Erik Darling [Import]

Erik Darling [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
First time on CD, Japanese reissue for the folk artist best known for penning the classic 'Walk Right In', packaged in a miniature LP sleeve, features 14 tracks. NalyD. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

For lovers of mal canto, this is without equal........2004-11-11

"Homophone" was originally the name of a record label inaugurated in 1905, its first release being a disc by the Wagnerian tenor Ernest van Dyck. At this time Van Dyck was far past his prime, and Gregor Benko continues this tradition (that of "singers in decline") with his new incarnation of the Homophone name.

"The Muse Surmounted", Homophone's first offering, is an uproariously funny excursion into what I would label "mal canto". Each singer in this collection set her own substandard for vocal art, and each one is presented in transfers that allow the holes in one's technique to shine through. Brightly.

The disc opens with an "overture" of sorts, a "Carmen" potpourri by the original Homophone Orchestra. If you like your Bizet with slap-tongued baritone saxophones and your Toreadors to boast to a fox-trot beat, this one's for you.

Next in line is a certain Rosalina Mello, in a "fado portugues" that is rendered in a tone reminiscent of a cat in heat. She also approaches several high A's in this piece with a long-discarded vocal technique known as "portamentissimo". Better put Garfield outside before giving Mme. Mello a listen.

Next we encounter Alice Gerstl Duschak, a long-time teacher at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory. Benko's (excellent, I might add) program notes state that she was a teacher of Jessye Norman, and I might add that Gerstl Duschak's voice, as represented here, had no sideways.

The name Betty-Jo Schramm was hilarious enough for me - before hearing the track, I could picture her in pigtail and poodle skirt. According to Benko, she was a pioneer in the early-music movement, singing the music a half-tone lower than we normally hear it today. However, she failed to cue the orchestra in on her innovation.

Tryphosa Bates-Batcheller, another favorite of the producer, cut her precious few discs at the same Melotone studio where her more famous predecessor, Florence Foster Jenkins, sought to perpetuate her art. And what an art it is. She is represented with a Meyer-Helmund song and an American folk song. Edith Helena at 81 sang better than this.

My favorite - at least for now - is Natalia de Andrade, a rather interesting character, who imposes upon the role of Manon a rather distinctive tritone tremolo reminiscent of the dearly departed Mrs. Elva Miller. It takes a life of its own, creating a somewhat minimalist rhythmic shift and will cause you to reach for the tequila. Perhaps she already had.

Olive Middleton, beloved diva assoluta of the La Puma Opera Workshop, is represented with her beloved "Miserere" from "Trovatore" her alleged high C ringing rather clearly through the speakers.

A lovely surprise was the discovery of Norma-Jean Erdmann-Chadbourne, who is in fact the "Jenny Williams" of the Victor "Faust Travesty". If you thought her final trio from Faust (sung as a duet) with her partner "Thomas Burns" (actually Ellis Chadbourne, listed here as Thomas Garcia - he had to change his name a lot) was simply the living end of opera finales, just you wait until you hear their Tomb Scene from Aida.

A certain Sylvia Sawyer, who evidently actually filled in a few mezzo-soprano roles on some early-fifties opera LPs, offers an Aida excerpt (Amneris) that, although shows no gross lapses of pitch, taste, or intonation, is a precious textbook example of bland mediocrity combined with indifferent attention to the peculiars of Italian pronunciation. One wonders if the Capitol label thought to check the Yellow Pages under "mezzo-sopranos" when casting for this Aida album.

From the lamented Remington label comes the "Tosca from Hell", an infamous performance by Vassilka Petrova.

Madame Mari Lyn (although the program notes claim that she was a woman, and a widow to boot, I swear I think this person was a drag queen!) gives her special vocal rendition of "Una voce poco fa". [Later research on the part of this writer revealed that she was, in fact, a she. Mea culpa.]

The most disturbing performance on the disc is a 1980 performance by socialite and trophy-wife Sari Bunchuk Wontner, who gave staged performances of "Traviata" in her home - with full casts and orchestra. (One hell of a Tupperware party, don't you think?) Of course, art imitates life, and she was Violetta. Secretly taped from a live performance (presumably by a "former friend"), this first-act scene defies description. She is often several beats ahead of or behind the orchestra, she may be as much as a third off of the key in either direction, and the whole affair sounds as if she had a flask of Cuervo hidden behind each prop. A year after this performance, she fell overboard from her yacht. Perhaps she was rehearsing for a future Tosca.

Surely the best-known name included is that of Florence Foster Jenkins, arguably the most famous of the daffier divas. The track, a Cosme McMoon decomposition entitled "Valse Caressante", is not included in the Victor reissue of dear Flofojen's legendary Melotone discs; in fact it is not included in the Jenkins discography in the magazine "The Record Collector". This rather long affair seems to find the diva, the pianist, and the flautist all on a bad day, with the result being a performance that is cheaper than a home perm and twice as curly on your hair.

