African American Folk Songs & Rhythms

by Ella Jenkins

Overview

Although Ella Jenkins' records were in large part intended for educational use, collections such as this one also endure as strong folk music on its own merits. Frequently accompanied by the Goodwill Spiritual Choir of the Monumental Baptist Church in Chicago, these are strong and committed renditions of African-American folk songs. Plenty of these tunes are well known by both folk fans and the general public, and plenty of listeners may well have heard "Wade in the Water" (the album's standout), "Old Time Religion," "Hammer Song," and "Cotton-Eyed Joe" for the first time here. While the call-and-response interplay between Jenkins and the choir is good, she could also be effective on solo numbers like "Who's Gonna Be Your Man?," on which the only backing to her voice is supplied by minimal percussion that sounds like a stick and hollow drum being tapped. There's also a version of "No More Auction Block," sung by Bob Dylan in the early '60s (although he may have learned it from Odetta's rendition); its melody was adapted for Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/1998
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074500323
Rank:	183094

Tracks

1. Wade in the Water/Didn't My Lord Deliver Danuel/A Man Went Down ...
2. Did You Feed My Cow?
3. Up and Down This Road
4. Who All Is Here?
5. That's All Right Julie
6. No More Auction Block
7. Who's Gonna Be Your Man?
8. Cotton Eyed Joe
9. Hammer Song
10. Racing With the Sun
11. Run and Help Us Tell
12. This Is the Way I Pray
13. All over This World
14. Rockin' Jerusalem
15. You Better Mind
16. Get Away Jordan
17. Old Time Religion, 1
18. Old Time Religion, 2
19. Old Time Religion, 3

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ella Jenkins   Primary Artist,Vocals,Harmonica
Ella & The Goodwill Spiritual Choir Of Monumental Baptist C   Primary Artist
Treopia Williams   Soprano

Technical Credits

Pete Reiniger   Sound Supervision
Moses Asch   Producer
Anthony Seeger   Liner Notes,Reissue Production Supervisor
Ella Jenkins   Arranger,Composer
Peter Seitel   Editorial Assistant
Arvella Gray   Arranger
Rick Vargas   Photography
Ronald Clyne   Cover Design
Mary Monseur   Reissue Producer
Bernadelle Richter   Photography
Michael Maloney   Reissue Producer
Ray Flerlage   Photography
Charlie Pilzer   Remastering
Traditional   Composer