More people should know that name than do, and this revisitation of the definitive anthology of American folk music is part tribute, part profile raiser. That’s not to say Harry didn’t get his props; his original Anthology Of American Folk Music bagged two Grammys and was certified gold this year. But he passed away in ’91, and it’s time to remind.
This release pulls live recordings from 1999′s Harry Smith tribute shows in London, Brooklyn, and LA, and features Beck, Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Van Dyke Parks, Nick Cave, David Johansen, Steve Earle, Richard Thompson, Beth Orton, (tired yet?), and more more more. The CD/DVD boxed set has renditions of the timeless folk of the ’20s and ’30s — songs that paved the way for all that indie that fills our ears. Don’t believe it? Check that bad seed, Nick Cave, doing a gritty “John The Revelator” (video). And more streams for your procrastinating pleasure:
Beth Orton – “Frankie” (QT | WMA | (Video)
Wilco – “James Alley Blues” (QT) | WMA)
And we’re giving away one set! To enter the Harry Smith Anthology Giveaway, post a comment about the track that looks best to you. We’ll select a winner on Friday 10/20 at 6PM EST. Full CD and DVD tracklisting below (crazy lineup!).
DISC ONE: (CD)
1. David Johansen, “OLD DOG BLUE”
2. Steve Earle, “PRISON CELL BLUES”
3. Wilco, “JAMES ALLEY BLUES”
4. Beth Orton, “FRANKIE”
5. Beck, “LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN”
6. Kate & Anna McGarrigle, “SUGAR BABY”
7. Elvis Costello, “THE BUTCHER?S BOY”
8. David Thomas, “WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD”
9. Richard Thompson with Eliza Carthy, “THE COO COO BIRD”
10. Ed Sanders, “MY BABY DONE LEFT ME”
11. Nick Cave, “JOHN THE REVELATOR”
12. Eric Mingus with Gary Lucas, “OH DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?”
13. Roswell Rudd with Sonic Youth, “DRY BONES”
14. Garth & Maud Hudson, “NO DEPRESSION IN HEAVEN”
15. Geoff Muldaur, “K.C. MOAN”
17. Gavin Friday with Maurice Seezer, “WHEN THAT GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN”
DISC TWO: (CD)
1. Robin Holcomb, “A LAZY FARMER BOY”
2. Van Dyke Parks with Mondrian String Quartet, “SAIL AWAY LADY”
3. Geoff Muldaur, “POOR BOY BLUES”
4. Marianne Faithfull, “SPIKE DRIVER BLUES”
5. Lou Reed, “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN”
6. Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Elvis Costello, “OMMIE WISE PART 1 & 2
(WHAT LEWIS DID LAST?)”
7. Gavin Friday, “FATAL FLOWER GARDEN”
8. Bob Neuwirth with Eliza Carthy, “I WISH I WAS A MOLE IN THE GROUND”
9. David Thomas, “FISHING BLUES”
10. Mary Margaret O?Hara, “HE GOT BETTER THINGS FOR YOU”
11. Mocean Worker, “HARRY GOES A COURTIN? (THE MOWO! LIVE HOOTENANNY THROW-DOWN)”
12. Robin Holcomb & Todd Rundgren, “THE HOUSE CARPENTER”
13. Don Byron, Percy Heath & Bill Frisell, “THIS SONG OF LOVE”
14. Nick Cave, “SHINE ON ME”
15. David Johansen, “JAMES ALLEY BLUES”
16. Petra Haden, “SINGLE GIRL MARRIED GIRL”
DISC THREE (DVD): (Also available separately)
Concert Film ? The Harry Smith Project Live
1. Elvis Costello, “THE BUTCHER?S BOY”
2. David Johansen, “OLD DOG BLUE”
3. Nick Cave, “JOHN THE REVELATOR”
4. Beck, “LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN”
5. Ed Sanders, “ONE HOT SUMMER NIGHT WITH HARRY SMITH”
6. Kate & Anna McGarrigle, “SUGAR BABY”
7. Lou Reed, “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN”
8. Beth Orton, “FRANKIE”
9. Rosewell Rudd with Sonic Youth, “DRY BONES”
10. The Folksmen, “OLD JOE?S PLACE”
11. Robin Holcomb & Todd Rundgren, “THE HOUSE CARPENTER
12. Gavin Friday with Maurice Seezer, “WHEN THAT GREAT SHIP WENT DOWN”
13. Philip Glass, “ETUDE NO. 10″
14. David Johansen, “JAMES ALLEY BLUES”
15. Eric Mingus with Gary Lucas, “OH DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?”
16. Petra Haden, “SINGLE GIRL, MARRIED GIRL”
17. Richard Thompson with Eliza Carthy, “THE COO COO BIRD”
18. Bob Neuwirth with Eliza Carthy, “I WISH I WAS A MOLE IN THE GROUND”
19. Geoff Muldaur, “POOR BOY BLUES”
20. Don Byron, Percy Heath & Bill Frisell, “THIS SONG OF LOVE”
21. Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Elvis Costello, “OMMIE WISE PART 1 & 2
(WHAT LEWIS DID LAST?)”
