The Warner Collection, Volumes 1 & 2 (Appleseed, 2000)
Various Artists
Reviewed by Brad San Martin
The most striking thing is how listenable they are. Over the course of 99 mostly brief performances (58 on Volume 1, 41 on the second), an fascinating array of singers offer not only well-known and obscure tunes, but reminiscences and amusing tales behind the songs. The Warners playfully interview the performers, but never condescend. The feeling is one of genuine interaction and good nature. Pretty soon the listener is taken into the living rooms and front porches where these songs were recorded, and the experience is exhilarating.
Volume One is broader overview of the Warner's collection, while volume two focuses (not exclusively) on the family of North Carolina's Frank Proffitt. Both are essential, with meticulous notes, as-good-as-can-be-expected audio fidelity, and the inexplicable rush of discovery.
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