When I first heard Ruth Theodore I had the same reaction of hearing something innovative and new that I heard with Tom Waits and Jolie Holland. It’s not that she sounds like Waits or Holland. In fact, she doesn’t really sound like anyone else which is sort of the point. Her music has elements of cabaret and folk and there is even a bit of a Brecht and Weill sense of wit on the opening “Overexpanding” and other tunes. However she easily shifts to a jazz/rock influenced “Rash” in which her voice and guitar zooms jaggedly around each other in a way that threatens to fall apart at the seams but never does. Actually her guitar playing can be pretty amazing as is her voice. She is equally impressive on slower tunes like the wistful “Nothing On” and the gorgeous “Kathy’s Song”. No matter what the tempo or mood, Ms. Theodore puts her own unique perspective on these 13 original tracks. Now that 2008 has hit the halfway mark, I can easily say Worm Food is the best free album, and one of the best overall albums, in the first part of the year. Grab this before a major label sweeps her up.

Worm Food is available from Jamendo in VBR MP3 at about 197kbps. If you enjoy the music, support the artist by buying the CD at River Rat Records.

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I’m afraid I’m going to have to plead ignorance when it comes to Russian bard music. As I understand it, Bard Music is sung poetry usually accompanied by a guitar. The lyrics are centered on Russian life or has potilical concerns. One of my readers was kind enough to point out these three free and legal albums by Ed Prizant, a young musician that stays in the tradition of this music. The web site is in Russian but with the help of the not-so-reliable Babelfish I’ve translated the album titles to Step From The Love (2007), Fire of The Large City (2004), and My Clownish Desire (2001). Any Russian speaking readers are welcome to give me the more accurate titles. These albums are difficult to review as the lyrics are so essential to this music and my Russian vocabulary is limited to “Vodka”. However I find Prizant’s voice quite expressive and have no trouble enjoying these very melodic songs despite the language barrier. Check out these three albums. You will not be disappointed.

Again we have albums available in lower than usual bitrate; 64kbps Mp3. However they still sound pretty good and shouldn’t distract too much from your enjoyment.

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Canadian singer/songwriter Allison Crowe’s latest release is titled Little Light and is in the same folk-pop mode as her other albums. Her voice can be as light as Norah Jones yet her original songs bring out a stronger and more personal character similar to Sarah McLaughlin or Joni Mitchell. Most of the album consists of original material but there are three good covers of tunes by Cyndi Lauper, Phil Ochs, and The Matthew Goode Band. However it is the originals that make this effort stand out. The first two tracks, “Northern Lights” and “Angel” are strong tunes in the folk/rock vein. “Disease” features Crowe’s tumultuous keyboard over an emotional vocal. I also greatly enjoyed the title tune, “Choose To Be”, and the excellent cover of Phil Ochs’ “When I’m Gone”. This is a good collection of songs by a talented songwriter and vocalist.

The album is available in 128kbps MP3. If enjoy the music, support the artist by buying her CDs.

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Sea and Field is a French ensemble of six musicians specializing in Celtic music. While traditional in style there is a strong influence from the more rock-oriented purveyors of this music such as Pentangle and Fairport Convention. Nonetheless, traditional music fans will surely enjoy this self-titled album. The vocals are strong and the instrumentation of guitar, violin, accordion, bass and percussion remains enjoyable throughout. The opening “Les Livres” has a powerful vocal but I especially like “Le Phare”, the only totally instrumental track on the too brief 5-track, 19 minute EP.”Matelot” is also a favorite and shows off that strong rock influence I mentioned. “Casse Oreilles” and “Eglantine” round out this lively romp of traditional and not-so-traditional world music.

The album is available from Jamendo in VBR MP3.

