I will definately concede to you, Tunesmith, that there is ALOT of music out there that should NEVER have been released.

The Skip James recordings you mentioned were more likely not released due to protestations by James. He was rather picky in some ways about his music, however, probably not picky enough in others.

I think that is one of the biggest problems with the music "industry" and probably has been for decades.

It seems that back in the day the people who did alot of the field recordings, for whatever reasons, gave us alot of "music" that should have died in obscurity.

BUT, as Codger said earlier, it's apples and orangutans.

The "industry" seems to like to shove together people from completely different styles in order to try and create crossovers. Most of the time this doesn't work due to the fact that the people doing the shoving are more interested in expanding their wallets rather than expanding the music.

Taken in context, I like Vassars music. I don't think he would have fit in with the Philharmonic.

Very few musicians have the ability to fit into EVERY situation.I am a huge fan of Bela Fleck, who plays across a very wide range of situations, but there are a few where I wonder "what was he thinking?".

I guess you shouldn't set your apples next to that orangutan.

The main point is, if you like the music listen to it, if you don't like it, DON'T listen to it, but quit trying to imply that everyone else that does like it is an idiot for not hearing it the way you do.

BHSC