Elektra Records Master Discography: Browse

Elektra EKS 7099 (Stereo)

Released: June 1958

Production: Jac Holzman in association with Mark Morris

New Orleans Trad Jazz from a small combo with a 'leaning towards spirituals' led by (then) 23-year-old Ken Davern, who still plays around the world. The band were one of a small number of trad bands in New York and only Ken was a full-time musician.

Released as EKL-201-X in the short-lived 'X' stereo series. On these few early stereo discs the stereo 'sticker' was in fact printed into the sleeve design. I don't know whether any copies were pressed with the number EKS 7099 - it does have the feel of an afterthought - but you can see why the label would want to regularise their numbering system even if the discs never bore the numbers used. (Or at least they would have been stickered.) The label refers to a '45/45' recording which doesn't mean 45 rpm (there is no speed notation on the disc) but to the so-called 'Blumlein' method of cutting stereo discs with the left and right channels each at 45 degrees to the disc. This is the way all stereo discs were cut and ensures that a conventional mono pick-up would play the sum of the left and right channels.

Elektra EKS 7100 (Stereo)

Released: June 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

A small combo, led by violinish Csoka, playing the kind of music you'd hear in a Budapest café. Released in Stereo on Elektra EKL 202-X. Stereo reel-to-reel version issued by Livingstone tapes has fewer tracks but adds 'Avant de Mourir'. The disc was issed under license from Livingstone.

Elektra EKS 7101 (Stereo)

Released: 1958

Conductor is Karl Zaruba. Also released as EKL 203-X in Stereo. Licensed from Livingstone Audio Products. Despite the name, this bunch were Austrian and the sleeve design, by Bill Harvey, has a nod in the direction of Gerard Hoffnung, a musical humourist, writer and cartoonist who produced the unlikely-named 'Interplanetary Music Festival' concerts and albums in the mid-late 1956 and 1958 for Columbia Records (EMI) in the UK.

Elektra EKL 102 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

This is really where the mainstream Elektra albums start and this disc was on catalogue for just under 20 years: at the end of Jac's tenure, certainly by the Jan/Feb 1973 catalogue, the mono Josh White albums had been deleted.

The sleeve features a dramatic line drawing of Josh singing and playing guitar and was drawn by Bill Harvey based on a photo taken by Jac Holzman at the recording session for the album in 1955. Earliest copies use the script Elektra logo on the label, that predates even the 'Atom' version. Later copies exist labelled 'Stereo' but are in fact mono: the known variant like this has a red E label design.

Several of the early Elektra abums were issued by another company under the imprimateur of 'Music Treasures of the World' and this one was presumably the first with catalogue number MT-901.

Elektra EKL 103 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Paris

Two covers are known, the first with a line drawing and the second with a photograph.

Elektra EKL 104 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Paris

Like the Abbeye discs, this would have been aimed at Americans newly-returned from the novelty of a trip to Europe ... or possibly remembering a war-time visit to Paris only a dozen years before.

Elektra EKL 105 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

There are two covers for this disc. The earlier shows Theo riding a Vespa scooter (presumably Jac Holzman's famous New York transport) superimposed on a map of Europe. The more recent feature a colour photo of Theo. I've heard rumours of a stereo version but not seen it in catalogues.

Elektra EKL 106 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David Hancock

Always striving for better quality, Jac and David Hancock decided to cut this disc with unusually large guard bands at the end of each side. This kept the playing area away from the label and therefore avoided the lower linear playing speed (and potential distortion caused by a non-parallel playback arm) that increases towards the centre of a disc.

In Time Magazine's edition of August 27th 1956 their reviewer says of this LP: 'An aptly titled album, containing mostly virtuosic paraphrases (of Fledermaus, Rigoletto) and arrangements of orchestral pieces (Danse Macabre, Hungarian Rhapsody #2), done up with plenty of fireworks and a gratifying portion of delicacy and taste'.

Elektra EKL 107 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

SMP2 refers to this album as titled 'Ballads of the English Speaking World'.

