View Elizabeth Cotten Videos

Subject: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 01:21 PM

I was over on the Smithsonian Global Sound site downloading an old Woody Guthrie track from the Asch Recordings when I chanced upon this great 1957 film of Elizabeth Cotten playing Freight Train courtesy of Pete and Toshi Seeger.

Here's the link ==> Elizabeth Cotten playing Freight Train

Enjoy!

      - Mark

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Folkiedave
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 01:46 PM

Thanks for that reference Mark. What a wonderful story.

Years ago I can remember Peggy telling the story of Elizabeth Cotton as part of the Seeger household as she played the guitar part of Freight Train - and then turning the guitar upside down and playing left-handed!

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: open mike
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 04:03 AM

Go Libba!

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 09:03 PM

Thanks for the link!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 06:58 PM

This YouTube video of Elizabeth Cotten playing Freight Train was obviously recorded much later in her life than the Smithsonian video linked to by Mark Clark above, her singing is a little rustier, but it is worth watching as it gives a better view of what she is actually doing with her picking fingers.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: BanjoRay
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 07:21 PM

Well - I've always been convinced she played with three fingers, now I see that she just used thumb and index - fantastic. Typical master musician -minimum movement and exact finger placements.

Really impressed Ray

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 12:07 PM

exactly like Etta Baker,who picked with thumb and index finger, as I believe did gary davis, IF YOU GOOGLE ETTA BAKER, youmight be interested in videos, of her too.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jun 10 - 10:21 PM

Just found a wonderful audio with slide show on youtube of Elizabeth playing Shake Shugaree while her then 14 year old granddaughter sings it. What a beautiful voice and how special to hear the two of them!

Click Here.

Art Thieme, I still love your version and thanks, so much, for teaching me about it!

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 07:30 AM

thanks kat

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 11:45 AM

The link in the OP seems dead, the video can been seen here now.

Youtube has some nice material of her as a guest on the Rainbow Quest series if I remember correctly.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Bettynh
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 12:55 PM

To update:

from the Smithsonian and Pete, 1957

With Pete on Rainbow Quest, late 60's

Age 92, tour with Mike

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 01:20 PM

May as well add this one there are more though. Saw one a good while of her being interviewed (by Aly Bain I seem to remember)and playing a bit in the house she bought once she got out a bit.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 05:21 PM

For a little variation, try the video of "Shake Sugaree" that should come up in the list next to the one Peter Laban linked. It's actually Elizabeth playing with her 14 year old granddaughter singing. I found it a pure delight.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Janie
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 08:25 PM

Thanks, Peter, for the second link to the 1957 film.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 08:32 PM

Umm...frogprince, that's the one I posted the link to when I refreshed this thread.:-) Still, worth a second recommendation!

katsmiling

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Videos
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 08:54 PM

Oops; I really thought I had read all the posts, but somehow yours slipped by me, Kat.
                Deanfeelingstoopid : )

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Video
From: Janie
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 09:13 PM

Just as an insignificant aside, from her photos, I speculate that Ms. Cotton has some Native American ancestry.   That would not be at all unusual among African-Americans in this part of North Carolina. (Nor is African-American ancestry uncommon among members of officially recognized Native American tribes in eastern and central North Carolina.)

Loved the "Shake Sugaree" recording. The grand-daughter has a fine voice. Hope she is still singing.

Subject: RE: View Elizabeth Cotten Videos
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 11:23 PM

That's alright, Dean. Like I said, it bears repeating.:-)

I agree, Janie. I have an old photo of my grandmother and a couple of her siblings from when they were quite young. Their ancestry was from way back in the Carolinas. Dad always teased mom about her "black Irish" roots, but I am not so sure about that. Her hair was black as were some of her siblings and my grandmother almost looks Native American or Africa American in that old photo. I think, because they went so far back and because her ancestor was known to have slaves, it could be there was some mixed blood. My uncle's hair was so curly his nickname in early 1940s in school was "Nig." Not something I am particularly proud of, but a sign of the times, I guess.

Sorry for the digression.