While I haven't been inside a record store in I don't know how long now, I haven't let the coronavirus pandemic stop me from getting new records.
On May 29, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings released a new album of previously unreleased live recordings of Doc Watson and his father-in-law Gaither Carlton (SFW40235). The track list was compiled from two of Watson's earliest concerts in New York City's Greenwich Village in 1962.
The album is available in LP, CD and digital formats. I had pre-ordered the vinyl in April, and it arrived on June 1. This is the second time I've pre-ordered something from Smithsonian Folkways, and I've been pleased with how quickly the item arrives.
The audio quality on the album is excellent. Watson was in his prime, and Carlton adds understated and exquisite accompaniment. On this album, we get a taste of Watson's banjo playing and autoharp, in addition to his legendary guitar picking and singing. Carlton also plays banjo on a few tunes, in addition to fiddle. On the final track of the album, an alternate version of "Groundhog" from what appears on Side A, Watson's brother, Arnold, plays banjo.
The vinyl pressing is of excellent quality. The packaging of the LP perfectly replicates the Folkways albums of the 1950s and '60s, with the heavy cardboard outer sleeve and a six-page foldout booklet of liner notes. The poly-lined paper inner sleeve is a nice touch for modern collectors concerned about keeping their records in good condition. These are a major upgrade over plain paper sleeves that can eventually scuff the vinyl.
The liner notes contain biographical information about Watson and Carlton, as well as an essay about Carlton's musicianship by Stephanie Coleman, a Brooklyn-based fiddler who has toured with Uncle Earl and performed with Cleek Schrey, Adam Hurt and many others, including more recently teenage banjo songster Nora Brown.
There is also an essay on "How This Album Came to Be," by Peter K. Siegel, who recorded and produced the album. Siegel is also responsible for the Clarence Ashley album released by Jalopy Records in 2017. As an 18-year-old, Siegel recorded these concert presented by the Friends of Old Time Music on the NYU campus and the West Village coffee house Blind Lemon's.
Although it comes 57 years later, this album serves as companion to The Watson Family, which Folkways released in 1963. While Watson went on to share his music worldwide, Carlton returned home and continued to share his music with his community in North Carolina. This album is nice addition to the limited recordings available of Carlton's music.
I highly recommend this album. It's a wonderful time capsule of old-time music from a bygone era.
UPDATE: As John Schwab comments below, more of Carlton's music can be heard on the Field Recorders' Collective release Gaither Carlton 1972 (FRC118). Be sure to check that out!
The album is available in LP, CD and digital formats. I had pre-ordered the vinyl in April, and it arrived on June 1. This is the second time I've pre-ordered something from Smithsonian Folkways, and I've been pleased with how quickly the item arrives.
The audio quality on the album is excellent. Watson was in his prime, and Carlton adds understated and exquisite accompaniment. On this album, we get a taste of Watson's banjo playing and autoharp, in addition to his legendary guitar picking and singing. Carlton also plays banjo on a few tunes, in addition to fiddle. On the final track of the album, an alternate version of "Groundhog" from what appears on Side A, Watson's brother, Arnold, plays banjo.
The vinyl pressing is of excellent quality. The packaging of the LP perfectly replicates the Folkways albums of the 1950s and '60s, with the heavy cardboard outer sleeve and a six-page foldout booklet of liner notes. The poly-lined paper inner sleeve is a nice touch for modern collectors concerned about keeping their records in good condition. These are a major upgrade over plain paper sleeves that can eventually scuff the vinyl.
The liner notes contain biographical information about Watson and Carlton, as well as an essay about Carlton's musicianship by Stephanie Coleman, a Brooklyn-based fiddler who has toured with Uncle Earl and performed with Cleek Schrey, Adam Hurt and many others, including more recently teenage banjo songster Nora Brown.
There is also an essay on "How This Album Came to Be," by Peter K. Siegel, who recorded and produced the album. Siegel is also responsible for the Clarence Ashley album released by Jalopy Records in 2017. As an 18-year-old, Siegel recorded these concert presented by the Friends of Old Time Music on the NYU campus and the West Village coffee house Blind Lemon's.
Although it comes 57 years later, this album serves as companion to The Watson Family, which Folkways released in 1963. While Watson went on to share his music worldwide, Carlton returned home and continued to share his music with his community in North Carolina. This album is nice addition to the limited recordings available of Carlton's music.
I highly recommend this album. It's a wonderful time capsule of old-time music from a bygone era.
UPDATE: As John Schwab comments below, more of Carlton's music can be heard on the Field Recorders' Collective release Gaither Carlton 1972 (FRC118). Be sure to check that out!
It's a good album, but quite tame and refined, with little of the raw character that I think is essential to the best old-time music. While he was undoubtedly great musician, Doc was relatively polished and uptown, with a prior career as a rockabilly musician. Honestly, I'd been hoping that there would be more of Gaither, but the album clearly focuses on Doc, even though he was acting as Gaither's backup. Gaither is the real deal, but he's largely an afterthought on this album. Of course, Doc sells, while Gaither doesn't have the following. Having said this...if anyone is interested in Gaither's wonderful music, there's a terrific Field Recorders' Collective CD of Gaither (mostly solo, with some banjo by Tom Carter). https://fieldrecorder.org/product/gaither-carlton-1972/
ReplyDeleteJohn, thanks for your comment. I have updated the post to include a link to the FRC page. I appreciate your input.
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