From February 17, 2004:

Archived Show: Episode 54

Listen to the entire show

Featured: R. Crumb's 78rpm Records

A Billie Holiday tribute from James Carter
Malian story-song guitarist Habib Koite
Scottish, folk electronica: Martyn Bennett
Canadian fiddle player April Verch
Polish folk from the Warsaw Village Band

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This is a collection of obscure recordings of women singers from all over the world, mostly from the 1920s and '30s, culled from R. Crumb's personal collection of 78rpm records.

Featured: R. Crumb

CD: Hot Women: Women Singers from the Torrid Regions of the World
Song: "El Tambor de la Alegria"
Label: Efa/Caroline

Listen to "El Tambor de la Alegria"

Watch the slideshow (Requires Real Player)

Jazz saxophonist James Carter here performs a track from the Billie Holiday songbook.

James Carter

CD: Gardenias for Lady Day
Song: "I'm In A Low Down Groove"
Label: Sony

Listen to "I'm In A Low Down Groove"

Habib Koite comes from the Khassonke griot tradition in Mali, an inherited caste of musicians who perform story songs to preserve the history of their homeland.

Habib Koite

CD: Foly Live Around the World
Song: "Batoumambe"
Label: World Village

Listen to "Batoumambe"

Martyn Bennett fuses traditional Scottish folk with modern backbeats.

Martyn Bennett

CD: Grit
Song: "Chanter"
Label: Real World

Listen to "Chanter"

A fiddler from Ottawa Valley, April Verch draws on the sounds of Appalachia, bluegrass, Celtic and French Canada on this mix of waltzes, airs, reels, and polkas.

April Verch

CD: From Where I Stand
Song: "Reg and Irma's Waltz"
Label: Rounder

Listen to "Reg and Irma's Waltz"

The sheep-herding mountaineers of Poland used a style of singing called "bialy glos" or "white voice" - a type of powerful, melodic screaming used to communicate across long distances. The Warsaw Village Band revives this musical style on this CD.

Warsaw Village Band

CD: People's Spring
Song: "I Had A Lover"
Label: World Village

Listen to "I Had A Lover"

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