An instructional record with tutor, demonstrating folk-style guitar technique.

A Folkways (USA) Recording; recorded by Moses Ash;
Topic sleeve design by Gloria Leader

Liner notes (PDF) at Smithsonian Global Sound

Musicians

Pete Seeger: voice, guitar

Tracks

Side 1

1. Tuning Up (2.49)
2. The First Chord (1.59)
3. Two More Chords (2.02)
4. Use of the Capo (2.16)
5. Methods of Strumming (2.30)
6. Bass Runs (3.03)
7. Bass Countermelody (0.53)

Side 2

8. The “Church Lick” and “Hammering On” (2.21)
9. The Blues (3.38)
10. Two Finger Picking (2.14)
11. Other Tunings (3.49)
12. A Hint of Flamenco (1.54)
13. A Rumba Rhythm (1.47)
14. The Mexican Blues (2.18)

An instructional record with booklet demonstrating folk style banjo techniques.

A Folkways (USA) Recording; recorded by Moses Ash

Musicians

Pete Seeger: vocals, banjo

Tracks

Side 1

1. Tuning Up
2. A Basic Strum
3. The Fifth String
4. Hammering On
5. Pulling Off
6. Double Thumbing
7. Frailing
8. Clawhammer

Side 2

9. Loud Strum
10. Fast Melody
11. Tremolo
12. Roll
13. 3/4 and 6/8 Time
14. Blues and Jazz
15. Spanish and South American

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Alistair Banfield for the cover picture of 10T23.

© Recording 1950 by Folkways Records & Service Corp., New York;
Notes by Karl Dallas

Musicians

Pete Seeger: vocals, banjo

Tracks

Side 1

1. Penny’s Farm (Roud 6687)
2. John Riley (Roud 270; Laws M8; G/D 1:22; Henry H468)
3. Rissolty Rossolty (Roud 2792; TYG 1)

Side 2

4. The Jam on Gerry’s Rocks (Roud 256; Laws C1; G/D 2:230)
5. Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies (Roud 451)
6. Git Along Little Dogies (Roud 827)

Musicians

Pete Seeger: vocals, banjo [1-3, 5];
Sonny Terry [1, 4];
Bob de Cormier [3];
Jerry Silverman [1]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [JS, PS, ST] Mule Skinner Blues (Roud 3437)
2. [PS] Talking Union Blues

Side 2

3. [BdC, PS] Dark As a Dungeon (Roud 6392)
4. [ST] California Blues (Roud 11804)
5. [PS] Wimoweh

Track 1 Jimmie Rodgers, George Vaughan;
Track 2 Millard Lampell, Lee Hays, Pete Seeger;
Tracks 3, 4 Merle Travis;
Track 5 Paul Campbell, Solomon Linda

Recorded live at Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1980

Smithsonian Folkways liner notes

Musicians

Peter Seeger: vocals, guitar, recorder;
Louis Killen: vocals [13];
Audience chorus

Tracks

CD 1

1. Introduction (0.30)
2. John Henry (Roud 790; Laws I1) (3.51)
3. Introduction to song (0.52)
4. Go Tell Aunt Rhodie (Roud 3346) (2.26)
5. Lonesome Valley (Roud 7098) (3.55)
6. Amazing Grace (Roud 5430) (6.04)
7. Recorder Improvisation (2.05)
8. The Internationale (5.12)
9. Old Time Religion (Roud 6423) (3.11)
10. Introduction to song (0.29)
11. Down-a-Down (3.27)
12. Introduction to Louis Killen (2.03)
13. Rothesay-O (Roud 2142) (2.19)
14. Introduction to song (1.31)
15. The Old Settler’s Song (Roud 10032) (3.04)
16. Introduction to song (1.27)
17. Acres of Clams (2.24)
18. Abiyoyo (5.11)
19. Teaching Song (3.15)
20. Cristo Ya Nació (5.10)

CD 2

1. Sicilian Tarantella (1.36)
2. Introduction to song (4.36)
3. Homestead Strike Song (3.30)
4. Introduction to song (0.40)
5. The Young Woman Who Swallowed a Lie (3.54)
6. Introduction to song (2.42)
7. We Shall Not Be Moved (4.20)
8. Introduction to song (2.38)
9. Somagwaza (1.36)
10. Introduction to song (2.31)
11. Run Come See the Sun (1.42)
12. If I Had a Hammer (Hammer Song) (2.12)
13. Introduction to song (1.51)
14. The Water Is Wide (Roud 87; Child 204) (6.42)
15. Old Devil Time (2.53)
16. Hole in the Bucket (Roud 17845) (2.47)
17. Jacob’s Ladder (3.29)
18. Oh, What a Beautiful City (Twelve Gates to the City) (3.40)
19. Song Introduction (0.45)
20. Little Birdie (Roud 5742) (2.41)
21. Greensleeves (Roud V19581) (2.20)