The last track is a recording of Jenkins' accompanist, Cosme McMoon, reminiscing about his musical life with our dear Flofojen. Benko also clears the air, after careful research, about the "Cosme McMoon was actually Edwin McArthur" rumor. Buy the CD to find the answer.

This is also a first-class prodution, with attention to quality in presentation. The program notes alone are worth the price of the CD. Benko has carefully researched these singers, often waiting years for leads to information. In fact, a picture of Natalia de Andrade arrived after the disc went to press, and it is posted on the Homophone website. Our poor Manon looks for all the world like trailer trash showing up for a Jerry Springer taping.

Another picture of interest to many will be the penultimate photo - a picture of Cosme McMoon, radiant in a 70s combover, flanked by ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER at the 1974 Mr. Universe Contest, during the time he had given up his music career and was managing a male bordello.

This will be The Party Album of the New Millenium. Buy it.

Feuding Banjos: Bluegrass Banjo of the Southern Mountains

Average customer rating:

Cool....Bizarre but Cool
Brassy, Bold & Backwoods..., the way Bluegrass should sound!

Feuding Banjos: Bluegrass Banjo of the Southern Mountains
Eric Weissberg w/ Marshall Brickman , Mason Williams , Mike Seeger , Erik Darling , Jim McQuinn , Billy Cheatwood , Art Podell , David Lindley , Dick Weissman , and Dick Rosmini
Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Best of Banjo Music
"Dueling Banjos" From The Original Soundtrack: Deliverance
Hand-Picked: 25 Years Of Bluegrass On Rounder Records
Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics
We'll Never Turn Back

ASIN: B000002NRF
Release Date: 1994-07-18

Tracks:

Feuding Banjos - Eric Weissberg/Marshall Brickman
Saturday Night Banjo - Mason Williams
Cripple Creek - Mike Seeger
Flop Eared Mule - Joe Maphis
Blue Grass Banjo - Erik Darling
Banjo Bach - Jim Mcquinn
Hundreds Of Miles - Billy Cheatwood
Mountain Stomp - Art Podell
Bluegrass Mountain Medley - David Lindley
Banjo Road - Dick Weissman
Mountain Breakdown - Dick Rosmini
Ramblin' Banjo - Jim McGuinn
Banjo Rhythms - Joe Maphis
Red Apple Juice - Dick Rosmini
Hooka Tooka - Jim Helms
Old Joe Clark - Dick Weissman
The Johnson Boys - David Lindley
Clinch Mountain Backstop - David Lindley

Customer Reviews:

Cool....Bizarre but Cool.......2003-02-28

Whoa, there's some pretty diverse stuff here. Some is 3 finger style, some is clawhammer, a little melodic style, and some...well, honestly, I don't know what the heck some of the stuff is. There's one track which makes your speakers sound like they're trashed.....what's up with that?....and what makes this CD "Southern"? Oh well, whatever. If you love banjo and want to broaden your horizons, this one is worth listening to.

Brassy, Bold & Backwoods..., the way Bluegrass should sound!.......1999-05-22

Supreme pickin, great flow and the back-wood, pure bluegrass banjo sound that true fans will enjoy!

Average customer rating:

sense memories of the Kossoy sisters
hauting, beautiful, arresting, this is the album for you
this album is back in print in a box set elsewhere on amazon
Primo old time music
For those disappointed with O Brother Where art Thou:

Bowling Green
The Kossoy Sisters & Erik Darling
Manufacturer: Tradition Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Revival | Folk | Styles | Music

Appalachian | North America | International | Styles | Music

Kathy & Carol
The Mayor of Macdougal Street: A Memoir
O Brother, Where Art Thou?

ASIN: B0000058RS
Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

Bowling Green
I Never Will Marry
I'll Fly Away
The Darby Ram
In The Pines
The Banks Of The Chio
The Wagoner's Lad
Poor Ellen Smith
Single Girl
What Will We Do With The Baby O
Down In A Willow Garden
Little Birdie
Willie Moore
Engine 143

Customer Reviews:

sense memories of the Kossoy sisters.......2006-09-12

My parents used to play this album (along with Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison & San Quentin Prison; Pete Seeger, We Shall Overcome; and the first four Simon & Garfunkel LPs) at their parties in the late 60s and very early 70s. My brothers and I used to go to sleep at night listening to these tunes. These wonderful harmonies and bloody stories are etched in my brain forever, I'm happy to say. I'm so glad to find them in CD, and also in this boxed set. Thanks so much for letting us know!

hauting, beautiful, arresting, this is the album for you.......2006-01-28

This is the most freshest sounding music I've heard in a long while. Music that breaks all boundaries is a hard find - but here you have it. A collection of traditional bluegrass and old time mountain songs performed by 2 wonderful girls - Irene and Ellen Kossoy. Recorded in 1956, the songs have stood the test of time because there is something different about them. This is not your basic folk. This is it's own thing. The raw emotion the sisters express moves me like no other, and maybe it will you too.

