| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Luis Bunuel |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 08:06:12
Which Frank Black tunes pay homage, or reference traditional folk music?
I can think of two obvious examples,
"Fare Thee Well" at the end of FMRM is a re-working of "Dink's Song", one of my favorite tunes all around, especially Dave Van Ronk & the Hudson Duster's version.
And, "Constant Sorrow Man", which, is essentially Frank's take on "Man of Constant Sorrow"
But I'm sure there's people here more knowledgable than me when it comes to both FB and folk music, so there's gotta be a few more examples.  |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| treetime |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 12:41:47
I just bought Fast Man Raider Man, and the whole thing sounds sort of folksy to me. At times I would draw vocal comparisons to Van Morrison. |
| Crispy Water |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 22:38:21
That's quite a story. There are a few lines of The Swimmer that seem as though they could fit, and I would be interested to know whether this is really where the song came from.
Nothing is ever something. |
| fumanbru |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 16:51:36
This one may be a bit of a stretch. Someone on the forum had previously mentioned that “The Swimmer” may be about legendary folk singer Gamble Rogers. Very interesting idea. I read some articles on his death and it is extremely sad and tragic.
http://www.gamblerogers.com/
Florida lost one of its greatest folk singers on October 10, 1991, when Gamble gave up his own life while trying to save a drowning man. Although Gamble may be gone, his spirit and wisdom live on in his music and in his stories. So we hope you will spend a little time here listening to some of Gamble's music, reading his stories, and even sharing your own stories about Gamble with all of us.
http://www.gamblerogers.com/life/tributes.asp?doc=mackin
“…His style was variously described as being of equal parts carnival barker, Bible salesman and tent show evangelist. His audiences never knew that he often performed despite excruciating pain. A fused spine, the result of rheumatoid arthritis, made it impossible for him to turn his head independently. What looked like body English, was an accommodation to his physical impediment. While he once played Carnegie Hall and was a frequent visitor to the music tents and auditoriums of metropolitan New York and elsewhere, James Gamble Rogers IV was essentially a Southern troubadour. So, when he died last October 10, there was no obituary in the New York newspapers. Even though his death was tragic and heroic. The last day of the minstrel is worth retelling.
Rogers, his wife Nancy and two friends, Sid and Cindy Ansbacher, were visiting a favorite camping place at Flagler Beach, Florida, about an hour's drive from his home in St. Augustine. On the second day of their stay, after several hours of cycling, they returned to camp late in the afternoon. As they reached the tent, Rogers heard a cry from the water. Someone was in trouble. (There are no lifeguards at Flagler Beach, only signs warning bathers to swim at their own risk.)
Without hesitation, Rogers stripped down to his jockey shorts and white dress shirt with button-down collar, grabbed an air mattress from his sleeping bag and ran to the edge of the water. Flagler Beach, known as a surfer's paradise because of its rough waters and rip tides, is also dangerous because of its strong undertow. A young boy on the beach told Rogers his father, a Canadian on vacation, had been fishing and apparently wandered into the water beyond his depth. Gamble took a firm grip on the mattress and headed out from the beach. He was not a particularly strong swimmer and with his physical handicap he made slow headway. Meanwhile, several other would-be rescuers were in the surf, and they were all in trouble as the rip tide worsened and the waves were cannonading to the shore. A recent tropical storm heading north had boiled the waters of the Atlantic.
A park ranger, Chuck McIntire, was summoned from the ranger station about a mile away. A former lifeguard and powerful swimmer, McIntire peeled off his trousers and shoes and plunged into the surf. Familiar with the conditions, he let the riptide pull him out almost to the breakers where he encountered Rogers, still clinging to the inflatable canvas raft, who signaled he was all right.
The ranger went farther out but could find no one. Circling back and swimming parallel to the shore, he encountered Cindy Ansbacher who was struggling in the rough seas that by this time were running five to seven feet high. He managed to get her back to shore and turn her over to the paramedics. Exhausted, he threw himself on the coquina-strewn, sandless beach.
A few minutes later, a rescue team brought in the body of the fisherman. He was Raymond Tracey, 48, of Tecumseh, Ontario. Rogers had disappeared. Sometime later, his body was discovered beyond the breakers.
Ranger McIntire knew Gamble and Nancy Rogers well from their frequent visits to the recreation parks of Florida and was a fan of the singer's. He said, "You would have to know Gamble to understand why he would do something like this. He was a humanitarian."
The 54-year-old-entertainer's heroic effort that day has been remembered. The Legislature of the State of Florida has renamed the recreational area where the accident occurred the "Gamble Rogers Memorial Park at Flagler Beach." A plaque recalling his selfless action has been erected at the site.
But nothing further will be heard from Snipes Ford in Oklawaha County. With its poet laureate gone and no one to chronicle the mischief of its colorful inhabitants, it will fade into the mists of Florida folklore.
(Tom Mackin is a retired Vice President of ABC Television in New York City. Tom had met Gamble while he was performing in New Jersey shortly before his death.) “
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!" |
| moksha23x |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 11:17:09
This is a song called lonesome Valley Blues played and sung by one of the best ever, Mississippi John Hurt.....give it a listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXbPya2kypI
I know this is off topic a bit but just give this song a listen you'll be glad you did |
| Grotesque |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 11:05:16
A long time ago, Bob Dylan and Donovan made some hard rocking songs.
Since that day, I think the line between folk music and rock'n'roll no longer exists.
I say the same thing with rap but my friends dont agree.
"It's all disco!" |
| moksha23x |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 11:03:11
"All Around This World"
History of song link
Check out this link.......it gives the adapted version that Jerry Garcia played with 'The Grateful Dead', 'Jerry Garcia Band', and 'David Grisman'. Read all the way down to the bottom because it offers a little history lesson on the song including other verses commonly sung throughout this songs life as well as other artists, FB needs to be added to this list.......its worth a read....
http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/I2VEBEEN.HTM |
| coastline |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 10:08:32
I like when Frank goes all folky -- it lends him to talking more between songs. I especially liked his performance of "All Around the World" in Saskatoon last year. Before the last verse, he said something like, "Ok, here's the funny verse." (It's the part where the singer is finally executed.) He's very charming when he wants to be.
 Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
| Crispy Water |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 09:41:33
I detect a rather folkie spirit in Frank's approach - y'know, the modern troubadour, happy to hit the road with nothing but a guitar over his shoulder...equally comfortable with or without a band, he just wants to play some songs.
I attend folk shows maybe 8-10 times per year, but really can't claim a lot of familiarity with their history/traditions. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other folk songs Frank has offered his spin on, though I'm sure we have not heard the last.
Speaking of All Around the World, I heard a local bluegrass duo knock off a stunning rendition of it last month on banjo and mandolin. The style was a lot more narrative, it wasn't an obvious execution song until the last verse, but it had to be the best version I have heard.
Nothing is ever something. |
| trobrianders |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 09:30:37
If he's taken to getting hold of music from the Smithsonian I'll bet we'll be hearing more traditional folk soon.
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
| coastline |
Posted - 03/14/2007 : 08:25:45
"All Around the World" is another.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
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