Featured Label(s)
Smithsonian Folkways
Folkways Records was founded by Moses Asch and Marian Distler in 1948 to document music, spoken word, instruction, and sounds from around the world. In the ensuing decades, New York City-based Folkways became one of the largest independent record labels in the world. The Smithsonian Institution acquired Folkways (part of the Moses and Frances Asch Collection) from the Moses Asch estate in 1987. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings was then formed in 1988 as a nonprofit record label to continue the Folkways tradition of releasing significant recordings with scholarly documentation, and keeps all Folkways recordings in print. Smithsonian are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound. We believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials we seek to strengthen people's engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document "people's music," spoken word, instruction, and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity, education, increased understanding, and lively engagement with the world of sound. Smithsonian Folkways has expanded on Asch's legacy, adding several other record labels to the collections and releasing over 300 new recordings that document and celebrate the sounds of the world around us.
Discography
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Bosavi: Rainforest Music from… Various Artists
Format: CD
27/03/2001
Two generations of Bosavi musicians and 25 years of field recordings: a comprehensive and intimate musical portrait of life in a Papua New Guinea rain… -
Every Tone a Testimony Various Artists
Format: CD
27/02/2001
This double CD draws upon the collection at the Smithsonian Folkways archive to create a history of African American life and culture in sound?an aura… -
Honeyboy Edwards: Mississippi… David "Honeyboy…
Format: CD
23/01/2001
David "Honeyboy" Edwards embodies the continuity from blues' Mississippi Delta roots to electric Chicago blues. Honeyboy's string-snapping guitar riff… -
The World's Musical Tradi… Various Artists
Format: CD
28/11/2000
This album, produced and edited by Tullia Magrini, is the last in the acclaimed series produced by the International Institute for Traditional Music.… -
Song Rhythms and Chants for th… Ella Jenkins
Format: CD
24/10/2000
Ella Jenkins is joined by other vocalists and musicians to sing and play spirituals, chants, blues, folk songs, and instrumentals. Their cadenced rhyt… -
Calypso in New York Lord Invader
Format: CD
26/09/2000
Inspired improvisation and compelling rhythms, created by piano, small orchestra, and sometimes a drum and hand clapping, characterize these performan… -
The Best of Broadside 1962-198… Various Artists
Format: CD
12/09/2000
The Best of Broadside, Anthems of the American Underground from the Pages of Broadside Magazine. Eighty-nine songs, including some never commercially… -
Discover Indonesia Various Artists
Format: CD
25/07/2000
Music of Indonesia Selections from the 20-CD Series. Indonesia is a huge country, spread over hundreds of islands, encompassing peoples of many differ… -
Well May the World Go Larry Long
Format: CD
27/06/2000
Telling the stories of hard-working people in a way that highlights the courage, deep personal experiences, and heroism found in their lives is a trad… -
Safarini in transit: Music of… Various Artists
Format: CD
25/04/2000
Musicians from Ghana, Kenya, Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe lead powerful performances by five ensembles of African musicians who now live in the Uni… -
European Klezmer Music Khevrisa
Format: CD
25/04/2000
This is the first modern studio recording of the klezmer music of Europe, performed with the original European instrumentation?first violin, cimbal (h… -
The Folkways Years, 1959-1973 Memphis Slim
Format: CD
22/02/2000
This collection contains the best of blues pianist Memphis Slim's Folkways years and includes 3 previously unreleased tracks. The CD features solo per…
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Featured Artists
- Jimmie Vaughan
- Thea Gilmore
- Edgelarks (Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin)
- Molly Tuttle
- Sean Taylor
- John Mayall
- Megson
- Kitty Macfarlane
- Jackie Oates
- Ahab
- Aidan O'Rourke
- Allison Moorer
- Amy Lavere
- Anathema
- Annie Keating
- Aoife O'Donovan
- Asian Dub Foundation
- B.B. King
- Baaba Maal
- Bachman
- Bap Kennedy
- Bella Hardy
- Bellowhead
- Ben Glover
- Benji Kirkpatrick
- Beverley Martyn
- Bill Wyman
- Blair Dunlop
- Bobby Bare
- British Sea Power
- Bruce Cockburn
- Buzz Cason
- C Duncan
- Cara Dillon
- Cécile McLorin Salvant
- Cheetah Chrome
- Chris Stout & Catriona McKay
- Chris Wood
- Chuck Mead
- Ciaran Lavery
- Clannad
- Courtney Barnett
- Cowboy Junkies
- Dan Walsh
- David Bowie
- David Gray
- David Wax Museum
- Del Barber
- Don Felder
- Dr. John
- Eddi Reader
- Eliza Carthy
- Embrace
- Emily Smith
- Eska
- Esperanza Spalding
- Eve Selis
- Ewan MacColl
- Fabian Holland
- Fairport Convention
- Faustus
- Fay Hield
- Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party
- Fiona Bevan
- Fisherman's Friends
- Flats And Sharps
- Focus
- Frank Sinatra
- Frazey Ford
- Gavin Bryars
- Gazpacho
- Gilmore & Roberts
- Gregory Porter
- Gretchen Peters
- Half Man Half Biscuit
- Hannah Read
- Hayseed Dixie
- Heidi Talbot
- Henry Priestman
- Holly Williams
- Ian Hunter
- Infinite Sunday
- J.D. Wilkes & The Dirt Daubers
- Jake Shimabukuro
- James McCartney
- Jason Isbell
- Jeff Healey
- Jim Causley
- Jim Lauderdale
- JJ Grey & Mofro
- Jo Harman
- Joan Baez
- John McCusker
- Johnny Winter
- Jon Boden
- Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker
- Joss Stone
- Julian Sas
- Julie Fowlis
- June Tabor
- Karine Polwart
- Karine Polwart With Pippa Murphy
- Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
- Kathryn Tickell & The Side
- Katie Armiger
- Katy Carr
- Keith Jarrett
- Kris Drever
- Kris Kristofferson
- Labi Siffre
- Larkin Poe
- Lau
- Levellers
- Leveret
- Linda Thompson
- Lisa Knapp
- Los Lobos
- Loudon Wainwright III
- Lucinda Williams
- Lucy Ward
- Luke Jackson
- Lynched
- Malted Milk & Toni Green
- Martha Tilston
- Martin Harley
- Martin Simpson
- Martyn Joseph
- Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Mary Gauthier
- Mawkin
- Michael Kiwanuka
- Miracle Mile
- Molly Warburton
- Moulettes
- Nanci Griffith
- Nancy Kerr
- Neil Cowley Trio
- Neil Finn
- Neil McSweeney
- Nic Jones
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Nick Lowe
- Nicole Atkins
- Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy With The Gift Band
- O'Hooley & Tidow
- Ondatropica
- Orbital
- Oysterband
- Ozric Tentacles
- Paper Aeroplanes
- Patrick Sweany
- Paul Brady
- Paul Burch
- Paul Carrack
- Peatbog Faeries
- Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin
- Poltergeist
- Porcupine Tree
- Portico Quartet
- Rachael McShane & The Cartographers
- Ralph McTell
- Randy Bachman
- Richard Thompson
- Robb Johnson
- Roller Trio
- Ruth Theodore
- Sam Brothers
- Sam Carter
- Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys
- Sam Lee
- Seth Lakeman
- Shelby Lynne
- Siobhan Miller
- Show Of Hands
- Small Town Jones
- Songs Of Separation
- Sonny Landreth
- Southern Tenant Folk Union
- Spiers & Boden
- SPIRO
- Steeleye Span
- Steve Cradock
- Steven Wilson
- Stick In The Wheel
- Suzanne Vega
- Tangerine Dream
- Teddy Thompson, Kelly Jones
- The Albion Band
- The Albion Christmas Band
- The Ghost Wolves
- The Hot 8 Brass Band
- The Magic Band
- The Tea Party
- The Transports
- The Waifs
- The Wailin' Jennys
- The Waterboys
- The Willows
- The Young'uns
- Tom Russell
- Trapper Schoepp
- Vashti Bunyan
- Wishbone Ash
- Little Simz
Featured Labels
- Smithsonian Folkways
- ECM Touchstone
- Ear Music
- The Last Music Company
- Dixiefrog
- Topic
- Navigator Records
- ECM
- Documents
- Proper Records
- Abstract Logix
- Alcopop
- Alligator
- Analog Africa
- Angel Air
- Attack Attack
- Australian Eloquence
- Beautiful Jo
- BGO Records
- Charly
- Cherry Red
- Communion
- Compass
- Complete Blues
- Cooking Vinyl
- Corazong
- Crammed Discs
- DELMARK RECORDS
- Demon Records
- DOL
- Dome Records
- ECC Records
- ECM New Series
- Edsel
- Fargo
- Far Out Recordings
- Fellside
- Fledg'ling
- Folkwit Records
- GB Records
- Green Linnet
- Greentrax
- Hands On Music
- Hep
- Highpoint Recordings
- Honest Jon's Records
- Hudson Records
- Hux Records
- Hypertension
- IML
- Irregular
- Jasmine Records
- Jazz for Babies
- Jazzhouse
- Just Music
- Kscope
- Lake
- Leola
- Magic Bullet
- Manifesto
- MaxJazz
- Megaforce
- Memory Lane
- Motema
- Mulligan Records
- Naim Edge
- Naim Jazz
- Nettwerk Records
- Oh Boy
- Park Records
- Peaceville
- Plowboy Records
- Probe Plus Records
- Proper Associates
- Proper Box
- Proper Films
- Putumayo Kids
- Raven
- Real Gone Music
- Recall
- Record Store Day
- Reveal Records
- Rooksmere Records
- R.U.F.
- RUF
- Ruf Records
- Seamless Records
- Soundway
- Sepia
- SteepleChase
- Stoney Lane Records
- Stony Plain
- Skint
- STL Technologies
- True North Records
- Tru Thoughts
- Weatherbox
- Whirlwind Recordings
- World Circuit
- World Music Network
- Xtra Mile Recordings
- Yep Roc
