Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!

Subject: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: mactheturk
Date: 06 May 00 - 09:26 AM

I'm originally from Illinois and I enjoy songs that are about my home state,though they're a little tough to find.

Steve Goodmans' work has always been a good source, specific to Illinois. I also love John Hartford and John Prine(who I saw in concert Thursday night,great show!!), for songs on the region in general.

I would appreciate your thoughts on expanding my song list.

Up Spoon River without a paddle,

Mac

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Dale Rose
Date: 06 May 00 - 09:31 AM

From another former resident, I suspect that friend and fellow Illinoisan Art Thieme will be by shortly to expand your list of songs. In the meantime, I will be thinking (and looking).

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: mactheturk
Date: 06 May 00 - 11:09 AM

Dale,

Happy to here that you and Art hail from the Land of Lincoln!

When someone asks "where are you from"? I always say Illinois, assuming that they mean "originally". Where I am from and where I live are two different things, and sometimes a song will strike that chord, so to speak.

Any Illinois or midwest tunes will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mac

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 06 May 00 - 12:24 PM

Chicago
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
Fanfare for the Common Man - Copeland ????????
What is that Sandburg poetry they recite with an
orchestra usually on Lincoln's birthday?

That's all I can come up with.

Mary

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Skivee
Date: 06 May 00 - 12:59 PM

And why not "Spoon River", by Michael Smith? (one of my all-time fav songwriters)

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Caitrin
Date: 06 May 00 - 04:35 PM

This just sparked an idea...some of Masters' Spoon River Anthology poems have a song-like feel to them or could be converted into interesting songs. I know it's not really the point of this thread, but I think I may try it.

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Amergin
Date: 06 May 00 - 04:47 PM

Was just thinking the same thing, Caitrin. Wasn't Richard Cory one?

Amergin

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 06 May 00 - 05:05 PM

I was in a dramatic reading type play of Spoon River Anthology at summer camp many years ago. One of the counselors set several of the poems to music; I still get one of the songs stuck in my head:
In youth my wings were strong and tireless
But I did not know the mountains
Inb age I knew the mountains
But my weary wings could not follow my vision.
Genius is wisdom and youth, wisdom and youth.

Richard Cory isn't Spoon River, it's by Edwin Arlington Robinson.

Chocolate Pi

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: Amergin
Date: 06 May 00 - 05:09 PM

Oh ok. I am wrong from time to time.

Amergin

Subject: RE: SPOON RIVER TUNES
From: mactheturk
Date: 06 May 00 - 05:47 PM

Never was taken before Justice Arnett Without contributing ten dollars and costs, to the school fund of Spoon River!

Daisy Fraser town harlot

Subject: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Lena
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 10:36 AM

Hello everybody.
I'm wondering if any songwriter ever put into music some of the poems from the Spoon River Anthology.I only know of an musician who translated them and released an album out of it,but I'm sure someone out there in America...
Any help greatly appreciated,as usual.
Lena

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 11:23 AM

It has been done as a stage play but I don't recall the parts sung, just an opening theme. I would suggest you check in theatrical circles to see if there is a musical version.

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 03:41 PM

Chocolate Pi stated in this thread that a camp counselor set some of the poems to music.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 04:32 PM

Michael Smith's Spoon River (click) is a great song, but I've never quite been able to figure out what it might have to do with Spoon River Anthology.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,Margaret V at work
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 04:42 PM

Hi, Lena, how are you? There was a Broadway version of Spoon River in the 1960s which had songs by Naomi Hirshorn. I'm assuming the songs were indeed the texts of Masters' poems set to music, but I've never heard them. Margaret P.S. Lena, did you see the recent thread re: Italian-Australian folk music? I was wondering if you might be of help to the person with the inquiry.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:28 AM

Many years ago I saw a Television version of Spoon River. Jason Robards, Julie Harris, Charles Aidman, and Claire Bloom. ( I think)

This was at the time that Shenandoah was on broadway and several songs were done before during and closing the show, all sung by John Cullum (sp?) and the woman who was the lead from Shenandoah. I recall Autoharps and tenor guitars were the instruments of choice and I believe its available on video. I also believe that very show is available for stage production with the songs in the package.

Jason Robards doing Lucius Atherton has always stuck with me. As has Julie Harris as Anne Rutledge.

Great show.

