Love Is Teasing: Scottish and English Early Ballads

In 1981, Shanna Beth McGee recorded an album of 10 traditional Scottish and English ballads involving love in its many moods (tender, tragic, vengeful, teasing). McGee, an associate professor of voice in the Theater Department at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist David Johnson. One powerful track is an a capella version of “Black Is the Color,” which concludes with a brief string interlude. Other well-known traditional ballads are “Barbara Allen” and “The Water Is Wide.” Liner notes provide background information about the songs. This is McGee’s only recording. Johnson recorded several albums for Folkways including Clawhammer Banjo (FW31094), Bluegrass (FW031056) with his father Billie Ray, and Old Time North Carolina Mountain Music (FW31105) with his grandfather David and father Billie Ray.

Track Listing

101	Wild Mountain Thyme Shanna Beth McGee	03:02
102	Love Is Teasing Shanna Beth McGee	03:42
103	Cruel Mother Shanna Beth McGee	04:56
104	Barbara Allen Shanna Beth McGee	04:25
105	Black Is the Color / String Interlude Shanna Beth McGee, David Johnson	02:24
201	Geordie (Georgie) Shanna Beth McGee	02:54
202	The Water Is Wide Shanna Beth McGee	03:44
203	Mary Hamilton Shanna Beth McGee	04:47
204	John Riley Shanna Beth McGee	03:43
205	Bonny Boy Is Young / String Finale Shanna Beth McGee, David Johnson	04:41