Hedy West Japanese CD note

Subject: Hedy West: Her Japanese CD & more
From:
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:08 PM

Hey folks,

As a huge Hedy West fan, I tried for a long time to track down the Japanese two-fer CD put out in the early '90s that supposedly contained the first two Vanguard LPs. This CD goes for anywhere from $80 to $130 on ebay (last week for $83). But be warned, this is not a complete CD of both albums. Apparently both wouldn't fit completely on the CD, so two were cut, both from the Hedy West Vol. 2 LP. One of them is "Hubbard," a brilliant version of the single girl/married girl lament, and one other song whose name I can't recall at the moment. Just in case you're after this and expect it to be complete.

I've never been able to track down the UK CD of Hedy (also the first two LPs, I think) that Amazon has listed from a company (actually a distributor, I believe) called Phantom.

Then there are the infamous Larkspur illegal home-made CDs from the Hedy West imposter who's been discussed on mudcat a few years ago. There are flaws in this series - crackles etc. - in addition to its being unauthorized.

For anyone who doesn't know, the VHS of Pete Seeger's show Rainbow Quest starring Hedy is very well worth getting. She does two songs there, a murder ballad and a German protest song about American racism; great stuff and EARLY.

Gary Morris

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: Spot
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:20 PM

Gary...slight thread creep here..Hedy West did some stuff with Bill Clifton several years ago....any idea of his whereabouts?
                           
                              Regards to all.. Spot

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From:
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:41 PM

Hey Spot,

No idea about Bill Clifton, unfortunately. Let us know if *you* find out anything.

Gary

Subject: RE: Hedy West Folk-Legacy CD note
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:46 PM

I bought a couple of those Larkspur CD's. they were disappointingly short, disappointing in quality, and disappointingly expensive. I've been hoping for some Hedy West recordings to come out, and I received one a while back in a C.A.R.E. package from Sandy and Caroline Paton of Folk-Legacy Records. The CD is called Old Times and Hard Times (click), and it's a good one.
Here are the tracks and the album blurb:

Barbara Allen
Brother Ephus
Coal Miner's Child, The
Davison-Wilder Blues, The
Fair Rosamund
Gambling Man
Lament for Barney Graham
Old Joe Clark
Polly
Rich Irish Lady, The
Shut Up in the Mines At Coal Cree
Wife of Usher's Well, The
Wife Wrapted in Wethers Skin, The

It's hard to know where to include Hedy's recording; she is the daughter of poet Don West of Pipestem, West Virginia, formerly a radical labor organizer in the south. Her family came from the mountains of northern Georgia and much of her music came to her from that source, but she is also a sophisticated, college-educated musician and a very knowledgeable folklorist. Hedy plays 5-string banjo and sings the songs and ballads of her family tradition in a clear and very pleasant voice, strongly tradition-oriented.

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From:
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 06:52 PM

Thanks for the link to the Folk-Legacy CD! I had thought it was only available on cassette. Fantastic to see it's on CD. It's one of Hedy's very best - extremely affecting stuff, particularly mood-drenched ballads like The Wife of Usher's Well - the best version I've heard of that ancient one.

When, oh when, will the other recordings be licensed to somebody for CD? I've played my LPs to death and they're not all that easy to find at a reasonable price (see ebay, e.g., or gemm.com). I emailed Rhino Homemade, which has done some unusual projects, pleading with them for this. But why hasn't Bear Family done Hedy? They've done just about everybody else, though I know their forte is more roots-country & rockabilly.

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: pdq
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 07:01 PM

Bill Clifton is happy and healthy and living in North Carolina.

He has his own small record label called 'Elf'. There are five recent recordings ELF 101 thru ELF 105, the first being his autoharp centennial. The last two involve duet singing with mandolin player Jimmy Gaudreau. All Elf CDs are available through County Sales.

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: pdq
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 07:22 PM

Actually, Bill Clifton lives in Mendota, Virginia. Sorry 'bout that.

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 10:55 PM

Wasn't Jimmy Gaudreau part of the Country Gentlemen for a while? I think I recall that being the case.

Art

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: Spot
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 02:43 AM

PDQ..
   Thanks for that...I'm pleased he's ok..I had the pleasure of recording him and Red Rector in a UK lakeland farm kitchen some 30yrs ago..I still have the tape and some of his/their LP's...All good stuff!!
                      Regards to all...Spot

Subject: RE: Hedy West Japanese CD note
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 04:46 AM

I have 'Old Times Hard Times' on vinyl, the Wife Wrapped in Wether's Skin is a direct descendant of The Wee Cooper O Fife, and is fscinating stuff. I booked Hedy once when I ran the Coach and Horses in Kew, and fell in love with her on sight, what a lovely lady.
Giok