Elektra EKL 108 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Banjo accompaniment, Erik Darling.

Elektra EKL 109 (Mono) EKS 7109 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Subtitle: '... sing Love Songs of Many Lands'. Two cover variations: the earlier is a drawing featuring a man and a woman with an inset 'woodcut' of Adam and Eve with the serpent. Continuing this theme, the more recent variation has a photo of a nude woman reaching for an apple, seen through frosted glass. The earlier version has 'Caligraphy' labels rather than 'Atom' or later and was probably only available for a short time.

Elektra EKL 110 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Subtitle '... and Maidens lost their Heads'. This, and the succeding volumes, were based on 'Songs of Wit and Mirth' or 'Pills to Purge Melancholy' edited by Thomas D'Urfey and printed in London in 1719 ... set to music by Ed McCurdy.

Two covers known. The earlier was based on line drawings (by Bill Harvey) but more recent copies use a photo of pseudo-medieval 'dudes in tights' including Jac Holzman in one of his Hitchcockian cover-cameos. The ornate script used for the first version has led to the album title being mistaken for 'Defiance' and even 'Daffiance' in listings. In a similar typographical oddity, the letter 'd' of 'maidens', on all the discs in the series, is actually the letters 'c' and 'l' close together. Incidentally, Xtra (a Transatlantic Records label in the UK) issued a boxed set of Dalliance bringing together vols 1 and 3. I mention this because of the cheesy cover, featuring a bonny lass biting an apple while perched on a cannon outside the Tower of London. The two discs had initially been issued in the UK as Transatlantic TRA 115 and 119.

For Elektra this was a very successful series (a cash-cow even) since, as with most folk music, there were no composer royalties to pay. The Dalliance series, Theo Bikel's albums and the military songs of Oscar Brand helped to give Elektra the financial security that enabled Jac Holzman to take risks with innovative material later.

Elektra EKL 111 (Mono)

Released: 1956

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David Hancock

Catalogue also lists 'Blues on the Downbeat' and 'The Perils of Pauline' which were not on the final disc as issued.

Elektra EKL 112 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Elektra EKL 113 (Mono) EKS 7113 (Stereo)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Also available in Stereo as EKL 113-X and EKL 213-X, and on stereo tape (EL 7-1 BN). 'Torch Singer' Norene Tate is accompanied by Al Hall on bass, Isaac Royal on piano and Sonny Greer on drums and brushes

Elektra EKL 114 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

The labels simply give the album title as 'Josh' as does the Summer-Fall 1957 catalogue. Stereo tape also issued (EL 7-2 BN) with fewer tracks: 'Woman Sure Is A Curious Critter', 'Ball and Chain Blues', and 'So Soon In The Mornin' were omitted. The tape was entitled 'Josh White Sings the Blues ... and other songs'.

Elektra EKL 115 (Mono) EKS 7115 (Stereo)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

LOC lists this album as being eponymous as does the Elektra Fall 1957 catalogue. In fact there are two 'editions' of the disc. The first has a relatively plain cover with cut-out photos of the band and does not have a sleeve title. The later edition features a cover photo showing a nude woman in a forest (Eve?) and this one bears the sleeve title 'Adam's Theme'. The name of the group had also changed from 'Quartet' to 'Ensemble'. Also released on stereo tape.

This was one of a number of discs that Elektra licensed on to Savoy Records and it became Savoy MG 12172.

Elektra EKL 116 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Stereo version released on reel-to-reel tape: ELEKTRATAPE #7-5. Some catalogues said a stereo disc was released but this may be spurious. There is something odd about the sleeve design, with its white box containing Susan's name on the left. I wonder what there was under the box that needed covering up.

Elektra EKL 117 (Mono) EKS 7117 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Ripley's apartment in New York

According to Jac Holzman in FTM there were three sessions for this LP before Sabicas and Elektra were satisfied with the results. The stereo LP is probably from a different session to the mono (to be confirmed when I get around to checking the LPs).

