General Comments for all Naweedna CDs
§ Will Moyle’s Jazz Alive, a locally produced master collection of classic jazz. The Will Moyle stuff is the best collection of jazz I’ve ever heard. Originally recorded by me in the 80s.
§ FFUSA: Folk Festival USA, a nationally distributed collection of excerpts recorded live at various folk festivals around the country – varying from traditional country to purely ethnic, to socio-political (one lesbian festival, in fact). FFUSA is eclectic, and the live recordings often catch a lot of crowd noise as well as bad microphone placement. Originally recorded by me in the 80s.
§ GTWG: The Glory That Was Grease, another locally produced broadcast that featured the formative years of Rock and Roll from the 50s and 60s – my youth. The “Grease” may have been “Greece”, the Rochester suburb where the program originated. The GTWG is marginal but good for reminding my generation of their teenage years – if that can be considered a good thing. Originally recorded by me in the 80s.
§ BBGR: Big Band Go Round, yet another local program featuring … Big Band, but also including most anything recorded from 20s to the 50s. The BBGR is so broad that it is unlikely to be duplicated anywhere. However, you have to have a fondness for the crackle of scratchy old 78’s and an appetite for schmaltz to fully appreciate it. Originally recorded by me in the 80s.
§ PHC & PHC-D: Prairie Home Companion – the middle years. I didn’t get started with PHC until the 80s, so I missed the early period, and I stopped recording when Garrison retired – for the first time. Remember the unfortunate guy who took over the time slot from Garrison? Me, neither. AS IF anyone could do that – a classic no-win situation. When Garrison un-retired (like Michael Jordan), the second version of the show was based in NYC, and I didn’t care for it that much, so I didn’t record it. A few years later I discovered that he had gone back to the old format and was broadcasting from St Paul, MN. I’ve been digitizing those programs in real time over the last couple years, and they are designated as PHC-D. The PHC stuff contains the essence of American music – in my not-so-humble opinion. The only nationally broadcast show that ever came close to matching PHC for quality and variety was the TV show, Northern Exposure – go figure. I have two Northern CDs; if there are more, I would like to know about them ASAP.
§ The dates represent the release date of the album or CD source. These dates are as accurate as I can obtain. The dates for some tracks from compilations reflect the release date of the compilation.
As usual, my comments are in blue. The other information comes from www.allmusic.com. Additions and corrections are welcome … encouraged, in fact.
The Playlist and Notes for Naweedna 2001
01 Hello Stranger - Hotmud Family
Till We Meet Again Or Above (1974)
These people are from Spring Valley OH, which is very near Waynesville where my father grew up. When he looked at the picture on the album cover, he said, “Hey, that’s the hill we used to sled down.” Hello Love, a similar piece, used to be the opening song on PHC. This and the Hank Snow track lead off Naweedna 2001 and 2002A, respectively. Naweedna 2003 is introduced by Cooder’s Chloe, which would be my theme if I were a DJ.
This excellent young old-time string band from Ohio specialized in tight vocals and a diverse repertoire. — Charles S. Wolfe
Dave Edmundson
Suzanne Edmudson
Rich Good
1 Going That Way
2 Hawkins Rag
3 Hello Stranger
4 John Lover's Gone
5 Last Chance (on Naweedna 2002B)
6 Louisianna Farm
7 My Wandering Boy
8 Old Songs
9Over The Mountain
10 Polly Put The Kettle On
11 Rich And Ramblin Boy
12 Rocky Island
13 Shuffle Creek
14 Walkin In Jerusalem
15 Blue Railroad Train
16 Carbolic Rag
02 The Surrey With The Fringe On Top - Ahmad Jamal
At The Pershing (1958)
I like Ahmad. His early stuff is better than more recent offerings I’ve heard. If you can only have one Jamal, The Pershing album is the one to have. Some of those tracks have been re-mastered on a CD called What’s New. Those two albums plus a collection called Ahmad’s Blues pretty much covers his best work.
One of the few pianists in the 1950s who did not sound like a close copy of Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal's use of space, ability to gradually increase or decrease the volume with his trio, and brilliant use of tension and release were quite original. He greatly impressed Miles Davis (who borrowed from his repertoire and insisted that Red Garland try to sound like him), and Jamal also cut some very popular records without altering his style.