22. Steve Earle, “PRISON CELL BLUES”
23. David Thomas, “FISHING BLUES”
The Harry Smith Project: Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisited is out 10/24.
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The Wilco track is exceedingly hot. Thanks for the tip, I had no idea this was going on.
cheers, baby
http://www.musichawk.com
can’t wait to hear the version of “dry bones” by roswell rudd and sonic youth. too bad they don’t have nick cave’s version of stackalee – terrifying!
I was at the LA shows and they were amazing… and crazy long, running a little over 5 hours each night.
Petra Haden’s song is really terrific. Kind of sad that Marianne Faithfull’s “John the Revelator” didn’t make it on to the set though. She ripped that song up with Beck and Todd Rundgren on backing vocals.
I’m looking forward to Elvis laying down some love on “The Butcher’s Boy”. The original Anthology kicked so much scratchy, pop-filled, 78rpm ass that this can do nothing but.
Plus, my name is actually Harry Smith…so it’s kind of a requirement for me to enjoy everything that’s done by or for my eccentric namesake, even his logo for Ginsberg.
Have you seen Searching For the Wrong-Eyed Jesus? If not, you should. It’s all about these small poor Pentecostal towns and the culture of the people. Also features musicians – Jim White, Johnny Dowd, David Johansen, The Handsome Family. One of the extras in the film, is David Johansen sitting in a motel room talking about Harry Smith and his influence on music. He compares it to It’s A Wonderful Life, saying that if Harry Smith didn’t exist, then none of the music today would be here.
The film is excellent.
Roswell Rudd with Sonic Youth, “DRY BONES”
Aside from Wilco and Nick Cave, this track proves most interesting to me.
Bob Neuwirth with Eliza Carthy
i can’t wait to hear good ole bobby mcgee on “I WISH I WAS A MOLE IN THE GROUND”
its gonna be sweet i am sure. i mean you did see that really sweet velour jumpsuit he was wearing in No Direction Home right?
killer!
thanks for clueing (cluing?) me in…i’d never heard of harry smith. but i’ll definitely have to check this out. looking foward to all of it, but of course new wilco always excites.
Marianne Faithfull rocking some 20s and 30s American folk music? That takes it for me without a doubt.
Marianne Faithfull rocking some 20s and 30s American folk music? That takes it for me without a doubt.
“I’m going where there’s no depression, to the lovely land that’s free from care. I’ll leave this world of toil and trouble, my home’s in Heaven I’m going there.”
The Carter Family’s cut on the original is astonishing, but i’d like to hear Garth & Maud get up on it.
David Thomas, “WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD”
the original makes me curl up in fetal position and weep.
seriously that David Thomas “Way Down the Old Plank Road” is going to slay.
Wilco used to occasionally play “James Alley Blues,” live and it was a wonderful bridge between the alt-country Wilco and the indie rock Wilco.
However, I’m always curious to anything Van Dyke Parks lays his hands on, and “Sail Away Lady,” is no different. Give the man some strings and a strong song to work with and I’ll show you a beautiful work.
Not surprised to see Steve Earle on this – he have focused on Harry Smith’s box set and work several times on his radio show on Air America. You can get podcast of the show. It is really good. He has on a guest that picks songs and discusses. Lots of good music and discussion.
Anything with Todd Rundgren has my seal of approval!
Looking forward to hearing Fishing Blues by David Thomas. That guy was mad funny as Doug McKenzie. And I thought Rick Moranis was the one with the music career…
Gotta be Nick Cave. If anyone can find the blackened soul of a fold song it’s Mr. Cave and his cheery countenance.
I’m going to have to go with the Byron/Heath/Frisell tune. That kind of trio can surely do no wrong.
Lou Reed, “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN”
He’s been singing that his whole career!
Any of the David Thomas tracks, but I’m thinking “Fishing Blues” might be the most interesting.
