Anthology of American Folk Music
Volume 3: Songs, Track 57

THE COO COO BIRD
Clarence "Tom" Ashley

Recorded Johnson City, TN: November 23, 1929
Clarence "Tom" Ashley, vocal and banjo
Originally released on Columbia 15489D

For a biography and additional information about Ashley see Track 3. In this song, the cuckoo represents the coming of spring. This selection was one of the Anthology's most influential and frequently covered songs, especially during the 1950s and 1960s.

OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS include:
Traditional American Folk: as Coo Coo Bird: Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson (SF 40029c); as The Coo Coo: Mr. and Mrs. Sams (SF 40077c); as Cuckoo Bird: John Calloway (BRI 001a); David Holt (FF 372a); Jeannie Schilling (TRL 5117a); Hobart Smith (VG 9182a); Doc Watson (VG 6576c, VG 155/8c).

Folksong revival: as Coo Coo Bird: Howard Tarnower (FW 2353c); as Cuckoo Bird: (Fleming Brown (MRW 1953a); Bonnie Carol (KM 220a); Rambling Jack Elliott (PRS 13033a); The Holy Modal Rounders (Big Beat 75a); Ella Jenkins (SF 45002c); as The Dove: Pete Seeger (FW 2454c, FW 2456c).

Post revival: as Coo Coo Bird: Pete Kennedy (Rosewood 21a); Robin and Linda Williams (FF 359a).

Country/String Band: as Coo Coo Bird: Kelly Harrell (VIC 40047b); as Cuckoo Bird: The New Lost City Ramblers (FW 2399c).

Bluegrass: as Coo Coo Bird: The Dixie Blue Bluegrass Band (RR 172a); as Cuckoo Bird: Hugh Moore (FW 31108c); The Osborne Brothers (DEC 4602a, SGH 2203c); Raintree (Green Mountains 1071a); Mac Wiseman (MCA 20003c).

Rock: as the Cuckoo Bird: Rory Gallagher (Castle 187/3c); The JSD Band (WB 2723a).