Jamal began playing professionally in Pittsburgh when he was 11. In the late '40s, he joined George Hudson's orchestra. In 1951, he formed his first trio, the Three Strings, a group with guitarist Ray Crawford and bassist Eddie Calhoun. Israel Crosby took Calhoun's place in 1955. One of Jamal's recordings from that year was a version of "Pavanne" that at one point states the melody from John Coltrane's "Impressions," five years before 'Trane "wrote" the song, amazingly. In 1956, Jamal switched to a piano-bass-drums trio with Walter Perkins replacing Crawford. With Vernell Fournier on drums by 1958, Jamal recorded his most popular album, Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing, and his version of "Poinciana" is still famous. The trio broke up in 1962, but Jamal continued growing as a pianist (sometimes doubling on electric piano in the 1970s), and he remains one of the most distinctive (and indirectly influential) pianists in jazz. Ahmad Jamal recorded through the years for Epic, Argo/Cadet, Impulse, Catalyst, 20th Century, Atlantic, and Telarc. - Scott Yanow
Ahmad Jamal - At the Pershing: But Not for Me
Artist Ahmad Jamal
Album Title At the Pershing: But Not for Me
Date of Release Jan 16, 1958 inprint
AMG Rating 5 *
Genre Jazz
Time 31:32
AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Recorded at Pershing Club, Chicago, IL. A two-fer. Third album (includes hit "Poinciana") was the turning point in his career. His liberal use of silence influenced many jazz musicians, including Miles Davis. - Michael Erlewine
1. But Not for Me (Gershwin/Gershwin) - 3:31
2. The Surrey With the Fringe on Top (Hammerstein/Rodgers) - 2:35
3. Moonlight in Vermont (Blackburn/Suessdorf) - 3:09
4. Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel... (Baum/Weiss) - 2:56
5. No Greater Love (Jones/Symes) - 3:26
6. Poinciana (Bernier/Simon) - 8:07 (on Naweedna 2002B)
7. Woody 'N You (Gillespie) - 3:40
8. What's New? (Burke/Haggart) - 4:08
Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fornier - Drums
Vernell Fournier - Drums
03 Ballad of Amazing Grace and Side Show Dan - Roy Bookbinder
Polk City Ramble (1998)
Bob “Music Man” Mahoney introduced me to Bookbinder – or is it Book Binder? He included this track on one of the first samplers he sent me. I fell in love with it instantly. There are many more good Bookbinder tracks, and some of them will appear on future Naweedna CDs.
An often stirring folk/blues guitarist and vocalist, Roy Book Binder's been playing country blues since the mid-'60s, when he began recording for Blue Goose. Greatly influenced by Rev. Gary Davis and Pink Anderson, Book Binder played in East Coast coffeehouses in the early '60s, then began accompanying Rev. Davis on tours in the mid-'60s. He also played with Larry Johnson, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Homesick James. Besides constant concerts and tours, Book Binder's made additional recordings for Blue Goose, as well as Adelphi and Rounder.
Book Binder began playing blues guitar while he was enlisted in the navy. Following his discharge from the military, he enrolled in Rhode Island Junior College. After a brief spell there, he attended New York's New School for Social Research. Book Binder quit school in 1967, after he met the Rev. Gary Davis. Roy became Davis' chauffeur, during which he took extensive lessons from the blind guitarist. Book Binder started his recording career slowly, cutting some singles for Kicking Mule and Blue Goose in 1968. In 1969, he toured England with Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Homesick James. The following year, he released his first album, Travelin' Man, on Adelphi. After the release of Travelin' Man, he began touring America extensively.
Book Binder began playing with fiddler Fats Kaplin in 1973, recording Git Fiddle Shuffle the same year. Roy and Fats were a duo for three years, playing numerous concerts and recording a second album, Ragtime Millionaire in 1976. Following the release of Ragtime Millionaire, the duo stopped performing together and Book Binder bought a motor home, which became his permanent residence. Live performances became his primary concern after the release of Goin' Back to Tampa in 1979. For nearly ten years, he toured the country in the motor home, driving himself from club to club, hitting numerous coffeehouses and festivals along the way.
