Two Words, One Answer.
Wildwood Flower
 Wildwood Flower $13.98 Recently I did a series of DVD reviews of legendary folklorist Pete Seeger's old television show "Rainbow Quest" in which, on one of the segments, June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash were featured. Here is part of what I had to say there: "In a year that has featured various 90th birthday celebrations it is very appropriate to review some of the 1960's television work of Pete Seeger, one of the premier folk anthologists, singers, transmitters of the tradition and "keeper" of the folk flame. This DVD is a "must see" for anyone who is interested in the history of the folk revival of the 1960's, the earnest, folksy style of Pete Seeger or the work of the also tradition-oriented , although that fact was previously unknown to me, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (she of the famous Carter Family tribe. How is that for traditional bloodlines?). This is not only a musical treat seeing the real subjects of the hit movie of a few years ago, "Walk The Line" that got me interested, at least somewhat, in Johnny Cash's music but filled with information about the Carter Family that I have been interested in for a long time. Pete, by the way, couldn't be more pleased in working with this pair and they regale us with some old Carter Family songs like "Worried Man Blues". " As a result of that experience I went back and reviewed the film "Walk The Line" and here is what I had to say, in part, there: "I am reviewing this nicely done commercial effort to delve into parts of the lives of the legendary singers Johnny Cash and his (eventual) wife June Carter Cash (of the famous mountain music Carter Family bloodlines. Her mother was the incredible vocalist and guitarist Maybelle Carter) in reverse order. Although I saw the this film for the first time when it was released in theaters (and have viewed it several times on DVD) several years ago I am reviewing now after having just seen the real Johnny Cash and June Carter on one of the segments of Pete Seeger's black and white television programs from the mid-1960s, "Rainbow Quest" where they appeared. And knocked me, and I think Pete, over with their renditions of Carter Family material and information about that clan. Okay, here is the skinny. If you want to get the glamorous, sexy romance and a fetching June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), the heartache and longing of pain in the butt Johnny Cash and the eventual joining together of two great musical talents story then this is the place to start. But, if you want the reason why this film was made in the first place, the legendary musical talent, warts and all, then watch them go through their paces along with old Pete Seeger. Both are worth the time. " Well, my friends, excuse this roundabout way to get to the CD under review but the points made above will stand for my thoughts on this last June Carter Cash CD. I can only add that when you listen to it you will feel the Appalachian mountain breeze, the sound from the hollows below but most of all you will hear the voice of Maybelle Carter come back to life in daughter June in 2002. And with the likes of Norman and Nancy Blake as backup where is there anything to find wrong with here? The tops here are two classic Carter Family songs, a soulful "Storms Are On The Ocean" and a cryptic (under the circumstance as she way dying at the time) "Will You Miss Me When I Gone?" with the whole gang, including Johnny joining in. Whoa, what a setoff!  Wildwood Flower and Other Banjo Classics $29.95 Are you finding the key of G too limiting? What do you do if someone calls for a song in C, or D, or E, or F? Learn to play out of C position and expand your horizons on the banjo. No Tab. Featuring Wildwood Flower. Also Uncloudy Day, Arkansas Traveler, Worried Man, more.  Wildwood Flower: Poems $16.95 I think you should seriously consider removing Publisher Weekly's review; this is a very good selection of poems. The poet's word choice seems so natural. The poems' sequence of words seem inevitable and the writing is beautiful and appears effortless. The themes are accessible but not cliched. These are not screeching confessional poems, nor do they contain the so-called words of the street ("f...", sh..." etc) It is becoming a cliche but the review by Publisher Weekly almost certainly stems from east coast bias. Highly recommend her poetry along with that of Betty Adcock and David Mason. Good poetry is being written in the U.S.; too bad that you have to read reviews by Fred Chappell to discover it. |
|
