Nimrod Workman Feature Episode

This week, Eli & guest host Nathan Salsburg do a special episode on the music and politics of Nimrod Workman- Kentucky coal miner, union organizer, song writer and ballad singer. They play a bunch of his songs and and spoken segments, and then in the last quarter of the show play tracks from some associated musicians. They also discuss the current situation in Kentucky coal mining, including the horrendous practice of mountain top removal mining. Nathan Salsburg hosts the internet radio show “Roothog or Die” on East Village Radio. He is the production manager at the Alan Lomax Archive.

Nimrod Workman Feature Episode

Irish American Music Part 2/2 – Urban

In the first half hour of this program we conclude our 2 part mini series on the music of Irish Americans. This time we cover the sentimental pop songs of the urban Irish Catholics. These escapist, romantic love songs of early Tin Pan Alley are associated with the era of the “Gay 90’s” (the 1890’s) through perhaps the 1930’s and are tied to the early cinema. These catchy tunes have permeated American musical culture and are at the beginings of our “pop” culture.

Then in the 2nd half of the program Eli will play a bunch of music unrelated to the first half, except in that its also stuff (like sentimental pop) that you won’t usually hear on DHR. Including some Fugs, Pluto and music from the far corners of the Earth.

Irish American Music Part 2/2 – Urban

Irish American Music Part 1/2 – Rural

This week ( in the 1st half hour) Henrietta, Eli and guest host Bob Malenky play examples of the music of early immigrants from Ireland and Scotland, Protestant farmers who settled in Appalachia, and discuss the social conditions that gave rise to this music. Then in the second part of the program Eli plays some tracks he likes, but without changing the genre too much. Tune in again next week for the 2nd half of the program, featuring 19th and early 20th century popular music from the Northern urban Irish Catholic factory workers who emigrated later.

Of special note in this program is the connection between the church singing of the appalachan Primitive Baptists, and the Presbyterian church singing from the the Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland. They’re the same! Except one’s in English and the other’s in Gaelic. That style of singing is absolutely at the foundation of old-time, bluegrass and some early country vocal style.

Irish American Music Part 1/2 – Rural

Links:

Of special note in this program is the connection between the church singing of the appalachan Primitive Baptists, and the Presbyterian church singing from the the Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland. They’re the same! Except one’s in English and the other’s in Gaelic. That style of singing is absolutely at the foundation of old-time, bluegrass and some early country vocal style.

Isle of Lewis Wikipedia Article

Gaelic Psalm Singing webpage – Has audio clips

The Free Church of Scotland – Get converted

 

Interview with Elijah Wald

This week, Henrietta and Eli talk with musician, author and world class hitch-hiker, Elijah Wald. They discuss his latest excellent book, the pro-hitch-hiking tract, “Riding with Strangers,” as well as his book on Mexican ballads of the drug trade, “Narcocorrido.” Elijah brought along one of Dave van Ronk’s old guitars, and plays live in the studio in many different guitar styles, and Eli plays some cuts from “Corridos y Narcocorridos,” the CD that Elijah produced to accompany his book.

Interview with Elijah Wald