Review: Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Volume 1 - Various Artists

I begin here by noting my tremendous affinity for Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, or at the very least, for the Wiggleworms CDs they've released -- longtime readers will know I'm a big fan. That doesn't even get to the School itself, which for fifty years has provided countless hours of musical instruction and performance for Chicago-area residents, old and young alike. Jealous? Me? Living hundreds of miles away? Just a little. (OK, a lot.)

So with great enthusiasm that I gave their Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Volume One, released by Bloodshot Records (another Chicago institution, though not quite as old), a spin and held my breath -- could it somehow meet my expectations? And the answer is, well, yes. Over the course of 23 songs in 77 minutes, the album puts together songs well-known and not, from artists well-known and not. There's so much here to listen to that singling out a few songs seems unfair to the album, but life's not fair, which is itself a lesson that's heard on a few songs here. So then, three songs:

"Take This Hammer" -- Jon Langford gives an exuberant reading of this folksong, first collected in 1915, his raspy voice accompanied by his guitar and Rick Sherry's jug and percussion. It's an old song, but it sounds tailor-made for the 21st century.

"Drunken Sailor" -- Dan Zanes shows up with his band in full "Sea Music" mode, giving a idiosyncratic mid-tempo version of the song. It's not the full-tempo, punk-pirate version one commonly hears, but the band's musicianship and their voices -- I love that band's set of pipes -- actually help you hear the lyrics and appreciate them.

"Salty Dog Blues" -- If "Drunken Sailor" is the song you're not sure you should be playing for your 5-year-old but you do anyway, Rick Sherry's rendition of "Salty Dog Blues" is not safe for the younguns, lest you be asked to explain what it means to be someone's "salty dog." (I, on the other hand, as a fully-capable adult, think the cut is great.)

There are some songs that seemed too reverent for my tastes, but that's a personal thing, and all the tracks are well-done. People more familiar with the folk canon may have different views, but I also think the album really begins to pick up speed in the second half where the songs are more familiar -- "St. James Infirmary," "Down in the Valley," an excellent "Wayfaring Stranger" from John Stirratt.

Even setting aside "Salty Dog Blues," there's little here lyrically that would engage younger kids, so I think it's probably most appropriate for kids ages 8 and up. (Not saying that there aren't tracks appropriate for younger kids, such as Erin Flynn's reading of "Amazing Grace," just that this probably isn't your first choice.) You can download a couple tracks from the CD at Bloodshot's page for the album. (And here's my own suggestion, free of charge, for the School -- a bound, printed version of the Songbook, with chords and lyrics, would rock.)

Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Volume 1 is a solid collection of folksong recordings that reflect not only the strength of America's musical heritage but also of the School itself. Families with older kids should definitely check it out. The name "Volume 1" implies that more are on the way, and for that, I can't wait. Recommended.

Comments

[deb in sf]

I've been nearly as excited to read your review as I've been for the record, itself. Yahoo, that it hits the mark!

I've got strong opinions about folk lyrics and kids (which I'll keep out of your comments), but even with Max's serious interest in lyrics, I don't imagine him asking me what it means to be someone's salty dog! :) But he surprises me all the time....

I'm psyched for DZ's Drunken Sailor to grow on me. Even though I didn't love it when I first heard it, I can't say there's a song I've heard of his that I haven't dug. And Take This Hammer is on my current top 10 all time songs, so I'm totally ready to hear what they've done with it on here. And Goodnight Irene?

Tuesday's payday. I'm going sraight to the record store. Folk on!

[SAShepherd]

Deb in SF -- don't be shy -- what are your opinions about folk lyrics and kids?

[deb in sf]

I think kids are smart and strong and brave. I think they can handle a lot more than they get credit for a lot of times. I also think children, in general, rise to what we expect of them.

There's a difference between how lyrics change over time because of the "folk process" and "kidding-down" folk lyrics because we're afraid children can't handle the subject matter. Folk process changes a word here or there, like playing the game telephone, as the song gets sung over and over, passes from person to person. However, when we change the lyrics to a song wholesale, to make it kid-friendly, we risk losing the entire meaning of the song. Losing the song, period. I think we remove the opportunity for children to creatively think (even on a subconscious level) and play about the situations the song originally deals with - scary situations, lessons to be learned, first loves and kisses, whatever,

I don’t feel like I have all the answers. Raffi’s adaptation of Good Night Irene brought me a beautiful melody that I may not have otherwise learned, so I think that has value. That’s assuming the adaptation is acknowledged.

I think if kids can handle video games and Sponge Bob and school-yard slang, they can handle folk music lyrics as they are. I can take the time to sit with Max and talk about what the song means and what we can learn from it if he asks me, which he may or may not. We can also talk about the appropriateness of language in art (music, poetry, etc.) as opposed to the classroom or conversation with parents and grandparents. Look at all the great things we’ve just discussed, just by listening to a song that might have some lyrics that made us uncomfortable!

While I don’t guess I will, I wish I’d hear what some of your other readers think about this….

[deb in sf]

I meant to put in there how glad I am that there are lots of great folks doing the songs for kids the traditional ways these days.

I think things are great these days, not bleak.

was writing post a dinner party....

[Stefan]

Deb, thanks for the comments.

I agree that kids can probably handle more than I think they can. I tend to base my age recommendations more on interest level than age-appropriateness. I think "St. James Infirmary" is a great song, and I wouldn't mind playing it for my kids -- I'm just not sure that that's what they'd want to listen to over and over (as opposed to, say, Justin Roberts or Ralph's World. Though I'd note that Ralph especially is more willing to play songs about first loves, etc.)

[deb in sf]

Just to be clear that the comments were general comments and not directed at your age recommendations. You just got me started on a topic that I have passionate feelings about. I think your age recs. are thoughtful, generous and pretty spot-on.