Illustration from “Billy Taylor” broadside “The Tragedy of the Press-Gang: Â A True and Lamentable Ballad call’d Billy Taylor, shewing the fatal effects of Inconstancy.” Transvestism! Â Seafaring! Â Betrayal! Â Murder! In my last full week of posts, I explored “The Demon Lover” … Continue reading →
HEKLA STĂ LSTRENGA MakramĂŠ Talik 84 www.talik.no Itâs Norwegian folk-rock. No, really, it is. A mix of the tradition and original material â both songs and tunes â all gussied up, amplified and brought out … Continue reading →
As we found out in the introductory post this week, “Cold Rain and Snow”, which most folks know as a staple in the Grateful Dead’s repertoire, is an American ballad written by an unknown author after a man murdered his … Continue reading →
MJELVA/TAMNES Gi Mi Pols! Talik 89 www.talik.no This is about as basic as it gets, an album of two Norwegian fiddlers exploring some of the traditions of the Røros area of the country. There … Continue reading →
There Are No Words Halifax Explosion, 1917 If Pat will permit me this brief interruption in his week on “Cold Rain and Snow,” I thought it worth taking note of the day, September 11, and how it relates to our … Continue reading →
JOHN JACOB NILES The Boone-Tolliver Recordings LM Dupli-cation 4 LM Dupli-cation Website www.john-jacob-niles.com âOver coffee and liqueurs we would sometimes listen to John Jacob Nilesâ recordings. The metallic clang of his dulcimer never failed to … Continue reading →
MARY Z. COX Girl With The Banjo Tattoo Mary Z. Cox www.maryzcox.com Mary Z. Cox describes herself as a banjoholic. She has played since the age of 12 and has won numerous prizes in … Continue reading →
COSY SHERIDAN The Horse King Waterbug 102 www.waterbug.com www.cosysheridan.com In the notes for this CD, her 10th release, Cosy Sheridan admits to only recently deciding to refer to herself a âsinger songwriter.â Until now, sheâd … Continue reading →
MARK COLLIE & HIS RECKLESS COMPANIONS Live at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Wilbanks 1694 www.wilbanks.com http://www.markcollie.com Country singer/writer Collieâs inspiration for this arresting disc came from hearing Johnny Cashâs Folsom and San Quentin prison LPs and knowing … Continue reading →
I first heard our subject ballad for the week from the same source I’m sure the majority of people who know it today did – the Grateful Dead. Â It had been part of their repertoire since their start in 1965, … Continue reading →
