The Mississippi River of Song: A Musical Journey Down the Mississippi

Various Artists SFW40086

This two-hour, 36 track, musical journey down the Mississippi from the headwaters to the delta captures the power and diversity of American music in the late 20th century. The music, recorded between 1995 and 1997 in small towns and large cities along the river, reflects centuries of interaction and experimentation along America’s great waterway. 48-page booklet.
Country(s) United States
Culture Group(s) African American; Cajun; Anglo-American; Hispanic; Louisiana Creole; Ojibwa; Swedish-American
Keyword(s) American Indian; Bluegrass music; Blues; Cajun music; Conjunto music; Folk songs--United States; Folksong revival; Gospel music; Jazz; New Orleans jazz; Polka (Dance); Punk rock music; Rhythm and blues music; Rock music; Rockabilly music; Tejano music; World music; Zydeco music
Instrument(s) Accordion; Banjo; Concertina; Cornet; Drum; Fiddle; Guitar; Harmonica; Leaf; Mandolin; Musical saw; Piano; Saxophone; Trombone; Trumpet; Tuba
Language(s) English

Year of Recording 1998
Record Label Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Source Archive Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Credits Produced by John Junkerman ; Produced by Toshio Murayama ; Compiled by Elijah Wald ; Liner Notes by Elijah Wald ; Produced by Elijah Wald ; Photography by Theo Pelletier ; Mastered by Charlie Pilzer ; Design by RainCastle Communications

Download Liner Notes

101	Pow Wow Song	Chippewa Nation	2:50
102	22	Babes in Toyland	3:20
103	Sail Away Ladies	Spider John Koerner	3:30
104	I Did My Best	Soul Asylum	3:58
105	Red-Headed Swede	The Skål Club Spelmanslag	3:23
106	The Singing Leaf	Wang Chong Lor	2:28
107	I'll Open My Heart to the Lord / I'll Be Ready (medley)	Sounds of Blackness	1:56
108	Kim Marie	Karl Hartwich	3:01
109	Jazz Me Blues	Manny Lopez	4:32
110	La Unica Estrella	La Otra Mitad	5:26
111	Flat Stuff	Greg Brown	3:43
112	Miss Ferris	John Hartford	3:55
113	Born to Be with You	The Bob Lewis Family	2:17
114	Milestone	Eugene Redmond and Sylvester "Sunshine" Lee	2:46
115	I'm So Grateful	Fontella and Martha Bass	4:20
116	Stop Breaking Down	Oliver Sain	5:10
117	Get Down River	The Bottle Rockets	3:05
118	La Guignolée	The Ste. Genevieve Guignolée Singers	3:43
201	The Sweetest Song I Know	The Boundless Love Quartet	2:30
202	Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas)	Sonny Burgess	3:54
203	St. Louis Blues	Ann Peebles and the Memphis Horns	5:49
204	Going Back to Memphis	Levon Helm and James Cotton	4:41
205	Take a Little Walk with Me	Robert Lockwood, Jr.	2:50
206	Catfish	Big Jack Johnson	3:31
207	Shake Your Moneymaker	Big Jack Johnson with Frank Frost and the Jelly Roll Kings	3:06
208	Grits Ain't Groceries	Little Milton	4:23
209	We Praise Your Holy Name	The Mississippi Mass Choir	5:52
210	Taters and Gravy and Chicken Fried Steak	Kenny Bill Stinson	2:52
211	The Back Door (La Porte d'en Arrière)	D.L. Menard	3:49
212	Bon Chien	Geno Delafose	2:49
213	Marie Lavaux	David & Roselyn	3:28
214	Basin Street Blues	Henry Butler	3:58
215	Time is on My Side	Irma Thomas	2:47
216	Check Your Bucket	Eddie Bo and Henry Butler	4:39
217	Let Your Mind Be Free	The Soul Rebels	2:56
218	La Vida de un Jaibero (The Crab Fisherman's Song)	Irvan Perez	2:49

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