Dust-to-Digital continues to publish some of the best “old-timey” CDs, records, and books in this otherwise moribund genre of music. There’s not much out there new these days, mainly because there isn’t much left in existence that hasn’t been previously published. However, Dust-to-Digital has succeeded again in scaring up enough obscure material for still another meaty issue. They do for obscure, quality music in the 21st century what Joe Bussard did in the last century (and still occasionally does today, including his contribution on this project).
Take Me to the Water is a 96-page hardback book with 75 vintage photographs, that all comes with a 25-cut CD. The bedrock of this quite interesting collection is that it began as a labor of love by collector Jim Linderman.
One of the more irritating things about many companies releasing very old material is the lack of information accompanying the releases. Fortunately, releasing at least a small book or booklet with historic recordings is, so far, standing operating procedure for Dust-to-Digital. Let’s hope the trend continues. The majority of people interested in this type of music (and by the way, they’re the same people who generally make up the majority of attendees at the scholarly symposia, meetings, and performances around the world connected with “old-timey” American music) far outnumber those who would buy this music simply for the music. (How tough can that be, marketing geniuses? If a person is buying historical music, you think they just might possibly be interested in some of the history that goes with the music?) Take a lesson from Dust-to-Digital and do it right.
As the small hardbound book accompanying this CD says, “Without the vision and passion of collectors, a great deal of our auditory and visual heritage would not exist. Thankfully, private collectors are often willing to share their finds …”
We’ve all walked into at least one antique shop in our lives only to spot a box of old, black-and-white photographs with no written notes on the reverse. It would be easier to count the times that we didn’t spot one. Think of the stories missing from these photos. Some person went to the trouble of spending, what was then, at least a fair chunk of time and money to obtain a photograph; just think how much a paragraph or two would add to it?
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