The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #95631   Message #1955981
Posted By: GUEST,reggie miles
02-Feb-07 - 04:46 PM
Thread Name: YouTube Folkmusic Video PermaThread
Subject: RE: YouTube Folkmusic Video PermaThread
Murray,

..."the video should be of outstanding musical quality, or of significant historical value or else so eclectic that it is spotted by McGrath of Harlow." (?)

I didn't read that in the description of what was going to be included in this thread. Here's what I read.

"For the purposes of this thread, "folk/blues" has to be classified into several different categories, (as outlined below) in order to facilitate searches for recommendations, and I am also going to operate a "editor's recommendation " system, whereby videos of outstanding musical worth and /or historical significance, will be awarded a "star award" ranging from three to five stars.
The criteria for these awards are unashamedly subjective, but the selections are always open to comment either on this thread or on the sister thread We Need a YouTube Permathread.
All genuine recommendations will be catalogued, but please remember that posts on this thread are always subject to editing or deletion."


What I understand this to mean is just what it says. That some videos "videos of outstanding musical worth and /or historical significance will be awarded a "star award" ranging from three to five stars. The criteria for these awards are unashamedly subjective but the selections are always open to comment either on this thread, or on the sister thread We Need a YouTube Permathread."

My comment regarding this song submission is that I'm perplexed at just what you consider folk/blues. "51 Highway Blues" is a genuine folk/blues song of old. The authorship of, though I attribute it to Big Joe is somewhat clouded as is the case with so many early folk/blues. It is as historically significant as any other song from this same genre, and perhaps more so as it mentions one of the few roadways that were principally responsible for the spread of this music northward from the Deep South. Recordings also played a role in finding new ears for this music but it was the migration of those who played this music from the Delta to nothern urban centers, places like Chicago, that was primarily responsible for the popularity of the blues. I performed my interpretation of this old gem in the tradition of so many great folk/blues, on an acoustic guitar. Not just any acoustic, but a resophonic guitar of unique design that I hand built from junk I found at garage sales. I adapted my version of this song to be played using a bottleneck slide approach.

I'm not upset that my post to this thread was deleted. I just didn't know where it went and why my questions were not addressed. I am, however, now curious as to why my genuine, folk/blues, submission wasn't cataloged, especially because of what I read in the introduction to this thread. "All genuine recommendations will be cataloged." Or, is it yet to be included?


Reg