Appalachians (2005)

As central as The Appalachians are to American folk and country music, the stories behind the music are often forgotten. PBS' three-hour documentary presents both a chronology of U.S. settlement and the colorful historical figures who figured into it. This accompanying CD fleshes out the multithreaded musical traditions that eventually "came down the mountain" to inform today's folk and country traditions. This is a rich overview of American music's British roots, and the resulting sounds that emanated from the hills and hollars, including string bands, bluegrass, gospel, and shape-note singing. Legendary figures like Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family and The Blue Sky Boys are plated with contemporary artists that include Ricky Skaggs and Jason Ringenberg. It's the continuity of this directly voiced songwriting tradition that brands the collection as folk music, and keeps the history alive. [©2005 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]
 
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