Swanee: The Music of Stephen Foster

Swanee: The Music of Stephen Foster

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Joe Weed's diverse talents keep him much in demand as a performer, recording artists and producer of acoustic music in both the US and Europe. His recordings include the award-winning Waltz of the Whippoorwill, American Portrait, Prairie Lullaby, Prairie Christmas and the brand new album of California surf music performed by bluegrass masters The Vultures. Joe has written and recorded for movie soundtracks and is the author of two books for violin. He lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Califorina with his wife Marti Kendall and their two children

Product Description
Talented producer and musician Joe Weed has assembled an all star class of acoustic musicians to perform the music of America's great 19th century songwriter Stephen Foster.

Tracks:

Oh, Susanna
Glendy Burk
Old Black Joe
Farewell, My Lilly Dear
Camptown Races
Gentle Annie
Little Annie
Angelina Baker (vocal)
Angelina Baker (instrumental)
My Old Kentucky Home
Old Folks
Nelly Bly
Hard Times, Come Again No More
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair
Nelly Was a Lady
Beautiful Dreamer

Album Description

Talented producer and musician Joe Weed has assembled an all star class of acoustic musicians to perform the music of America's great 19th century songwriter Stephen Foster.

Album Description

Talented producer and musician Joe Weed has assembled an all star cast of acoustic musicians to perform the music of America's great 19th century songwriter Stephen Foster. Featured musicians on this recording are: Norton Buffalo, Todd Phillips, Laurie. Gourd Music.2004

Customer Reviews:

Timeless songs fairly well interpreted.......2007-01-10

Given that Foster's original lyrics would often be found offensive today, the performers on this recording took broad license to change them. It mostly works. The arrangements are clean and skillful but I wouldn't call them inspired or brilliant. The great thing about this recording is its appeal to multiple generations. The songs are familiar to me and my 80 year old parents and my 5 year old won't stop playing it.

great stuff........2006-12-26

i have a half-dozen discs of stephen foster songs, and this is by far the most enjoyable. these are modern acoustic versions that breathe new life into these old, old songs. I am glad this is not just another recital of his songs where an attempt is made to be true to the sound of the 19th century. that has been done and done and done to death. the modern folk form employeed here makes these songs fresh again. all throughout this is a beautiful cd. one of the cds i have listened to more often and with more enjoyment than 98% of the other cds i've heard in the last 5 years.

Hard to decide between 4 and 5 stars..........2006-10-06

Two years after I bought it, this CD sees a lot of time in my player, and the liner notes alone are worth the price.

I bought it in Bardstown Kentucky at My Old Kentucky Home State Park.

Foster's music lends itself to these interpretations, and these arrangements are quite well done, the three earlier reviews (the 2 from "a music fan" and the one who decried the anchronistic arrangements) notwithstanding.

In many respects, this is a better CD than 2004's "Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster."

I heartily recommend it.

Wonderful Foster music.......2004-10-15

This CD brings back all the childhood memories that Foster's music invokes. It made me want to get up and dance when I listened to "Oh, Susanna" and "Camptown Races" and I felt the need to sing along with "Old Folks at Home." The artistry is as superb as we have come to expect from Joe Weed. I love this CD and enjoyed the historical information that is included.

The Measure of a Songwriter..........2003-03-07

...is how well his songs outlast their original era and context. That Stephen Foster was probably America's first important songwriter is inarguable. Yet it would be a mistake to _leave_ his songs there. This CD, to my mind, proves that his compositions have staying power. Bluegrass/folk treatments are a natural medium for Foster's songs, and the performances here are assured and approachable. Forget about "anachronism" as another reviewer put it. It would do Stephen Foster even more injustice to abandon his songs to the style of light opera or "parlor" music. They're better than that, and this disc proves it.

