The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #153915   Message #3622277
Posted By: Steve Gardham
25-Apr-14 - 12:48 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 7
Subject: RE: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 7
This is off the top of my head: I have long been suspicious of any of their offerings as being rewritten from Child's published versions. I do believe there are some Smith ballads that are unique to them in American tradition. However they are part of a long and illustrious tradition occurring in all English-speaking countries which almost rivals, at times, the oral tradition.

Apart from this I'm sure I've seen references by other editors of their suspicions of the Smith material.

I would even go back, if I were you, and put riders on all of the Smith brothers' contributions.