Hi folks -

I've been signed on for a while but this is my first posting (well, almost. I did reply to someone else's message earlier tonight) I'm looking forward to hanging out with you folks and participating in the discussions.

Just as a way of introduction, I'm a Toronto-area musician (Hi Rick, Tony, Ian A. and others!), folk music camp organizer, and record company employee (Borealis, Canada's folk music label).

So here's my question: A few years ago, I learned a song called "Evalina" (pronounced Ev-a-LEEN-a) from a Critton Hollow String Band album. I tried to find out where it came from but didn't turn up much at the time.

Recently, I learned another version of the same song from a musical friend- completely different feel, very similar words, except it was pronounced "Ev-a-LINE-a" He learned it from a Coope, Boyes, and Simpson album.

By doing a little research (read: asking Sing Out! Songfinder Shelley Posen), I've found out that it was a parlour song from the 1800's that was very popular up through the 1920's. Ola Belle Reed recorded it (I'm assuming that's where Critton Hollow would have learned it), and so did Ed McCurdy, interestingly enough. I haven't heard either of their recordings yet.

I'm wondering where the Coope, Boyes, and Simpson version would have come from. Any ideas?