Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music is release a monumental, multi-album collection of music recorded live over the last half-century containing 127 songs by 85 artists. Most of the songs found on Live From The Old Town School have never been heard before.

Among the artists whose work can be found on the album, which will be released on December 13, 2011, are: Andrew Bird, Merle Travis, Joan Baez, Donovan, Big Bill Broonzy, Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger, Taj Mahal, Martin Carthy, Steve Earle, Doc Watson and Mahalia Jackson.

Several of the tracks recorded by Bird while he was an instructor at Old Town School of Folk Music have been made available in advance of the release. His cover of “C.C. Rider” and “Irene Goodnight” can be streamed below via SoundCloud.

On the album, Colby Maddox, librarian/archivist and teacher at the Old Town School, who spearheaded the project and attracted support for it from the Donnelley Foundation, said:

“These are all performers who know how to communicate with the audience in a very personal way. They don’t need that distance, that huge arena. They want to get down close and make people happy. And they are all coming from well-established traditions, all different, but all strong.”

“You can feel the immense energy in the concerts and what we’re presenting,” continued Maddox. “Take Andrew Bird’s show. He was called in as an opening act on short notice, and he put together a band last minute. All these great musicians ran in to play with him, and you can really feel the spontaneity and excitement of that show in the recording.”

The 127 songs on the initial release are just the tip-of-the-iceberg of the music that was found in the school’s archives. There are thousands of additional hours of music. The tracks chosen for the additional release were a combination of those in the best condition as well as the ones for which usage rights were able to be obtained.

Complete tracklisting below.

Live From the Old Town School, Volume 1: Family Music

1. “Stewball” – Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 6/1/2003 (3:55).
2. “Tiny’s Tempo” – Andrew Bird, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 9/15/2000 (6:06).
3. “The Titanic” – Rory Block, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/16/2001 (2:32).
4. “Wake Up Little Sparrow” – Catherine Hall Parrish, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/30/2004 (2:37).
5. “When The Saints Go Marching In” – Mahalia Jackson, 1956 (3:31).
6. “The Cuckoo” – Ella Jenkins, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/30/2004 (2:34).
7. “Red River Valley” – Ella Jenkins, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/30/2004 (1:51).
8. “Came Out the Wilderness” – Ella Jenkins, 3/20/1982 (3:17).
9. “Witch Upon a Hill” – Ted Johnson, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building 10/10/1964 (1:49).
10. “The Fox” – Jon Langford, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 2/17/2002 (3:10).
11. “Freight Train” – Taj Mahal, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 1/13/2002 (3:39).
12. “The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife” – Win Stracke, North Avenue, 4/15/1962 (3:07).
13. “Methodist Pie” – Win Stracke, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (3:12).
14. “I Am A Pilgrim” – Merle Travis, University of Chicago, 10/28/1966 (2:34).
15. “The Frog’s Wedding” – Trian, University of Chicago, 2/3/1989 (5:19).
16. “Three Is The Magic Number” – Jeff Tweedy, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 2/17/2002 (3:44).
17. “Polly Wolly Doodle” – Dan Zanes, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/4/2001 (2:39).
18. “Something Happens” – Peter Case, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 4/27/2001 (2:48).
19. “Delicate Balance” – Tom Dundee, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (3:01).
20. “15 Minute Intermission” – Elaine Moore, Cathy Cowan, Carol Kagy, Auditorium Theater, 12/1/2007 (1:29).
21. “Old Mr. Rabbit-T’ain’t a Gonna Rain No More” – Horton Barker, WFMT Studios 1961 (3:13).
22. “Old Blue, Guy & Candie Carawan” – George & Gerry Armstrong’s, 8/13/1978 (2:32).
23. “Little Red Caboose” – Odetta, Francis Parker School, 10/2/1970 (1:57).
24. “Home on the Range” – Odetta, Francis Parker School, 10/2/1970 (4:57).
25. “Maple Syrup Time” – Pete Seeger, Navy Pier, 9/3/1977 (5:18).
26. “Young Women Who Swallowed a Lie” – Pete Seeger, Navy Pier, 9/3/1977 (4:09).
27. “Midnight Special” – Merle Travis, University of Chicago, 10/28/1966 (2:47).