14. Garth & Maud Hudson, “NO DEPRESSION IN HEAVEN” looks good to me. The anthology is the undercurrent / influence / background noise for all of the best american music. From The Band – Woodstock via Arkansas and Canada thru Wilco – Califone – Chicago (citynottheband).
i’ll go with House Carpenter performed by Robin Holcomb and Todd Rundgren
Uh, I think it’s obvious. The Folksmen track.
After hearing what he did with Joanna Newsom, I’m itching for some more Van Dyke Parks. I have a feeling “SAIL AWAY LADY” will be killer.
Nick Cave, “JOHN THE REVELATOR” - for the darkness.
I do love that song Wilco does. I saw them do that when they were on the touring Newport Folk Festival quite a few years back…
I’m really wanting to hear the R. Thompson/E. Carthy song.
“JOHN THE REVELATOR” by Nick Cave, “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN” by Lou Reed, or “DRY BONES” by Rosewell Rudd with Sonic Youth
The Petra Haden track should be good. I saw her a few months ago at Symphony Space in NYC with Bill Frissell, doing their Americana thang. The show was a bit slow, almost everything they played was ballad oriented, but Petra definitely has the right voice for this kind of music…and her fiddle playing is pretty rad too…
Definitely ‘John the Revelator’ by Nick Cave – would love to hear that!
No doubt about it: Elvis Costello’s take on THE BUTCHER BOY will be thrilling. Is there anything that man can’t do?
(Yes, but let’s not talk about it)
i’ve always loved the coo coo bird track but i honestly wish to here lou reed sing see that my grave is kept clean. my only extra comment is “what!?! no freight train!???!”
Lou Reed “SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN”
That song is creepy enough to begin with. Creepy + Lou Reed is redundant, but awesome.
need to have it for the Beth song, as it inspired her to write God Song from Daybreaker. Will enjoy looking for new artists in the other tracks too.
Wow, that Wilco song is great. I’m really impressed by it. Usually tributes are kinda shit, but this is pretty damn good.
That beck track could be good, that song is great, but beck’s covers are hit and miss. All will probably pale in compaison to the originals, tributes generally suck.
Actually, If you like these kinds of songs you should check out the complilation coming out on Bloodshot records later this month of the Old Town School in Chicago’s Folk Book. There are some really talented people actually forwarding this genre of music and presenting traditional songs in fresh ways. Or you could listen to these strum rock covers..
Untill the Nick Cave Sings the Des Moines, Iowa Phonebook this will tide me over. Kevin
Track 11. Nick Cave, “JOHN THE REVELATOR” looks best to me
“single girl, married girl” – Petra Haden
I have a version of Beck doing Last Fair Deal live with Jack White, but I’d like to hear how it sounds more professionally done. I think current Beck with his gruffier vocals will make for a good folk tune.
is it wrong that i want to hear marianne faithfull’s ‘spike driver blues’?
Wilco, “JAMES ALLEY BLUES”-can’t wait!
It’s an outside pick, but based on the original I’m looking forward to Eric Mingus with Gary Lucas, “OH DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?.”
Garth and Maud Hudson’s “No Depression in Heaven”? Yes, please.
The track that looks best to me is Nick Cave’s John the Revelator. Beth Orton? Not so much.
Nick Cave all the time. John The Revelator. What a good looking collection.
What looks the best? I’d love to hear that updated version of “I Wish I Were A Mole in the Ground”. Even writing it out reminds me of when I first discovered it on the old, battered Harry Smith original, down at the public library. I was riveted. I felt I’d discovered a secret. Hopefully this new set can cause that “secret” to be a little more widespread.
Honorable mention: Prety much anything David Johansen records with the Harry Smiths. I mean, c’mon, if there’s on artist who’s keeping the torch lit, it’s him. We will follow wherever he wishes to lead us.
I’ve heard the Wilco verson of “James Alley Blues,” and it’s fantastic. Totally revised my opinion of Wilco. I think I’d also like to hear what Kate & Anna McGarrigle do with “Sugar Baby.”
Hmm there are a bunch of interesting ones here, but if I had to choose, I’d go with “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” by Lou Reed.
nice to see the McGarrigles in the mix [seems to the the only Canadians thrown in - do Martha & Rufus sing along?]
Elvis Costello, “THE BUTCHER?S BOY,” because, well…. Rosco de Ville.
Gotta be the Beth Orton track – can’t wait to hear that one!