Tracks

CD 1

1. Tommy Sands with Dolores Keane & Vedran Smailovic: Where Have All the Flowers Gone (6.24)
2. Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt: Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (4.44)
3. John Gorka: The Water Is Wide (Roud 87; Child 204) (4.29)
4. Richie Havens: Of Time and Rivers Flowing (2.29)
5. Ami DiFranco: My Name Is Lisa Kalvelage (4.51)
6. Bruce Cockburn: Turn, Turn, Turn (4.43)
7. Tish Hinojosa: Festival of Flowers (4.11)
8. Sweet Honey in the Rock: Step by Step (1.53)
9. Studs Terkel: Blessed Be the Nation (1.30)
10. Billy Bragg & Eliza Carthy: My Father’s Mansions (2.54)
11. Greg Brown: Sailing Down My Golden River (3.50)
12. Tony Trischka Band: Goofing Off Suite (6.26)
13. Kim & Reggie Harris with Magpie: Those Three Are on My Mind (3.28)
14. Cordelia’s Dad: How Can I Keep From Singing? (3.28)
15. Peter, Paul & Mary: All Mixed Up (3.55)
16. Ronnie Gilbert with Robin Flower & Libby McLaren: Empty Pocket Blues (2.40)
17. Tom Paxton: Get Up and Go (3.13)
18. John Stewart: Old Riley (3.29)
19. Nanci Griffith and Friends: If I Had a Hammer (2.47)
20. The Weavers: Wimoweh (1.55)

CD 2

21. Bruce Springsteen: We Shall Overcome (4.40)
22. Roger McGuinn: Bells of Rhymney (3.52)
23. Judy Collins: Oh Had I a Golden Thread (5.01)
24. Guy Davis: False from True (5.23)
25. Indigo Girls: Letter to Eve (6.33)
26. Dick Gaughan: Waist Deep in the Big Muddy (4.52)
27. Tim Robbins: All My Children of the Sun (3.56)
28. Martin Simpson: Living in the Country (3.23)
29. Odetta: One Grain of Sand (3.09)
30. Casey Neill: Old Father Hudson - Sailing Down Dirty Stream (5.01)
31. John Trudell: The Torn Flag (3.32)
32. Si Kahn with The Freighthoppers: Doublin (3.16)
33. Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: To Everyone in the World (2.27)
34. Tommy Makem: Over the Hills (2.33)
35. Anne Hills: I Come and Stand at Every Door (2.55)
36. Donovan: My Rainbow Race (3.11)
37. Holly Near: Quiet Early Morning (4.48)
38. Studs Terkel: Oh, Sacred World (0.20)
39. Pete Seeger: And Still I Am Searching (3.14)

All tracks Pete Seeger except
Track 1 Pete Seeger, Joe Hickerson;
Track 2 Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Pete Seeger, Huddie Ledbetter;
Track 3 trad. tune, last verse Pete Seeger;
Track 7 words Pete Seeger, music Chucho Mungo;
Track 8 unknown, music adapted by Waldemar Hille, Pete Seeger;
Track 9 Pete Seeger, Jim Musselman;
Track 13 words Frances Taylor, music Pete Seeger;
Track 14 trad. tune, last verse Doris Plenn;
Tracks 16, 19 Lee Hays, Pete Seeger;
Track 18 trad. tune;
Track 20 Solomon Linda, Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Pete Seeger;
Track 21 Zilphia Harton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Caravan, Peter Seeger;
Track 22 words Idris Davies, music Pete Seeger;
Track 31 words Pete Seeger, music Mark Shark, last verse John Trudell;
Tracks 32, 34 trad. tune, words Pete Seeger;
Track 35, Nazim Hikmet, Jeannette Turner, James Walters, Pete Seeger

Tracks

1. Jackson Browne and Joan Baez: Guantanamera (6.33)
2. Billy Bragg with Eliza Carthy: If I Had a Hammer (3.05)
3. John Wesley Harding and the Minus 5: Words, Words, Words (2.58)
4. Steve Earle: Walking Down Death Row (3.46)
5. Dar Williams and Toshi Reagon: Oh, Had I a Golden Thread (5.13)
6. Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger: 66 Highway Blues (2.18)
7. John McCutcheon and Corey Harris: Talking Union (4.59)
8. Moxy Früvous: Maple Syrup Time (3.33)
9. Eric Andersen: Snow, Snow (4.06)
10. Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Little Boxes (Petites Boîtes) (3.36)
11. Joel Rafael Band: Last Train to Nuremberg (4.17)
12. Guardabarranco: You’ll Sing to Me Too (3.06)
13. Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie: This Old Car (2.56)
14. Kim & Reggie Harris and Magpie: Old Devil Time (3.38)
15. Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer: The Emperor is Naked Today-O (2.48)
16. Larry Long and Pete Seeger: Well May the World Go (6.26)

