Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer

Subject: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: GUEST,dave ruch
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 08:26 PM

Wondering if anyone has a copy of a commercial release (now out of print) on the Philo label of Ted Ashlaw? He was an Adirondack logger and singer who was recorded by folklorist Robert Bethke.....I cannot find a printed copy available anywhere.

Thanks,

Dave R.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: georgeward
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 11:52 PM

Dave, have you tired Bob Bethke himself ? He had a few copies left some years ago, and was selling them. I don't have a current address for him, but I bet the American Folklore Society does.    - George

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: RangerSteve
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:08 AM

I have a copy, and I can put it on a cassette tape for you. PM me if you're interested. Steve.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: GUEST,dave ruch
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:57 AM

George - thanks for the tip. I tried getting his contact info thru Univ of Delaware with no luck, so perhaps AFS will have something.

RangerSteve - I would really like to PM you but I don't know how!? Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: GUEST,Nerd (not at home)
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 11:54 AM

Dave,

you need to register as a member before the PM (personal message) feature becomes available. Once you have done so, go to your "personal page" from the link on top of any Mudcat page, and it will be pretty intuitive from there.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 12:19 PM

Hey, I'm a member now! Thanks to Nerd (not at home) for the advice.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 05:40 PM

My copy of the Ashlaw album has a note advising of a book 'Bunkhouse Singers & Barroom Bards', "now in preparation". Does anyone know if this book was ever published? I'd like a copy. The album also carries this address, Robert D. Bethke, Folklore Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711. I doubt if this would be current though. The album came out in 1976. Burl.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 09:07 AM

Burl,

Does the mention of the book include any author or publisher info? Was it Bethke who was going to be putting it out? I just got a Florida mailing address for him through the American Folklore Society, so I'll be dropping him a note.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:43 AM

Greetings Dave, Yes it was Bethke, but no publisher information was given. My guess was that the University would publish it. That's only a guess of course. Good luck with your search. Keep in touch please. Burl

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 03:54 PM

Thanks to all! I have been in touch with Robert Bethke and received a vinyl copy of the album last week. It's great! Ted Ashlaw sounds like the North Country, and his penchant for "songs that tell a story" is right up my alley.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:17 PM

Hi Dave, if you are looking for authentic logging songs, we've got an old Norwiegian guy up here named Paul Roseland who homesteaded in Alaska many decades ago and has collected numerous logging songs (Mostly from the Pacific NW), mining songs (Mostly from Alaska)and misc. songs which, today, would be considered "politically incorrect". Paul has a few CD's out and he's been recorded by the Smithsonian. He's quite a character. Let me know if you are interested.

Mike

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 04:44 PM

Hi Mike,

Paul Roseland sounds very interesting...where can I find his recordings?

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Burke
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 06:28 PM

A couple of possibilities on your book:

Bethke, Robert D., 1945- Adirondack voices : woodsmen and woods lore / Robert D. Bethke. 1st paperback ed. Syracuse : Syracuse University Press, 1994. (originally published: Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1981)

Monologues and folk recitation / edited by Kenneth S. Goldstein and Robert D. Bethke. Gainesville (Florida) : Storter Print. Co., 1976.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 07:07 PM

Paul is a local icon in the Anchorage area, Dave. He doesn't do computers cause they didn't have electricity when he was growing up and he doesn't trust it. I doubt if his recordings are very accessable outside of Alaska. I could probably run them down for you if you want them. Let me know.

Mike

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Woods Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 12:08 PM

I just had a nice visit with Bob Bethke while visiting some family down in Florida. He lives about 30 minutes from my Dad's place, and was gracious in talking of his collecting experiences, Ted Ashlaw, etc.   He gave me 4 sealed copies of the vinyl LP and what seem to be the last 4 available unused copies of his book, Adirondack Voices. It is now twice out of print. I'll be making all of this stuff available on my website within the next several days at very reasonable prices, as it is both Bob Bethke's & my wish to get the songs and Bob's work out there again.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 02:27 PM

Dave: Please reserve one of each for me! Get to me at or via a PM here on the 'Cat, to tell me how much and where to send the payment.
    Sandy (Folk-Legacy's resident folk fossil)

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 08:02 AM

I've got two copies of the LP and two copies of the book on hold for people so far, so there are two of each left if any others are interested.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: GUEST,Nerd
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 09:22 AM

Hi Dave,

I'm interested but need to know the prices!

Nerd (member, but not on my own computer)

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 04:22 PM

Nerd -

I have PM'd you with the prices (not that it's a secret, but didn't want to turn this into a commercial thread....)

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 04:41 PM

Just wanted to announce that the Ted Ashlaw LP and the book "Adirondack Voices" are now officially available for order on the website. The link is www.daveruch.com/store.htm.

Cheers!

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: GUEST,Michael White
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 02:30 PM

I have a copy of this on LP and converted it to MP3 as well. I am one of Ted's Great Grandsons. It's nice being able to listen to his voice.

Subject: RE: Ted Ashlaw - Adirondack Singer
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 21 Jun 08 - 08:49 PM

Michael White, welcome. I had some correspondence over the last year or so with Allen Ashlaw of Saranac Lake NY, one of Ted's grandsons. Would that make him your uncle?

I have been working over the last several years with Bob Bethke, the folklorist who recorded your great grandfather back in the 1970's, on gathering information and recordings of Ted and also his brother Eddie for a forthcoming website on Adirondack traditional songs and singers. It will be published on the web later this year by Traditional Arts of Upstate NY (www.tauny.org).

Did you know or have a chance to spend any time with your great grandfather before he passed away?