Yes, memory has a way of taking off the rough edges and making things sound better than they did in reality, doesn't it? I still remember it as a very good record!
In the mid 80s there were any number of good people studying folklore at Penn among them Malachi O'Connor, Bonnie Blair O'Connor (they married each other, and i got to watch!) and Maggi Holzberg. All three said they worked very hard, but it was worth it. Sadly I've lost touch with all of them, but one never knows waht is around the next corner.
More Thread Creep: What was so special about Barlow knives? They've turned up in several songs from the South?!