Average customer rating:

And God bless Ferrante and Teicher

America Forever

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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Ferrante & Teicher - All-Time Greatest Hits
Christmas Is So Special
Film Classics
The Ferrante & Teicher Collection
All Time Great Movie Themes

ASIN: B00005UNBC
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

America's Patriotic Marches
Semper Fidelis
George M. Cohan's Tribute To America
Rhapsody In Blue
The Stars And Stripes Forever
West Side Story Overture
American Musical Portraits By Stephen Foster
When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Customer Reviews:

And God bless Ferrante and Teicher.......2002-03-19

As some of you know, I am a Ferrante and Teicher fan from way back. When I read their dedication on this disc, I was really impressed. I dont know which one is officially retired, but the fact that he came out of retirement to help put this disc together was great... and the disc is A-1! During the Bicentennial year(1976) I had a vinyl disc, Spirit of 176, which
much of the music from this disc is from. Some of the musical effects are quite interesting, and my mother really loves the disc. I am so pleased that they released it. A real keeper!

Average customer rating:

not to great
Not so bad, 100 tunes for 4$
You get what you pay for.
Now I know why there were no song samples to listen to ...

100 Favorite Patriotic Songs

Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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United We Stand: Songs for America
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs
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Patriotic Country

ASIN: B0000A1HT8
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

America the Beautiful
All Quiet on the Potomac Tonight
Ballad of the Green Berets
On Top of Old Smokey
Coyote Warrior
Semper Fidelis
Breeze from Alabama
Onward Christian Soldiers
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Patriot
Sweet Betsy from Pike
Marines' Hymn
America Is
When Johnny Comes Marchin' Home
Happy the Soldier
American Trilogy
Home Sweet Home
Washington Post March
Enraptured I Gaze
Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair
Yellow Rose of Texas
Over There
Simple Gifts
Liberty Bell
Star Spangled Banner

Tracks:

God Bless the USA
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Katy Cruel
I Vow to Thee My Country
King Cotton
Beautiful Dreamer
America
American Patrol
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Beauty
Mohican Dream
Red, White and Blue
Some Folks
Liberty Song
Pomp and Circumstance
Hail to the Chief
Bennington Rifles
Peace on the Battlefield
I've Been Working on the Railroad
Under the Double Eagle
Red River Valley
My Country 'Tis of Thee
Camptown Races
Wild Blue Yonder
Hands Across the Sea
Fanfare for the Common Man

Tracks:

Stars and Stripes Forever
Living in America
Home on the Range
Old Colony Times
Clementine
Invincible Eagle
Ring Ring de Banjo
Yankee Doodle
Largo from "The New World"
To a Wild Rose
Hail Columbia
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Gettysburg
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Capitan
Prairie Daughter
Little Brown Jug
Marching Through Georgia
Entertainer
Steamboat Around the Bend
Revolutionary Tea
Cassions Keep Rollin' Along
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
Amazing Grace
Grand Old Flag

Tracks:

God Bless America
National Emblem
Soldier, Soldier Won't You Marry Me
Anchors Away
Oh, Susannah
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
Toast
Dixie
St. Louis Blues
Appalachian Spring
Bonnie Blue Flag
Old Hundreth
Swanee River
Battle Cry of Freedom
U. S Field Artillery
Sidewalks of New York
Chester
Auld Lang Syne
Kingdom Come
My Old Kentucky Home
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Shenandoah
Abraham's Daughter
This Land Is Your Land

Customer Reviews:

not to great.......2007-04-04

We were disappointed with this CD, but for the price I guess we can't expect much. I didn't care for the new style presentation of the songs. I like a more traditional rendering.

Not so bad, 100 tunes for 4$.......2005-06-22

I red the comments of two other people who have bought this 4 CD BOX SET and it is not really so bad. I will even add that there are some excellent tunes. However, I must agree with the fact that few tunes seem to have been recorded 40 or 50 years ago, mainly when you hear the scratches of an old turntable but it is just 2 or 3 tunes. Furthermore, if you do not know American music, it is a good BOX SET to buy if you consider that you received 4 CD for 4$ including 100 tunes. On these 4 CD, I have heard some orchestration that I have never heard before and I consider that they are different but interesting. Any way, after hearing these 100 tunes, you will say to yourself that you like this tune, this other tune, this other tune and so on and you will be able to buy a more expensive CD with the tunes that you like. However, I have bought many CDs in the last few weeks and as you know, there are always some tunes that you like and some tunes that you do not like on every CD that you will buy. So, don't buy it at 25$ but at 4 or 5$ dollars, it is a very good choice for 100 tunes.

