The Music of Sodom Laurel, Madison County, North Carolina

The ridges of Madison County in western North Carolina are home to an extended family that sings the old British ballads, as well as lyric songs and religious material, in an utterly unique and beautiful style. The Chandler, Wallin, and Norton clan has been the subject of several records, two films - John Cohen's End of an Old Song and Martha King and Rob Roberts' Madison County Project: The Film - and two photo essays, one by Harvey Wang and another by Rob Amberg, which was published by the University of North Carolina Press as the Sodom Laurel Album, with an accompanying CD.



Playlist



01 Dillard Chandler: A Soldier Travelling from the North

Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)



02 Dellie Norton: Early, Early in the Spring

High Atmosphere (Rounder)



03 Berzilla Wallin: If I Had the Wings of an Angel

Sodom Laurel Album: Appalachian Ballads from Madison County, North Carolina (UNC Press)



04 Lee Wallin: Neighbor Girl

Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)



05 Doug and Jack Wallin: Darling Cora

Family Songs and Stories from the North Carolina Mountains (Smithsonian Folkways)



06 Cas Wallin: Pretty Saro

Alan Lomax 1983 film footage (unissued)



07 Sheila Kay Adams: Little Margaret

Alan Lomax 1983 film footage (unissued)



08 Lloyd Chandler: Remember and Do Pray for Me

High Atmosphere (Rounder)



09 Dellie Norton: Little Mohee

Sodom Laurel Album: Appalachian Ballads from Madison County, North Carolina (UNC Press)



10 Dillard Chandler: I Wish My Baby Was Born

Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)



and



High Atmosphere (Rounder)



11 Cas Wallin: Camp a Little While In the Wildnerness

Appalachia: The Old-Traditions, Vol. 2 (Homemade Music)



12 Dillard Chandler: Short Time Here, Long Time Gone

Dark Holler: Old Love Songs and Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)



(32 minutes)

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