Live From the Old Town School, Volume 2: New Folk

1. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” – Joan Baez, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/3/2000 (3:40).
2. “Dear Old Greenland” – Andrew Bird, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/15/2000 (3:52).
3. “Two Heroes (Are Better Than One)” – Peter Case, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 4/27/2001 (5:40).
4. “Sis Draper” – Guy Clark, Shawn Camp, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/29/2002 (4:13).
5. “I Don’t Worry About a Thing” – Jim Craig, Rick Veras, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (2:49).
6. “Apple Doll” – Steve Dawson, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/2006 (4:08).
7. “Temporary” – Steve Dawson, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/2006 (4:31).
8. “The Dying Soldier” – Steve Dawson, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 12/09/2007(3:42).
9. “The Medicine Show” – Mike Dunbar, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 11/30/1986 (4:24).
10. “Fiddle Tune Medley-Ruben You Can Play Your Banjo” – Mark Dvorak, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/25/1998 (6:00).
11. “Streets of Old Chicago” – Mark Dvorak, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (3:42).
12. “Jerusalem” – Steve Earle, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 12/7/2003 (4:23).
13. “Goodbye” – Steve Earle, Welles Park, 7/24/1999 (4:53).
14. “Simple Man” – Steve Earle, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 12/7/2003 (3:26).
15. “Goodbye Cruel Girl” – Robbie Fulks, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/19/2006 (4:03).
16. “Georgia Hard” – Robbie Fulks, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/19/2006 (4:03).
17. “Cigarette State” – Robbie Fulks, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/12/1999 (4:10).
18. “Rock Bottom” – Robbie Fulks, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/19/2006 (2:47).
19. “The Twentieth Century is Almost Over” – Steve Goodman,
WFMT Studios, 9/26/1992 (4:38).
20. “Wrong Road Again” – John Hartford, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 10/18/1986 (2:32).
21. “In Tall Buildings” – John Hartford, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 10/18/1986 (3:24).
22. “Where’s the Money” – Dan Hicks, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/15/2000 (4:14).
23. “Canned Music” – Dan Hicks 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/15/2000 (5:44).
24. “Days Of 49” – Fred Holstein, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (5:38).
25. “All The Good People” – Fred Holstein, WFMT Studios, 9/26/1992 (4:39).
26. “Roll me on the Water” – Bonnie Koloc, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (4:39).
27. “Tubby Brothers” – Jon Langford, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/21/1998 (2:37).
28. “Homburg” – Jon Langford, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/21/1998 (3:44).
29. “Colours” – Donovan, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 1988 (3:08).
30. “Mellow Yellow” – Donovan, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 1988 (3:11).
31. “Boat up the River” – Tim O’Brien, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2005 (2:50).
32. “Hard Travelin’” – Tim O’Brien, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/1/2003 (3:48).
33. “With a Memory Like Mine” – Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/5/2001 (5:07).
34. “Music Tree” – Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/5/2001 (3:39).
35. “Singin’ Through the Hard Times” – Utah Phillips, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/4/2003 (2:43).
36. “I’ve Got to Know” – Utah Phillips, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/4/2003 (3:01).
37. “No Hole in My Head” – Malvina Reynolds, Francis Parker School, 4/17/1970 (2:41).
38. “Bury Me in My Overalls” – Malvina Reynolds, Francis Parker School, 4/17/1970 (2:17).
39. “Wild Mountain Thyme” – Claudia Schmidt, Somebody Else’s Troubles, 6/5/1976 (3:11).
40. “Trouble Will Find You” – Josh White, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/28/2000 (3:52).
41. “I’m Going Back to North Carolina” – Ginni Clemmens, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 1975 (3:39).
42. “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” Ginni Clemmens, (2:18).