I have always thought the song SpoonRiver more evocotive of a time and place than having relevance to the play. There is a distinct Faulkner quality to Michael Smith's song that I like very much.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Lena
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 03:42 AM

Mmmh.I translated(from italian)some of the songs the italian songrwriter wrote.They are even more intense then the original Masters' lines...but I can't explain why,for example,Bob Dylan never bothered having a thought at it.Mmmh...

And Margaret V,I've not been in Mudcat for months,I had no chance to see such thread,but I'll have a look,thaks for pointing it

Lena

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Martina Ryan
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 04:33 AM

An American singer songwriter named Richard Buckner released a wonderful cd last year called The Hill. It consists of 16 or so poems from the anthology put to music. I had never even heard of Masters poetry before, but this was a stunning introduction. I'd be surprised if the CD isn't available through Amazon etc. Martina

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Lena
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:57 AM

Thanks Martina.And the rest of yous,of course.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: LR Mole
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 09:04 AM

Yeah, there is a musical, probably with the songbook still around ."The meadow is hm hm with sweet daffodills; the brook babbles on as it runs through the hills; They hunt me, they haunt me, wherever I roam; Spoon River, Spoon River, is calling me home..." That's from the Hirshhorn, I think. Better off to cull stuff from the Harry Smith/Smithsonian discs, I think.
---The Former BOY SINGER in said play.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 10:23 AM

As a member of an ensemble cast for Spoon River Anthology in high school, I remember the director included several pieces of incidental music, including the piece mentioned by LR Mole above. The only other songs I recall off-hand were "A Horse Named Bill" and "Seven Nights Drunk".

Thanks to Martina for the heads-up on "The Hill", too!

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: LR Mole
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:01 PM

Yeah, but even at that the director replaced something called "Sow Took the Measles (and She Died in the Spring)" (Probably the most awkward line in the history of American song) with "I Did What I Could". I think any farm-y song would work most places in that script.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:15 PM

Hey, I remember that musical:

Spoon River, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style, someday....

Didn't Andy Williams star in that?
[grin]
-Joe, feeling silly-

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: LR Mole
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 03:51 PM

No, that was spoonin', spoonin', spoonin' on the river...
LRMole, feeling sillier and trying to fight his way out of his high school days...

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 04:23 PM

Spoon, honeymoon, June, croon...shall we write one for Lena?...loon, goon, soon, noon...

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 04:59 PM

Mole,

Am not sure what you are suggesting, concerning the Harry Smith discs, was there some connection between them and the music in the show?

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: LR Mole
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 11:56 AM

MTed:Not really--just at a time, especially in New England, when traditional music (as opposed to Big Band, crooner, urban folk, and even slick country), was virtually unknown, this director assumed any farm-field-animal song was interchangeable with any other, especially if one was hard to pronounce. And, to a degree, he had a point: if I were staging SRA soon, I'd go look for a few beter songs than the script suggests.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,donna kelly
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 12:46 AM

I saw a multi-media production in Chaminade HS,mineola,ny.Don't know about the source of music(this was in 1968!) but one song that began,i am the mountain,i am the sea,i am the river,i am,i am,sung by a young woman with only guitar accompaniement,has stayed with me. sorry if thats of little help;i'm looking also. best,donna

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Apr 12 - 09:44 AM

Here's another Illinois song - 'Galway Bay.'

It's far away I am today from scenes I roamed a boy.
And long ago the hour, I know, I first saw Illinois...

Attention coastals! The s at the end of Illinois is silent.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 06:35 PM

I have found there was a 1963 play,Charles Aidman,Naiomi Carly hirchhorn,that was made into an lp,but cannot find a cd version-help!

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 06:49 PM

There was also a songbook published, with music from that production (which I saw the touring company perform back when I was in school). It had a brown folksy cover and I used to have a copy, yonks ago. You might find it on a secondhand site if you're interested.

There was an actual song called "Spoon River" which had the refrain Spoon River, Spoon River is calling me home... which I have a feeling was especially composed for the show, though there were also some well-known American folk songs incorporated in as well. Some of the cast members played instruments (I remember a guitar and possibly a banjo) and sang, as well as speaking the poems. Very well done, too.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 06:56 PM

THIS IS the LP cover, and is what the songbook cover looked like too.

Didn't Betty Garrett run afoul of Witchfinder General McCarthy's blacklists, I seem to recall? Haven't googled it - just a stray wisp of memory. Those are sort of fun sometimes, in these days of relentlessly instant (and not always reliable) Information.

