Excerpt: In a recent interview, musician Wynton Marsalis said, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve suggested to musicians to get The Bristol Sessions—Anglo-American folk music.

In December 1999, a website popular among music fans, mudcat.org, featured a thread that encouraged speculation about “The Essential Folk Recordings.” Thread participants—including prominent promoters of folk music—agreed upon the lasting importance of three collections: Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music, Alan Lomax’s field recordings, and Ralph Peer’s 1927 Bristol Sessions. Also mentioned by some participants were a few recent compilations, as well as certain albums from major folk and blues musicians. Many participants lamented the dearth of reissued folk music on compact disc from the back-catalog of Elektra Records, a company renowned for its contributions to the genre during the urban folk music revival. And one Elektra release, The Folk Box, received particular praise from a number of people fortunate enough to have heard it.

Smithhaven--Still Making Excuses--If Seeing Is Believing--Myth--Your Last Ride--If I Had a Dollar--Tack and Jibe--Stewie Took My Nose--March Home to Me--I Recall--God's Work Is Never Done--Farther Down the Track. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1101/thumbnail.jpg

The Johnson City Sessions were held in Johnson City, Tennessee in October 1928 and October 1929. This work "...marks the first time these recordings have been assembled in any format. Collectively, these 100 songs and tunes are regarded by scholars and record collectors as a strong and distinctive cross-section of old-time Appalachian music just before the Great Depression. The four CDs gather every surviving recording from the sessions, while the accompanying 136-page LP-sized hardcover book contains newly researched essays on the background to the sessions and on the individual artists, with many rare and hitherto unpublished photographs, as well as complete song lyrics and a detailed discography." -- Back cover. Ted Olson (East Tennessee State University) and Tony Russell are the re-issue producers. / https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1112/thumbnail.jpg

Lee Bidgood was joined by Richard Cifersky, Ed Snodderly, Daniel Boner, and Jeff Elkins in performing Czech translations of bluegrass classics, as well as original Czech material in both Czech and English.

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View the Youtube video of Bill and the Belles, featuring Lee Bidgood on the viola.

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