A great record for anyone serious about music. And there's a new one out too - 'Hop On Pretty Girls' (2002).

Buy this record.

this album is back in print in a box set elsewhere on amazon.......2005-11-25

this album is out of print by itself, but the good news is that it is now available as part of a low cost 3 CD box set, which is an even better value, because you get this album plus 2 more old great Tradition label bluegrass CD's all together for 19.98, search amazon music for 'Best of The Bluegrass Tradition' - how cool is that?

Primo old time music.......2005-06-17

The Kosssoy Sisters as everyone else reviewing got dropped mysteriously from the soundtrack of 'O brother', maybe the upshot is that folks will get their whole album and not be content w/ I'll fly away.

They were one of the the first neo-old time acts around, presumably influenced by Harry Smith's monumental Anthology of American Folk Music. So while they are not Appalaichian folks themselves, this album is surely one of the best interpreations. Their version of 'In the Pines' alone is worth the low sticker price.

Perfect harmonies, great instrumentation.

Thinkin bout gettin it? Do it!

For those disappointed with O Brother Where art Thou:.......2005-06-01

This is a sweet and uplifting album, despite some of its dark subject matter. The third track, "I'll Fly Away" was in the Coen's classic film "O Brother Where Art Thou." For inexplicable reasons, the Kossoy Sisters' version was not included on the OBWAT soundtrack. This is the only album that has it. The musicianship is excellent, featuring both guitar and banjo. The sisters have an angelic vocal presence. It is a refreshing change from the the fashionable shallowness found in so many contemporary albums.

Average customer rating:

Feuding Banjos: Bluegrass Banjo of the Southern Mountains
Eric Weissberg , Mason Williams , Jim McGuinn , David Lindley , Mike Seeger , and Erik Darling
Manufacturer: Collectables Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Bluegrass | Compilations | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Feuding Banjos - Marshall Brickman, Eric Weissberg
Saturday Night Banjo - Mason Williams
Cripple Creek - Mike Seeger
Flop Eared Mule - Joe Maphis
Blue Grass Banjo - Erik Darling
Banjo Bach
Hundreds of Miles - Billy Cheatwood
Mountain Stopm - Art Podell
Bluegrass Mountain Medley - David Lindley
Banjo Road - Dick Weissman
Mountain Breakdown - Dick Rosmini
Ramblin' Banjo
Banjo Rhythms - Joe Maphis
Red Apple Juic - Dick Rosmini
Hooka Tooka - Jim Helms
Old Joe Clark - Dick Weissman
Johnson Boys - David Lindley
Clinch Mountain Backstop - David Lindley

Average customer rating:

A Portent of Things To Come

Erik Darling
Erik Darling
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Revival | Folk | Styles | Music
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Child, Child
Sings Turkish, Spanish and Mexican Folk Songs
The Best Of Hootenanny
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Taking The Long Way

ASIN: B000BR6DCG
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Tracks:

Salty Dog
In the Evening
J.C. Holmes
Cumberland Mountain Bear Chase
Oh, What a Beautiful City
Pretty Polly
Paul and Silas
Hard Luck Blues
Banjo Medley
Aboline
Swannanoa Tunnel
Boll Weevil
Let Me Fly
Candy Man

Product Description

1. Salty Dog
2. In the Evening
3. J.C. Holmes
4. Cumberland Mountain Bear Chase
5. Oh, What a Beautiful City
6. Pretty Polly
7. Paul and Silas
8. Hard Luck Blues
9. Banjo Medley
10. Aboline
11. Swannanoa Tunnel
12. Boll Weevil
13. Let Me Fly
14. Candy Man

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

A Portent of Things To Come.......2006-03-23

Cognoscenti from the late 50's and early 60's know Erik Darling as one of the premier folksingers of the period, though he tended to stay in the background - as a group member (the Tarriers, the Weavers, the Rooftop Singers) and as a session musician on too many recordings to list. Originally released in 1958, shortly after he joined the Weavers, this disc is the first of a small number of solo outings. Although his next two - 'True Religion' and 'Train Time', both on Vanguard - are far superior, this one offers a fascinating look at a master in the making just before the mastery fully manifested itself. The sound quality isn't great, though -- the record sounds like it was made in a living room (which, for all I know, it was).