Nick’s “John The Revelator” is the pick. Not a surprising choice for Nick, but who can blame him? It’s one of the most rock ‘n roll songs of the pre-rock era!
gots to be lou reed
The Wilco looks tasty – but Nick Cave’s John the Revelator looks to be the one to watch. Let’s hope he gets Son House on them shits.
Nick Cave “John the Revelator”
Beck “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” – Hoping that’s it’s just guitar/vocals or something similarly stripped down.
Lou Reed doing “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” should be nice and haunting.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down by Beck sounds good to me. Liked it when Cracker played too…
Lou Reed- see that my grave is kept clean
I’m most excited about the Robin Holcomb/Todd Rundgren track. I love both of them and would never have predicted the two would end up working together. I’m very curious indeed to see how it comes out.
Nick Cave, “SHINE ON ME”
I will say Wilco, “James Alley Blues”. I’m not too familiar with a lot of the songs, but when I hear something they play, it draws me in and makes me want more.
I will say Wilco, “James Alley Blues”. I’m not too familiar with a lot of the songs, but when I hear something they play, it draws me in and makes me want more.
I will say Wilco, “James Alley Blues”. I’m not too familiar with a lot of the songs, but when I hear something they play, it draws me in and makes me want more.
although “i wish i was a mole in the ground” is one of the best songs ever written, i think the one i’m most looking forward to is nick cave’s “john the revelator.” while it’s safe to assume that it won’t be as insane as the white stripes’ version, it will definitely be much creepier.
The Beth Orton track sounds promising. Or Nick Cave’s “John the Revelator.” Or Marianne Faithfull. Don’t make me choose.
David Johansen’s Old Dog Blue, just to see if he goes the new york dolls or the buster poindexter route
The Folksmen, “OLD JOE?S PLACE”
EA A OE’S.
classic.
I wan to hear the Petra Haden track. that dog. was one of my favorite bands in High School.
I want to hear the Petra Haden track. that dog. was one of my favorite bands in High School.
Philip Glass, “ETUDE NO. 10″
I want to hear the Petra Haden track. that dog. was one of my favorite bands in High School.
I want to hear the Petra Haden track. that dog. was one of my favorite bands in High School.
The Petra Haden track is the one I want to hear. I loved that dog.
The “House Carpenter” and “Coo Coo Bird” are both great songs, but my pick is the latter.
i think every compilation album in the world should have nick cave songs!
i think every compilation album in the world should have nick cave songs!
I want to hear former Fugs leader Ed Sanders’ “My Baby Done Left Me.”
i think it all looks good i’m gonna buy the thing if i don’t win, ah i’ll buy one anyway for someone for christmas… neato
i think it all looks good i’m gonna buy the thing if i don’t win, ah i’ll buy one anyway for someone for christmas… neato
I want to hear former Fugs leader Ed Sanders’ “My Baby Done Left Me.”
i think it all looks good i’m gonna buy the thing if i don’t win, ah i’ll buy one anyway for someone for christmas… neato
steve earle “prison cell blues”
Elvis Costello, “THE BUTCHER?S BOY” … is exciting to me.
Hooray for Beck!
the costello track
Harry Goes A Courtin’ (the Mowo! Live Hootenanny Throw-Down) – Mocean Worker
Nick Cave doing John The Revelator!? I hope he doesn’t screw it up!
Bold As Love (Instrumental Version from the Box Set) – Jimi
This is an SG, you have to play something with balls guys.
Probably Wilco “James Alley Blues”, but the Beck version of “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” could be pretty cool.
I’m looking forward to Petra Hayden mostly because I have heard hundreds of versions of “Single Girl, Married Girl” my favorite being my own MeeMaw’s. (I have roots in Appalachia, we all weren’t born urban hipsters, you know.)
I think the most interesting one to me is Marianne Faithfull doing Spike Driver Blues. I never thought I would ever hear a Mississippi John Hurt cover by any one who had “been with” Mick Jagger. Now if I could only hear Stack O’Lee done by Jerry Hall (or David Bowie).
Beck, “LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN”
the wilco track, most definitely… i love all things tweedy
It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to the old Anthology, but this looks like a great new tribute…
I think my first track listen would either have to be Richard Thompson’s “The Coo Coo Bird” or Wilco’s “James Alley Blues” because of what Spencer said – “I love all things Tweedy”…
And thanks for being willing to give away a copy, folks…
Call me a nerd, but I’m psyched for the Steve Earle track. Nerd? Anyone?
looking forward to all of this but mostly some nick cave and elvis costello. great to see old skool boys like ed sanders in the mix as well.