Live From the Old Town School, Volume 3: Trad Folk

1. “John Barleycorn” – Martin Carthy, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 3/17/1979 (2:21).
2. “Motherless Child (USA)” – Frank Hamilton, Valucha De Castro, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (2:06).
3. “Pretty Saro” – Horton Barker, WFMT Studios, 1961 (2:07).
4. “Irene Goodnight” – Andrew Bird, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/15/2000 (6:07).
5. “C.C. Rider” – Andrew Bird, 909 W. 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/15/2000 (4:56).
6. “Big Road Blues” – Rory Block, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 3/16/2001 (2:31).
7. “Glory of Love” – Big Bill Broonzy, WFMT, 9/26/1992 (2:27).
8. “Midnight Special” – Big Bill Broonzy, Pete Seeger, Northwestern University, 10/25/1956 (3:41).
9. “Don’t Ever Bob Your Hair Girl” Fleming Brown, Ray Tate, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building 4/15/1962 (2:49).
10. “Cripple Creek-Worried Man Blues-Beans, Bacon, and Gravy” – Guy & Candie Carawan, George and Gerry Armstrong’s, 8/13/1978 (2:54).
11. “May Be the Last Time” – Guy & Candie Carawan, George and Gerry Armstrong’s, 8/13/1978 (2:20).
12. “Siege of Delhi” – Martin Carthy, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 3/17/1979 (4:47).
13. “Willie’s Lady” – Martin Carthy, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 3/17/1979 (7:52).
14. “Stag O Lee” – Cephas and Wiggins, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 11/16/1986 (5:30).
15. “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” – Cephas and Wiggins, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 11/16/1986 (4:54).
16. “Scarboro Fair” – Margaret Christl, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 9/30/1978 (3:52).
17. “Hard Travelin’” – Rambling Jack Elliott, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/6/2003 (2:43).
18. “Grand Coolie Dam” – Rambling Jack Elliott, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/6/2003 (3:42).
19. “Walkin’ Blues” – John Hammond, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 2/27/2004 (4:49).
20. “Just a Closer Walk” – Mahalia Jackson, 1956 (4:52).
21. “Move on Up” – Mahalia Jackson, 1956 (3:29).
22. “All My Trials” – Ted Johnson, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (2:52).
23. “Come On In My Kitchen” – Michael Miles, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 1/1/2000 (1:57).
24. “Peg and Awl” – Bruce Molsky, Bill Frisell, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/17/2003 (5:26).
25. “Strawberry Fields Forever” – Odetta, Francis Parker School, 10/2/1970 (3:13).
26. “Sporting Life Blues” – Tom Paley, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 4/15/1977 (3:47).
27. “Ramblin’ Boy” – Tom Paxton, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 12/31/2003 (3:27).
28. “The Cruel Sister” – John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/3/2009 (4:27).
29. “The Wedding Dress” – John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/3/2009 (2:47).
30. “The Cuckoo” – Jean Ritchie, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 4/5/1981 (2:33).
31. “Fair Nottamun Town” – Jean Ritchie, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 4/5/1981 (3:01).
32. “Roll the Union On” – Pete Seeger, People’s Church, 5/17/1986 (4:35).
33. “Come on in my Kitchen” – Jon Spiegel, Staff Sampler, 10/1988 (2:55).
34. “Saint James Infirmary” – Dave Van Ronk, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/12/2000 (3:57).
35. “Blue Eyed Jane” – Doc Watson, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 12/4/1987 (3:20).
36. “Bye Bye Blues” – Doc Watson, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 12/4/1987 (2:19).
37. “Midnight Special” – Weavermania, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 5/12/2000 (3:26).

Live From the Old Town School, Volume 4: World

1. “Lullaby (Usnijze mi)” – Grazyna Auguscik, (8:04).
2. “Soul Migration” -Grazyna Auguscik, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 4/26/2003 (8:59).
3. “Yemaya” – Conjunto Cespedes, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 2/5/2000 (1:50).
4. “La Loma de Belen” – Conjunto Cespedes, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 2/5/2000 (6:19).
5. “Jarabi” – Toumani Diabate, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/14/2008 (7:03).
6. “Voy La Hacer Feliz” – Joaquin Diaz, Welles Park, 6/16/2000 (3:01).
7. “Vamos a Bailar” – Joaquin Diaz, Welles Park, 6/16/2000 (5:25).
8. “Nueve Viento” – Lila Downs, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/29/2000 (4:40).
9. “Ofrenda” – Lila Downs, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 9/29/2000 (3:06).
10. “Greetings, Tar Drum Lesson” – Hamza El Din, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 10/12/2003 (8:35).
11. “Dans Notre Village (France)” – Frank Hamilton, Valucha De Castro, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (1:35).
12. “Ken Yov Du (Israel)” – Frank Hamilton, Valucha De Castro, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (2:20).
13. “The Frog Song (Brazil)” – Frank Hamilton, Valucha De Castro, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (0:41).
14. “Vranjanka (Serbia)” – Frank Hamilton, Valucha De Castro, North Avenue, Immigrant State Bank Building, 4/15/1962 (2:23).
15. “Puerto Rico Mi Tierra Natal” – Los Pleneros de la 21, University of Chicago, 11/25/1989 (5:26).
16. “Fiesta Campesina” – Los Pleneros de la 21, University of Chicago, 11/25/1989 (5:24).
17. “El Buscapie” – Mono Blanco, Welles Park, 7/24/1999 (3:59).
18. “La Bamba” – Mono Blanco, Welles Park, 7/24/1999 (6:19).
19. “Cape Clear” – Laurence Nugent, 909 W. Armitage Avenue, 2/1/1997 (3:59).
20. “Tiene Dja” – Oumou Sangare, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/5/2000 (6:44).
21. “Woula Bara Diagna (A Long Way Away)” – Oumou Sangare, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, 11/5/2000 (8:52).