Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: GUEST,William in southern Louisiana
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:58 AM

For the $20+ charged for a S-F CD, seems THEY should print out the cover and liner notes and place it inside the awkward gatefold sleeve...

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:25 PM

Blank screens often indicate some javascript or other control which is turned off in your browser. (I see it at times in comic strip sites).

I DO keep one browser (usually Firefox) in which I allow almost everything to counter this situation.
You may have to experiment.
What I fervently wish is that ALL sites would warn you what they require for complete browsing of their contents.

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:13 PM

David, I was perusing the site and noticed it goes to a mostly blank screen every time you click on an album. I am using Opera browser, is your site only for the Microsoft browser?

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: sian, west wales
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 03:19 PM

I've just had this via their newsletter:

Smithsonian Folkways Documentary Premieres This Sunday

Worlds of Sound: The Ballad of Folkways is a new one-hour documentary about Moses Asch and the 60-year history of Smithsonian Folkways. Tune your TV to Smithsonian Channel this Sunday, October 25th, at 8 pm EST to watch the premiere.



Should be interesting!

sian

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 11:41 PM

David, no need to apologize for your post. We really appreciate the information. Please let us know whenever you have news to report.
I thought I was well on my way to owning the entire Folkways collection, but I see I have only 138 albums. Looks like I have a long way to go. I wish you had a "whole enchilada" price for the entire collection on DVD in MP3 format.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: GUEST,David Horgan from Smithsonian Folkways
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 11:03 AM

Hi all - just to clear up some things (and not for the sales pitch), I thought I would post on this topic. I manage online marketing for Smithsonian Folkways.

Of the ~3,000 albums in the collection, ~400 are available as "commercial" CDs, with the full liner notes inside the package. These are the albums we have issued (or re-issued) since 1988. The "Classic Bluegrass" album mentioned above is an example of this.

The remaining ~2,400 albums are in print (everything is in print per Moe's philosophy and now ours - there is always "more Moe" around here :) ) and available as professional-quality "custom CDs", which feature the original cover-art and are made-to-order. They used to be in generic packaging with Moe's picture, but we found a new solution applying a sticker to the cover with the album arwork (much like Moe did with the original LPs). The complete, original notes are a .PDF on the custom CD, which are available from www.folkways.si.edu and increasingly from specialty retail and online stores, such as Amazon Marketplace.

In addition, all 3,000 albums are available for download on the major sites (iTunes etc.) but also from www.folkways.si.edu in either lossless FLAC format (best sound quality, larger file size) or 256K MP3s. The price for each format is the same. We are one of just a handful of outlets that offer FLAC, and the only one I'm aware of that offers it at the same price. Unlike the other online stores, www.folkways.si.edu also makes the liner notes to all 3,000 albums available as a free .PDF download (either included with your digital album purchase OR directly from the site without having to purchase).

You can also stream the entire collection on sites such as Rhapsody, LaLa.com, Napster, and for international users, Spotify. Streaming from these legal sites also supports the artists and mission.

Lastly, there are more than 60 hours worth of free podcasts from Smithsonian Folkways on either iTunes or the website www.folkways.si.edu.

Sorry for the lenghthy post, but I thought it would help clear up the questions.

All purchases help directly support the performing artists and/or their families as well as our non-profit mission.

We appreciate the support from everyone on Mudcat - I created a discount code just now for the members. Save 20% on your next purchase at www.folkways.si.edu with code: MudCat2009

www.folkways.si.edu

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: gnomad
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 05:46 AM

I got the PDF for a disc I made for my sister by buying the downloads from Smithsonian. I found this a great way of acquiring these recording in the UK. As I recall it, the notes were free, very extensive, and without any technical flaws.

I was also impressed with the FLAC codec they use, once I had found the means of dealing with it on my PC, of course a Linux set-up I have now treats FLAC as routine, yippee.

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: Severn
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 11:36 PM

Dick,

No Moe no mo'?
...(Greenhaus for you, brave boys)

Oh, well, Asches to Asches and all that.....