There are two versions of the cover: one featuring a multi-exposure shot of Sabicas playing the guitar, making his hands seem a blur. Later copies use a generic Sabicas cover with a guitar on a chair and some of these add a 'Volume 1' subtitle.

Elektra EKL 118 (Mono) EKS 7118 (Stereo)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David Hancock

The group were augmented by drummers Manuel Ramos and Teijo Ito for this set. Stereo version released on reel-to-reel tape : ELEKTRATAPE #7-7 and on stereo disc as EKL 118-X (and maybe 218-X). This was, with the Trinidad Steel Band LP, Elekta's first stereo LP release, on June 1st 1958.

This album was one of a number of discs that Elektra licensed on to Savoy Records and it became Savoy MG 12175 and with the sleeve title "Gone Native".

Elektra EKL 119 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Paris

This is a combined reissue of two 10-inch albums - EKL 13 and EKL 19 - which explains the note 'Copyright 1954' on the sleeve. However, four of the tracks on the 10-inch discs were not included: 'I Wash my Face' and 'Wandering' from EKL19 and 'L'amour de Moy' and 'En Revenant De Versailles' from EKL29.

Incidentally, there is an Abbaye club in Rue Jakob (just back from the left bank near Notre Dame) but the 'real one' was behind the abbey church of St Germain des Prés. Gordon Heath and Lee Payant were gay American actors who had settled in Paris. Heath had been a successful Broadway actor and was also reportedly the first African-American staff announcer on a major US radio station (WMCA in New York). Even after the duo acquired the club in 1949, they continued to act. Heath's roles included Shakespeare for the BBC and the narration for the classic animation of 'Animal Farm'. Payant is better-known as a voice-over artists (being the voice of Robinson Crusoe in the English-language version of a French TV series for example) and a director.

Elektra EKL 120 (Mono) EKS 7120 (Stereo)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Recorded: Carl Fisher Concert Hall, New York, March 8+9 1957

Art Blakey on drums, leading what is generally known as the 'New' Jazz Messengers. Also available in Stereo as EKL 220-X EKL 120-X and on stereo tape. There is a difference between the initial mono and stereo track listings, with 'Study in Rhythm' being only on the stereo release and 'Reflections Of Buhainia' only on the mono version. The later stereo edition, with grey labels, followed the mono track listing. Both tracks appeared on the Savoy CD reissue of the album. Buhainia was Blakey's Muslim name.

This was one of a number of discs that Elektra licensed on to Savoy Records and it became Savoy MG 12171. In 1991, a facsimile of the mono version, with Elektra branding, atom labels and the original sleeve notes, was issued in Japan.

Elektra EKL 121 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

This second of Sabicas' albums is the 'adventurous' one of the set. The 'Fantasia Inca' particularly is removed from what we might conventionally think of as Flamenco, as is 'Czardas'. But Sabicas, as the sleeve notes tell us, is a gypsy, and Czardas is a gypsy tune ... even if we are more familiar with it when played by violin and orchestra rather than guitar. On five of these tracks Sabicas double-tracks his guitar and it's a pity this album is not available in stereo to take advantage of this.

The covers include a version of the 'multiple hands' photo and two variations on the 'guitar on a chair' image.

Elektra EKL 122 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Although the sleeve title on the front is "Courtin's a Pleasure", on the back and spine it is "Courting and other folk songs of the So. Appalacians" and each side is labelled differently.

The Ritchie and Brand tracks come from EKL 22 and the Paley tracks come from EKL 12. (So a statement saying 'Copyright 1957' is not actually correct.)

Elektra EKL 123 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

This is a single 12-inch edition of the double 10-inch EKL 701. Sleeve says 'Story of John Henry' on the front and back but '25th Anniversary Album' on the spine.

The cover takes Bill Harvey's dramatic drawing of the man with the sledge-hammer used on the cover of the original and adds a coloured background. Two variations of cover known but both with the same drawing. The earlier has the words 'Josh White' big across the top and the older-style Elektra text logo half way down on the left. The later cover has the guitar player logo at the top and Josh's name moved down over the drawing. The earlier colours are also more muted than the saturated red and yellow of the later version.

