8tracks: A tribute to Folkways Records By Amanda on May 27, 2009 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
I just recently discovered Smithsonian Folkways has a whole series of podcasts on various aspects of its catalogue, the blues, labour songs, world music, Phil Ochs, several on the Harry Smith Anthology and so on. You can search for them under "The Folkways Collection" and "Smithsonian Folkways" (two seperate things for whatever reason) on iTunes or download them as normal MP3s from their website. They describe the 24-part series as "exploring 20th century human experience through sound" which is rather grand but I can't argue.
I have been really digging them so I thought I would burrow into my Folkways collection and do up a 8 tracks mix in tribute. Along with the early hillbilly and blues and folk you associate with Folkways, the collection includes some of their less well known nooks: some African and Central Asian tracks, a Lithuanian lullaby, some mariachi field recordings and some dude called Blind Boy Grunt.
Listen below or at the 8tracks site.
By Shaun
on May 27, 2009 10:45 PM
Reminds me of my first trip to Korea. Went by ferry from Japan and coming into Pusan Harbour at dawn, we were told no photographs. Yet everyone was on deck madly clicking away.
By Andre Havard
on May 28, 2009 10:30 AM
Thanks for the link - fantastic!
Try this - although they are both Smithsonian, they seem to be run independently.
http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/radio_globalsound.aspx
By Amanda
on May 29, 2009 9:14 PM
Oh, thanks for those Andre. Excellent!
By Amanda
on May 29, 2009 9:44 PM
Also, just looking at your latest photos with the Vladimir Ashkenazy cruise. WOW!!
By Andre Havard
on May 29, 2009 11:08 PM
Yep - I love my job - just as well, coz the pay is shite!