Name: Ballads, Blues and A Spiritual
Brand: Dave Van Ronk

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

A 703818

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2019-01-11

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

WEA /­ ADA

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

093070381810

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Total Cap

Artist

Dave Van Ronk

Genre US

Folk

Label US

Smithsonian/Folkways

Nicknamed the Mayor of MacDougal Street, Dave Van Ronk was a native of New York City and a prominent figure in the folk music scene. He arrived at Washington Square Park during the folk revivalist boom in the 1950s and quickly made a name for himself as a raconteur, troubadour, and provocateur. Despite living hand-to-mouth, he taught himself to play guitar and became known for his eclectic blend of dixieland jazz, ragtime, blues, vaudeville, and other styles.

Van Ronk's music eluded classification and he often clashed with the commercial music industry due to his unique sound. He described himself as an "inconsistent" artist who would take on any style that he liked. Although primarily an arranger rather than a songwriter, he received recognition for his contributions to music when he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Van Ronk released albums on various labels including [l20694], [l19591], [l39357], [l30679], [l1610], [l31486], and more. He continued performing live until his death in 2002 from complications following colon cancer surgery. His autobiography written with Elijah Wald titled "The Mayor of MacDougal Street" was published posthumously along with a live album recorded towards the end

"Not infrequently I am taken to task for the manner in which I approach my material," folk singer and guitar player Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) wrote in the liner notes to Ballads, Blues, and a Spiritual. A white New Yorker singing traditional Southern black songs, he distinguished himself from others who adopted this repertoire by imitating the way he heard black musicians perform. "Although I can appreciate the ‘white approach’ to Negro folksongs and enjoy the work of many of its adherents, I still reserve the right to sing these songs in the style to which I am accustomed, partly because of habit, and partly, I confess, because I feel that my way is the ‘right way'."

This 1959 release was Van Ronk’s first record. It contains the tracks "If You Leave Me Pretty Momma," "Backwater Blues," "K.C. Moan," "How Long," and "John Henry," which were not featured on the Van Ronk collection The Folkways Years, 1959-1961.

Ballads, Blues and A Spiritual

Music US