Women's Groups - Ponder, Carol Little Journeys: A Cappella Solo Ballads

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Barbara Allen

How Can I Keep from Singing

Lady Margaret

My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountain

The Old Cumberland Land

Ponder, Carol Little Journeys: A Cappella Solo Ballads

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This is one of two Carol Ponder recordings we carry, and this one is just as lovely as the first! This is a collection of purely solo ballads and songs, culled from Carol's own life experiences as well as those passed on by her Appalachian family. Exposed to the music as a child growing up in Western North Carolina, Carol gives these songs her own "voice" here.

With her strong voice deftly maneuvering around the twists and turns that the vocalizations of this style take, Ponder takes us back to Appalachia. Opening track "How Can I Keep From Singing" speaks volumes about the spirit that drives us all to sing. Spoons accompany some tunes like "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains" (complete with a little harmony done by Carol herself) and "Kitty Come Down," a modern-day folk tune by Tom Mitchell. Beautiful, haunting "Barbara Allen" features Carol's softer side; "Bless Me, Barbie" and Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz" lend a little humor and timely social satire to the album (though Carol's sound isn't anywhere NEAR as haggard as Janis' here); Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" makes an statement here as well. The liner notes give great explanations and background to each performance. This is a very sweet album, done by a very talented woman, dedicated to preserving a valuable heritage of American song. Highly recommended! (36:18 2000)

Song List:
How Can I Keep From Singing
The Old Cumberland Land
My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
Lady Margaret
Barbara Allen
Bless Me, Barbie
Mercedes Benz
Kitty Come Down
Signs and Wonders
Woodstock
The Ballad of Penny Evans
Generations
(36:18 2000)