Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America

Subject: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 10:43 AM

I have just seen this brilliant documentary on Harry Smith at our local independent Film Festival. He seems like someone who should be far better known, both for the person he was and what he did for folk music. Also, the film was very well made. It absolutely enthralled me. Musicians appearing in the film performing songs from the Anthology of American Folk Music include Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Beth Orton, and others. It was directed by Rani Singh, and was made in 2006. Has anybody else seen this, and what do they think of it?
Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 01:00 PM

I haven't seen it, Quokka. But a small addition: in the 1960s, Harry Smith was spoken of in mostly reverential tones in the Village (NYC). If there was ever anyone who knew American music, he was the man.

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 01:13 PM

YOUTUBE--Harry himself receiving an award.

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 01:27 PM

Probably the biggest influence on folk music in the USA.

There is a Smithsonian Folkways Album set which I thoroughly recommend called "Anthology of American Folk Music". The original had a profound influence on all sorts of people.

Originally done in 1952 I love the original notes - there is a repro in the modern version. Summary of Child 274 for example reads: "Wife's logic fails to explain strange bedfellow to drunkard".

There is plenty about Harry on the web.

One here for example.

I am eternally grateful to Peregrina on Mudcat for introducing me to Harry.

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 08:39 PM

Thanks for that info, Peace and Folkie Dave. This film was made in '06 so I'm sure you could find it to rent somewhere. I find that a lot of interesting films don't make it to Blockbuster etc but I can find them at little independent video stores. This is absolutely worth watching, recommend it highly.
Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 10:51 AM

Elvis Costello!? Nick Cave? Why?   Thompson can do it well, I am sure!

And why not Alice Girrard? Dock Boggs videos do exist. Hazel Dickens, Mac Benford, Roscoe Holcomb --- And so many others closer to the roots.

Just wondering.

Art

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 07:48 PM

I checked whether it might be available from our local independent (and quite eclectic) video store, but it looks like it's not on video/DVD yet. It was still in film festivals in 2007.

There's a clip here. Quite cool. Seems to be a preview from OvationTV -- a cable station? -- but not available in our area.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 01:19 AM

Thanks for the link, Becky. Art, that clip does have some archival footage, but what I saw of Nick Cave would leave me wanting more of the former. Nonetheless, it looks worth checking out.

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 12:27 PM

That clip of Nick Cave "singing" John the Revelator was a terrible abortion. He lost the tune totally, together with all of the feeling. He should be ashamed of such incredible crap.
Some of the archival stuff was great, but the clip gave more time to NC, which doesn't look promising for the over-all quality of the film.

Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 12:28 PM

Sorry - the last Guest was me.
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 07:57 AM

Honestly, it's a good film. There is not much Nick Cave at all...I promise! I guess they thought the target audience would be more intrested in these songs if they recognised some contemporary artists or whatever...but the film is about the Anthology itself and Harry Smith himself. REALLY worth a look
Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 09:57 AM

I'll take your word for it ..... just have to find out where I can get hold of a copy.
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:33 PM

I have to admit that I did not study the clip in detail, and when Nick Cave signed in, I signed out!

But, I'm looking forward to finding the whole film whenever we can.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 08:02 PM

From the Revelation Film Festival brochure:

"Harry Smith was one of the most important individuals in the American counter culture. Not only did he hand-paint his own films, re-invent animation, paint abstract murals in jazz clubs, and work as an ethnomusicologist, he also compiled the Anthology of American Folk Music. This boxed set of albums was released in the mid-fifties, and inspired a generation, sparking an urge to investigate folk, country and blues in numerous musicians, most famously Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead"

Late for work, will post rest later
Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 01:03 PM

Continued from Festival brochure

"Rani Singh's incredible documentary tells the story of the original recordings, and includes archival footage of Son House and Clarence Ashley among others, and the ongoing interest in the Anthology of American Folk Music. Expert testimony from the likes of Greil Marcus and Allen Ginsberg helps to contextualise Smith's work and the Anthology of American Folk Music, and its influence on subsequent generations of musicians."

Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 08:26 AM

Quokka, is there a person/people similar to Harry Smith in Australia's music history?

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: NormanD
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 02:04 PM

Some eight or so years ago, as part of the annual "Meltdown" music/arts festival at London's Royal Festival Hall, there was an evening of music dedicated to, and inspired by, Harry Smith's Anthology. The show was put together by Hal Wilner, and had been touring (with different guests) in the USA. The show I saw included a great variety of musicians, each doing two numbers, mainly from the Anthology. I remember: Geoff Muldaur, Bob Neuwirth, Eliza Carthy, Gary Lucas, Jarvis Cocker, Bryan Ferry, Nick Cave (who was the Meltdown curator that year), Jimmy Scott, Syd Straw, Van Dyke Parks, Roswell Rudd......phew. A great and memorable concert.

The show that appeared in the USA had a varying cast, I know it included Elvis Costello, and probably Richard Thompson, and I would think it is performances from then that might be included. As much as I don't go for Nick Cave, his performances were very strong, and in the tradition of the music, and he certainly did not hog the limelight.

There was an art exhibition up in Glasgow recently - 94 paintings each inspired by one of the anthology songs. A friend went to see it, and in fact reported back to me just before I started typing this. Sadly, there was no catalogue available, but she now wants to buy a copy of the Anthology.

Norman

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: GUEST,wayfarer
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 05:59 PM

"OVATION" the cable television network broadcast it a number of times already. If your cable provider carries Ovation check out the website for repeats ( Ovationtv.com )

btw: also recently saw a great Jerry Garcia/David Grissom documentary called "Grateful Dawg" as well as the Townes Van Zandt doc, "Be here to love me."

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 08:56 AM

Eliza Carthy was in the film several times, singing and playing with different people, inc. Richard Thompson
Quokka

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 08:55 AM

Sounds like a great film- I'd like to see it. The "Anthology..." is phenomenally good and even worth the import tax my ordered-from-the-U.S. copy got slapped with by those heathens at customs!

Nick Cave is someone whose songwriting - at its best - is fantastic. Some of the best renditions of his songs are by others, though - The Walkabouts or Johnny Cash, for instance. His own voice can be an acquired taste.

For the "new weird America", Jim White's Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus is a cracking documentary.

Subject: RE: Review: Harry Smith Film: Old Weird America
From: quokka
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 01:49 PM

I've really enjoyed your last few posts, Spleen Cringe, click on mine and you can see the wide ranging topics I find interesting! BUT I really really love Nick Cave's stuff.I guess I think folk is way more wide-ranging than some people here... well I count folk rock, blues,roots, etc as being in the ball park of music that I love. And I keep coming across threads discussing this stuff... so obviously others do too.. Oh BTW if you can possibly see this film (OLd Weird) it is SO worth it, esp if you Have the album
Cheers,
Quokka