What Was the Anthology of American Folk Music?

Discover the history behind the Anthology of American Folk Music and how it has influenced music today.

What is the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, comprising eighty-four American folk, blues and country music recordings that were originally issued between 1927 and 1932. Experimental filmmaker Harry Smith compiled the music from his personal collection of 78 rpm records. The album is famous for its role in the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and has been released in several editions since its original 1952 publication.

Who compiled the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music was compiled by Harry Smith and released in 1952. The Anthology was a compilation of eighty-four songs recorded between 1927 and 1932. The songs were culled from commercial recordings that were popular at the time and were primarily performed by white, working-class musicians.

Why was the Anthology of American Folk Music created?

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, record companies in the United States released a series of commercial recordings of folk, blues, and country music. These recordings were aimed at a white, middle-class audience and were mostly produced by white musicians. The Anthology of American Folk Music was compiled by musicologist Harry Smith and released by Folkways Records in 1952. It consisted of 84 songs drawn from commercial recordings made between 1927 and 1932. The Anthology was one of the first attempts to document American folk music for a mass audience, and it had a profound influence on the development of the folk music revival in the 1950s and 1960s.

What kind of music is included in the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, subtitled “Greatest Hits to Lead Belly.” The anthology presented eighty-four songs by sixty-two different artists, and was compiled by Harry Smith from his personal collection of 78 rpm records. The music includes a wide variety of American folk traditions, from bluegrass and gospel to protests and work songs.

How did the Anthology of American Folk Music influence later music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, comprising eighty-four American folk, blues and country songs recorded between 1927 and 1932. Experimental filmmaker Harry Smith compiled the music from his personal collection of 78 rpm records. The album is famous for influencing the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, and many other influential musicians were inspired by the album.

What are some of the most famous songs from the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album collection of American folk music, released in 1952 by Folkways Records (catalogue FP 251, FP 252, and FP 253), edited by Harold Courlander and released with liner notes by noted folklorist John A. Lomax. The Anthology was a major influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. The albums were originally issued as 78 rpm records; all were eventually reissued in long-playing form on both vinyl and CD, three albums per disc.

The Anthology was assembled by musicologist Harry Smith from his personal collection of 78 rpm records. The collection encompasses eighty-four songs recorded between 1927 and 1932 by forty different performers, representing a cross-section of early 20th century American folk music styles including country music, blues, Cajun music, gospel music, old-time music, and Appalachian music.

What are some of the less well-known but still important songs from the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a compilation album released in 1952 by Folkways Records. The influential four-volume set was compiled by acclaimed musicologist, ethnomusicologist, and record producer Harry Smith.

The Anthology draws from commercial recordings of folk, country, blues, and gospel music made in the United States between 1927 and 1932. Most of the songs included on the Anthology were previously out of print and/or largely unknown outside of their local communities at the time it was compiled.

Despite its victory at the Grammy Awards in 2002, the Anthology is not as widely known as it deserves to be. Here are some of the less well-known but still important songs from theAnthology of American Folk Music:

“In the Pines” (1927) by Uncle Bunt Stephens
“In the Pines” is a traditional folk song that has been recorded by a number of artists over the years, most notably Lead Belly and Nirvana. Thesong is believed to have originated in the southern United States, and it tells the story of a young woman who is murdered by her lover and left “in the pines” to rot.

“Levee Camp Moan” (1927) by Texas Alexander
“Levee Camp Moan” is a blues song about the hardships of life working on a levee. The song reflects on how difficult it is to make a living in such conditions, and how easy it is to die.

“John Henry” (1928) by Blind Lemon Jefferson
“John Henry” is a folk ballad about John Henry, a legendary figure who was said to be able to out-work any man alive. The song tells the storyof how Henry died while working on a railway tunnel, and how his wife later gave birth to a baby with hammer in hand – symbolic of Henry’s great strength.

“Cocaine Habit Blues” (1929) by Yerba Buena Jazz Band
“Cocaine Habit Blues” is an early jazz song about addiction and its effects on those who use cocaine. The song warns against using cocaine, as it can lead to insanity, crime, and death.

What impact did the Anthology of American Folk Music have on the music industry?

The Anthology of American Folk Music was a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records. The music included on the Anthology was largely drawn from commercial recordings that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The Anthology was compiled by Harry Smith and distributed by Folkways Records.

The Anthology of American Folk Music had a significant impact on the music industry. The release of the Anthology led to a renewed interest in folk music, which had been largely overshadowed by popular genres such as jazz and swing in the years leading up to its release. The Anthology also helped to fuel the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, which saw a resurgence of interest in traditional folk styles.

What legacy does the Anthology of American Folk Music have today?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, edited by Harry Smith. The anthology’s 84 songs were recorded between 1927 and 1932 by 54 different artists and span the margins of what would become the more commonly recognized genres of country, blues, gospel, and ethnic and religious field recordings. Some of the artists featured on the albums—like Bukka White, Charlie Patton, Mississippi John Hurt—were famous within folk circles but relatively unknown outside them. The release of the Anthology brought them wider audiences.

Where can I find the Anthology of American Folk Music?

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a document that was compiled by folklorist Harry Smith. It contains a selection of 84 songs that were recorded between 1927 and 1932. The anthology was originally released in 1952 as a six-LP set and later reissued in 1997 as a three-CD set.