The Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records (catalogue FP 251, FP 252, and FP 253), edited by Harry Smith.

Introduction

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, devoted to American folk music. assembled by Harry Smith from his personal collection of 78 rpm records. The collection was issued in 1952 as three double-album sets; Volume 1 was subtitled “Ballads”, Volume 2 “Social Music”, and Volume 3 “Songs”.

In his original liner notes, Smith described it as “the perfect anthem for a democratic society,” and “a musical expression of the identity of a nation.” He went on to say that the Anthology could be seen as a product of the

The Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, edited by Harry Smith. The album is one of the most influential releases in the history of American folk music. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and is included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

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, edited by Harry Smith. The album is famous for its influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. It is considered one of the most influential releases in the history of recorded sound.

The history of the Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation release by Folkways Records, comprising eighty-four American folk, blues and country music recordings that were originally issued on 78 rpm records in the 1927–32 period. The music was released as a reaction to the then-popular commercialized Jazz and was meant to represent a more pure and authentic form of American music. The Anthology was compiled by Harry Smith and originally released in 1952. It is considered one of the most influential folk music collections ever released, having exerted a profound influence on the development of both the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s and the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

The influence of the Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records (catalogue FP 251, FP 252, and FP 253), edited by Harry Smith. It consists of eighty-four American folk, blues and country music recordings that were originally issued on seventy-seven 78-rpm records in the period 1927–1932. Because of its influence on the U.S. folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, it is considered one of the most important releases in the history of folk music.

In 1946, while working as a film sound editor at CBS in New York City, Harry Smith came into possession of a large collection of 78 RPM records from an acquaintance who was leaving the country. The collection mostly consisted of old – often commercially unavailable – recordings of American rural music from the 1920s and 1930s. Smith spent several years sorting and cataloguing his find, during which time he became increasingly interested in the cultural and historical significance of the music he was hearing.

In 1952, after several years of research, Smith compiled and edited 84 recordings onto six double-sided LP discs, which were released by Folkways Records under the title The Anthology of American Folk Music. The Anthology was massively influential on subsequent generations of musicians – both in the United States and elsewhere – many of whom credit it as an important source for their own work.

The music of the Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a compilation album of American folk music released in 1952 by Folkways Records. The Anthology was compiled by Harry Smith and released in three volumes. The music in the Anthology was originally recorded in the 1920s and 1930s by folklorists like John Lomax, Alan Lomax, and H.C. Speir.

The artists of the Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records (catalog FP 251, FP 252, and FP 253), assembled by historian Harry Smith. It is one of the most influential releases in the history of American folk music, and was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2002.

The Anthology was originally intended as a documentary of American folk music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries for use by academic researchers. However, its popularity led to its eventual commercial release, making it one of the most influential recordings in American music history. The songs on the Anthology were originally recorded between 1927 and 1932.

Many of the artists featured on the Anthology were previously unknown, and it brought them national attention. The Anthology has been credited with introducing many people to traditional American folk music, and has been cited as an influence by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Jerry Garcia, and other major figures in folk and popular music.

The songs of the Anthology of American Folk Music

The Anthology of American Folk Music is a six-album compilation released in 1952 by Folkways Records, conceived and edited by Harry Smith. The anthology was assembled from commercial recordings of folk, blues and country music originating mostly in the Southern United States during the 1920s and 1930s. These eighty-four recordings were originally issued on 78 rpm records. Many of the artists featured on the Anthology recorded only once or twice for a specific local music label and would otherwise have been lost to history if not for Smith’s efforts. The songs of the Anthology became a major part of the mid-20th century American folk music revival, influencing performers such as Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Odetta and The Weavers.

TheAnthologyofAmericanFolkMusicprovidedanenormousinfluenceonthemusicofthe20thcenturyandbeyond.ThevariedanduniquelyAmericanmusicalstylesfeaturedonthiscollectionwereexposedtomanyperformerswhowouldlatercometomakemusicstylesthattranscendeddenominations.WithouttheAnthologyofAmericanFolkMusic,theworldwouldhavebeendeprivedoftheinspirationforcountlessartisticmasterpieces.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Anthology of American Folk Music is an important work that has had a profound influence on American and international music. It is essential listening for anyone interested in folk, country, or popular music.