The American Epic Sessions from PBS


The other evening I watched The American Epic Sessions on PBS. if your not familiar with this recording its stunning. This was a project 10 years in the making all recorded direct to disk using a 1925 recording system ( think one of a kind restored system) it's all mono and there is no processing to the original recording what was put on wax is what you hear. Also of note the recordings are a one take leaving it all hang out like they did back in the day. very interesting show and the sound track in the video anyway was stunningly wonderful. From what I read they have vinyl, as well as digital-Blu ray versions.

one of the highlight for me was when Elton John composed and recorded in one session a new song.

defiantly worth looking at.


link to the sight:

https://www.americanepic.com/


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list of the tracks

Track Listing Standard album / Deluxe Disc 1
  1. Killer Diller by Alabama Shakes
  2. On The Road Again by Nas
  3. Candy Man by Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton
  4. 2 Fingers Of Whiskey by Elton John and Jack White
  5. The Cuckoo by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
  6. Like A Rose by Ashley Monroe
  7. The Only Man Wilder Than Me by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
  8. Matrimonial Intentions by Jack White
  9. One Hour Mama by Rhiannon Giddens
  10. Mal Hombre by Ana Gabriel
  11. El Cascabel by Los Lobos
  12. Closer Walk With Thee by The Avett Brothers
  13. Fourteen Rivers, Fourteen Floods by Beck
Deluxe Disc 2
  1. Nobody's Dirty Business by Bettye LaVette
  2. St. Louis Blues by Pokey Lafarge
  3. High Water Everywhere (part 2) by Taj Mahal
  4. One Mic by Nas
  5. Pretty Saro by Rhiannon Giddens
  6. Jubilee by Ashley Monroe and The Americans
  7. Tous les Matins by The Lost Bayou Ramblers
  8. When I Woke Up this Morning by Bettye LaVette
  9. If The River Was Whiskey by Frank Fairfield
  10. Stealin Stealin by Raphael Saadiq
  11. Jordan am a Hard Road to Travel by The Avett Brothers
  12. Sail Away Ladies by The Americans
  13. Tomi Tomi by The Hawaiians
  14. Last Kind Words by Christine Pizzuti
  15. Come On In My Kitchen by Stephen Stills
  16. Mama’s Angel Child by Jack White
  17. Josephine by Pokey LaFarge
  18. Hilo Hanakahi by The Hawaiians
  19. Old Fashioned Love by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard

"For two hours we revel in filmed performances in front of that single microphone, as the camera lovingly follows the sound through anaconda-like cables to the cutting head. As soon as the blank disc starts spinning, our soundtrack switches from the film-maker’s 21st-century handheld digital stereo to the glorious mono of the single microphone. There are no faders; if Burnett or White want more of this musician and a bit less of that one, they move them closer to or away from the microphone. It’s brilliant theatre, beautifully filmed and makes for glorious television. Miss it at your peril."
I feel your passion. I've been a PBS viewer for a long time. Great stuff there.


Look at Black & White Night.