#2292: New Versions of Old Folk Songs

New Sounds | May 24, 2010

The English folk song Scarborough Fair dates back to late medieval times, when the seaside resort of Scarborough was an important venue for tradesmen from all over England. Scarborough Fair was actually a huge forty-five day trading event, starting around August fifteenth, which was exceptionally long for a fair in those days. Now that there's a sense of place and time, on this episode of New Sounds, you'll hear many new versions of old folk songs like Scarborough Fair, including the ambient arrangement of that tune by the British musician/composer/producer Tom Green, a.k.a. Another Fine Day. Also, bassist-leader Marc Johnson, along with drummer Peter Erskine and celebrated guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield take on the folk ballad "Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair," a tune probably from the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Plus Nora York’s riveting interpretation of one of the most famous of Irish folk songs “She Moved Through The Fair,” and more.

PROGRAM #2292 New versions of old folk songs (First aired Thurs. 6/3/2004)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
Simon & Garfunkel	Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme	Scarborough Fair, excerpt [1:00]	Columbia /Legacy #66001** www.columbiarecords.com*
Another Fine Day	Salvage	Scarborough Fair [5:30]	Climate Records #3004 www.climatemusic.com
Paul Lansky	Folk Images	Delia [5:00]	Bridge #9060** www.bridgerecords.com*
Heritage (Darol Anger, et al)	New Interpretations of American Roots Music	Pretty Polly [8:30]	Six Degrees #7569** www.sixdegreesrecords.com*
Last Forever	Last Forever	In The Pines [2:30]	Nonesuch #79447** www.nonesuch.com*
Nora York	Alchemy	She Moved Through The Fair [3:30]	Polystar #5070 Japanese import. Info at www.norayork.com
Charles Lloyd	The Water Is Wide	The Water Is Wide [5:00]	ECM #1734** www.ecmrecords.com*
Marc Johnson	Bass Desires	Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair [7:00]	ECM#1299 www.ecmrecords.com*
Epiphany Project	Epiphany Project	Black (Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair) [2:30]	Epiphany #0003 www.epiphanyrecords.com*
Heritage	New Interpretations of American Roots Music	Down In The Willow Garden [4:30]	See above.
The Wayfaring Strangers	Shifting Sands Of Time	Man of Constant Sorrow [3:30]	Rounder #0484** www.rounder.com*

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

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