Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues

Subject: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 07:53 AM

Today, on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, you can hear:

"...the Queen of American folksingers, Odetta, explain why she's singing the blues. Her first recording in 14 years, Blues Everywhere I Go, has received a Grammy nomination, a first for the artist who has been in the music business for 50 years."

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 08:03 AM

aint that a sad statement on Grammys.

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Crowhugger
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 08:17 AM

How do I get this on RealAudio? I'm too far from a US transmitter. Thanks. Sorry if this is a duplicate. I posted this question but it didn't come up. Probably now there'll be two... *groan* Hope not.

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 08:25 AM

I don't think you'll be able to get it live via the net, Crowhugger, but they usually do have archived versions available the day after.

Just go to http://www.npr.org/programs, then go from there to "Morning Edition" and look for the archived editions, tomorrow.:-)

markf - was that supposed to be a sarcastic comment on the Grammy's, as in you don't hold them in high value, or, your negative opinion of Odetta?

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Crowhugger
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 08:31 AM

Thanks again, k/k.

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 09:46 AM

Love Odetta and have since high school (a long, long time ago). Meant to be sarcastic about the Grammys, but I have seldom uttered any sarcasm that I didn't come to regret. Thinking about it, I have only paid attention to the Grammys when they do something good -- this year's nomination of Odetta a case in point, last year's of one of Bill Harley's children's albums another one. If the honor puts a little more bread on Odetta's or Harley's table, so much the better.

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 10:14 AM

Thanks to both of you.

Markf, I don't think you need to regret it, I just wasn't quite clear on which way you meant it. No problem and thanks for writing back.

kat

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Áine
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 11:28 AM

Dear kat,

Started making coffee this morning and turned on the radio. Got to listen to the whole show with Odetta. Couldn't help thinking of the Mudcat and of Max, in particular. I wonder how long it will take him to get this CD?

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Odetta on NPR today-talkin' the blues
From: Alice
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 11:32 AM

I was about to start a thread about this interview, but Kat beat me to it.
click here for tape or transcript

As Odetta explained, she is a classically trained singer, and loved oratorio and German Lieder, and had planned since she "is a bit of a preacher" to work with other singers doing Oratorio performances in churches and schools. Then... she discovered folk music. She got a guitar and learned three chords "G, C, and easy F" and with "those three chords and a capo.... oh!...." she was off exploring all kinds of American folk music. This interview reminded me of our thread on What is a good voice? I can certainly hear the training Odetta uses in her vocal ability to sing all kinds of music, the range, the power, the agility. After 50 years as a recording folk singer, her voice is as great as ever. This new recording is blues. It was a long and very interesting interview, including her singing and talking about other performers.

alice flynn in montana