In the deep hills of Appalachia, there was mixing between black and white music, religious and secular, rich and poor. More than we usually talk about, or would like to think.
With that in mind, this is one of those songs that was passed back and forth, between instruments, between social classes, and among friends. It's a tune called Ruben or Ruben's Train.
This song became so popular that versions of it were recorded by Woody Guthrie and others, and then rewritten into pop hits like 500 Miles by Peter, Paul and Mary.
This mix of Ruben is a bit aggressive, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without my good friend, producer and musician Dejan Ilijic (of the band EYOT).
I'm really excited to be using photos from the New York Public Library's amazing digital collection. Look for more of these coming soon! They have such a great Americana vibe. And each has an amazing story. This is "Minstrel poster in Alabama town", photographed in 1936 by the great photographer Walker Evans (digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/b2b749b0-baca-0132-e715-58d385a7b928)
Thanks for listening! Drop me a note and tell me what you think.
A complete listing of the tunes that are available on DSound, via my profile there: https://dsound.audio/#/@drkent
Original Songs
- Bethlehem
- Blue in the Morning
- I Can Feel My Voice Rise
- If I Could Tie My Breath to Yours [I'd leave blackberries by your door]
- The Place I'm Going [I Am a Pilgrim]
- You Are the Reason I Wake Up [Guitar version]
- You Are the Reason I Wake Up [Mandolin version]
Alt-Trad Tunes
- Beautiful Golden Somewhere [Instrumental]
- Bright Morning Stars are Rising [Day is Breaking in My Soul]
- Come All You Good Time People
- Coo Coo Bird
- Good Night
- Idumea [Recording in a Thunderstorm]
- If That Train Runs Me Right [I'll Be Home By Saturday Night]
- Poor Wayfaring Stranger
- Rovin' on a Winter's Night [Drinkin' Good ol' Wine]
- Short Life of Trouble [for a Boy With a Broken Heart]
- Troublin' Mind
Cover Songs
- I'm on Fire [Only you cool my desire]
- One of These Days
Instrumentals
- Way Beyond the Blue [Instrumental]
Experimental
► Listen on DSound
► Listen from source (IPFS)