Elizabeth Cotten - Vol 2 Shake Sugaree
Review by Adam Somogye
Vol 2 Shake Sugaree by Elizabeth Cotten is a soulful and captivating album that showcases the raw talent of the legendary folk artist. The album features a range of traditional folk songs, including the titular track "Shake Sugaree" and "Vestapol", as well as original compositions like "Washington Blues" and "Honeysuckle".
Cotten's unique fingerpicking style and emotive vocals are on full display throughout the album, creating a warm and intimate listening experience. The stripped-down instrumentation, featuring just Cotten's guitar and occasional harmonica or vocals from her son, gives the songs a timeless quality that transports the listener to a bygone era.
One standout track is "Freight Train", a song that Cotten wrote when she was just 11 years old and which has become one of her most famous compositions. The song's driving rhythm and catchy melody showcase Cotten's impressive songwriting skills and her ability to create a memorable tune.
Table of Contents
Download
Filename: elizabeth-cotten-vol-2-shake-sugaree.rar- MP3 size: 78.4 mb
- FLAC size: 625.6 mb
Tracks
| Track | Duration | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| I'm Going Away | 3:25 | |
| Boatman Dance | 1:42 | |
| Jesus Lifted Me | 2:04 | |
| Ruben | 2:14 | |
| Shoot That Buffalo | 1:36 | |
| Shake Sugaree | 5:03 | |
| Mamma, Nobody's Here But The Baby | 1:35 | |
| Oh, Miss Lulie Gal | 1:28 | |
| 'Til We Meet Again | 1:46 | |
| Ontario Blues | 3:44 | |
| Washington Blues | 3:33 | |
| Jesus Is Tenderly Calling | 1:38 | |
| Ball The Jack | 2:48 | |
| Buck Dance | 1:50 | |
| Look And Live, My Brother | 1:50 | |
| Fox Chase | 3:42 |
Video
Elizabeth Cotten - Ball The Jack
Elizabeth Cotten , Shake Sugaree
Images
Catalog Numbers
- FW31003, FW 31003, FTS 31003
- FTS 31003
- FW31003
Labels
Folkways RecordsListen online
- escuchar en línea
- kuunnella verkossa
- online luisteren
- lyssna på nätet
- ascolta in linea
- online anhören
- ouvir online
- écouter en ligne
- lytte på nettet
Formats
- Vinyl
- LP
- Album
- Limited Edition
- Reissue
- Stereo
- Yellow
Companies
| Role | Company |
|---|---|
| Copyright (c) | Folkways Records & Service Corp. |
| Licensed From | Smithsonian Folkways Recordings |
| Manufactured By | City Hall Records/Runt |
| Distributed By | City Hall Records/Runt |
Credits
| Role | Credit |
|---|---|
| Artwork By | Will Reimann |
| Composed By | Elizabeth Cotten |
| Written-By | Elizabeth Cotten |
| Arranged By | Elizabeth Cotten |
| Design | Craig Mierop |
| Edited By | Mike Seeger |
| Recorded By | Mike Seeger |
| Liner Notes | Mike Seeger |
Notes
- Originally issued as "Elizabeth Cotten Vol. 2 Shake Sugaree" by Elizabeth Cotten (FTS 31003) (c) 1967
- Limited Edition Pressing with Tip-On Cover pressed onto Black Vinyl
- Electronically reprocessed for stereo.
- 1st Cat # from Spine
- 2nd Cat # from Labels
- FTS 31003 (STEREO) on back cover.
- Thanks to Newport Folk Foundation and the Friends of Old Time Music for their kind help in lending Nagra recorders for recording and editing.
- Recorded with one EV 654 microphone.
- Elizabeth plays left-handed, although both banjo and guitar are strung for a right-handed player. Unless noted, guitar is tuned EADGBE, or slightl lower, and banjo is tuned GDGBD.
- Most tunes were recorded February 1965, with the exceptions of Side I, Band 4, and Side II, Bands 4, 7, 8, and 9, which were recorded in the Roosevelt, N.J. School Gym (temp. 30˚-50˚) in January, 1966. Kindest thanks to the school board for the use of the same on the second recording session.
- Long Playing Non-Breakable Micro Groove.
- This recording has been electronically reprocessed for stereo.
- Catalog number is FW31003 on the jacket spine.
- Elizabeth plays left-handed, although both banjo and guitar are strung for a right-handed player. Unless noted, guitar is tuned EADGBE, or slightly lower, and banjo is tuned GDGBD.
- Limited to 500 copies.
- From the Smithsonian archives.
Barcodes
- Barcode (on sticker): 6 46315 10031 0
- Matrix / Runout (Side A): FTS - 31003A
- Matrix / Runout (Side B): FTS - 31003B
- Barcode (on sticker): 6 46315 10311 3
About Elizabeth Cotten
Elizabeth Cotten was a self-taught blues and folk musician, singer and songwriter.
born January 5, 1893 in Carrboro, North Carolina
died June 29, 1987 in Syracuse, New York (Aged 94)
She developed her own style of playing left-handed by holding a normally tuned guitar upside down so she played the melodies with her thumb and the bass lines with her fingers. Her style of playing became known as "Cotten picking".
Cotten wrote most of her music in her early teens and earlier (she wrote "Freight Train" at age 13). After marrying at 17 and getting work as a maid she stopped playing music for 40 years. It wasn't until she was working as a maid for , an avid music lover, that she taught how to play the guitar.
In the 1950s began to record Cotten on reel to reel tape. In 1960 she began to play live for the first time, her first show was with and she went on to perform with musicians such as , , and many others. Because of the positive reaction Cotten received, she began to write again and with her new material and her standards she continued to tour and record into the 1980s. In 1984 she won the Grammy "Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording" for the album .
Name Vars
- Cotten
- Cotton
- E. Cotten
- E. Cotton
- E. ³ÃÈó
- E.Cotten
- E.Cotton
- Elisabeth Cotten
- Elisabeth Cotton
- Elisabeth Cotton \
- Eliz. Cotten
- Elizabeth Cotton
- Elizabeth Libba Cotten
- LIbba Cotten
- Libba Cotten
- Libba Cotton
- P. James & F. Williams
- P. James/F. Williams
Summary by Adam Somogye
Comments
She was a beautiful pure soul and legendary woman R.I.P
If you told me this was a recording of a recent Juilliard graduate I’d easily believe it!
She was very talented. This is the second video I have seen and heard about here. Never heard of her before. Thanks for schooling me!
It’s interesting that she is playing a left handed guitar. But more interesting is the role of the thumb is reversed from its usual role. Normally the thumb keeps a bass Rhythm, while the index finger and middle finger play the treble notes (melody). She uses the index finger as the Bass pattern and the thumb for melody. And only the thumb and index finger. Yet creates a highly syncopated effect.
Right sounds like jorma kaukonen even
❤️??❤️
Never knew about her, wish l had known earlier. Great talent. ?????
This appears to be a reversed still photograph
Great music!
she was great, first i have herd of her
She was once Pete Seager's house keeper, what an incredible story how she was discovered.
I can’t believe how no one who comments mentions that she’s playing left handed, right strung. Like wow
Her relatives are Sarah and Maybelle Carter; their souls are exactly the same color. The Conductor on their Love and Peace train is probably on YouTube as delighted with them as we mortals are.
Thumbs Up Liked.
