In 1967, Sheb Wooley released a great single, where the A-side – “Love In” – hilariously mocked the “free love” sentiment then in vogue, while the B-side proudly proclaimed the simple music of the “folk” to be the kind that touches his soul the deepest:
[Pssst: Click the triangle to play “Wildwood Flower on the Autoharp” by Sheb Wooley]
Produced by Jack Clement
That’s right, another salvo in the age-old battle between the fine arts and the popular arts. And the victor of this particular musical fight? Naturally, popular music – where all the best brawlers are.
“Wildwood Flower On The Autoharp” is only available via the original 7-inch single or buy purchasing Bear Family’s 4-CD/113-song anthology, That’s My Pa.
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The Mother of All Autoharp Players
Mother Maybelle Carter sure had a distinctive way of picking out the melody lines on her autoharp, as this clip from The Johnny Cash Show can attest:
“Black Mountain Rag“
Mother Maybelle Carter (1970)
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