These are 23 rare 78s from the 1920s and 1930s, chosen to illustrate the wide range of "early American rural music" that made its way onto disc in the early days of the recording industry. This will not get nearly as much press as
Harry Smith's
Anthology of American Folk Music
box, yet it's on par with that ballyhooed re-release as an overview of the roots of American roots music, so to speak. Styles vary from country blues and fiddle hoedowns to banjo music and jug bands. The
Memphis Jug Band
is the only name here that might be familiar to more than the most well-versed folk historians. Highlights include
J.P. Nestor
and
Norman Edmonds'
"Train on the Island," a frenetic string band gallop; the
Four Wanderers'
eerie gospel tune, "The Fault's in Me"; and
Ken Maynard's
"Fannie Moore," a direct predecessor of country music in its vocal phrasing. ~ Richie Unterberger