But the ones with newer packaging I got from you at Getaway had no paper inserts, but the packaging says inside that the notes are "included as a PDF file on the disc or are available online". I haven't tried to access a PDF of of one yet.

Subject: RE: Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 10:56 PM

S-F has redesigned their custom CD packaging. No more Moe.

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 08:55 PM

I have the WR recordings too. So how come Moses Asch's picture is on the CD cover? Very confusing!

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 06:02 PM

And remember--CAMSCO Music carries all the S-F recordings (including the custom ones) and sells them for less than S-F does.

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: Franz S.
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 05:46 PM

I bought the Walt Robertson recordings on custom cds last year, and the sound quality was as good as the original (to my untutored ear) and included all the original inserts. Excellent stuff!

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 04:23 PM

Please forgive me if I do wrong in ressurecting this thread, I just wanted to crow a bit.

Today, a colleague from the Arts Development team gave me a 3 CD set Friends of Old Time Music: the folk arrival 1961 - 1965. Includes 55 tracks, 53 never before released, 60 page illustrated book.

http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=3136

Seems he used to work for the Folkways production company. He was doing a declutter at his home, remembered I like folk and gave it to me. It is still shrink wrapped.

I am gobsmacked.

---

Resurrecting is good. Hallelujah! -Joe Offer-

Subject: Review: Smithsonian Folkways Records Forum
From: sciencegeek
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 12:18 PM

Stumbled across a new forum that seems to be right up our alley. I've extracted some info from the site. Give it a look see. Best use of our tax dollars I've seen in awhile.

Smithsonian Folkways Records Forum

Welcome to the NEW Smithsonian Folkways Records Forum! Here you can introduce yourself to the Folkways community, and describe your relationship with folkways records.

This is the opportunity for you to chat with fellow Folkways enthusiasts and talk with Folkways staff. Comments? Suggestions? Questions? Likes? Dislikes? Make your voice heard!

Find out what Folkways has in store for the future. Staff will update you on new projects, recordings, concerts, and information regarding Smithsonian Folkways Records. Feel free to share your ideas and opinions!

What are your favorite Smithsonian Folkways Recordings? What is your favorite genre of music? What other kinds of music do you enjoy outside of the Folkways Catalogue?

Requests & recommendations: got a million dollar idea? Let us know! We are all ears...

Link:    http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tradsong/message/407

Subject: Review: Folkways/Smithsonian
From: ballpienhammer
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 05:34 AM

picked up "Classic Bluegrass" on this label last night at a cut rate music store. Far Out! Fidelity is amazing, Grace! Try it. Now for some Van Ronk! Anyone have the Fiddlers Jubilee CD?

Subject: Smithsonian Folkways titles
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 01:49 PM

Could not find in Links.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings offers 2168 titles on Folkways, Cook, Dyer-Bennet, Fast Folk, Monitor and Paredon labels, as made-to-order cassettes and CDRs. Also over 200 regular releases. Sales via mail at 800-410-7171 and by internet at http://www.folkways.si.edu/.
Currently their database search is down, but browse by artist and genre, and site search available.

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 May 01 - 11:06 AM

Ooh, maybe I should try to get Cynthia Gooding this way... thanks! I'll let you know if it works.

Subject: RE: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 May 01 - 10:56 AM

Hi-CAMSCO carries all the Smithsonian Folkways CDs that have been re-released, as well as the ones that have been released as collaborative efforts with companies such as Bear Family. the ones I"ve ordered had the original inserts, but I'm not sure that's true for all of them.

Custom CDs are available only from SF; they're not re-mastered, and sound quality can be iffy.

Subject: SMITHSONIAN/Folkways Recordings
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 May 01 - 09:02 AM

I was delighted to see what is available now as new regular CD recordings of vintage Folkways Records from Smithsonian. You can review the goodies on their website at: www.si.edu/folkways; there are now some 200 titles in this part of their collection.

They are also willing to produce custom CDR's of records that have not yet been processed as regular CD's. Has anyone ordered one of these custom CD's? I'm curious about the quality of what they send out, and whether they include a version of the original insert (notes and lyrics).