I got the tape of Sam Hinton from a fellow who is doing an oral history type of biography of Sam. Sam is now (would you believe!) 82 years young, looks great, and did about 90 school programs last year! The original recordings are in the Archive at the L of C, but I don't really know the process required to obtain copies, but you could certainly ask to hear Sam's recording. You might also go to Jane Keefer's "Folk Index" (you'll find it in the Mudcat links) to see who else might have recorded it. I remember hearing Peggy Seeger sing it, years ago. Carolyn Hester learned it from me when we sang together at the old Gate of Horn in Chicago, and I think she may have recorded it,too. In other words, there ought to be several recorded versions available, even in these latter days.

Allison (with two Ls): Trust me, you don't really want to hear that old record. I was scared spitless in the presence of such as Jac Holzman and Freddy Hellerman. It was a session for a potentially major label (Holzman had a very fancy, walnut-lined office, etc.) and I had recorded previously only for some small labels in England. I felt rushed, intimidated and tense. Everything was sung too high, too fast, and I didn't feel comfortable with Hellerman's concept of appropriate accompaniments, but, since he was "musical director" of Elektra at that time, I was too awed to question his judgement. The record sucks, regardless of what my old friend Art says, bless his everlovin', cotton-pickin' heart.

I'm extremely pleased if my dulcet tones might have helped our beloved Catspaw get some rest when he badly needed it. I sent him that CD because I sing a song on it called "For All the Good People" (written by Ken Hicks) which says: "This is a song for all the good people, people I'm thanking my stars for tonight." And that's what I was feeling about ol' Catspaw. I also invited him to listen to Bok, Muir and Trickett singing "The world is always turning toward the morning," a thought I wanted him to share with his dear Karen, the kids, and his mom-in-law (Clarence?!!) when things looked particularly bleak. I also included the tape Caroline and I made a few years ago titled New Harmony because it closes with the revision I did of the old Irish blessing. These are the words I came up with when working it into a song:

May the roads rise with you,
May the winds be gentle where you stand.
May the Lord smile upon you,
And hold you safely in His hand.

May your friends be many,
May they share your joy through all your days.
May the sun shine upon you,
And warm you on your wandering ways.

May your dreams be peaceful in the night;
May you wake to welcome morning's light.

May the roads rise with you,
May the winds be gentle where you stand.
May the Lord smile upon you,
And hold you safely in His hand.

At least that's what I was thinking, and now that he's having to fight the illness again, I'm still praying, in my own way, that the Lord will hold him safely in His hand.

Sandy