#2114: Program #2114

New Sounds | May 24, 2010
America has a long tradition in folk and blues of songs that aren't just about death, they're TO death. Tonight, we'll have songs like the grim and gripping classic "Oh Death," sung by the legendary bluegrass singer Ralph Stanley, the formidable Mavis Staples {with fiddler Darol Anger}, and the electro-folk group The Horse Flies. Also, performances by Jorma Kaukonen, Rev Gary Davis, and a folk-fusion band named Grateful Dead.

PROGRAM # 2114 "Oh Death" - an American Tradition (First aired on Jan. 14, 2003)

ARTIST(S)

RECORDING

CUT(S)

SOURCE

The John Dowland Project (John Potter, John Surman, et. al.)

In Darkness Let Me Dwell

Come Heavy Sleep, excerpt [:30]

ECM #1697**
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

O Brother Where Art Thou?

Soundtrack

Ralph Stanley: Oh Death [3:30]

Mercury #088 170 069*
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

Jorma Kaukonen Trio

New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 9/19/02

Death Don't Have No Mercy [6:30]

This performance not available; check http://www.jormakaukonen.com/ for other performances of this work.

Darol Anger (with Mavis Staples, et. al.)

Heritage: New Interpretations of American Roots Music

Oh Death [4:30]

Six Degrees #314 524 434** www.sixdegreesrecords.com *

Charley Patton

King of the Delta Blues

Oh Death [2:30]

Yazoo #2001*
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

The Horse Flies

New Sounds Live, Merkin Hall, 3/17/91

Oh Death [3:00]

Not commercially available.

Rev. Gary Davis

Harlem Street Singer

Death Don't Have No Mercy [4:30]

Prestige/Bluesville #547*
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

Elliott Sharp

Yellowman

A Death [3:30]

Zoar #021. www.algonet.se/~repple/esharp/es.html

William Ackerman

It Takes A Year

The Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit [5:30]

Windham Hill #1003**
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

Grateful Dead

Two From The Vault

Death Don't Have No Mercy [8:00]

Grateful Dead Records #40162. www.dead.net *
OR
Available for purchase at Amazon.com*

The Horse Flies

Where The Rivers Flow North

Log Death [4:00]

Alcazar #119. Out of print.

Find the recordings you've heard - go to the New Sounds Recordings Information page

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Rahm Emanuel Says Israel’s Path Is “Not Sustainable Politically.” Plus, the Critic Richard Brody on “The Odyssey”

A likely Democratic presidential candidate says the U.S. must end unconditional support for Israel. Emanuel explains his proposal for Middle East peace, and his position on trans rights.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

Smoke-filled skies are new normal for NYC summers, experts warn

Climate change has caused wildfires in Canada to grow more frequent and more intense, which creates a viscous cycle as the blazes pump more carbon into the atmosphere.
Gothamist |

From Subpoenas to Cockroaches: Journalist Intimidation 101

Plus, a documentary about the eBay stalking scandal.
On the Media |

Join us for a live series on what it means to make New York more affordable

We’re holding community events across New York City, “In Conversation: The Affordability Series,” through the rest of the year to explore real solutions to issues affecting millions of New Yorkers.
Gothamist |
YOU ARE ONLINE