For this New Sounds, listen to an hour of music about steel drivin’ man John Henry, and specifically music about his hammer, both an emblem of oppression and the pride of the working class. Hear variations on this theme from Mississippi John Hurt, Our Native Daughters, Julia Wolfe, Odetta, Last Forever, Sam Amidon, and more.

Listen to a 1928 version of “Spike Driver Blues” by Mississippi John Hurt. Then, hear a version from Vermont-born folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Sam Amidon, as well as an arrangement by chamber folksters Last Forever. Also, from folk singer and banjo player Frank Fairfield, listen to his “weird old Americana” version of “Nine Pound Hammer,” about the emblematic tool. Then, listen as the hammer reappears in a song from Odetta, usually attributed to Leadbelly, “Take This Hammer.”

Then hear a later version by Mississippi John Hurt of “Spike Driver Blues,” which mentions his wife, Polly Ann (or Paulie Ann as in the Johnny Cash version.) There’s music from the collaborative record by the banjo-wielding supergroup, Our Native Daughters, who are Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla. These musicians have a different take on the legend of John Henry, specifically his “woman,” Polly Ann, and with an original song, tell of how she did the work “like a man.” Plus, there’s another piece involving Polly Ann, with all of her various names, from Julia Wolfe’s long-form work, Steel Hammer.

Then zoom back out to hear the general tale of John Henry, that classic man-versus-machine tune in a version from Cecile McLorin Salvant to bring it all home. And more.  - Caryn Havlik

Program #4360, John Henry's Hammer (First aired 4/29/2020)

ARTIST: Johnny Cash
WORK:  The Legend of John Henry's Hammer [1:00]
RECORDING: Blood, Sweat, and Tears (1963)
SOURCE: Legacy Recordings / Sony
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, AppleMusic, and Spotify

ARTIST: Sam Amidon
WORK:  Spike Driver Blues [4:26]
RECORDING: Fatal Flower Garden (A Tribute To Harry Smith)
SOURCE: Nonesuch Records
INFO: samamidon.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Mississippi John Hurt
WORK:  Spike Driver Blues (1928) [3:12]
RECORDING: Spike Driver Blues - The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings
SOURCE: Soul Jam Records
INFO: discogs.com

ARTIST: Frank Fairfield
WORK: Nine Pound Hammer [5:09]
RECORDING: Frank Fairfield
SOURCE/INFO: frankfairfield.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Odetta
WORK: Take This Hammer [3:47]
RECORDING: The Essential Odetta
SOURCE: Vanguard
INFO: Out of print, try Amazon

ARTIST: Odetta
WORK: Take This Hammer [3:47]
RECORDING: The Essential Odetta

SOURCE: Vanguard
INFO: Out of print, try Amazon

ARTIST: Last Forever
WORK: Louis Collins / Spike Driver Blues [3:49]
RECORDING: Trainfare Home
SOURCE: Nonesuch Records / Reissued Storysound Records 
INFO: storysoundrecords.com

ARTIST: Mississippi John Hurt
WORK: Spike Driver Blues [3:23]
RECORDING: Vanguard Visionaries (1965)
SOURCE: Vanguard
INFO: Try Amazon

ARTIST: Our Native Daughters
WORK: Polly Ann's Hammer [3:00]
RECORDING: Songs of Our Native Daughters
SOURCE: Smithsonian Folkways SFW40232
INFO: folkways.si.edu

ARTIST: Bang on a Can All-Stars / Trio Mediaeval
WORK: Julia Wolfe:  Steel Hammer - Polly Ann [6:44]
RECORDING: Julia Wolfe:  Steel Hammer
SOURCE: Cantaloupe 
INFO: cantaloupemusic.com

ARTIST: John Fahey
WORK: Nine Pound Hammer [1:59]
RECORDING: The Voice Of The Turtle
SOURCE: Takoma TAKCD-6501 (C-1019)
INFO: Try Amazon.com 

ARTIST: Cécile McLorin Salvant
WORK: John Henry [5:14]
RECORDING:  WomanChild
SOURCE: Mack Avenue 1072
INFO: https://www.mackavenue.com/store/mac1072

ARTIST: Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band 
WORK: Spike Driver Blues [1:24]
RECORDING: Almost Acoustic
SOURCE: Jerry Garcia Family / Round Records
INFO: Try Amazon.com