All tracks Pete Seeger except
Track 1 Jose Fenandez Diaz, music adapt. Pete Seeger, Julian Borbon, lyrics adapt. Julian Borbon;
Track 2 Lee Hays, Pete Seeger;
Track 6 Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger;
Track 7 Lee Hays, Millard Lampell, Pete Seeger;
Track 10 Malvina Reynolds;
Track 16 lyrics and music adapt. Pete Seeger

Tracks

CD 1: Pete & Friends

1. Pete Seeger: Oh Sacred World (spoken) (0.20)
2. Pete Seeger with Billy Bragg, Ani DiFranco and Steve Earle: Bring Them Home (If You Love Your Uncle Sam) (3.44)
3. Pete Seeger with Tao Rodriguez-Seeger and Arlo Guthrie: Trouble at the Bottom (2.16)
4.  — : The Dove (5.57)
5.  — : English Is Cuh-Ray-Zee (3.06)
6. Pete Seeger with Tao Rodriguez-Seeger: A Little a’ This ’n’ That (2.20)
7.  — : Maple Syrup Time (3.56)
8. Pete Seeger: Odds on Favorite (1.48)
9.  — : Estadio Chile (2.29)
10. Pete Seeger with Anne Hills: Flowers of Peace (5.28)
11. Pete Seeger: Dr. King on Violence (spoken) (0.40)
12.  — : Take It From Dr. King (4.30)
13.  — : Sower of Seeds (5.59)
14. Pete Seeger with Anna Crusis Women’s Choir: Visions of Children (1.45)
15. Pete Seeger: Over the Rainbow (3.44)
16.  — : Sailing Down My Golden River (3.52)

CD 2: Friends of Pete

17. Pete Seeger: A Lucky Musician (0.24)
18. Pat Humphries: Old Devil Time (3.20)
19. John McCutcheon: Mrs. Clara Sullivan’s Letter (4.48)
20. Janis Ian: Who Killed Norma Jean (3.20)
21. Tony Trischka & Jennifer Kimball: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (2.29)
22. Dick Gaughan: Bells of Rhymney (5.47)
23. Martin Simpson & Jessica Radcliffe: Turn! Turn! Turn! (4.39)
24. Michele Greene: From Way Up Here (3.06)
25. Tom Paxton: Times A-Getting Hard, Boy (2.55)
26. Carolyn Hester: One Man’s Hands (2.28)
27. Magpie (3): Sacco’s Letter to His Son (4.12)
28. Peggy Seeger: Spider’s Web (Natural History) (2.25)
29. Herdman, Hills & Mangsen: River of My People (2.21)
30. Last Forever: When I Was Most Beautiful (2.36)
31. Magpie With Kim & Reggie Harris: Tomorrow Is A Highway (3.54)
32. Natalie Merchant: Which Side Are You On (5.05)
33. Holly Near & Ronnie Gilbert: Precious Friend (3.24)
34. Pat Humphries: To My Old Brown Earth (4.59)
35. Pete Seeger: 50/50 Chance (spoken) (0.26)

All tracks written by Pete Seeger except
Track 4 Waldemar Hille, David Atkin;
Track 5 Richard Lederer, Josh White Jr.;
Track 8 E.J. Harburg, Pete Seeger;
Track 9 Victor Jara, Pete Seeger;
Tracks 10, 29 words Pete Seeger, music trad.;
Track 13 music and Guinean lyrics Keita Fodeba, English lyrics John Guth, Susan Osborn;
Track 14 words Pete Seeger, music Ludwig van Beethoven;
Track 15 Harold Arlen, E.J. Harburg;
Track 19 Malvina Reynolds, Pete Seeger;
Track 20 Norman Rosten, Pete Seeger;
Track 21 English lyrics Pete Seeger, music Johann Sebastian Bach;
Track 22 Idris Davies, Pete Seeger;
Track 24 Malvina Reynolds, Pete Seeger, Peter Tchaikovsky;
Tracks 25, 31 Lee Hays, Pete Seeger;
Track 26 Alex Comfort, Pete Seeger;
Track 27 Nicolo Sacco, Pete Seeger;
Track 28 E.B. White, Pete Seeger;
Track 30 Noriki Ibaragi, Pete Seeger;
Track 32 Florence Reece

The legendary American Folk singer’s career had been seriously knocked off course by the McCarthy witch-hunts into Unamerican Activities in the USA affecting artists believed to be communists. At one stage Seeger was facing a ten year prison sentence, but he managed to visit the UK in 1958. The concert was recorded and issued by the Folklore label which emanated out of the Dobell’s record shop on Charing Cross road in West London. In 1964 he was back again and at one concert, at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, he was recorded again.

