Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Release Info: Studio Recording, SFW40079.
Release Date: January 20, 1998.
Recording Date: 1974 - 1997.
Recording Time: 64 minutes.
Styles: Old-Timey, Traditional Folk, Folk Blues, Appalachian, Field Recordings, North American Traditions, String Bands.
Thirty-two tracks of African-American banjo players from North Carolina and Virginia playing in the old-time folk style, recorded between 1974 and 1997. This is one of numerous releases illustrating that the roots of American music have more of a commonality than is often supposed. Many of the standards covered by the musicians on this record were (and are) in the repertoire of white folk artists, and it seems almost arbitrary to try to determine whether this is more of a country or a blues collection. Several of the players use odd tunings, and their instrumental skills outshine the vocals, which often sound like off-the-cuff afterthoughts. Although this is well-produced (with a booklet giving background on black banjo playing and the history behind the songs), it's really more of academic interest than something to play for entertainment; historical importance aside, it sounds like just another banjo collection. And "Coo Coo" is a classic song, but how many more versions do you want to hear? (There are three more here.) ~ Richie Unterberger
The sounds and social history of African American banjo playing—32 superb instrumentals and vocals, recorded between 1974 and 1997. Extensively annotated with performer's life histories, tunings, lyrics, bibliography, and discography. The banjo's gourd ancestors came to the Americas with enslaved Africans, forging the link between West African griots and performers of 20th-century blues and string-band music. (from SFW40079, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Credits: Jamie Alston - composer; Etta Baker - banjo, performer, primary artist; Leonard Bowles - claw hammer banjo, fiddle, primary artist; Jim Clark - composer; Cecilia Conway - producer; Irvin Cook - banjo, primary artist, vocals; Visual Dialogue - designer; David Glasser - mastering; Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston - banjo, performer, primary artist, vocals; John Jackson - performer, primary artist; Rufus Kasey - claw hammer banjo, primary artist, vocals; Michael Maloney - production coordination; Mary Monseur - editing assistant, production coordination; Scott Odell - producer; Cora Phillips - guitar, performer, primary artist; Dink Roberts - banjo, claw hammer banjo, performer, primary artist, vocals; James Roberts - banjo, performer, primary artist; Anthony Seeger - editing assistant; John Snipes - claw hammer banjo, performer, primary artist, vocals; Johnny Snipes - primary artist; Joe Thompson - fiddle, performer, primary artist; Odell Thompson - banjo, claw hammer banjo, performer, primary artist, vocals; Tommy Thompson - claw hammer banjo, guitar, performer, primary artist; Traditional - composer; Henry Ossawa Turner - cover artwork; John Tyree - bass, performer, primary artist; Uncle Homer Walker - claw hammer banjo, performer, primary artist, vocals; Charly Weber - engineer.
Tracks: 1. The Coo Coo (Coo Coo Bird) - John Snipes; 2. The Coo Coo (Coo Coo Bird) - Dink Roberts; 3. Old Rattler (Fox Chase) - John Snipes; 4. Georgia Buck (Georgie Buck)(Never Let a Woman Have Her Way) - Dink Roberts; 5. Georgia Buck - Joe and Odell Thompson; 6. John Henry - James Roberts; 7. High Sheriff - Dink Roberts; 8. John Hardy - Dink Roberts; 9. Garfield - Dink Roberts; 10. Old Corn Liquor - Dink Roberts; 11. Old Corn Liquor - Joe and Odell Thompson; 12. John Henry - Joe and Odell Thompson; 13. Love Somebody (Soldier's Joy) - Joe and Tommy Thompson; 14. Long Tail Blue - John Snipes; 15. Ain't Gonna Rain No More - John Snipes and Tommy Thompson; 16. Going Where I've Never Been Before - John Snipes; 17. Black Annie - Dink Roberts; 18. Old Blue - Dink Roberts; 19. Going Away from Home (Take Care of My Wife and Child) - John Snipes; 20. You Don't Know My Darling - John Snipes; 21. Jaybird March - Etta Baker and Cora Phillips; 22. Going Up North - John Jackson; 23. Sugar Hill - Homer Walker; 24. Momma Don't Allow - Irvin Cook and Leonard Bowles; 25. Shortnin' Bread - Leonard Bowles; 26. Shortnin' Bread - Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston; 27. Fox Chase - John Tyree; 28. Roustabout (Buffalo) - Dink Roberts; 29. Cookin' in the Kitchen - John Snipes; 30. Coo Coo Bird - Rufus Kasey; 31. Fox Chase - Dink Roberts; 32. Little Brown Jug - Joe and Odell Thompson.