Lesser known folk groups

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 12:21 AM

This is hearsay, so don't accept it as "authority" - a friend told me that the "Back Porch Majority" was part of Randy Sparks' endeavours; sort of a "farm team" relationship to the "New Christy Minstrels".

One group I've been able to find absolutely nothing about on the net (including a song called "Time" that I'd love the lyrics & chords for) is the "Poso Seco Singers" (or 'Pozo' perhaps). Anybody got a source for them?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Ely
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 09:03 PM

These aren't groups, obviously, but:

Gale Garnett ("We'll Sing in the Sunshine"). One of those songs I can't help but like even if I don't agree with it.

Carolyn Hester, a Joan Baez-wannabe from Texas.

And, of course, Jean Ritchie.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: raredance
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 07:37 PM

Apologies for any duplications: Bek Brothers, Addis & Crofut, Goldebriars, Jonathon David & Elbert, Roxanne & Dan Keding, Kossoy Sisters, New Lost City Ramblers, Phoenix Singers, Windjammers, Three D's.

Hard to envision the Mitchell Trio and Ian & Sylvia as "lesser known folk groups"

rich r

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:46 AM

This is where I came in.... [came to the Mudcat a couple of years ago looking for lyrics to "Listen to..", only to find I'd got them in a songbook already! Still haven't traced a current recording of it..]
RtS

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Tiger
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:38 AM

Remember Nina & Frederik - "Listen to the Ocean"?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Arkie
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 10:53 AM

May have missed them, but don't remember seeing the New Christy Minstrels, Seekers, and the New World Singers mentioned yet.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,Rockaday Johnny
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 10:48 AM

To answer the earler question on the Homesteaders the information that I've heard is that the group consisted of Judy Collins, Ronnie Gilbert, Mike Settle and another male performer - although they were NOT credit on the lp does anybody else have any information on this...? Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,aldus
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 10:06 AM

Sorry. I forgot the following.......Hedgehog Pie...a group called Ossian...are they still working, are the recordings available?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,Aldus
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 09:30 AM

The Cumberland Three, led by John Stuart. late of solo and kingston Trio Fame. They did two wonderful Civil wae albums and they have been released on CD. Also, the Journeymen, I believe John Phillips was in that group. Also, I would not pit Kate and Anna in this category...too late..too good...slightly famous.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: kendall
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 08:46 AM

Sorry, I got ahead of myself...I have all of the Golden Ring stuff, and, they are among my very favorite folk albums.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Stewie
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 02:32 AM

Sandy

The Golden Ring were not that obscure. I picked up a copy of a 1964 recording FSI 16 in an Australian store - admittedly, a specialist import store, but some of the others mentioned above are really obscure. It was a fine record - first time I'd heard the wonderful 'Simple Gifts'.

I know this is a thread creep (or drift or whatever) but I'm putting together an entertainment on trains for a festival in June and I intend to use a song from one of your remarkable 1960s Folk Legacy issues - Michael Cooney's 'The Cheese Stands Alone'. I reckon it's a little gem, particularly the last two lines! To refresh your memory - tune by Des Rainey of New Zealand and words by A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh):

THE ENGINEER

Let it rain
Who cares?
I've a train
Upstairs
With a brake
That I make
From a string
Sort of thing
Which works
In jerks
'Cos it drops
In the spring
And the wheels
All stick
So quick
That it feels
Like a thing
That you make
With a brake
Not a string

Let it rain
Who cares?
I've a train
Upstairs
With a brake
That I make
From a string
Sort of thing
Which works
In jerks
'Cos it drops
In the spring
Which stops
With the string

So that's what I make
When the day's all wet
It's a good sort of brake
But it hasn't worked yet

Delicious stuff! Thanks, Sandy, for all the wonderful music, songs and performances you've made available over all those years from the 1960s onwards.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Banjoman_CO
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 10:34 PM

There was a group in the 60's called the "Wayfarers". Mason Williams was a member of the group. They did an albul called "songs of the Blue and Grey".

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 10:00 PM

Overlooked? Mike Settle and the Settlers. If you're doing duos, Marais and Miranda, Gene and Francesca, Pat and Victoria Garvey. Grubstake, a trio out yonder in Denver. As an aside, Lee Hayes was one of the Babysitters, would you believe? Sweets Mill String Band in California, featuring Kenny Hall on mandolin. Our own "Golden Ring," on Folk-Legacy, first recorded in the 60s. How obscure can you get?

Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 06:28 PM

Then there were Kate and Anna MacGarrigle, The Ludlow Trio, Bobby and Peg Clancy (the latter members of the famous Clancy family from Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland) and there was a Southern Folk Four(from the same town) who may be the same one mentioned previously, they had a Tom Brett included.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 06:18 PM

Does anyone remember "Hedge and Donna" from the late 60's?? Or the Modern Folk Quartet? The Balladeers was David Crosby's early folk group.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Gary T
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 02:06 PM

My sister has an album by Jim and Jean, I'd say they were lesser-known. Conspicuous by their absence from Big Red's list are Ian and Sylvia. If by chance they aren't familiar to you, Big Red, check them out.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: GUEST,Gibson Flunge
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 11:56 AM

How about the Homesteaders - had a lp on riverside called Railroad Bill - rumour was Judy Collins was in the group and on that record anybody really know?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: kendall
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 09:29 AM

The Spinners?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 07:41 AM

What about "The southern folk four"? Bob Bunting? just to name a couple that you might not have heard of. Eric

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Tiger
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 07:33 AM

The Gateway Singers were somewhat like the Weavers in their repertoire - had a wonderful contralto named Emmerlee Thomas. I can't remember the other group members, but I'm looking for their old records.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Stewie
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 04:31 AM

Others include: Koerner, Ray and Glover, Greenbriar Boys, Chambers Brothers, Holy Modal Rounders, Charles River Valley Boys, Keith and Rooney, The True Endeavour Jug Band, Larry and Hank, The New Strangers, Len and Judy, Dave Van Ronk's Ragtime Jug Stompers, The Folk Stringers, Lilly Brothers, Harry and Jeanie West, The New Strangers, Even Dozen Jug Band, The Folksingers and The Travelers 3.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 02:34 AM

Wee Five, though they were, I guess, considered folk-rock--Bud and Travis were always a favorite of mine(or do we need more than two for a group?) The Upper Ten Thousand, Jim Kweskin Jug Band(pretty well known, I guess)--

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 02:07 AM

I haven't seen the Chad Mitchell Trio mentioned here yet, so.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: raredance
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 02:00 AM

Ah, The Allen-Ward Trio out of Canada. One album on Vanguard. A friend bought it and I fell in love with it almost immediately, so I got me a copy too. It contains what I believe is the only recording of the Gordon LIghtfoot song "Brothers, Sisters & Friends"

rich r

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Arkie
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 01:00 AM

There were also Joe & Eddie, Bud & Travis, and Richard & Jim. The Jim of the latter group is Jim Connor who wrote "Grandma's Feather Bed". He was also with the Kingston Trio for a while.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: kendall
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 11:06 PM

anyone remember the Back Porch Majority? the Pine toppers? The Whiskey Hill Singers?

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: TheOldMole
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 10:57 PM

The Shantyboys were one of the good New York folk groups of the 50s. The best known of those groups was the New Lost City Ramblers, whom you didn't include in your original list. They were Mike Seeger, Jon Cohen and Tracy Schwartz, whose son now plays with Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys.

The Tarriers, mentioned by Don Meixner, were Erik Darling (Weavers, Rooftop Singers), Alan Arkin (Catch-22), and Bob Carey. If I remember correctly, Alan Arkin also sang with a group called The BabySitters, which may have included Barbara Dane...memory is shaky here.

Why not go back to the Forties, and pick up the Almanac Singers (Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Millard Lampell)?

How about groups by singers who aren't generally known for fronting groups? Dave Van Ronk and the Hudson Dusters, Ian Tyson and Great Speckled Bird.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 09:07 PM

Anyone remember The New Wine Singers, The Un-Called for Three, The Windgate Singers, The Tarriers.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 08:42 PM

I was one-third of the Birch Grove Singers, and we cut an eponymous record for Wand Records in the mid-'60s. kWE were about as lesser as you can get. The record hit the bargain bins almost instantly.

Subject: RE: Help: Lesser known folk groups
From: Amos
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 07:41 PM

We had a little one called the Comstock River Jugband, but we never recorded anything... it was pretty lesser, though :>).

Subject: Lesser known folk groups
From: Big Red
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 07:22 PM

Still stuck on the commercial folk of the 50's & 60's, I have collected all that I want of the most popular groups such as the Weavers, Easy Riders, Trio, PPM, Limelighters, Highwaymen, Brothers Four, Wayfarers, Journeymen, Ivy League Trio and others, I am now looking for the lesser known groups of the era. Some I have found that I like are Brown and Dana, JustIV, Wanderers Three, Halifax Three, Swagmen, Travellers (the Canadian group), and the Big Three. I would appreciate names of groups that that fall into this class and recorded at least one record. Thanks for any help I may receive.