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I’m Old but I’m Awfully Tough

Various Artists
I’m Old but I’m Awfully Tough

I’m Old But I'm Awfully Tough: Traditional Music of the Ozark Region is a collection of field recordings made in southern Missouri and in northern Arkansas over the period of 1975–76 by members of the Missouri Friends of the Folk Arts. The singers, instrumentalists, and storytellers who appear on these records reveal the variety and richness of the folk traditions in the Ozark region. Many of these tunes and songs are unique and none of these performers had appeared on record before its original release in 1977. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings acquired this album in 2023, making it available for streaming for the first time in 2025.

The album’s production was made possible by the Missouri Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Producers Julia Olin and Barry Bergey offer special thanks to Alan Jabbour, American Folklife Center; Joe Hickerson, Archive of Folksong of the Library of Congress; Joe Wilson, National Council for the Traditional Arts; R.P. Christenson; Leroy Pierson; Gary Watson; and Joe Pfeffer.

Track Listing

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1
Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney
01:23  
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2
Emmanuel Wood and Family
01:42  
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3
Emmanuel Wood and Family
01:10  
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4
Emmanuel Wood and Family
02:00  
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5
Emmanuel Wood and Family
02:13  
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6
Emmanuel Wood and Family
02:25  
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7
Emmanuel Wood and Family
02:32  
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8
Green Berry Horton
01:28  
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9
Green Berry Horton
01:11  
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10
Green Berry Horton
00:37  
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11
Green Berry Horton
01:33  
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12
Green Berry Horton
00:42  
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13
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
02:37  
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14
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
02:03  
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15
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
01:42  
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16
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
02:02  
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17
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
03:08  
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18
Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt
01:38  
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19
Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney
02:59  
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20
Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney
04:07  
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21
Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney
04:07  
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22
Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney
01:23  
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23
Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard
01:56  
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24
Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard
01:51  
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25
Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard
01:47  
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26
Lawrence Baker
01:16  
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27
Lawrence Baker
02:28  
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28
Vesta Johnson and Don Womack
00:58  
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29
Vesta Johnson and Don Womack
01:19  
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30
Vesta Johnson and Don Womack
01:27  
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31
Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren
01:15  
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32
Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren
01:21  
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33
Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren
01:22  
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34
Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren
01:26  
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35
Rose Pratt
00:37  
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36
Rose Pratt
01:49  
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37
Rose Pratt
01:01  
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38
Charlie Pashia and Joe Politte
01:39  
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39
Charlie Pashia
01:28  
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40
Charlie Pashia
02:13  
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41
Joe Politte
00:54  
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42
Joe Politte
02:34  
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43
Joe Politte
02:00  
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44
Joe Politte
03:46  
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45
Joe Politte
01:40  
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46
Joe Politte
01:10  
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47
Joe Politte
01:50