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Austrian musician Simon Usaty, AKA Protestant Work Ethic, may take some listeners a little while to get used to. His almost whispering vocals sometimes interferes with his intelligent lyrics. But those who admire similarly styled artists like Elliott Smith and Ron Sexsmith will feel right at home. Protestant Work Ethics is a one man band sporting sparse but sensitive instrumentation. Sounding like a cross between Alt.country and Emo, the rather introverted singing and musicianship elicits a calm if delicate environment. “Set Out to Take on” and “Clap Clean Hands” are my favorite songs while “Duba Ktana” and “As They Are Blown Here and There” are nice instrumentals hovering between primitve acoustic and new age. This is soothing music that bears attentive listening.

The EP is available as separate tracks or full album zip in 256kbps MP3.

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Kansas City resident Erik Karlsson is a singer/songwriter whose music harks back to the golden era of 70s folk-rock. He is especially schooled in the storytelling tradition of modern balladeers such as Harry Chapin. Even with such a giant name looking over his shoulder, Karlsson still manages to place his individual mark of these well-crafted original songs. His album Forty-Something is freely available from his web site and is released on a creative commons license for all to enjoy.

Forty-Something has a light melodic sense throughout. Good lyrics and a joyous mid tempo beat dominate most of his songs. The title song is a nice sample of musical storytelling. The opening track “Angel” is a very likable indie rock song that sounds a little like a upbeat Counting Crows. I also like the wistful and folkish “Long Ways From Home” and a country road song titled “Reno”.

The album is available in 128kbps MP3. If you like the music, support the artist and buy the CD with better sound quality. Erik is donating all proceeds from album sales and tips to The Harvester’s Community Food Network.

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Jaimina Johnston’s two albums on Jamendo, which I previously reviewed here, are the first two parts of a trilogy The third album of the trilogy has finally been released. Test of Time is just as much a wonder as So Many Songs and So Little Time. In fact, it is a more tightly arranged and intricate presentation. This is evident from the first track, “Viva Italia” which is a five minutes showpiece of her talents in acappello singing and choral arrangements. The second track, “Ni Una Solo Palabra” is also a delight. Her 90 years plus voice sounds stronger on this album but still manages to present an air youth and innocent. I am tempted to say ‘delicate as a flower’ which may sound trite but oh so accurate. Spanning classical music, folk, and popular, this album is a treat. I especially like her take on “The Way To San Jose” which comes along two songs after she deftly tackles ” Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder” from J. S. Bach’s Matthew’s Passion and before she goes funky on Jamiroquai’s “Feels Just Like it Should”. Just try to find any other vocalist that will take on those three songs in their lifetime, let alone on a single album!

The album is available in VBR MP3.

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Stay by Wil Deynes is close to 20 minutes of very listenable power pop and indie folk/pop. Strong songwriting and a solid voice is the main reason this brief album is recommended. Of the five tracks, I especially like the title song “Stay”. It is a singer/songwriter showcase with a melody that…Dare I say it?… “stays” with you. The light and poppist “Super Wonderful” and the rocking “Tired” are also quite good. It’s a nice debut by a talented musician.

The EP is downloadable as an album zip in either 192kbps MP3 or M4a files. If you enjoy the artist, support the artist by leaving a donation in the “tip jar”.

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If Beltaine’s Fire is not the only Celtic hip hop group on the planet, I am sure it is a very short list. Their first album titled Weapon of The Future is available on Jamendo and it is a very entertaining mix of musical genres that, considering that both have a socio-political history, may have more in common than most people realize.

Rapper/lyricist Lynx is the primary voice behind Beltaine’s Fire. He is a veteran rapper whose beats and words effortlessly float over the music with clockwork precision. Yet the twist is that the branished “weapons” are traditional Celtic instruments such as clawhammer banjo, cello, and mandolin. The ever present rhythm is managed by bass and drums in a style that is respectable of both hip hop and Celtic music. The fourteen tracks are, in most cases, foot tapping revolutionary message songs. It is a strange but successful combination of the social anger of Rage Against The Machine and the traditional style of the Irish rebel band Wolfe Tones. Another comparison would be to the equally socially conscious Michael Franti who also turns to world music as his base. Beltaine’s Fire’s revolutionary zeal can be found on most tracks but best heard on songs like “Home”, “Thrive”, and the lively opening track “Carpe Diem” which is embellished by the mellow voice of bassist Laura. I also like it when the group slows down like on “A Month of Storms” and the moving “Be Myself”. I hear a little beat poetry seeping in on numbers like “A Months of Storms” which makes me wonder if there is a Celtic Tom Waits in Lynx as well. Immensely listenable and always thought provoking, Weapon of The Future is highly recommended.

The album is available in VBR MP3. If you enjoy the music, support the artists by buying the CD.

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I had to take off an album for this month as it appears to be not as freely available as it was supposed to be. Here’s a bonus album for the day in order to keep my promise of thirty albums for November.

M.Ace describes his Steel-String Flat Top Sedition as “a web album of primitive acoustic guitar instrumentals”. I am not sure of the term “Primitive” but the fifteen solo guitar compositions do have a rough edge about them. This is, for lack of a better term, brief punk-folk acoustic instrumentals; Sort of Leo Kottke meet The Minutemen unplugged. Each track exhibits some very imaginative playing and is quite fun to listen to. I especially like “Pegleg Flamingo” and “Dinosaur Stomp”. Recommended for those who want something different in acoustic guitar music.

The album is available in 192kbps MP3. You will also find quite a few other online albums by the artist on his web site but nothing that caught my attention like Steel-String Flat Top Sedition. Browse through it. You might disagree.

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Onalaska is a indie rock band led by vocalist and songwriter Tom Harpel. The group disbanded in 2007 which is unfortunate as they had a nice touch with a folk rock sound full of lonesome and sad lyrics.

At least they left two good albums, both free under a creative commons license.. To Sing For Nights was released in 2002 and features sparsely arranged songs with lyrics and melodies reminiscent of Sounds Like Fall and The Mountain Goats. The feeling is late night and down tempo with a backwoods accents. There is also a definite Emo atmosphere in these songs about loneliness, rejection, airport tedium, and everything else that is depressing. If anything, Onalaska can be faulted for never letting up on the dreariness but if you’re into that, this will be your cup of tea. You and Fisherman is even more minimalist and morose. I especially like “On Alaska’s Greatest Train”, a mini-epic about desperation and last chances. These two albums are recommended for those who like their indie rock on the edge of despair.

To Sing For Nights is available in 128kbps MP3 while You and The Fisherman is in 160kbps.

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To Sing For Nights
You and The Fisherman

Two albums of folk rock are freely available from singer/songwriter Josh Woodward. These are well produced tracks that should please all lovers of good quality pop music.

Dirty Wings is basically indie-rock. It has some pretty intense tracks such as the opening “I Want to Destroy Something Beautiful”. Other songs like “Insomnia” have a bittersweet quality. I especially like “The Vagabond” and “Omaha”. Insightful song writing and imaginative melodies makes all the tracks worth a listen.

Not Quite Connected is folk oriented and mainly acoustic. The songs sound more intimate and Josh’s storytelling ability become quite present. The first track “Darien Gap” show off his narrative talents well. There are some nice rockers like “Effortless” but the real gems are acoustic tracks like “She Dreams in Blue” and “Let Me Talk, Carol”. As good as the album is, Woodward saves the best for last, a sweet but sad epic called “River Went Dry”. Overall, this is a more realized collection than Dirty Wings but my guess is you will want to download both.

Both albums are available in VBR MP3 (around 192kbps). Josh makes all his music freely available but if you enjoy the music you can support the artist by buying his CDs in higher quality sound.

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Dirty Wings
Not Quite Connected

I have no real information on the Diamond Star Halos except for the album available on Emily Jane White’s web site along with two other tracks by Ms. White. Whoever the Diamond Star Halos are, the 20 plus minute EP is a clearly a showcase for the sad but soulful voice of Emily Jane White. Sounding like a cross between Jolie Holland and Cat Power, Ms. White surrounds herself with a almost funereal background. “Wake Up Call” is drenched in pathos. “Blue Seude” picks up slightly but is still sad and slightly awashed in the blues. This is a curious but enjoyable EP of folkish alt.country melancholia.

The album is available in 160kbps MP3.

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Billie The Vision & and The Dancers completed their third album and it is as delightful as their first two. Where The Ocean Meets My Hand covers the same folk-pop territory with their bittersweet melodies and intimate lyrics. The Swedish band remains one of my favorite groups of the many I’ve featured. Their deceptively casual style reminds me of a good friend who makes you laugh but isn’t afraid to tell you the hard stuff either. Give the devastatingly sad “I Want You to Bleed” or the more upbeat “Absolutely, Salutely” a try.

The album is available in 128kbps MP3 from their Last.fm page or their web site by the download link below. If you enjoy the music, support the artists by buying their CDs.

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As far as I can tell, the artists on this album are out of Liverpool England and originally played under the name of Tom Joad. Eventually they lashed onto Shake That Little Foot as the name of both the album and this lively group of musicians. This Creative Commons licensed music fest consists of American folk tunes and Celtic songs, all of them played precisely and joyously. There is much to love here. If you are in a dancing mood, “Bill Cheatum” or “Mississippi Swayer” will get you going. “Flop Eared Mule” will make you laugh and “Sally Ann” has a rare vocal heralding a backwoods courtship. Definitely grab this one!

The album is available in MP3, Ogg Vorbis, or FLAC format.

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Asthmaboy is a soft indie rock duo consisting of Glindon Marten and John Boone of Bellingham, Washington. I have an theory that the artist’s environment places itself in the artist’s work. Bellingham is known as the city of “subdued excitement” which pretty much describes the music of Asthmaboy. Unfortunately my theory breaks down in the light of Grunge and sophisticated Seattle. I still have a few kinks to work out.

Their free online album titled Later Days is full of pastoral folk rock that is soft but with just a hint of bittersweet. The title track is representative of the combination of folksy acoustic background and the slightly nasal but thoughtful vocals of Martens. The dual songwriting of Martens and Boone contributes immensely to the suburban quality of the songs. Other favorites on the album include “Disappearing Trick” and “Do The Math”. This is a quiet album for those who prefer their pop and rock on the peaceful side.

The album is available as an album zip in VBR MP3 (around 192kbps).

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The Swedish duo Skald is one of the more perplexing bands I have run into. Their combination of Scandinavian traditional music and metal rock is both humorous and a little scary. The vocals by Hebbe are often grunted more than sang but are mixed with quite impressive guitar work both acoustic and electric. There is also an interesting use of non-rock instruments in the mix (ocarina, jew-harp, and willow flute). They have two EPs free available that will amuse, bewilder and fascinate the listener.

The latest EP is Trolska Vemodsband and it is 22 minutes long. It starts a bit deceptively with a beautiful acoustic guitar number. The second track wakes you up with blaring metal and the Hebbe’s odd vocal style. There’s something alluring about marriage of the electric and the traditional on these tracks. This is a different and intriguing kind of metal band

The earlier Sagor Från Skogstjärnen is 30 minutes long and fairly similar. It’s a little more folk oriented and but not by much. “Folksagan” has a masculine folk dance quality. I like Trolska a little better but give this odd metal duo a try.

The albums are available in 192kbps MP3.

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Michael Burgess could easily be classified in the newer category of indie pop or emo but my aged ears are attracted to influences of 60s folk rock. I am immediately drawn to the same qualities I hear in Tim Buckley (and yes, his son Jeff too). His album Paper Flowers offers poetic music that is acoustic with a little jazz feeling. “St James Hotel” is a good example as vocal and guitar dance around tabla-like percussion and a dancing flute. Burgess’ lyrics are gentle and memorable. The singer/songwriter is best experienced on the tracks that are simply guitar and vocal such as “Apple Seeds” and “Nothing’s Going My Way” but other songs are nicely if sparsely orchestrated. This is one of the finer folk-pop albums you will find on the internet.

Paper Flowers is available, along with 4 “b-sides” tracks, in 192kbps MP3.

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Lucrecia may not send out flames but there is something warm and innocent about her simple voice. In fact it is the simplicity and intimate nature of this short EP that makes its enjoyable. The five tracks offer about 20 minutes of soft pop that is gentle and irresistable. “Counting Backwards” may be the best track. Its wistful arrangement assures it gets plenty of plays from me. However the other four tracks will have you smiling too. This is a nice choice for relaxing vocal music.

The album is available in 256kbps MP3.

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The Sheds keep turning out great free and legal albums in a folk/pop tradition. Number four is titled You’ve Got a Light and it’s another slice-of-life musical delight. Chris thinks it is their strongest effort in production and songwriting. I’m inclined to agree. The harmonies and rhythms are more adventurous plus the lyrics appears to be reaching even deeper into the human situation. I especially like “Mtn Cats” and “All The Right Things”. If you are looking for a ready-for-primetime single try “Drunk at Lunch”. The Sheds are the newest winner, along with Sun Zoo and Billie The Vision & The Dancers, of my “Why Aren’t They on a Major Label?” award.

You’ve Got a Light is available as single tracks in 192kbps MP3.

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Crepusculum is Latin for sundown which gives you a hint of the peaceful end-of-day atmosphere this 20 minutes plus EP evokes. Londoner Fred Baty focuses mainly on acoustic guitar and pastoral soundscapes with electronic background barely embellishing the overall mood. The opening track “A Sheltered Life” is one of the more elaborate tracks with a quiet guitar driven melody playing over nature sounds and light keyboards. The quality remains high on all tracks except for a misguided Sheltered Life remix. This is a quiet session of tranquil, mainly acoustic, music.

The album is available as separate tracks or full album zip in 256kbps MP3.

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Loopaholic’s anthology Progressive Folk is a scintillating, sometimes disorienting, mixture of electronica and traditional world music. Some would classify this as neo-folk or world groove. I would prefer just to sit back, listen, and meld with the sounds.

DJET start with a Indonesian gamelan hybrid which is just a little too brief to really get involved in. Auditoolz’s “Advance Japanese Folk” fares better. It has a sweet vocal with Japanese traditional instruments effortlessly blending with a percussive techno beat. Audiotoolz has four tracks on this collection including an excellent collaborative effort with Wrekkers titled “Hungarian Fight Club”. The traditional influences on this album travel the globe with nicely manipulated samples of Middle East music (”Manipulationolgogy” by Digital Drug), Aboriginal drones (”Aboriginal Soundsystem” by Freestep), and Eastern European (”Felix is My Friend” by Pattern Industries). Other tracks escape specific cultural identification but are still joyous romps in international grooves. All in all, this is a fun globetrotter of an album.

The album is available as an album zip in 192kbps MP3.

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Canadian singer/songwriter Allison Crowe combines the esoteric beauty of Tori Amos with the pop accessibility of Norah Jones to create beautiful folk/pop tracks. Her web site offers a generous heaping of MP3 tracks and videos. Included are four full albums that are free, legal, and well deserving of a listen.

Her latest album is This Little Bird and it is the best of the four. Production values are high as well as the songwriting and vocal performances. All tracks are originals songs except for three covers tunes by Joni Mitchell. John Sebastian, and Ronnie Shannon. “Effortless” is an especially nice track that sports an exquisite vocal and exhibits her more than adequate piano talents. Other favorite tracks include the title song and a jaunty and folksy “Circular Reasoning”. Of the covers, Crowe emotionally nails the Loving Spoonful’s “Darling Be Home Soon”.

Secrets is her first album having been recorded in 2004. It is a true solo affair with home-grown but still very good production. Allison plays almost all instruments and uses voice overdubbing expertly. However it is still her voice that bring the recording to full dimensions. Again most of the tracks are originals but the two covers (Leonard Cohen’s “Joan of Arc” and Counting Crows “Raining in Baltimore”) are so good they deserve a special mention. The entire album is consistently good with no weak songs.

The odd but satisfying Tidings offers some seasonal and not-so-seasonal tracks. Alongside an acappella “It Came upon a Midnight Clear” and a nice piano accompanied “Silent Night” are arguably spiritually minded songs like “Let It Be” and “Angel”. The combination of modern and traditional music actually works, making a pleasant and peaceful album.

Finally the 2 disc Live at Wood Hall gives a good perspective of the artist. This concert performance covers a wide range of influences from Jerome Kern to Ani Defranco. Crowe’s own compositons are of course the focus and they stand up well. Any one of these albums would be a nice introduction to this artist who is deserving of wider recognition.

All albums are available in 128kbps MP3. If you like the music, support the artist by buying the CDs in better quality sound.

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This Little Bird
Live at Wood Hall
Tidings
Secrets

Dead Heart Bloom is the solo project for Boris Skalsky who once played bass and keyboard for for the East Coast band The Phasers. For all intent and purpose, these two albums represent his solo debut and what a fine debut it is. Mr. Skalsky has made both albums freely available from his web site.

The self-titled album Dead Heart Bloom is quite an effort exhibiting good songwriting and a tight hand at arranging. The music often reminds me of early Beck in its ability to keep you a little off kilter. Yet much of it, like “New Messiah”, also reminds of The Eels in its tight beat and unconventional storytelling. Skalsky can evoke folk-rock sentimentality as on “Listen” or rock you in a dark bitter way as in “The Marchers are Coming”. There is even an excellent cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” that squeezes out more anguish and desolation than the man in black may have thought possible. This is an impressive debut album that bears repeated listening.

The second album Chelsea Diaries is no less impressive. The production, good on the first album, is even better here. There a bigger emphasis on vocal harmonies, the songs are a bit more upbeat, and the lyrics remain exceptional. This is a folk-rock treasure of an album with the emphasis on acoustic intimacy. There isn’t a weak track here but I especially like “Save The Last Verse For Me”and a heart-felt rendered “The Love Song You Always Wanted” . However the final track “The Up and Down” stays with me longest, a bluesy alt-country jewel that leaves me wanting more.

Dead Heart Bloom is available in 192kbps MP3 while Chelsea Diaries is in 256kbps. If you enjoy the music support the artist by buying his CDs.

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Shall We Gather at the River is another excellent folk music anthology from the Florida Folklife Collection of The Florida State Archives. The emphasis is on African-American sacred music, mainly recorded from The Florida Folk Festival between 1955 to 2005. There are a few well known artists like The Dixie Hummingbirds but most are unknown regional artists. Like the other collections from The Florida Folklife Collection, which were reviewed here and here, the recordings are excellent examples of original American traditional music as they were meant to be played and heard.

This is gospel at its finest and rawest. No fancy productions. usually live and field recordings, mostly accappella, but lots of soul and heart-felt conviction. It’s hard to pick favorites. Certainly The Dixie Hummingbirds are as good as they always are but The Washington Singers and The Versiteers are just as awe inspiring . “Jesus be a Fence Around Me” by The Antioch Junior Choir should be heard for the incredible vocal turn by the lead singer. Deacon Dan Smith gives a toe-tapping number that would have typically been heard on the street corners or the Sunday church picnic. The Religioneers have a gospel doo-wop sound that is delightful on “Come and Go to That Land”. The traditional gospel church sounds can be heard on a clip from a Testerima Primitive Baptist church service and there is a wonderful “Daniel’s in the Lion’s Den” by Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers. The album ends with possibly its most beautiful song, a exquisite accappela “There’s a Bright Side Somewhere” by Reatha Pearl Marshall. This is an excellent anthology guaranteed to lift your spirits regardless of your race, creed, or religion.

The album is available as separate tracks in 96 kbps MP3. Don’t fret the bitrate since the recordings are monaural and of very good quality. But, if you wish, you can request a complimentory CD from the Florida State Archives.

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