Sunday, April 20, 2008

Spring & Flowers: Wildwood Flower



The Carter Family: Wildwood Flower [purchase]
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Wildwood Flower [purchase]
Joan Baez: Wildwood Flower [purchase]
Duane Eddy: Wildwood Flower [purchase]

Wildwood Flower is one of the classic American songs. Originally entitled "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets," it was written by Maud Irving Joseph Philbrick Webster in 1860. The song has a very simple melody that will get stuck in your head.

The most popular recorded version is by The Carter Family. The version by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from the essential album Will The Circle Be Unbroken features Mother Maybelle Carter on vocals.

I like Joan Baez's traditionally folky interpretation from her first album--recorded in 1960 while she was still a teenager. Duane Eddy's twangy guitar rendition is also pretty cool.

4 comments:

Mario B said...

The first time I heard that song was by Joan Baez. I like it from day 1 ! Never heard the version of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before. It's fine too ! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'd never heard the Duane Eddy take on it before.

Unknown said...

Maybe because it sounds so 'old-timey', The Carter Family version is my favorite of these.
Thanks for sharing multiple versions: It helps one appreciate the 'flowering' of the song, as it were.

Anonymous said...

It is one of the prettiest guitar tunes ever , and the Chet Atkins version , well it is just wonderful, and what else would you expect from Mr. guitar !!!