Dr. Lalmani Misra: Nectar Of The Moon (1981)

Nonesuch H-72086

This album was released as part of the Nonesuch Explorer Series, which was a series of recordings of traditional music from around the world. Some albums from the series are on CD, but this one is not.

This LP was a thrift shop find (99¢). It had no inner sleeve. I generally do not buy LPs that have no sleeve, unless they are hard to find or they appear to be in good condition. Often, they sound worse than they look. This one looks and sounds fine.

From the LP: "Dhun In Raga Ananda Bhairavi: A beautiful melody composed by Dr. Misri...The artist returns to the main theme over and over and improvises freely"

Dhun In Raga Ananda Bhairavi

Pomponio Nenna: Madrigals & Motets, Instrumental Pieces by Gesualdo & Nenna

Nonesuch H-71277

This was a thrift shop find (99¢), in okay shape (it's pretty crackly). I had recently read a New Yorker essay about Gesualdo when I saw this LP, and it inspired me to pick it up. It is not on CD.

As far as I can tell, this LP contains just one instrumental work by Gesualdo. The rest of the pieces are by Nenna. Both were known for the unusual chromaticism of their work.

Carlo Gesualdo: Gagliarda a 4

Pomponio Nenna: Ricercare a 2

Madrigals, by request:
Pomponio Nenna: S'io taccio (Book I)

Pomponio Nenna: Ecco, O mia dolce pena (Book IV)
 
Pomponio Nenna: L'amoroso veleno (Book VII)
 
There's a lovely version of Gesualdo's Gagliarda on youtube: http://youtu.be/txBWSnmSs8w

Cisco Houston: Passing Through (1965)

 Verve Folkways FV9002

This is a posthumous collection of previously unreleased tracks (Houston died in 1961). It was a thrift shop find (99¢), in good shape inside and out. Two or three tracks appear on the CD "Cisco Houston: The Folkways Years, 1944-1961." The rest are not on CD.

The version of "Stewball" on this record is very similar to (but not the same as) the one that appears on the CDs Cowboy Ballads and 900 Miles and other R.R. Songs.

East Virginia #2

Stewball

It Takes a Worried Man

The Robert Shaw Chorale: Deep River (1958)

RCA Victor LM-2247

I came to The Robert Shaw Chorale through their Christmas recordings. When I saw this record at the thrift shop, in good condition inside and out, I picked it up. It is not on CD.

According to wikipedia, Shaw "founded the Collegiate Chorale, a group notable in its day for its racial integration."

From the LP notes:
"Why it is that 'man's inhumanity to man' should often produce great art is one of the mysteries of the human spirit."
  
Deep River

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

My Lord, What A Morning

An Evening at the English Music Hall (1984)

Front Hall FHR-030

I'm a fan of The Copper Family, and John Roberts and Tony Barrand helped expose people to their repertoire of traditional songs. I recently found a nice thrift shop copy of Roberts & Barrand's 1971 album Spencer the Rover is Alive and Well, which is available on CD. I think I found this LP at the same time. Roberts or Barrand perform three of the tracks. 

The LP is a bit crackly. It was recorded live in 1974.

David Jones: Sam Hall

Tony Barrand: I'm Shy, Mary Ellen, I'm Shy

Tom T. Hall: I Wrote A Song About It (1975)

Mercury SRM-1-1033 

This LP was a thrift shop find, in excellent condition. The original recording, however, is just okay. "Deal" and "I Like Beer" appear on various Tom T. Hall greatest hits CDs, but the rest of this album is not on CD.

From the LP: "All selections written by Tom. T. Hall."
 
The Singer's Song

Step Stately: Two and Three Couple Dances from 17th and 18th Century England (1980)

Country Dance Society CDS-8

This record was a thrift shop find (99¢), part of a batch of three English country dance LPs. It is not on CD, though it is available as a cassette from the Country Dance and Song Society.

From the LP jacket:
"Marshall Barron - violin
Eric Leber - recorders, tambourine, large and small drums
Charles Ward - harpsichord, glockenspiel, triangles"

Green Sleeves and Yellow Lace

Step Stately

The Beggar Boy

The Boatman

Guiomar Novaes: Chopin Waltzes (Complete)

Vox STPL 58.170

My knowledge of classical music is limited, but I enjoy listening to different interpretations of Chopin's piano works. Guiomar Novaes is a well-regarded pianist, but her recording of Chopin's waltzes is not on CD. I don't know who makes these decisions or how they are decided, but it seems anyone with an interest in classical music would have to have a turntable to hear the majority of classical recordings.

This record was a thrift shop find (99¢), a bit worn but still in listenable condition. Sources indicate that the recording was made "around 1954." I was too lazy to photograph the cover this time, which looks just like in the photo above.

From Music magazine: "Novaes plays her 15 waltzes with steely brilliance, non-dogmatic control and a healthy dash of playfulness and thus provides an excellent alternate view of these works."

Op. 34 No. 2 in A Minor

Op. 64 No. 1 in D-flat Major (Minute Waltz)

Op. 64 No. 2 in C-sharp Minor

Op. 69 No. 1 in A-flat Major

Op. 69 No. 2 in B Minor