Siberian Russian Folk Chorus (1969)

Мелодия, C-01669-70

This was a thrift store find; they'd just got in several LPs of Russian music, on labels I'd never heard of. When in doubt, I usually buy the LP, since they are only 99¢. If I don't like it, I can donate it back to the store. The record is in good shape, inside and out. It is not on CD.

It contains both traditional Russian folk songs as well as popular songs by Russian composers.

Age-old Pines Above the Shusha

Twas My Beauty (folk song)

Michoacan Sones de Tierra Caliente (1982)

instituto nacional de antropologia e historia, inah 7, MC-0617

I wasn't familiar with this record label, but my friend Doug was. INAH recorded traditional music from all the Mexican states, and this LP is #7 (of 24) in the series. I was familiar with two songs from this LP, "Los Tiradores" and "El Perro," which appear on the excellent Nonesuch Explorer LP The Real Mexico in Music and Song, which is available on CD. This LP, however, is not on CD.

This was a thrift store find (99¢), still sealed (!).

Conjunto "Los Gavilanes" del Palapo: La Negrita

Conjunto "Los Caporales": El Gusta Apatzingereno

The Pennywhistlers: A Cool Day and Crooked Corn (1965)

Nonesuch H-72024

This album was released as part of the Nonesuch Explorer Series. Unlike most LPs in the series, it was not an ethnographic field recording. The Pennywhistlers were an American singing group, and though they have names like Alice, Deborah, and Shelly, their performances of mostly Eastern European songs sound nearly as authentic as those on the Topic album "Folk Music of Bulgaria" which presumably inspired them.

The first CD by the Pennywhistlers is being released today by Smithsonian. It is their 1963 eponymous record on Folkways Records. This LP, however, is not on CD.

I owned a used copy for many years. I sold it when I liquidated my LPs in 2005; my current LP collection is composed almost entirely of records from thrift shops and junk stores. This copy was a thrift store find (99¢). It is in good condition.

From the LP: "Francine Brown, Shelly Cook, Joyce Gluck, Alice Kogan, Deborah Lesser, Ethel Raim, Dina Silberman. Ruth Ben Zvi, tupan & tambourine; Arthur Rose, dobro & mandolin; Billy Vanaver, tambura - & guitar"

Vido Vido Byala Vido

Bre Petrunko

More Pennywhistlers here.

The Persuasions: We Still Ain't Got No Band (1973)

MCA Records, MCA-326

The Persuasions are an a capella group with more than two dozens records to their name. Their early albums are a mix of gospel, soul, and pop songs, but in the aughts, they began recording a series of tribute albums (The Beatles, Frank Zappa, U2, The Grateful Dead). Many of their albums are on CD, but this 1973 release is not.

I haven't heard a bad Persuasions record, so I pick them up whenever I find them. I bought this LP at Antone's in Austin, Texas for around $4. The cover is a bit worn, but the record is in great shape.

From the LP:
"Jerry Lawson - Lead, Baritone
Jimmy Hayes - Bass, Tenor
Joseph Russell - Tenor, Lead
Jayotis Washington - Tenor
Herbert Rhoad - Baritone"

Chapel of Love

Dance with Me