[78-L] Guthrie masters from Stinson

[Doug Pomeroy]

The total (54 songs) could have fit on 3 CDs of 18 tracks each.
I think it may have been partly a programming decision, wanting to
group the various types of songs.  Or, more likely, having the CDs
match the LPs is probably the reason, as you say.

It's just Woody, Houston and Sonny Terry.  No other name artists.

Additional metal parts were transferred, but I don't know if Rounder
plans any additional releases.  The selection criteria were decided
by producer Scott Billington, who used common sense, aesthetic
judgement and a desire to group songs by topic, more or less.

There are a few metal parts by other artists (I transferred one by
James P, and one by Mary Lou Wms), but I have never seen a
a complete list of all of them.

It should be made clear, the only reason to buy the Rounder set
instead of the Smithsonian/Folkways, is the superior audio quality
provided by the fathers and mothers.

Doug

=====================================

Message: 16
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 10:09:40 -0400
From: "Thomas Stern" <sternth at attglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [78-L] Guthrie masters from Stinson, et al,	to be
	re-released on Rounder
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Message-ID: <GGEIJMCDJNDLDCAPHDMGGEODFKAA.sternth at attglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Which other performers were included in the found masters?
Are there plans for additional releases?
What was the selection criteria for the Guthrie set?  The track
list available on some retail web sites show relatively short
discs (12-15 tracks per cd, compared to 25-27 on the Smithsonian- 
Folkways
set).
The Rounder website shows the material is also issued on LP - perhaps
that is the reason for so few tracks.  A shame! (Honest Jon's series
reissuing EMI ethnic material, 5 so far, is on CD and double-LP issues).
   Best wishes, Thomas.


-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com]On Behalf Of Doug Pomeroy
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 8:31 AM
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Subject: Re: [78-L] Guthrie masters from Stinson, et al,to be
re-released on Rounder


There's little to say, because the whole matter of who owns Stinson
is unclear.  There is a lack of formal paperwork which would clarify
the relationship which existed between Herbert Harris of the Stinson
Trading Company, and More Asch of Folkways concerning ownership
of the actual recordings.

Anyway, somebody intentionally damaged many of the metal parts.
Fortunately the scratches could be removed via digital editing.

The metals were found in Park Slope Brooklyn, in the basement of a
house owned by a relative of Herbert Harris.

There are many unanswered questions.

Doug