Wednesday, July 21, 2010

V/A - I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore - Mississippi Records
Various Artists - I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore 1927-1948 - Mississippi 013
An oldie from the Mississippi catalog, long out of print but resuscitated by a new batch of Folkways-style heavy-cardboard-and-pasted-on-graphic sleeves, I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore collects recordings made in the US of A between 1927 and 1948 by members of the many different immigrant populations newly calling america their home. Taken as a whole, the record has a gentle, mysterious quality, song by song spanning the globe through the patina of 78 rpm crackle and hiss. Beyond the track listing, the only information on the sleeve comes in the form of four weathered photographs, though you'll have to sleuth out to which groups they belong. 180 degrees from the world music compilations that try to show the influence of American funk, psych, soul, etc. on a given foreign country's music scene, this collection represents the breadth of traditions from the "old world" converging in the "new." Excellent selections from start to finish, all pre-rock and roll, many wistful, any curious listener will appreciate this audio-postcard from our great-grandparents. Eggy is the only place to get it online. $10.

You can have a listen here.

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