The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12184   Message #4076188
Posted By: Lost Chicken in High Weeds
20-Oct-20 - 03:20 PM
Thread Name: Harry Smith's Anthology
Subject: RE: Harry Smith's Anthology
>I don't want to listen to them for entertainment

I can easily understand that POV, I wouldn't listen to them for pure entertainment either.

>*these* are the songs Harry chose

Though by that same token, *these* are the B sides to the songs Harry chose, and the notion of creating a set based on that is a *very* good one, on multiple levels, including historical and "museum" like, a *documentation*, so it truly, literally, takes away from that accomplishment.

But, at the same time, I also have a certain appreciation for the fact that it being as it is is also a fitting document of *our* time, which is when it's being published retrospectively. I saw it mentioned, perhaps in a link above or somewhere, can't recall, that there are 5 seconds of silence where each of the 3 tracks would have been that somewhat stand metaphorically as an empty spot where a removed statue ones was. I think that in and of itself is pretty fascinating contemplation material, and can't even say for sure which way I would ultimately prefer.

And another thing regarding the publicity this has brought, I also consider it a net positive if all the talk about it results in new people discovering the Anthology itself.