You get what you pay for........2004-07-04

You get what you pay for. The singers put their own spin on the singing of each song. If you didn't hear the words you would not recognize some of them. Even some of the music sounds like a bad recording of music played on a turntable. Definitely not worth the price.

Now I know why there were no song samples to listen to ..........2004-07-04

I wish this review had been here when I was thinking of purchasing it. I guess you get what you pay for. If you are thinking of buying this, you are better off recording your own CDs (or at least buying one that you can listen to a sampling of the songs). This album includes songs that were mere recordings of the songs playing on an old record player. It's almost so unbelievable that it is funny.

A Lonesome Road - Paul Robeson sings spirituals and songs

Average customer rating:

Robeson at his best

A Lonesome Road - Paul Robeson sings spirituals and songs

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Green Pastures
Paul Robeson Live at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B000001HFH
Release Date: 1994-04-20

Tracks:

Ol' Man River
My Curly Headed Baby
Water Boy
I'm Goin' To Tell God All O' My Troubles
Oh! Didn't It Rain
Little Pal
There's No Hiding Place
Poor Old Joe
Scandalize My Name
Ezekiel Saw The Wheel
Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
Just Keepin' On
Mah Lindy Lou
Steal Away
Mighty Lak' A Rose
Deep River
Hear The Lambs A-Cryin'
Get On Board, Little Children
Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)
Witness
Oh! Rock Me, Julie
Li'L Gal
I Got A Home In That Rock
Lonesome Road

Customer Reviews:

Robeson at his best.......2001-03-24

This album consists of recordings Paul Robeson made in Britain durong the 1920s. He is accompanied by the great pianist Lawrence Brown or by a small orchestra led by Ray Noble. The songs on this disc are spirituals or pop songs of the era, and Robeson shines on every one of them. Robeson has an uncanny ability to make any song his own property, and this is especially true on his version of "Little Pal" - originally a saccharine semi-racist ballad written for Al Jolson. Robeson turns the song into a searing lament of an estranged father, and makes the song valid even today with his urgent, committed delivery. The majority of the songs on the cd are spirituals, and Robeson's versions are definitive in every sense of the word. All in all, there isn't a bad track here, and as an introduction to Robeson's work the record is priceless. The only aspect worth criticizing is the fact that the liner notes seem to shy away from the fact that Robeson was the first important black artist to actively fight for civil rights. The music here, however, is extremely beautiful.

Average customer rating:

Dame Clara Butt: Abide with me

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004RDZI
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Witness: Skyward My People Rose - Music of William Grant Still

Average customer rating:

A Great American Composer

Witness: Skyward My People Rose - Music of William Grant Still
Stephen Foster , William Grant Still , Philip Brunelle , Hilda Harris , VocalEssence Ensemble String Orchestra , VocalEssence Orchestra , Yolanda Williams , and Vocal Essence
Manufacturer: Clarion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0001FVEQ8
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Wailing Woman
Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)
And They Lynched Him on a Tree
Miss Sallys Party
Elegy for Organ

Album Description

William Grant Still's music for chorus, orchestra and organ brings the blues into the concert hall, ragtime to the ballet stage and the Old World into a new era.

Customer Reviews:

A Great American Composer.......2004-05-31

Though William Grant Still (1895-1978) was of a mixed lineage - Irish, Native American, Hispanic and African American - his country defined him as "black." Sometimes Still embraced the definition, sometimes chaffed under it; e.g.when called "the Dean of Afro-American Music" he is said to have responded "Why, then, isn't Aaron Copeland called the 'Dean of White Composers'?"

He never disclaimed his African ancestry, but he also longed to fuse the many elements that were part of his -and our - national heritage, to be a truly American composer. This CD provides an excellent representation of this goal, with works ranging from a setting of "Swanee River" (which began life as a black folk song, was converted to a minstrel tune by Stephen Foster, then found it's way back into the folk tradition) to a ballet which concludes with a "cake walk," a round dance from plantation days.

For over 10 years, The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Chorus (conducted by Philip Brunelle) has presented an enduring series of concerts showcasing the talents of trailblazing African American composers. Now this wealth of music is available outside the concert hall through a series of recordings called WITNESS.

The other three CDs are available as single titles, or in the boxed set THE WITNESS COLLECTION which includes: