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The Songs and Ballads of Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill

Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown
The Songs and Ballads of Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill

"My grandma, Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill, was the last of the Tyler ballad singing family from Kentucky. The Tylers were very private people and kept their music in the family. They had their own way of tuning all the instruments and their own ways of playing them, and they only allowed family members to know those techniques.

-Acie Cargill

The Songs and Ballads of Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill is a recording of songs passed down from the tradition of the Tyler family. This is a singular collection, representing a tradition that had ceased transmission with the death of Hattie Cargill, and had never before been recorded. The decision to share, record and perform the Tyler's music was made by Hattie's grandson Acie, the last to have learned the Tyler's style and repertoire from his grandmother. Among the unique aspects of the Tyler's style is the uncommon accompaniment of ballads with varied instrumentation, vocal harmony, and even the exchanging of parts; another is the Tyler guitar noting style, which involved drop-thumb playing with the index finger thrusting downward.

The Songs and Ballads of Hattie Cargill presents traditional songs, including seven Child ballads, and some ballads possibly written by Cargill herself. One song, "The Death of Young Robert", may have derived from Cargill's community role as a singer for those nearing death. Together, this collection preserves an exceptional, longstanding and obscure tradition - in the words of Sandy Paton, "the Tylers seem to have discovered their own way of presenting these songs of reach other's pleasure, and used it creatively"

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Track Listing

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101
Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:12
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102
The Carol of the Cherry Tree Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 04:07
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103
The Lover's Proof Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:15
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104
Dark-Skinned Davey Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:36
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105
I Wish I Was Single Again Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:19
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106
The Farmer Feeds Us All Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 01:29
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107
Keep Your Garden Clean Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:55
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108
My Brother Edward Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:53
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109
Lord Lovel Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 04:00
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110
Omie Wise Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:27
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111
The Bachelor's Lament Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:17
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112
The Dear Companion Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:56
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113
Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 04:32
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114
The Death of Young Robert Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:49
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115
The Unbroken Token Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:49
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116
Barbara Allen Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 04:10
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117
The Rosebud Blooms But Once Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:55
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118
My Wedding Day Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 02:17
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119
Sweet William and Lady Margaret Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 04:07
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120
The Dying Daughter Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:09
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121
The Waggoner's Lad Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:04
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122
My Kentucky Home Debra Cowan, Acie Cargill, Susan Brown 03:45