Elektra EKL 124 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

EKLP 24 with extra tracks. The earlier sleeve design features a montage of 'sinful' images whereas the later design is basically black with a lighter central strip for the title.

Elektra EKL 125 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

This disc combines tracks from the 10-inch albums EKLP 2 and EKLP 25. Some copies do not have a sleeve title. There are two cover variations with the photo of Jean on the cover including a background on some and with this background cut out on others.

Elektra EKL 126 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Jac Holzman

This includes tracks from EKL 26. Lawless does not list the last three tracks, but includes 'Devil and the Farmer's Wife'. Two sleeve designs exist: one the line drawing as used on the ten-inch version (EKL 26) but rotated about 30 degrees and inset: later copies feature a photograph.

I believe that a stereo version of this LP was released in Japan.

Elektra EKL 127 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Recorded: Jamaica

There are two covers. The one shown here, which has the sleeve title 'Mr Calypso' on the front only, and one with a photograph showing an assortment of drums and a dancer, which is entitled simply 'Calypso'. The photograph version is probably the earlier.

Elektra EKL 128 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

This album takes tracks from EKLP 6 (Turkish and Spanish Folk Songs) and EKLP 8 (Mexican Folk Songs).

Elektra EKL 129 (Mono)

Released: 1957

This album combines tracks from EKLP 16 (Badmen and Heroes) and EKLP 18 (Pirate Songs and Ballads).

Elektra EKL 130 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Jac Holzman

Reissue of EKL 30.

Elektra EKL 131 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Album subtitle on cover, and title on label of some versions: 'Early English Folk Songs'. Most of these tracks are also on EKLP 11.

Elektra EKL 132 (Mono) EKS 7132 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

A somewhat confusing disc as there are two versions with the same catalogue number and the same cover but with different tracks and a different recording.

This original version of the album uses tracks from EKL 32 with new ones added. The instrumentation was simple on the first recording, with Theo singing (sometimes double-tracked) and playing guitar and with occasional 'ethnic' drums. For the second version there is a fuller arrangement including proper bass and a flute.

The stereo version of the album was described as the '2nd Edition' and the matrix is inscribed this way. The new version was recorded in 1961 according to Theo's new sleeve notes.

The track order differs between the two editions (the one given here is for the first edition) and the English transliteration differs slightly too: for example 'Layla' in the second edition was 'Lyla' in the first edition and on EKL 32. 'Shir Habokrim' is an addition for the second edition and two tracks from the first - 'Ada' and 'Arava, Arava' - are omitted. I have a supposedly mono version of the second edition, or perhaps more accurately a later first edition mono disc in a second edition cover. I have no idea whether this is a one-off or not, but the stereo version had faded away again by the late 60s and we were back to the first one in mono although the new transliterations were kept.

While the cover of the 10-inch edition of the disc featured a line drawing and emphasised the album's title over Theodore Bikel's name, by now Theo was a big-enough draw to deserve better billing ... or at least larger type! For the new sleeve the drawing was replaced by a photo of a girl in work clothes, marching happily across a field with a hoe over her shoulder. This was an image of a new Israel to replace what seems like a snake charmer on the original. Elektra received many enquires asking who the girl was and what kibbutz she was on. In fact she was a model and the field was in Long Island. Elektra's function as a match-maker was therefore short-lived.

Elektra EKL 133 (Mono)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

This disc was a 'reissue' of an LP Shep produced himself sometime earlier. The notes are ambiguous as to whether the songs were re-recorded for the Elektra version or the original tapes were remastered.

The original LP was numbered 5248 without any label branding and has a different cover to the Elektra issue. The tracks seem to be the same (I've seen a listing but not listened to the LP) except that the first track on side two is called 'La Route de Louviers' on the label and 'Le Cantonnier' on the sleeve. The song is about a roadmender and the state of the roads near the town of Louviers and the word cantonnier translates to 'a labourer on a road or railway' in English.