Book Binder returned to recording in 1988, releasing Bookaroo! on Rounder Records. During the '80s, he recorded regularly — releasing an album every two to four years — in addition to his constant touring. — Ron Wynn & Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Polk City Ramble
Artist Roy Book Binder
Album Title Polk City Ramble
Date of Release Jan 13, 1998
AMG Rating 4 *
Genre Blues
Time 47:49
On Polk City Ramble, Roy Book Binder toughens his acoustic blues sound with the addition of bass and drums; while primarily comprised of originals, the LP also sports intriguing covers from artists ranging from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Billy Joe Shaver. — Jason Ankeny
1. Trouble in the Streets (Book Binder) - 3:10
2. Palm Trees Shakin' in the Nights (Book Binder) - 3:18
3. She Did You a Favor (Book Binder) - 5:09
4. Polk City Ramble (Book Binder) - 2:03
5. Ballad of Amazing Grace and Sideshow Dan (Wilbur) - 4:44 (on Naweedna 2001)
6. Married Man's a Fool (Public Domain [1]) - 1:00
7. Baby, Let Me Lay It on You (Davis) - 2:38
8. Electricity (Murphy) - 2:53
9. Police Dog Blues (Blind Blake [1]) - 2:32
10. New Age Woman Blues (Book Binder) - 2:24
11. Blind Lemon (Book Binder) - 3:22
12. Anywhere You Go (Book Binder) - 3:26
13. I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (Shaver) - 3:47
14. Ship Is at the Landing (Public Domain [1]) - 1:07
15. Let Us Get Together (TRADITIONAL) - 3:22
16. Rag Mama (Fuller) - 2:54
04 Keep It Clean - Larry Johnson
Fast 'n Funky (1974)
This is one of the Sweetwater albums. When Mikey & Bob started their bar, they wanted an album jukebox, which was rare in those days. When we went to the local music store to buy albums for it, we told the clerk what we were looking for, and he produced several albums that hit the target. For whatever reason, I seem to have inherited five of those albums, and this is one of them.
Among the postwar generation of blues artists, Larry Johnson — from Riceville, GA — is one of the most devoted to the pure Delta and Texas styles of the '20s. He was born on May 5, 1938, in Fulton County, GA. His father was a preacher and his son would often travel with him from town to town. In this environment, Johnson was exposed to early blues records and he especially loved those of Blind Boy Fuller. It was Fuller's records that made Johnson pick up a guitar. After a stint in the Navy from 1955 to 1959, Johnson moved to New York and befriended Brownie and Sticks McGhee and began playing on records by Big Joe Williams, Harry Atkins, and Alec Seward (aka Guitar Slim). It was Seward who introduced Johnson to his future mentor, Rev. Gary Davis. He released his first single, "Catfish Blues"/"So Sweet," in 1962 and appeared on numerous live dates with Davis. By 1970, Johnson began releasing albums on small labels, including a date with John Hammond called Fast & Funky reissued on CD as Midnight Hour Blues. After years of living from gig to gig, Johnson retreated from the grind of the road. He still played ocassionally, but only on his own terms. He did, however, manage to release two albums, Johnson! Where Did You Get That Sound? in 1983 and Basin Free with Nat Riddles in 1984. By the '90s, Johnson began receiving better offers for live performances, especially in Europe. While abroad, he recorded Railroad Man released in 1990 on JSP and Blues for Harlem in 1999 on the Armadillo label. Two years later, Johnson collaborated with National slide guitar extrodonaire Brian Kramer and his band the Couch Lizards, resulting in the relaxed, yet mainly up-tempo, Two Gun Green on Armadillo. Johnson's excellent fingerpicking and acoustic blues have brought him to creating an approachment that remains timeless.
Fast & Funky
Artist Larry Johnson
Album Title Fast & Funky
Date of Release 1974 (release)
AMG Rating 4.5 * Selected
Genre Blues
A05-Pick Poor Robin Clean
A06-Up North Blues
A07-The Beat From Rampart Street
B01-Spoonful Blues
B02-Two White Horses
B03-Ragged And Dirty
B04-Cookbook
B05-Frisco Blues
B06-My Game Blues
B07-Lordy Good Lord
A01-Keep It Clean
A02-Charley Stone
A03-Four Women Blues
A04-Nobody's Business If I Do
05 Across The Borderline - Freddy Fender & Ry Cooder
The Border (1982)
Believe it or not, this was my introduction to Freddy Fender. This is one of Ry’s movie soundtrack efforts. The movie, same title, features Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Valerie Perrine, and Warren Oats. Strange, with a line up like that, and Jack being one of my favorite actors, I’ve never seen the movie.