Particular highlights include 'Cumberland Mountain Bear Chase, 'Hard Luck Blues' and 'The Boll Weevil'. It's good to see this disc back in circulation. Now, when are we going to see re-releases of the two Vanguard records?

PS: The second voice heard on the last selection, 'Candy Man', is Erik's wife Joan, who moved from New York cabaret comedy to television, becoming the Emmy-winning director responsible for many of the medium's finest hours (and half hours).

Average customer rating:

Border Town at Midnight
Erik Darling & Border Town
Manufacturer: Folk Era Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Revival | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music
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Child, Child

ASIN: B00000182T
Release Date: 1994-10-31

Tracks:

Out On The Western Plains
All Kinds A Love Songs
Back To Love Again
The Queen Of Hearts
Santa Fe Express
Neon Spanish Graveyards
When A Woman Gets The Blues
Walk Right In
Sound Of The Railroad
Too Far Away To Kiss You
Sid's Special
C.C. Rider
Did The Poor Man Die
Border Town At Midnight

Average customer rating:

Erik Darling

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00016XMQ2
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Album Description

First time on CD, Japanese reissue for the folk artist best known for penning the classic 'Walk Right In', packaged in a miniature LP sleeve, features 14 tracks. NalyD. 2004.

Average customer rating:

Child - Child
Erik gets better with age!
Erik Darling at his best!!

Child, Child
Erik Darling
Manufacturer: Wind River
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

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Revival | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

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General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Border Town at Midnight
Erik Darling
The Tarriers

ASIN: B00004BYZQ
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Sunshine Baby
With A Fie Fie (Old Ben Johnson)
Jay Gould's Daughter
Child, Child
A Place In The Hills
Black Snake Shakies
Far Through The Memory Shines The Happy Hour
Walk Right In Blues
It Doesn't Matter At All If It Rains On Me
Gotton-Eyed Joe
Sail Away Odyssey
God Knows She Ain't No Angel
Tradewinds
The Banana Boat Song

Customer Reviews:

Child - Child.......2002-07-25

This CD is a long over due addition to my collection. Child Child is a haunting song that sneaks into the corners of your mind at odd moments. Like the best music or literature it gives more than just pleasure at the moment; it leaves you with ideas and melodys that come back to be examined again and again.

Erik's bluesy voice and instrumental mastery combine with his special perspective. An CD to play over and over again.

Erik gets better with age!.......2000-08-01

This is Erik's first "solo" album since the sixties. He was with the Tarriers, The Weavers, The Rooftop Singers, plus a couple of 1 album groups. He was one of the most influential performers in the early sixties - playing banjo on dozens of records, opening up new musical vistas on his solo recordings, bringing the 12-string guitar into the limelight - inspiring a mob of aspiring folk singer/players. This album is a lovely mix of old and new - old songs like "Sail Away Ladies", "Old Ben Johnson", "Jay Gould's Daughter, .." and some of Erik's own songs, "A Place in the Hills", "It Doesn't Matter at all..." and especially the title song, "Child, Child". Erik provides his own harmonies, plays both guitar and banjo - this is him through and through. All of his musical abilities blossom on this one - you'll listen to it over and over and find yourself humming the last one you listened to. A must for old Erik fans and great introduction for new ones.

Erik Darling at his best!!.......2000-07-15

Erik Darling is best known for his work in the '60's with the Tarriers (Banana Boat Song, the Weavers and the Rooftop Singers. However, his best and most creative work came out on a few solo albums (out of print) and a marvelous LP in the mid-to-late '70's called "The Possible Dream". All of the songs on that album were written and performed by Erik and Pat Street. It was something of a departure from his previous work - but, with a little listening, it became clear that Erik's creativity and ingenuity had flowered - virtually every song on that record is a masterpiece. Unfortunately it is also unavailable. "Child, Child" expands this trend, even though it is probably 25 years since "The Possible Dream". The songs are fun, clever, touching, profound, and just wonderful to listen to. Erik hasn't lost anything instrumentally either - his guitar work is simple, yet sophisticated and provides a full platform for his voice(s). About the only thing that would improve the CD would be one or two more songs with the banjo. Of the 14 numbers on the CD there are several brand new works, including the title song and my current favorite, "A Place in the Hills". There are some new arrangements of old favorites (Old Ben Johnson, Jay Gould's Daughter, Cotton-Eyed Joe, ..) and some older Erik Darling numbers (The Banana Boat Song, Walk Right In, and one from the "Possible Dream" - It Doesn't Matter at All If It Rains On Me") I confess to having been an Erik Darling fan for over 40 years. But if you like music with meaning, fun to listen to and masterful musicianship, you can't help loving this CD the more you hear it.

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