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Selections from recordings of live performances at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 1957 to present.

Live From the Old Town School: Top Tracks

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City of New-Orleans (Steve Goodman Arrgt Chet Atkins) played here by the french guitar picker Michel Lelong in 1986. 
Michel taught this tune thru "Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop" during the 80's - 90's. These lessons (tab and audio lessons) are still available thru Michel Lelong's web site
www.michel-lelong-music-house.com 

City Of New - Orleans (Steve Goodman - Arrgt - Chet Atkins) - Played By Michel Lelong

This is from a benefit concert for Michael Cooney at Stages Music Hall on Clark Street in Chicago, on November 4, 1979.

The Glory of Love - Steve Goodman & Jethro Burns

Looking for Trouble. A song written and recorded in by Steve Goodman in 1975. (The pic is of the late, great Chicago musician.) Apologies to true SG aficionados – I learned this song listening to others play live and only just found that there should be a bridge! So this is definitely my version. I’m playing a Breedlove dread tuned a half step down but capoed crazily up on the 8th fret; playing in Am mode so = Key of Em. This is recorded live into the MP3 Recorder app on my Android phone using whatever mic is on my cell phone. 

Looking For Trouble Take2

Steve Goodman wrote this hysterical ode to TV commercials in the early 1980s, so some references have been updated.  What would happen if all of the STUFF that is advertised in the middle of the night on the tube was actually ordered and showed up at your doorstep?  As ever, Steve's untimely death from leukemia in 1984 cannot diminish his genius and ability to make fun of anything-- in this case (deservedly) crass consumersim.  This version is the final cut of Lonewulff's "Hear to Eternity" album.

Vegematic

The Vaults of (Roots Music) Heaven: Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music Unlocks the Lost Gems and Wild Creativity of its Live Archives 

Venerable vernacular music institution releases 127 live tracks by the best in American and global music from last half century. 

On a stack of DATs in a shoebox lay the history of American music. There were local legends and major icons, global musicians and indie rockers. Some captured beautifully from the board, some gleaned quietly from the dusty archives of a radio station, the recordings held wildly creative decades of sound from Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, a roots-music touchstone for nearly 55 years. And no one had heard them.

Joan Baez and Donovan, Big Bill Broonzy and Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger and Taj Mahal, Martin Carthy and Steve Earle, Doc Watson and Mahalia Jackson: It was a literal who’s-who of folk, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues, and world music, caught in hours of exciting performances. But someone had to put the pieces together—all 127 tracks worth—and someone had to clear all the rights with 85 different artists.

They succeeded, against odds that would have stopped others in their tracks. Live From The Old Town School (Old Town School Recordings; release: December 13, 2011) reveals not only the venerable institution’s storied start, but its role in the recent infusion of new energy into the roots music world, with everyone from Toumani Diabate and Oumou Sangare to Andrew Bird and Lila Downs. 

C.C. Rider, Andrew Bird

The Vaults of (Roots Music) Heaven: Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music Unlocks the Lost Gems and Wild Creativity of its Live Archives 

Venerable vernacular music institution releases 127 live tracks by the best in American and global music from last half century. 

On a stacks of cassettes, reel to reel tapes and digital audio tapes lay the history of American music. There were local legends and major icons, global musicians and indie rockers. Some captured beautifully from the board, some gleaned quietly from the dusty archives of a radio station, the recordings held wildly creative decades of sound from Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, a roots-music touchstone for nearly 55 years. And no one had heard them.

Joan Baez and Donovan, Big Bill Broonzy and Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger and Taj Mahal, Martin Carthy and Steve Earle, Doc Watson and Mahalia Jackson: It was a literal who’s-who of folk, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues, and world music, caught in hours of exciting performances. But someone had to put the pieces together—all 127 tracks worth—and someone had to clear all the rights with 85 different artists.

They succeeded, against odds that would have stopped others in their tracks. Live From The Old Town School (Old Town School Recordings; release: December 13, 2011) reveals not only the venerable institution’s storied start, but its role in the recent infusion of new energy into the roots music world, with everyone from Toumani Diabate and Oumou Sangare to Andrew Bird and Lila Downs. 

Jerusalem, Steve Earle

Hard Time Killing Floor Blues, Cephas & Wiggins

The Vaults of (Roots Music) Heaven: Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music Unlocks the Lost Gems and Wild Creativity of its Live Archives 

Venerable vernacular music institution releases 127 live tracks by the best in American and global music from last half century. 

On stacks of cassettes, reel to reel tapes and digital audio tapes lay the history of American music. There were local legends and major icons, global musicians and indie rockers. Some captured beautifully from the board, some gleaned quietly from the dusty archives of a radio station, the recordings held wildly creative decades of sound from Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, a roots-music touchstone for nearly 55 years. And no one had heard them.

Joan Baez and Donovan, Big Bill Broonzy and Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger and Taj Mahal, Martin Carthy and Steve Earle, Doc Watson and Mahalia Jackson: It was a literal who’s-who of folk, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues, and world music, caught in hours of exciting performances. But someone had to put the pieces together—all 127 tracks worth—and someone had to clear all the rights with 85 different artists.

They succeeded, against odds that would have stopped others in their tracks. Live From The Old Town School (Old Town School Recordings; release: December 13, 2011) reveals not only the venerable institution’s storied start, but its role in the recent infusion of new energy into the roots music world, with everyone from Toumani Diabate and Oumou Sangare to Andrew Bird and Lila Downs. 

Mellow Yellow, Donovan

The Twentieth Century is Almost Over, Steve Goodman

Follow us to hear select rare recordings; music from teaching artists; and The Archives podcast, showcasing stories from the Old Town School community alongside live performances, field recordings and more from the archive at the school’s Resource Center. The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in traditions of diverse US and global communities. Visit www.oldtownschool.org for more information on classes, concerts, the Resource Center, and other programming at the Old Town School.