Eight-Hand Sets And Holy Steps: Early Dance Tunes & Songs Of Praise From North Carolina Tradition by Various Artists
Release Date: 1988 (1978).
Release Info: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue.
Field recordings by Glenn Hinson and others.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Country Blues, Folk Blues, Gospel, Spiritual.
A sampler of African-American traditions that flourished in North Carolina from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, recorded in the late 1970s as part of the North Carolina Museum of History exhibit "The Black Presence in North Carolina."
Side One presents the secular music of dance parties and social gatherings–dance tunes such as rags and reels, and ballads accompanied on fiddle, banjo, harmonica, guitar, and bones.
Side Two contains spirituals and songs of praise performed by congregations, sacred singing groups, and individuals with guitar or harmonica accompaniment.
Twenty-four-page booklet with extensive notes by Glenn Hinson gives descriptions of the traditions, biographies of musicians, and photographs.
"Eight-Hand Sets and Holy Steps gives a sampling of the rich tradition of African-American music that flourished in North Carolina from the mid-1800s through the early years of this century. Side One features an array of music traditionally performed at dance parties and social gatherings. It is a sparkling collection of dance tunes - known as rags and reels - and ballads played on fiddle and banjo, harmonica, guitar and bones. Side two features spirituals and songs of praise that brought courage and comfort in trying times; they are performed by congregations, sacred singing groups, and individuals with guitar or harmonica accompaniment." (from the cover info. for Eight-Hand Sets)
Credits: Elester Anderson - vocals, guitar, primary artist; James Borders - bones, primary artist; Thomas Burt - vocals, guitar, primary artist; Glenn Hinson - producer, recording, liner notes; Algia Mae Hinton - vocals, guitar, primary artist; Percy Lassiter - vocals, guitar, primary artist; Roosevelt May - vocals, harmonica, primary artist; Rev. Rassie Moore - vocals, guitar, primary artist; Cora Phillips guitar, primary artist; Elizabeth "Babe" Reid - banjo, primary artist ; Second St. Paul Junior Choir, led by Gecholia Ann Wright - primary artist; Second St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church - primary artist; James "Guitar Slim" Stephens - vocals, guitar, primary artist; The Badgett Sisters - primary artist; The Gospel Jubilators - primary artist; Joe and Odell Thompson - fiddle, banjo, primary artist.
Tracklist:
A01. Wildwood Blues Speak - James "Guitar Slim" Stephens
A02. Corinna - Elizabeth "Babe" Reid, James Borders
A03. Georgia Buck - Odell Thompson, Joe Thompson
A04. Breakaway - Roosevelt May
A05. John Henry - Cora Phillips, Elizabeth "Babe" Reid
A06. Going Downtown - Joe Thompson, Odell Thompson
A07. Buckdance - Algia Mae Hinton
A08. Chicken - Percy Lassiter
A09. Out On The Farm - Lester Anderson
A10. Honeybabe - Algia Mae Hinton
A11. Boll Weevil - Percy Lassiter
A12. Chicken Lord Lord - Algia Mae Hinton
B01. When You See Me Praying - Second St.Paul Missionary Baptist Church
B02. Lord What Shall I Do - Thomas Burt
B03. Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Roosevelt May
B04. Your Close Friend - James "Guitar Slim" Stephens
B05. Death Is Coming Back After You - Rev. Rassie Moore
B06. Satin Were Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down - Second St.Paul Junior Choir:, Gecholia Ann Wright
B07. Sweet Home - Algia Mae Hinton
B08. Traveling Shoes - The Badgett Sisters, Cleonia Graves, Celester Sellars, Connie Steadman
B09. Joshua - The Gospel Jubilators:, Frank Poinsette, John Barney Floyd, Caddie "Cat" Laws, Rudolph "Mack" Floyd, William "Pete" Connor
Notes:
"Early Dance Tunes and Songs of Praise from North Carolina's Black Tradition"
Produced, Recorded & Notes: Glenn Hinson.
Originally issued 1978, as part of an interpretive exhibition entitled "The Black Presence in North Carolina", this issue 1988. North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Longleaf Records LL001RE number on back cover,spine and label.
Album Includes 26 page history of this music and the artists included.