In the notes to a Rhino compilation of Tom Lehrer's recordings, Tom credits Shep with advising him on the early Lehrer albums, which were also private recordings.

Elektra EKL 134 (Mono) EKS 7134 (Stereo)

Released: September 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David Hancock and Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Carl Fischer Concert Hall

This disc was the brainchild of New York Jazz Quartet accordian player Mat Matthews and the musicans include his NYJQ guitarist colleague Joe Puma. The other musicians are Julius Watkins, David Amram, Fred Klein and Tony Miranda on french horns, Milt Hinton on bass and Osie Johnson on drums.

Also released in Stereo as EKL 234-X and on stereo tape; tape release was December 1st 1957.

This was one of a number of discs that Elektra licensed on to Savoy Records and it became Savoy MG 12173.

Elektra EKL 135 (Mono)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

Earlier copies of this have a sleeve title of 'Here We Go Baby' and have a cover photo of a couple on a fairground ride, while later ones change to a picture of Glenn crouching down by a guitar case and are eponymous (or 'Songs by ...' depending on whether you read the front or back of the sleeve. It may be that the title and photo intimated that this was a rock and roll album rather than folk ... hence the change.

This recording was admitted to be 'a distinct departure for Elektra' in moving away from traditional folk. On various tracks Glenn is accompanied by a chorus and orchestra, by the Shanty Boys (described as a skiffle group), Josh White and by himself.

Glenn was a contemporary of Jac Holzman at St John's College in Maryland and the first ever Holzman record - a 78 on Stratford Records - was of Glenn singing 'Follow the Drinking Gourd'.

Elektra EKL 136 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David Hancock and Leonard Ripley

Recorded: Carl Fischer Concert Hall

With Idrees Sulieman (trumpet), Mal Waldron (paino), Addison Farmer (bass) and Jerry Segal (drums).

This disc is one of the rarities and features another nicely observed photographic device - on a par with the Sabicas hands shot. Presumably lights on the ends of Teddy's hammers provide the trails as he plays the vibraphone. The trails were recorded in darkness on a time exposure and the shot was finished off with a burst of flash.

The sleeve notes say that the recordings were made using just two bi-directional ribbon microphones noting that this kind of microphone was 'generally considered obsolete' at the time. (Not in the BBC they weren't!)

Also issued on stereo tape on December 1st 1957, but the only copy of that I've seen was titled 'Vibe-Rations' and only included two tracks: 'Old Devil Moon' and 'Skylark'.

This was one of a number of discs that Elektra licensed on to Savoy Records and it became Savoy MG 12174.

Elektra EKL 137 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Guitar and recorder accompaniment by Fred Hellerman. A stereo version - EKL 137-X - is unconfirmed and perhaps spurious although there is a stereo version of 'A Maid Goin' to Comber' on SMP-4X, 'Around the World in Stereo', and the sleeve of that sampler mentions the stereo copy of 137.

Elektra EKL 138 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

More Vespas on the cover - the Holzman New York transport of choice at the time.

Elektra EKL 139 (Mono) EKS 7139 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

I had thought that there were two different configurations but I have now unearthed three (so far). The situation is further confused by my version 2 having seven tracks on side two disc but eight listed on the label. Also released in Stereo as EKL 239-X (version 1). This LP was cited in Billboard as being Elektra's first stereo LP release (with 118) on June 1st 1958 and had already been released on stereo tape on December 1st 1957.

Elektra EKL 140 (Mono)

Released: 1957

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Ed McCurdy, voice ; Robert Abramson, harpsichord ; LaNoue Davenport, recorders ; William Faier, guitar and banjo ; Erik Darling, solo banjo. Instead of 'The Merchant and the Fidler's Wife', Lawless lists 'Young Stephen and Phillis'. The cover exists with both light and very dark blue backgrounds to the main picture. The light blue is probably the earlier.

Elektra EKL 141 (Mono) EKS 7141 (Stereo)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

With orchestra: Fred Hellerman, conductor. The poster lists the Yiddish song titles in Hebrew script but the boy, to whom Theo is talking, was actually Puerto Rican.

