American Folk Ballads

“From the wild-flower dusks of mountain twilights, out of steamy southern mud-flats and dusty midland prairies, off the sun-silver steel of cinder-blown railroad tracks and out of the chill damps of prison cells - from churches and saloons, cradles and gravesides come the songs of America that must be sung.”
—Logan English, 1962 (Liner notes to American Folk Ballads)

Growing up the son of preacher in rural Kentucky, Logan English learned the classic American folk songs he later recorded in New York while also pursuing an acting career. In 1960, English performed with Carolyn Hester for the opening night at Gerde’s Folk City and later helped Bob Dylan secure his first performance at the legendary Greenwich Village club.

In American Folk Ballads, the songs range from sea shanties such as “Shenandoah” to children’s songs such as “Little Brown Dog”. The liner notes, written by English, include a short description or story to accompany each ballad. In addition to this album, English recorded Kentucky Folk Songs, Songs of the Gold Rush, and Woody Guthrie's Children's Songs for Folkways Records.

Track Listing

101	Roll on Columbia	Logan English	02:24
102	The Dewy Dens of Yarrow	Logan English	02:44
103	Mule Skinner Blues	Logan English	02:52
104	Red Clay Country	Logan English	02:27
105	Buck-Eye Jim	Logan English	02:14
106	Shenandoah	Logan English	02:45
107	The Talking Fishing Blues	Logan English	03:02
201	The Dance Set	Logan English	03:17
202	Little Brown Dog	Logan English	02:22
203	He's in the Jailhouse Now	Logan English	02:49
204	The Kentucky Moonshiner	Logan English	01:29
205	My Last Old Dollar Is Gone	Logan English	02:26
206	Pretty Saro	Logan English	02:11
207	Mole in the Ground	Logan English	01:39
208	King's Highway	Logan English	01:42