Good For What Ails You.

[Cliff Englewood]

If you like your "old-timey" music, in the style of the Harry Smith Anthology Of American Folk Music, then you are in for a treat with this one.

I've only gone through it once myself and haven't gone indepth with the booklet either, just skimmed it, but I'm very impressed with both so far.

Very much a high quality release, comparable to Mosaic in both quality and in the fact that it's clearly a labour of love.

Cool website as well.

Edited June 25, 2008 by Cliff Englewood

[AllenLowe]

yes, recommended -

[Alexander]

WONDERFUL stuff! I just listened to it again recently. The booklet is great, too! Lots of information on Medicine Shows and a compelling argument that they are the model for modern sponsor-driven television and radio. Lots of info on the artists as well.

A very different spirit from the Harry Smith Anthology (although both have Frank Hutchins performing "Stagger Lee"). While the Harry Smith Anthology feels as though it has come from the mysterious depths of time (although that might just be a lingering impression based on my first hearing years and years ago), "Good For What Ails You" is a much lighter experience (not a bad thing. Just different). Since the collection focuses more on comedic material, there is some stuff that seems "insensitive" by modern standards (there are a few Coon Songs, several "nagging wife songs"). One of the most impressive performances comes from Emmett Miller on "The Gypsy." It's a comic number in the blackface tradition, peformed as a kind of rap. Although the idea is anathema today, Miller's impersonation of African-American speech patterns is one of the best I have ever heard. Although his delivery is broad, he generally avoids the stereotypical "darkie accent" that we've come to associate with blackface comedians (think Amos and Andy). Miller really has the accent down, and one can only imagine that he aquired it through an excellent ear and association with actual black people (rather than with white people pretending to be black people). I could be wrong, but that's how it sounds to my ear.

This collection also contains performances by Pink Anderson (who, along with Floyd Council, provided the name for the band Pink Floyd), Stovepipe No.1, Papa Charlie Jackson, Uncle Dave Macon, Blind Willie McTell (under the name Blind Sammie), Gid Tanner, and Charlie Poole. Most of this stuff would be classified as hokum, but it's damn good hokum! (I do wish there had been some Frankie Half-Pint Jaxon, though. He was the king of hokum!)

[Big Beat Steve]

Getting away for a moment from the endless George Benson thread about the relative merits of fairly overproduced easy listening pop :D, I'd like to second the recommendation of this set. This IS fun and highly entertaining and instructive, if only as a document of a musical tradition now extinct. Lovers of blues, early jazz and oldtime country music will find a lot here.

And for additional listening, the

FOLKS, HE SURE DO PULL SOME BOW

compilation from the same stable (Old Hat CD-103) is recommended too. (Check out the link to the Old Hat website above)

[Alexander]

Getting away for a moment from the endless George Benson thread about the relative merits of fairly overproduced easy listening pop :D, I'd like to second the recommendation of this set. This IS fun and highly entertaining and instructive, if only as a document of a musical tradition now extinct. Lovers of blues, early jazz and oldtime country music will find a lot here.

And for additional listening, the

FOLKS, HE SURE DO PULL SOME BOW

compilation from the same stable (Old Hat CD-103) is recommended too. (Check out the link to the Old Hat website above)

That's a wonderful collection, too, as is "Violin, Play the Blues for Me," a collection of performances by African American fiddlers.

Frankly, there isn't a single disc on Old Hat that you should pass on. I have them all, and I love them. They're not as broad in their focus as labels like Dust-To-Digital or Sublime Frequences, but like those labels, everything they release is worth checking out.

[AllenLowe]

ah, Pink Anderson was a sellout -

[jlhoots]

Getting away for a moment from the endless George Benson thread about the relative merits of fairly overproduced easy listening pop :D, I'd like to second the recommendation of this set. This IS fun and highly entertaining and instructive, if only as a document of a musical tradition now extinct. Lovers of blues, early jazz and oldtime country music will find a lot here.

And for additional listening, the

FOLKS, HE SURE DO PULL SOME BOW

compilation from the same stable (Old Hat CD-103) is recommended too. (Check out the link to the Old Hat website above)

That's a wonderful collection, too, as is "Violin, Play the Blues for Me," a collection of performances by African American fiddlers.

Frankly, there isn't a single disc on Old Hat that you should pass on. I have them all, and I love them. They're not as broad in their focus as labels like Dust-To-Digital or Sublime Frequences, but like those labels, everything they release is worth checking out.

Same for me.

[Cliff Englewood]

I finally got around to reading the notes last night, excellent stuff. I know the Emmy's are a load of bollox, but Old Hat really do deserve some sort of award for this release.