New York City 8/65

A concert of Southern African American "antebellum musical traditions," held in New York City's Central Park at the height of the Civil Rights era, in the summer of 1965. Produced by Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival in cooperation with the Newport Folk Foundation, the concert was directed by Ralph Rinzler and MC'd by Alan Lomax. It featured the Georgia Sea Island Singers (Bessie Jones, John Davis, Peter Davis, Emma Lee Ramsey, and Mable Hillery), Ed Young's Southern Fife and Drum Corps, and Reverend Gary Davis. Fred McDowell's name appeared on the promotional material for the concert but apparently cancelled. The performers give commentary on their material. Joan Halifax assisted Lomax with the recording and tape box notes. (This concert was ostensibly the second the Shakespeare Festival and Newport Foundation produced that summer, with a Newport Folk Festival Preview held a month earlier.)

Commentary by Ed Young on Sitting On Top Of The World

Sitting On Top Of The World

Introduction of Mable Hillery by Alan Lomax

How Long Blues

Introduction of Reverend Gary Davis by Alan Lomax / Commmentary by Reverend Gary Davis on Twelve Gates To The City

Twelve Gates To The City

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on fighting and Christianity

Sampson And Delilah

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on making a guitar talk and Hell

I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord (part 1)

Commentary by John Davis on shouting

Moses, Don't Get Lost

Commentary by John Davis on God as a rock

Rock In The Weary Land

Commentary by John Davis on the story of John the disciple

Read 'Em, John

Commentary by John Davis on One Morning Soon

One Morning Soon

Commentary by John Davis on Watch Night during slavery times

Yonder Come Day

Commentary by Alan Lomax on the roots of the blues

Carrie Belle

Commentary by Ed Young on Emma Ramsey, Mabel Hillery, and Chevrolet

Chevrolet

I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord (part 2)

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Before This Time Another Year

Before This Time Another Year

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Got On My Traveling Shoes

Got On My Traveling Shoes

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on courting

Twelve Stick Rag

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on salvation

Buck Dance

Commentary by Alan Lomax on Reverend Gary Davis and early African-American spirituals

Commentary by John Davis on the creation

Once There Was No Sun

Commentary by John Davis on the Garden of Eden

Adam In The Garden

Announcement of intermission by Alan Lomax

Commentary by John Davis on Row The Boat, Child

Row The Boat, Child (I)

Commentary by Alan Lomax on Row The Boat, Child

Row The Boat, Child (II)

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Sink 'Em Low

Sink 'Em Low

Introduction of Reverend Gary Davis by Alan Lomax

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on religious revivals

Kitty Wants Corn

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on Sally, Where You Get Your Liquor From (I)

Candy Man

Commentary by Reverend Gary Davis on Sally, Where You Get Your Liquor From (II)

Sally, Where You Get Your Liquor From

Talk/ambience

Introduction and welcome by Alan Lomax

Unidentified fife and drum tune

Commentary by Ed Young

Jim And John

Commentary by Ed Young on Oree

Oree (Little and Low)

Oree (Little and Low) (fragment)

Introduction by Alan Lomax of the Georgia Sea Island Singers

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Buzzard Lope

Buzzard Lope

Commentary by Alan Lomax on Georgia Sea Island game songs

Commentary by Bessie Jones on There Was An Old Lady From Brewster

There Was An Old Lady From Brewster

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Draw Me A Bucket Of Water

Draw Me A Bucket Of Water

Commentary by Bessie Jones on Little Johnny Brown

Little Johnny Brown

Commentary by Alan Lomax on African-American work songs

Commentary by John Davis on African-American work songs

Riley

Commentary by John Davis on Raggy Levee

Raggy Levee

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