Appalachian music reviews

A true curio, this reissue of an LP originally released in 1952 is split in two parts. The first half is dominated by a cappella versions of Civil War tunes sung by song collectors who are firmer in their scholarship than in their timbre. The second, more entertaining portion of the rather brief anthology consists of banjoist-vocalist-folklorist Bascom Lamar Lunsford plucking away at songs inspired by political assassinations. It's fascinating to hear lyrics that name-check the likes of William McKinley, James Garfield, and Abraham Lincoln, as well as their infamous attackers, Leon Czolgosz, Charles Guiteau, and John Wilkes Booth. (Bluegrass fans will recognize "Zolgotz" as near kin to "White House Blues," which Bill Monroe famously turned into a breakdown.) A thorough booklet boasts Duncan Emrich's original notes, as well as lyrics and photos. American history buffs and folklorists of all stripes will find this engaging. --Steven Stolder

This CD is part of an ambitious reissue program of folklorist (did someone say saint?) Alan Lomax's library of recordings. Recorded during a 1960 trip by Lomax to the Eastern Shores of Virginia, these are not the velvet voices of today's high-gloss studio productions. These are the actual voices of the gospel choirs, jubilee singers, and fisherman who continued to honor their African American musical traditions long after the rest of the world had plunged into the modern age. Colonial fife-and-banjo music is represented by the fascinating song "Joe Turner." The sparkling call-and-response of the "Menhaden Chanties" shows how fishermen once used song to lighten their load when pulling in their nets. But most impressive are the gospel groups the Silver Leaf Quartet and the Bright Light Quartet. Contrary to its title, "So Tired" by the Bright Light Quartet will have you doing cartwheels in the aisles and working happily all through the day. --Ken Hohman