Search - Dave Van Ronk :: Dave Van Ronk: The Folkways Years, 1959-1961

Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk: The Folkways Years, 1959-1961
Genres: Blues, Folk, International Music, Jazz, Pop

Track Listings (20) - Disc #1
1. Duncan and Brady
2. Hesitation Blues - Dave Van Ronk, Davis, Gary [1]
3. In the Pines
4. Willie the Weeper - Dave Van Ronk, Bloom, Marty
5. Twelve Gates to the City
6. River Come Down
7. Careless Love - Dave Van Ronk, Handy, W.C.
8. Betty and Dupree - Dave Van Ronk, McGhee, Brownie
9. Bed Bug Blues
10. Leave Her Johnny
11. Yas-Yas-Yas - Dave Van Ronk, Traditional
12. Please See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
13. Winin' Boy
14. Just a Closer Walk With Thee - Dave Van Ronk, Traditional
15. Gambler's Blues - Dave Van Ronk, Traditional
16. Spike Driver's Moan
17. Georgie on the Irt
18. Come Back Baby - Dave Van Ronk, Davis, Walter [1]
19. Black Mountain Blues
20. My Baby's So Sweet

CD Details

All Artists: Dave Van Ronk
Title: Dave Van Ronk: The Folkways Years, 1959-1961
Members Wishing: 10
Total Copies: 0
Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Original Release Date: 8/28/1991
Re-Release Date: 7/13/1992
Genres: Blues, Folk, International Music, Jazz, Pop
Styles: Contemporary Blues, Traditional Blues, Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk, Traditional Jazz & Ragtime, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 093074004128, 093074004142

Synopsis

Album Description

Rough, gritty folk guitarist and singer, Van Ronk is one of the genre's most expressive musicians. These 20 tracks represent Van Ronk's best loved material and reveal his original synthesis of jazz and folk. Titles include Willie the Weeper, Come Back Baby, and Yas, Yas, Yas. Van Ronk's handpicked favorites from his Folkways LP's. Compiled and annotated by Kip Lornell and Dave Van Ronk. "...his carefully crafted guitar accompaniments are varied, inventive, and often surprisingly delicate. The reasons for Van Ronk's impact remain loud and clear." -- Sing Out

CD Reviews

For the Folk Purist

K. Carlson | Bloomington, MN USA | 11/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My first exposure to Dave Van Ronk, although I've known his name for years. Definitely a winner for those interested in roots folk/blues. Fabulous unique and creative guitar rhythms blend perfectly with Van Ronk's rough voice. Mostly obscure songs from the early 1900s learned from friends and off the street - a plus for me. The album includes a sheet of comments about the songs.
My favorite: "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", the old spiritual done as never before."

Preserved on CD, for better or for worse

Thomas B. Gross | Winchester, MA USA | 09/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I listened to Dave Van Ronk's old Folkways records a LOT growing up - most of these songs I have not heard in years. There are enough good songs to make this CD worth owning ("River Come Down" is a particular favorite of mine). My 12-year-old enjoys the same songs I enjoyed at his age: "Yas-Yas-Yas", "Willie the Weeper". A number of the old folk tunes sound so amateurish to me now they are painfully embarassing to listen to: "Saint James Infirmary" for example is just awful. Nevertheless this is a good collection and a good example of a genre that was extremely popular during the Folk Revival of early 60s."

The Mayor of MacDougal Street Speaks For Himself In Song

D. Reinstein | Fairfax, CA USA | 01/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I admit it. I LOVE Dave Van Ronk's music.... his styling, playing and singing .... I even like what I know about him from the book about him mentioned in the title of this review. I associate him and his music with my own coming-of-age in the early 60's. His music was gritty, tuneful and 'real' in a way that sharply contrasted the neatly produced works of such contemporaries as Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez and The Kingston Trio. His sound spoke to the way I wanted to see myself - and today, at 60, I still listen to it quite a bit and enjoy playing my own renditions of these tunes on both the 6 and 12 string guitar. A necessary addition to any folk music collection!"