Elektra EKL 142 (Mono)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Group-sung folk/country songs from Mike Cohen (guitar), Lionel Kilberg ('Brownie' bass) and Roger Sprung (banjo). As the cover photo show, the Brownie is an up-turned washtub to which is attached a broom handle and a piece of string. This kind of bass was a staple of 'skiffle' folk groups in the early 50s. However, the Shanties are not skiffle as they don't have a washboard and the banjo is picked rather than strummed ... even if they do include 'Puttin on the Style'!

Elektra EKL 143 (Mono)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

The sleeve of the stereo sampler (SMP-4X) refers to a stereo version of this LP as Elektra 143-X and the sampler includes a stereo version of 'Gently Johnny', but the stereo version doesn't seem to have been issued.

Elektra EKL 144 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Husband and wife Gene and Francesca Raskin sing quietly in harmony to the sound of a small guitar (and occasional Fred Hellerman's accordian). This, the sleeve notes tell us, they used to do on the deck of their yacht 'Raven' when anchored offshore. It's unashamedly 'coffee lounge' folk rather than the trad stuff, much as Nina and Frederik made popular in Europe at about the same time: but it's beautifully crafted and - as with the opening track - often great fun. Gene's sleeve notes comment: '...we must express our gratitude to Elektra, whose chief, Jac Holzman, follows the most delightful principle of patting the artists heads, bringing them coffee, and letting them do as they please'.

A stereo version was supposed to have been issued as EKL 144-X according to the sleeve of the 'Around the World in Stereo' sampler, which includes a stereo version of 'Il est Petit', but I haven't come across any trace of it. Gene was the writer of 'Those Were the Days', which was a hit for Mary Hopkin in the early days of Apple Records.

Elektra EKL 145 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Sabicas (with the emphasis on the 'i' in the middle ... like Sa-bee-cas) apparently always wanted a flat fee for his recordings: even though he would have made more money from royalties (ref: Jac Holzman in 'Follow the Music'). A 7.5 ips tape (catalogue number 2015C) was issued titled "Sabicas Plays Flamenco", which would appear to be stereo versions of some of these tracks. It is listed on the box as "A Livingstonette from the Elektra Tape Library". The listing is as follows:

Rumores Flamencos (Soleá par Buleria) • Garrotin Flamenco (Garrotin) • Fiesta de Sabicas (Bulerías) • Ecos Flamencos (Seguidilla) • Rodena Gitana (Rondeña)

Elektra EKL 146 (Mono) EKS 7146 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

The troupe is referred to as OZ (The OZ Israeli Troupe) on the label and in the sleeve notes: the word Oz also means 'strong' in Hebrew. Musical director: Fred Hellerman. Unlike Theo Bikel's 'Folk Songs of Israel', the songs sung by the Troupe are 'new', like the Israeli state itself at the time. The sleeve notes (by Amita Neeman and Dov Seltzer) comment that this music is not what might be called folk song at all, because 'many of the composers are known and still alive'. But as they continue: 'Already these songs are the property of the people'.

Two sleeve variations known: both feature the same photo but the original is taken against a blue background cyc whereas on later ones the background has been cut out. Also issued in Stereo as EKL 146-X.

Elektra EKL 147 (Mono)

Released: 1958

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

An easy battle between man and wife. Engineered (the audio that is) by Leonard Ripley and with Paul playing guitar and Bob Yellin on banjo and cithern. Matrix has EKL 149 crossed out which could be an error or could be a change in the catalogue number.

Elektra EKL 148 (Mono)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: David B Jones

A somewhat theatrical (if genuine) set of mostly Scottish folk songs. Additional guitar from Fred Hellerman.

Elektra EKL 149 (Mono) EKS 7149 (Stereo)

Production: Jac Holzman

Engineering: Leonard Ripley

Sabicas (on guitar) is joined by Enrique Montoya and Domingo Alvarado (singers) and El Niño de Alicante and Diego Castellon on guitar. Also released in Stereo as EKL 249-X