Both concerts on this double CD are typical Seeger material of that time. He talks about his friends Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie and champions new songwriters like Tom Paxton and Malvina Reynolds. The concerts also give a wonderful insight to how Seeger worked an audience and had them eating out of his hand. His ability to engage the audience is an object lesson for young performers. The Folklore LPs had limited circulation and the Manchester concert has never been heard before. The booklet comes with an informative essay about Pete Seeger by Joe Stead.

CD 1 recorded by John R.T. Davies at a Ballads and Blues concert at St. Pancras Town Hall Theatre on 4 October 1959, and released by Folklore Records in 1963 on two LPs,
Pete Seeger in Concert (Folklore Records F-LAUT/1, 1963)
Pete Seeger in Concert Vol. 2 (Folklore Records F/LAUT/1, 1963);
CD 2 recorded by Tony Adkins at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall in February 1964

Musician

Pete Seeger: vocals, banjo, 12-string guitar, chalil (Middle Eastern flute)

Tracks

CD 1: St Pancras Town Hall, London

1. Intro (0.43)
2. East Virginia (Roud 3396) (2.46)
3. Deep Blue Sea (Roud 3119) (5.13)
4. I Knew Leadbelly (3.36)
5. El Dia De Tu Santo (3.36)
6. Cumberland Bear Hunt (4.29)
7. Pretty Polly (Roud 15; Laws P36B) (3.07)
8. He Lies in the American Land (2.00)
9. One Big Fat Hen (2.56)
10. Leather Britches / Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (2.14)
11. Suliram (2.47)
12. The Bells of Rhymney (5.26)
13. John Riley (Roud 270; Laws M8; G/D 1:22; Henry H468) (3.32)
14. Go Tell Aunt Rhodie (Roud 3346) (2.06)
15. I Am a Union Woman / Fare Y’ Well Old Ely Branch (0.57)
16. Which Side Are You On? (3.25)
17. The Scaler (1.29)
18. Talking Union (3.31)
19. The Water Is Wide (Roud 87; Child 204) (3.40)
20. Bayeza (2.51)
21. Abi-Yo-Yo (5.23)
22. I Never Will Marry (Roud 466; Laws K17; G/D 6:1244) (2.54)
23. She Moves Through the Fair (Roud 861; Henry H141) (1.41)
24. How Beautiful Are the Nights in Israel (1183)
25. Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream (3.48)

CD 2: Free Trade Hall, Manchester

26. Old Joe Clark (Roud 3594) (1.50)
27. The House Carpenter (Roud 14; Child 243; G/D 2:332) (4.23)
28. Medley: The Colorado Trail / Spanish Is a Loving Tongue / From Here on Up / Texas Gal / We Pity Our Bossed Five / The Scabs Crawl In / Open the Door Softly / The Rood to Athay / Why Do Scotsmen? / Hold Up Your Petticoat / Seek and You Shall Find / Step By Step (9.16)
29. Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (2.34)
30. What Did You Learn in School Today? (4.25)
31. Little Boxes (2.08)
32. Intro (0.44)
33. If You Miss Me at the Back of the Bus (2.33)
34. Intro (1.37)
35. Pastures of Plenty (2.40)
36. The Sinking of the “Reuben James” (Roud 17624) (2.54)
37. Intro (0.50)
38. Mail Myself to You (1.00)
39. The Frog and the Mouse (Roud 16; G/D 8:1669) (9.20)
40. Shanties: Shenandoah (Roud 324) / Louisiana (4.23)
41. Little Birdie (Roud 5259) (2.22)
42. Intro (0.51)
43. Guantanamera (7.05)
44. A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall (5.57)
45. We Shall Overcome (6.28)

All tracks trad. arr. Pete Seeger except
Track 8 poem Andrew Kovaly, music Pete Seeger;
Track 12 Idris Davies;
Tracks 15ab Aunt Molly Jackson;
Track 16 Florence Reece / trad.;
Track 17 Russ Farrell / trad.;
Track 18 Pete Seeger, Millard Lampell, Lee Hays;
Track 21 Pete Seeger / trad.;
Track 25 Ed McCurdy;
Track 28b Charles Badger Clark;
Track 28l Waldemar Hille, Pete Seeger;
Track 29 Pete Seeger;
Track 30 Tom Paxton;
Track 31 Malvina Reynolds;
Track 33 Charles Neblett;
Tracks 35-36, 38 Woody Guthrie;
Track 43 José Fernández Diaz, Julian Orbón, José Martí;
Track 44 Bob Dylan