Jo Stafford - American Folk Songs
List Price:
Our Price: $14.34
You Save: $3.65 (20%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $13.90 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Jo StaffordEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1993-09-11
Music Label: Corinthian Records
Soundtracks:
- Shenandoah
- Black Is the Color
- Old Joe Clark
- Wayfaring Stranger
- Barbara Allen
- Single Girl
- Red Rosey Bush
- I Wonder as I Wander
- Cripple Creek
- The Nightingale
- Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
- Sourwood Mountain
Free Music Notes for American Folk Songs
Free Music Review: A record of extraordinary beauty
Hit: 5 Stars
I only found out a few minutes ago that Jo Stafford has just died, and I felt impelled to offer a few words of tribute to one of the best voices of the 20th century and to one of the most poignant recordings I have ever heard. Others here have eloquently noted how moving and beautiful are the ballads that form the core of "American Folk Songs." This is one of those records that, once you hear it, changes you forever. Two of my favorite singers -- Judy Collins and Dusty Springfield -- have testified to its power. Judy has said that as a young woman she heard "Barbara Allen" one day on the radio, and that single experience changed the course of her musical journey, from classical to folk. Dusty, on one of her mid-60s BBC TV shows, sang "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" (with an almost identical arrangement) and introduced the song by saying that Jo Stafford "was and is one of my own favorite singers."
Several reviewers have commented on the rather jarring nature of the album, in which the gorgeous, lush ballads are juxtaposed with upbeat, "hillbilly" selections. The reason for this is because the album was rerecorded years after its original incarnation, and the up-tempo songs were added at the later date. The ballads composed the original "American Folk Songs" album on a 10" disc recorded in 1947. In 1961, when the 12" LP (Long Player) was the standard, Stafford and arranger-husband Paul Weston rerecorded all the fully orchestrated ballads, and also the newly recorded bluegrass tunes, with a trio led by country guitarist Joe Maphis, who was then quite popular, to fill out the album, which was released in 1962. I also find that the stripped-down, up-tempo tunes interrupt the magic spell woven by the folk ballads, but they have a certain charm of their own, especially "Single Girl."
Although Jo, unfortunately, never recorded "American Folk Songs Volume 2," she did record, a few years later, an album of Scottish folk songs, which casts a similar spell through its lush and moody orchestrations. To those who enjoy "American Folk Songs," I highly recommend that album, Songs of Scotland, which is also available on Amazon as MP3 downloads. The CD is also available for purchase from the website of Corinthian Records, the label she and her husband established. (Jo owned the masters to these and other recordings and self-released them on Corinthian.)
Broadway & Vocalists Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Broadway & Vocalists Music CDs
George Shearing, Mel Torme - Elegant EveningSHEARING,G/TORME,M; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.16
Price in other shops:
Stan Getz - Spring Is HereRelease date: 1993-01-11; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Rosemary Clooney - Girl SingerRelease date: 1999-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
The Blenders - NogRelease date: 1998-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $9.59
Price in other shops:
Brave Combo, Tiny Tim - GirlTIM,TINY/BRAVE COMB; Release date: 1996-03-19; Music CD
Best price: $10.36
Price in other shops:
Belleville a Cappella Choir - Southern Journey, Vol. 11: Honor The Lamb - The Belleville A Cappella ChoirRelease date: 1998-02-10; Music CD
Best price: $83.93
Diane Schuur - Love SongsRelease date: 1993-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
![Love Is the Thing [Vinyl] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Nat King Cole - Love Is the Thing [Vinyl]Release date: 1996-11-19; Music CD
Best price: $169.99
Linda Ronstadt - Linda Ronstadt: Greatest HitsRelease date: 1998-01-13; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Buddy Rich, Sammy Davis Jr - Sounds of 66Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Jo Stafford - Jo Stafford on CapitolRelease date: 2001-06-12; Music CD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Capitol Collector's SeriesRelease date: 1991-02-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.05
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Jo Stafford: 108 Classic Sides from a Great American HitmakerRelease date: 2008-01-08; Music CD
Best price: $21.19
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Ballad of the BluesSTAFFORD,JO; Release date: 2003-09-09; Music CD
Best price: $6.70
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - G.I. Jo - Songs of World War IIRelease date: 1993-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $14.76
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Happy Holidays: I Love the Winter WeatherRelease date: 2000-10-10; Music CD
Best price: $11.50
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Songs of ScotlandRelease date: 2005-02-22; Music CD
Best price: $10.49
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - The Columbia Hits CollectionRelease date: 2002-05-28; Music CD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Jo Stafford - Jo Stafford: The Ultimate Capitol CollectionUltimate; Release date: 2007-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.67
Price in other shops:
Gordon Macrae, Jo Stafford - Old Rugged CrossRelease date: 2001-07-16; Music CD
Best price: $3.83
Price in other shops: