American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 4

They Say...

Review by Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Although Pete Seeger did put out an LP on Folkways in 1961 titled American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 4, it's important to note straight off that the 2006 CD reissue on Smithsonian Folkways bearing the same title has a considerably different track listing. While 12 of the 28 tracks on the CD are indeed from the 1961 CD, the other songs are taken from other Seeger Folkways recordings. These include nine from the 1962 album American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 5; a smattering of cuts from material he recorded for Folkways in the '50s; and even a previously unreleased performance (date not given) of "Old Maid's Song." Unless you're a stickler for faithfulness to original discographies, however, the extra material's welcome, more than doubling as it does the length of the record. As for the music, it's generally a little more somber and serious than much of what Seeger was recording at the time, which is actually a refreshing slant if you have enough of his more sunny-side-up music elsewhere in your collection. Some of these songs are very well known ("You Are My Sunshine," "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," "Go Down, Moses," "Summertime"); others are, if not as familiar to the general public, certainly staples of the folk revival ("No More Auction Block," "All My Trials," "John Riley," "John Hardy"); and quite a few are the kind of more obscure songs that might have died out if people like Seeger hadn't performed and recorded them. In common with so much of his huge recorded output, all of the material is respectfully, good-naturedly interpreted, with very accomplished banjo playing (and occasional 12-string guitar). The 30-page CD booklet has copious liner notes explaining the diverse origins of the songs, which range from army songs and sea shanties to lullabies, spirituals, and murder ballads.