Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.

Subject: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 07:09 PM

Oh Joy. This morning CBC radio played three cuts from a new Weavers CD of "live performances from '50 to 52". They are amazing! "Kisses Sweeter than Wine, Buddy Can you Spare a Dime, and Children Go Where I Send Thee".
Bloody wonderful arrangements..complex as all get out. It's quite obvious that Freddie and Ronnie have Jazz sensibilities while Pete and Lee are the folkies. Freddie's guitar work on "Buddy" is harmonically fascinating, and I'd forgotten just what a powerful singer Ronnie was..virtually the equal of Patsy Cline.
I think that what makes it sound so fresh is that they were still a relatively "new" group, and the CD sound is exceptional. I'm going to get the album and I think I'll become a fan all over again.

Rick

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 08:18 PM

Rick,

I didn't hear the CBC program, but all of those songs are on a 2-CD set of live performances from 1951-1952 called KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE (Omega 3021/22) that was released in 1994. It's a great collection.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 08:56 PM

This is a set of Cds that I talked about in another thread. I think I've had it dor about 6 months now.It's on the Omega label. and is made from many concerts to sound pretty much like one concert. Fred Hellerman was the producer.Eleven selections were never before released in any format. A few deserved that fate. But the rest are wonderful.

This might be a good time to mention a great new shopw in Chicago that's being represtnted by Joann Murdock's Artist Of Note agency. (Joann is Lee's wife.) It's called WEAVERMANIA and is a recreation of the music of that famous group. Michale Smith ("Spoon River" and "The Dutchman" does Lee Hays bass parts. Barbara Barrow portrays Ronnie Guilbert. Mark Dvorak does Pete Seeger's parts and Tom Dundee sings Fred Hellerman's. I've heard a 4-song promo tape they send out and it's uncanny how close to it they get. As we turn the corner into the new century, this seems totally right. I highly recommend these good folks.

All the best,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 12:42 AM

Wow, thanks Mike and Art. I had no idea it had been out so long.
Rick

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: John Hindsill
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 08:16 PM

I cherish (and even play) my early Weavers' recordings. Apropros Rick's posting, imagine how much earlier the folk revival, jump-started by the Kingston Trio, would have begun but for the black-listing of the Weavers. They were so good that they survived both censorship AND Gordon Jenkins' arrangements on Decca Records.---John

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 12:38 AM

John, have you ever seen any of their show-bizzy promo pictures? They very nearly DIDN'T survive those. Pete looks VERY uncomfortable.

Rick

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: WyoWoman
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 12:51 AM

That's an interesting point to ponder. How many other folk musicians were affected by the witch hunts, and what might have happened musically in this country if they weren't?

I interviewed Ronnie Gilbert once years ago when I worked for a paper in Albuquerque. She was one of the most gracious, loveliest interview subjects. She and Holly Near were appearing together, I think. Duet of the Titans ...

WW

Subject: RE: Fred Hellerman, Ronnie, The Weavers.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 01:22 AM

Some of the more prominent ones to bite the dust were: Richard Dyer-Bennet, Tony Kraber, and Betty Saunders. If you're not that familiar with them, the blacklist may be one reason why. Certainly had any others had the high profile (and left leanings) of the Weavers they would have gotten nailed too. Burl Ives and Josh White both co-operated (in vastly different ways) with the HUAC and continued their careers.

Rick