Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 02:42 AM

I got my copy of Mountain Hearth and Home yesterday, along with McCurdy's Dalliance and Theodore Bikel's Yiddish compilation. These are three CD's I'll listen to over and over again. All three are extraordinary, everything you'd like to have in a folk music CD - full lyrics, fascinating background notes, interesting packaging. And the photographs in Jean's CD booklet are wonderful. I wish some of the photos were larger, especially the one of Jean's Upper Meadow. Jean's CD is a generous helping of music, too - 37 cuts.

There is lots of good folk music in the Elektra catalogue. I wonder what else they'll reissue.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Deckman
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:49 PM

Jean, This is just very simple and sincere statement: Thank you for being you. Bob Nelson.( out here in the Seattle area)

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:16 PM

I have just finished my second turn through this marvelous re-issue. I can see very easily why the trad music world was turned on its ear and fell in love with this woman, her spirit, her authenticness, and her voice. It is such a joy to listen to this wonderful music from the mountains, and to be able to hear Jean's voice at a time in her life when the adventure was new. The pictures and reminisces in the liner notes are worth as much as the music. This is an absolute "must own" if you are serious about folk music. For once in my life, I am out of superlatives. Jean Ritchie has always been an inspiration, and this cements why.

Jean, I will be visiting your site for more CD's as we go. And when we finally meet in person, I sure hope you will sign this one for me.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 04:47 PM

Big Mick- how could I forget to thank you? Mick had been saying how much he admired, "A Time For Singing," and had asked me to keep in touch about it. So, he was the first notified about the Handmade Series, and asked if he could do a thread. Much appreciated, Mick.

Forgot to say that our own label Greenhays has just reissued another of our old albums on CD, "Clear Waters Remembered." Available on the website of course! www.jeanritchie.com

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 04:39 PM

johnross, I'm told that those songs were deleted because they wanted to get everything onto one CD. I WAS consulted about that, and asked to help choose those left out- it was mostly decided based upon technical things that were hard to fix.

Warner Brothers bought Elektra several years ago, and Elektra founder Jac Holzman went to work for WB. I would assume that's why my one and only WB album got included. And perhaps why Jac had all his notes and recording information on the Elektra ones and not the Warner Bros. one.

I do find it rather interesting to hear the very early recordings lead into a more 'produced' sound, with multi-instrument accompaniments. But you're right- Im sure it does strike an odd note for some of us.

Joe, I agree with you that the CDs are 'pricey.' Maybe because there are three albums (such as they are) on the one CD?

I'm always amazed that anyone ever liked those old records, except my Mother! And I'm really glad to have all your comments and critiques.

Jean

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: johnross
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 01:16 AM

I'm delighted that Rhino is going back to those old 10-inch Elektras. Let's hope they do more of them.

The Jean Ritchie disc is just a little odd. Comparing it to the originals, there appears to be one track from each of the original LPs that's missing from the new CD. I can't imagine why they did that.

And the CD also includes Jean's much later LP on Warner Brothers, "A Time for Singing." That's another fine album, but the booklet included with the CD has no information about it except the notes about each song. I would have liked to have some of the same kind of information that it has about the Elektras.

But those are minor complaints. It's great to see this stuff back in print after all these years.

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 01:30 PM

I'm trying. I'm trying.

watch this space.

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 08:14 PM

I'll have to get this one, too. The Rhino Handmade series looks wonderful, but it's pricey. Amazon has them for $26.98 (but it's $19.98 at Rhino). Some are more expensive, but I suppose they're multi-disc sets. The complete Rhino Handmade Catalog is here (click). Others in the series that sounded interesting are:

• Best of Dalliance, Ed McCurdy
• Treasury of Yiddish Theatre and Folk Songs, Theo Bikel
• Works in Progress, Tim Buckley
• Mance Lipscomb - American Folk Song Traditionalist Sings Trouble In Mind
• Sing a Happy Song, Taj Mahal ($56.98 at Amazon)

Say, Dick Greenhaus - can you get us a good price at CAMSCO? I'd like Jean's CD, and McCurdy and Bikel.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 08:07 PM

Get it said, Mick!! Jean is one of the finest souls around these parts as well as being a major force is preserving the voice of her home country.

A

Subject: RE: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 08:07 PM

I have met her in person. Every summer, the Pinewoods Folk Music Club holds a singing party at her home. In fact it is taking place this very Sunday, July 18th. Go to the Pinewoods web site for further information. Jean and her husband George Pickow are the finest, warmest and most gentle human beings that you could ever want to meet. This is an event I look forward to every year. SOL ZELLER

Subject: Jean Ritchie:Mountain Hearth and Home
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 07:55 PM

I just ordered this wonderful reissue of MOUNTAIN HEARTH AND HOME. The link will take you to the site, but this is what Jac Holzman of Elektra Records said when he released this originally.

I very much wanted Jean to be our first folk release in this planned change of direction for my infant Elektra label. She was new, vital, and from a rich singing tradition about which I had read but had never experienced on records. City born and bred, my exposure to folk music had been mostly Burl Ives, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Susan Reed, John Jacob Niles, Peter Seeger, and The Weavers. At a more grass roots level were Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), Woody Guthrie and Josh White. Jean was the first woman I heard whose songs were a natural part of her growing up; evocative, immediate and from a longstanding oral tradition.

Most of you would know Jean on the Mudcat as kytrad. She is one of the most important singers of the 20th century. She is ready to share her knowledge with us at the drop of hat, and what you see is what you get. By that I mean that she is every bit as giving and nice as she appears here. For me, she is one of those "old friends, never met" that are a product of the cyber age.

As far as the CD goes, it is a "must have". Jean's recording with Doc Watson live at Folk City was one of those that inspired me to sing folk music. This one is another one of those that belongs in every folkie's collection.

I am very excited about this one, folks.

All the best,

Mick