Subject: ADD Poem: Miniver Cheevy, Jr.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 07:28 PM

Miniver Cheevy, Jr.
DF Parry

Miniver Cheevy, Jr., child
Of Robinson's renowned creation,
Also lamented and reviled
His generation.

Miniver similarly spurned
The present that so irked his pater,
But that langsyne for which he yearned
Came somewhat later.

Miniver wished he were alive
When dividends came due each quarter,
When Goldman Sachs was 205,
And skirts were shorter.

Miniver gave no hoot in hell
For Camelot or Troy's proud pillage;
He would have much preferred to dwell
In Greenwich Village.

Miniver cherished fond regrets
For days when benefits were boundless;
When radios were crystal sets,
And films were soundless.

Miniver missed the iron grills,
The whispered word, the swift admission,
The bath-tub gin, and other thrills
Of Prohibition.

Miniver longed, as all men long,
To turn back time (his eyes would moisten),
To dance the Charleston, play mah jong,
And smuggle Joyce in.

Miniver Cheevy, Jr., swore,
Drank till his health was quite imperiled;
Miniver sighed, and read some more
F. Scott Fitzgerald.

David Fisher Parry

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,steve s
Date: 09 Apr 12 - 03:36 PM

Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869–1935). Collected Poems. 1921.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,Richard Wood
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 06:39 PM

In the late sixties, I hung out and sometimes played at a coffee house in Sausalito, CA. One really gifted performer used to sing a song called "Spoon River" which was so beautiful! It wasn't anything like the Steve Goodman version. I've been racking my 70 year-old brain to remember that performer's name. It was between 1966-68, and folks like Billy Roberts (Hey Joe), Bola Sete, Tom & Lee, Martin Wood, and Penny Nichols were frequent performing artists. The Spoon River piece was hauntingly beautiful. Anyone recall this guy's name? Michael Considine was the Lion's Share owner.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 10:47 PM

Michael Smith. Here's a rather rough YouTube video.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 10:49 PM

Well, that's who wrote it. It probably isn't who you're looking for.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 09:19 AM

FWIW, the song in the YouTube clip isn't the same one that featured in the play (which consisted of Edgar Lee Masters' poems, interspersed with folk or folk-style songs). These were sung and accompanied onstage by members of the cast, who also spoke the lines (more on this in my 8th April '12 post above).

Are you looking for the song, the singer, or both? Can you remember anything at all about the song? The original-cast one is folky and pretty, about the haunting nature of memories, which you can never recapture.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,Guest: TX Guest
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 01:15 AM

As regards Michael Smith (songwriter/performer)my understanding is that, back in the day, Michael read E.L. Masters' book, and, was subsequently inspired to write several songs. One of those songs, I believe, was "Spoonriver" the others would be a guess on my part.

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 03:20 AM

I'm thinking that Richard Wood may be seeking a different "Spoon River" song, not the one by Michael Smith. Richard says it wasn't anything like the Steve Goodman version, and Goodman sang Michael Smith's song.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: GUEST,Knarf
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 05:24 PM

Thank you, Bonnie Shaljean -- I remember the song and that's exactly how it went. I bought the album in the late sixties and I think the link you provided to Amazon is it. So a double thanks.

Michael Smith's is a Steve Goodman cover, I think, and the latter's on YouTube (YT) and it's a finer recording too.

Illinois songs?

How about the late great Win Stracke! He's all over YT and the Internet and I have a handful of his recordings. One of his classics is called "El-a-noy." My fave is "The 43rd Ward," which includes Old Town where "Uncle Win" lived.

In fact, the Old Town School of Folk Music might be the best place to start your search, drilling down and down with every lead you get.

The Chicago Historical Society might even have a list handy -- "might," because I can't speak for them. The Newberry Library might also be a source.

WFMT.FM, Chicago, had a decades-old Saturday night program (and maybe it still airs) called The Midnight Special, but I can't remember what time it was on. The archivists here must have a definitive list.

Random thoughts:

Graham Nash - "Chicago"

Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah - "Lake Shore Drive"

Paul Butterfield Blues Band - "Born in Chicago"

Season's Greetings

Subject: RE: Help: Spoon River Anthology songs?!
From: Hagman
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 02:54 AM

The Richard Buckner outing "The Hill" has been re-issued on all formats. Details here. Well worth a listen, IMHO.