Arkivet

This is the second and last part (at least for now) of our explorations in the s/sw genre. This time we take a look at some private press artists that didn’t make it on big important record companies. Time wise we have now moved from the early 70s in the previous episode to the late 70s and early 80s, although stylistically there is not much of a difference and not many influences from contemporary genres can be heard. This lag phase is common among private presses and ties together genres otherwise spread out in time. As with mainstream singer/songwriters there is plenty to pick and choose from, perhaps even more, and we have put together a few of our favorites.

Bert Keely – Take Me Home (Man hole) 1979-Mari’s SongTed Lucas – s/t (OM) 1975-Plain and Sane and Simple MelodyJD Elias – Who’s That? (BIRC) 1978-Leavin' on My MindPoor Richard – Places of the Sun (Kazoo) 1978-The Ax of Good-byNaomi – Seagulls and Sunflowers (Cottage) 1976-More BeautifulSixth Station – Deep Night (No label) 1982-Deep Night

In the first episode we focus on major label s-sw that despite releasing for big record companies are largely forgotten today (with the exception of perhaps Jackson C Frank). The term singer-songwriter came into use in the 1960s as a way to define the folk and protest singers, which had become popular, especially around Greenwich Village in New York. The genre is heavily influenced by the preceding folk singers of the 1940s and 50s but historically this way of performing music is much older. After Bob Dylan merged folk and rock, musicians started in the late 60s and early 70s to play electric instruments and perform their songs together with bands and that’s where we land in today’s episode. This genre is definitely overcrowded and we like to highlight some of the artists that we think deserves a second listening.

Kathy Smith – Some Songs I’ve Saved 1970 (Stormy Forest)-TopangaBob Brown – The Wall I Built Myself 1970 (Stormy Forest)-Seek the SunMarc Jonson -Years (Vanguard) 1972-Rainy DuesKaren Beth – The Joys of Life (Decca) 1969-Nothing lastsAndy Zwerling – Spiders In the Night (Kama Sutra) 1970-Sifting Around in a Haze Jackson C Frank – s/t (Columbia) 1965-I Never Wanted YouDon Cooper – s/t (Roulette) 1970-Big Sur Mountain Air