Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard

The partnership of the Thelma and Louise of folk music represents a curious convergence on a few fronts. Hazel Dickens is the daughter of a banjo-picking preacher in West Virginia. Alice Gerrard was raised in Oakland, California, by classically trained parents. A leftist political perspective underscores the songs of both women, but in very different ways. Dickens puts one in mind of old labor while Gerrard was inspired to write "Beaufort County Jail" after reading an article by New Leftist Angela Davis in <i>Ms</i>. What they did share was a deep affection for old-timey music, even if one of the women was weaned on the stuff while the other picked up on it while in college. The two began singing together in 1962; this collection was cut in the mid-'70s and features songs written by both women plus some choice covers, including a jaunty take on Jimmie Rodgers's "Mean Papa Blues" and the Louvin Brothers' "When I Loved You," which showcases their trademark close harmonies. In the end, despite their varied backgrounds, they shared plenty, too, including smarts, spunk, and soul. <i>--Steven Stolder</i>