Forgotten Old Chestnuts

Subject: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 06:30 AM

Back in the 60's, when it looked like folk music was going to rule the air for years to come, and a whole wealth of older recordings were being reissued, there were certain songs that it seemed that everyone knew (and most sang.) If you mentioned The Cuckoo, everyone knew that you were talking about Clarence Ashley's recording. John Henry's Hammer as recorded by Mississippi John Hurt was another. Or, what about The House Carpenter? There was a real feeling of community, just because there were so many shared songs that they were almost like a secret password. When you knock on the door, just say Omie Wise and we'll let you in.

Fast forward to the present, and so many of those recordings and songs have slipped back into obscurity. Because there are a lot of us old fogies in here, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean may elicit a few cyber-knowing-nods-of-the head, but go into a folk club or coffee house and not many people will know what you're talking about.

Maybe it's time that we rediscover some of the those songs that everybody knows. Anybody got any unheard of well-known songs that you still love?

And can you tell me where Larrawhooper, Tennessee is?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 09:46 AM

I assure you, I've never forgotten MY chestnuts - I carry them with me everywhere...































in my head, you fools!

Subject: RE: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 11:03 AM

Jerry,

I am pretty sure that I still do a lot of the truly traditional stuff that I learned in the 60s. But looking through my songbook I realized that I can't remember my sources for lots of the material. I am not even sure what decade I learned the oldest songs in my repertoire in.

"Traditional" stuff I think I remember doing in the 60s (I still do these pretty reguarly)
no particular order
Mary don't you weep
Water is wide
Banks of the Ohio
Geordie
Old gospel ship
Handsome Molly
Irene Goodnight
Lady Mary
Lady from Carlisle
Freight Train
I do Tom Dooley but not Kingston Trio version
I do several different Matty Groves but not Joan's version

Still do a little of the Singer/songwriter stuff from that era
Last thing on my mind
Where I'm bound
4 Rode By
Early Morning Rain

Not sure these are the sorts of things you had in min.

Subject: RE: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 11:07 AM

Of course here in UK we had a whole different set of songs attached to singers who most transponders have still never heard of . 'My Brother Sylvest' from Johnny Silvo for a start - Though John does still tour over here from his home in Norway nearly every year .

Subject: RE: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 12:30 PM

I heartily agree. John Henry is one of my all time favorites - no matter whose version. Ditto House Carpenter. They should all be brought out of the closet, dusted off, and performed again so new audiences can "discover" them!

Subject: RE: Forgotten Old Chestnuts
From: Mudlark
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 07:02 PM

Like Russ, my sources are mostly forgotten, but not the songs. To add to his list (and I do these, too, all the time)

Hard Luck is the Fortune
Mary Hamilton
May Carol
Same Old Man (Sittin' in a mill)
I Gave My Love an Apple (and a later version, w/cherry)
Lots of chantys
Some old bluegrassy stuff
Lord Gregory
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
Shule Roon
and lots more