Music & Theatre Ensemble - The Neptune Collection The Entourage Music & Theatre Ensemble - The Neptune Collection

    I picked this album up recently half-expecting some excessively artsy, self-indulgent improv noodling with maybe a redeemable moment or two sprinkled within. The “Theatre Ensemble” part of the name kind of just gave me the willies for some reason. On the other hand, it is on Folkways and it has a cool cover with some […]

  • The Entourage Music And Theatre Ensemble The Entourage Music And Theatre Ensemble

    From the back cover: A brilliant first album by a totally original group performing their own compositions in an experimental - spiritualistic environment. A synergism of instrumental sound (including saxophone, keyboards, percussion, viola, recorder, guitar, drums, and thumb piano, etc.) The Entourage Music and Theatre Ensemble is a collective reflecting techniques found in Noh Theatre, […]

  • Peter La Farge - Sings Of The Cowboys Peter La Farge - Sings Of The Cowboys

    Well if you are like me and consider yourself a bedroom cowboy, then you’re gonna need a helpful record such as this to get your cattle calls up to scratch.  Luckily this record comes will everything you need to get your cowpoke game down.
    This was released on Folkways in 1964 and in true Folkways style […]

  • Street and Gangland Rhythms Street and Gangland Rhythms

    Simply put; this is one of the most amazing and entertaining records I’ve ever heard. It’s a truly fascinating slice of life that does not cease to astonish upon repeated listens, and makes one wish that more things like this had been preserved for the ages. The songs, anecdotes, and a capella gang wars of […]

  • Harry McClintock - Haywire Mac Harry McClintock - Haywire Mac

    Harry McClintock, or Haywire Mac as he was known, was original old school. Listening to his songs you feel the dust on your tongue and the rails sliding by as you stare out of a boxcar heading South, North, East or West, basically anywhere away from where you currently don’t want to be. At various […]

  • Elizabeth Cotten – Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar Elizabeth Cotten – Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar

    This will make you toss out your yawnfest Folkways LPs of bug sounds and jugbands or whatever and force you to rethink your intentions as a record collector. Miss Cotten is the real Folkways deal and this is probably one of the best records they ever put out (up there with the Anthologies of American […]

  • New American Music Vol. 1 New American Music Vol. 1

    Here’s the first of four volumes in Folkways’ New American Music series. You know it’s new American music because the Eagle on the cover is playing a harp. Eagles mean America, harps mean music and new means new. But this record is actually 30 years old, so I guess in this case new means old. […]

  • J.D. Robb: From Razorblades to Moog J.D. Robb: From Razorblades to Moog

    Awesome electronics from the coolest moustache man in the business, J.D. Robb! It’s basically just synth bleeps and crude samples of Opera, but it makes for a thoroughly compelling listen all the way through. I like how his sound is really mellow and spooky rather than a harsh Subotnick-like freakout that is a trial to […]

  • Various Artists - Electronic Music Various Artists - Electronic Music

    Outstanding set of early electronics on the ever-popular Folkways label. It’s hard to imagine the nerdish looking dudes pictured in the included booklet would be the ones producing these totally bizarre sound structures.

  • Pygmies of the Ituri Forest Pygmies of the Ituri Forest

    I suppose that Pygmies, being so naturally small, have a bit of a head start when it come to “getting down”. Bad jokes aside, this is a pretty amazing record. The ambience is just awesome and on many tracks the jungle is as much a part of the music as the Pygmies. It is a […]

  • Cable Car Soundscapes Cable Car Soundscapes

    This is the kind of record that brings joy to my life and reminds me of why I got into collecting oddball records in the first place. It’s a local bay area lp from the early 80’s of a guy who, just as the name implies, recorded the sounds of cable cars. Side A is […]

  • Raasche and Alan Mills sing Jewish Folk Songs Raasche and Alan Mills sing Jewish Folk Songs

    Sometimes I want to groove out to the sweet sounds of the alter kakers. This LP from Raasche–who, based on the jacket photo, was a real shayner–and Alan Mills works well to this end. If you want to hear songs about the shtetl shicker or a rousing version of “Dayeinu” then I heartily recommend […]

  • A Grain of Sand A Grain of Sand

    Politically charged psych-folk for the asian american struggle. Grain of Sand interview

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