ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era

Subject: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 08:23 PM

I know there are many recordings of U.S. civil war music, and we've added ours to the pile.

We did a concert a couple of years ago and had our sound tech (Brent Hall of the Sounding Board in West Hartford, CT) record the whole thing. There were a few rough spots but also a few gems (hey, nobody's perfect!), so I decided to release the whole thing --well, everything that would fit-- as a live recording. This project has been a learning experience, figuring out how to format the graphics so that https://duplication.discmakers.com/mcm/discmakers/index.jsp would accept the CD for duplicating, setting up the CD on http://cdbaby.com/cd/shoregrass, finding the copyright holder on the one song that wasn't trad or public domain, learning about digital distribution, etc.

We recently did a similar (shortened) program of Songs of the Civil War Era at NOMAD and have been encouraged by the reaction.

So here we are live and unedited, as we were one evening in March, 2003, minus all the thunderous applause and scintillating commentary! We covered songs popular during the "War Between the States" as well as a few songs written about the war in later years. There are familiar soldier songs from the period along with sentimental ballads, hymns and popular songs of the past and present, representing both the Union and the Confederacy, 20 songs in all.

Some of you might enjoy our live bluegrass-style interpretations of these great old songs. Check us out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/shoregrass if you're interested.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: GUEST,NOMADman
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 08:28 PM

Barbara,

Great! Fantastic. I've been waiting for this. I'llget my copy ASAP.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 09:24 PM

Congratulations, Barbara! The Gospel Messengers were at your NOMAD workshop when you did this two years ago.

And tonight, I successfully burned the first track of the Gospel Messengers for their endlessly forthcoming CD..

All is well with the world (kinda)

Jerry

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 01:45 AM

Great selection, well-done!

(Only one I didn't care for (fake?), but it will be one that will sell others, so It doan' make no nevermind)

Ordered, and Becky Buller too.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 01:58 AM

Easy order site. No problems.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 02:25 AM

That sounds wonderful, Barbara. Congratulations!

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 12:11 PM

Thanks, folks! I appreciate the comments.

Regarding the "fake," I'm assuming Q is referring to "Have Someone Play Dixie For Me." That one was actually written several years ago by a man named Pete Roy from Massachusetts, and it took awhile to find him. It turns out he died a few years ago, but I spoke to his widow for permission to use the song. He was an avid bluegrasser who wrote many good songs and attended festivals in the Northeast and elsewhere. The song is so popular that I found several civil war sites, especially Confederate sites, that use the song either as background or quoting the lyrics! So it's not authentic period, but very representative in some circles, and it fit the context I had in mind: namely a broad look at what people were singing and thinking then and now regarding this war.

Good luck with your project, Jerry.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 03:45 PM

Sounds great, Barbara! You have a a nice selection of songs on this album, I hope it does well for you. It surprises and pleases me just how much continued interest there is in this period and its music.

all the best - Jed Marum

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: kendall
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 04:19 PM

I always seek out the Shaws at Bluegrass festivals. They make such good music.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 05:55 PM

Hi Barbara if the snow is not too bad we will see you tomorrow nite if not will get one as soon as possible Allan and Arden

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 05 - 09:25 PM

No, Barbara, I like that one. I was referring to the much discussed (here at Mudcat) "Foller de drinkin' gou'd."

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Dec 05 - 09:04 AM

Q, thanks for ordering a cd! I hope you enjoy it.

But uh, oh, I didn't know about the mudcat discussions of "Follow the Drinking Gourd" or any controversy about it... Guess I'll do some reading.

Jed, I found your Fighting Tigers of Ireland CD while I was noodling through cdbaby.com and listened to a few tracks. I was especially caught by the beautiful waltz "Banks of the Mobile." Good luck with your CDs as well.

My kids are totally impressed that my ShoreGrass album is now available at Tower Records online, one of the things cdbaby.com arranges. But now I have to go out in this heavy snowfall to mail more copies, because the stock is down...

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: GUEST,Jed sans cookie
Date: 09 Dec 05 - 09:49 AM

Banks of the Mobile was written for Kate Cumming - a Scottish immigrant who worked as a nurse during the Civil War - this song is on my last album (Miles from Home), and was wriiten based upon a poem she had left in Kate's diary ... Eve Goldberg is singing harmony - Brian McNeill on Fiddle and Concertina

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 08:54 AM

I have to say I'm impressed with cdbaby.com. They seem to have it figured out and make it easy for "indies" like us to get their recordings out there. I'm out of stock now online, but have sent more in, and I definitely recommend putting your cd out on cdbaby.com for anyone considering publishing a cd. It costs $35 to setup each cd title you publish with them, and then another $20 if you wish to purchase a UPC barcode from them for this cd, which will enable them to distribute the tracks to various online music services for download, which might also provide sales. It's the only place I've tried, but no problems so far, and I like their informal attitude.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 10:31 AM

Just wanted to say that my cd is back in stock on cdbaby.com, and in fact I've had to order more from discmakers.com. This is all very small scale, but I'm having a ball with my little "business" that earned minus $53 last year!

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:27 AM

Congratulations, Barbara: I just had my Gospel Messenger CD posted for the first time today, and already had a sale to a Mudcatter.

In looking for a new tenor for my group, I tell them that we are completely democratic. I split the losses four ways. Actually, it doesn't work that way. We all lost money in our own way. Joe loses money when he turns down an airport run to do a program in a nursing home without pay. Frankie loses money when he loses half a days work paving driveways and parking lots, and we all lose money everytime we drive to one another's house to practice, or to the many "bookings" we joyfully take where we don't get paid.

Selling the CDs is definitely small time, but it at least feels good to occasionally see a check coming in. Even if it ultimately doesn't cover the cost. Payments come in other ways..

Jerry

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 10:21 AM

Money is definitely the least of it. Jerry, that was pretty funny on your other Gospel Messengers CD thread about the inquiry from Poland! I'm just thrilled every time a cd of mine is sold on cdbaby, and especially heartened that several buyers from the US south have bought it. I tried to make it a balanced perspective from both the north and confederate states, so hopefully it worked.

In any case, the musical experience of researching the songs was edifying for me personally. The part that nonetheless shocks and numbs is how relevant and fitting many of those war era songs are today and will unfortunately be tomorrow.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 11:15 AM

Awesome! I just ordered it to be sent to my brother the reenactor/historical archaeologist/bluegrass fiend.

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 11:24 AM

I've had the honor of hearing these songs in a workshop that Shoregrass did at the NOMAD festival. It's a wonderful collection of songs... not just the more familiar ones, but some that you may not have heard before.

They was Shore good!

Jerry

Subject: RE: ShoreGrass Songs of the Civil War Era
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 10:30 PM

Thanks, Scoville. I'd be interested to hear what your brother the reenactor thinks of it, since we've been asked to do some music at a reenactment.