Subject: RE: Frank Hamilton on Folkways
From:
Stringsinger
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 11:26 AM
Dan, thank you so much. You and I are on the same page. I really like to hear simple,
unadorned and overproduced folk music that reflects simple and direct values. Woody
and Pete paved the way for this national kind of understanding of folk music. Also, Burl Ives in his earlier recordings with just his voice and guitar. The interplay between voice and guitar is part of the satisfying experience of the early country music of the 20's, the blues and the lack of artifice of the early recordings for example, Ralph Peer (who didn't care for what he recorded but) gave us Jimmy Rodgers, the Singing Brakeman and the man who popularized the "blue yodels" as well as the Carter Family and others in Bristol Tenn. and Atlanta GA.
I have a problem with listening to much of the "modern" interpretations of folk music. They seem overstuffed with extraneous instruments and convoluted lyrics. Josh White
and Richard Dyer-Bennet were "by themselves" and gave us a personality to their interpretations of folk music. They also mastered appealing singing techniques.
I think that folk music boils and distills the music down to the essentials and doesn't try to hide it in the mix. The lyric content reflects basic values of working-class people.
It's not that I don't like some of say Paul Simon or early Joni Mitchell. As singer-songwriters they offer a good deal of sophistication to pop music.
At the same time, I don't set myself up as example of the best of folk music. I see flaws in my performances on recording but my goal was to try to distill what I loved about
folk music which was simplicity, directness, and a reflection of the cultural value of the music from the people that originally sang it.
I like the track that you are on, Dan. Tell the story, simply, unadorned without "production tricks" and "cute lyrics". A nice natural balance between voice and instrument is welcome also.
Years ago, when the Calypso Craze hit the pop field, Hugo and Luigi, two arrangers for Roulette Records claimed that the kids didn't want to hear this "simple" music and that if they put that out, they would go broke. Right after that, Belafonte recorded some very
unadorned music with just acoustic guitar and minimum of extraneous "sax solos" and "back beats". I think Millard Thomas did some of the tasteful guitar work.
So, I believe the folk presentation has gotten too busy with pop sensibilities. One of my favorite folk recordings of an interpreter is Pete Seeger's ten inch LP of "Darling Corey"
with some brilliant banjo accompaniments behind some choice folk songs.
So, if my rant is too long, I apologize. I like what you are doing, Dan.
Frank
|
sj
