Black Is the Colour (Of My True Love's Hair)

"Black Is the Colour (of My True Love's Hair)" (Roud 3103) is a traditional folk song first known in the Appalachian Mountains region of the United States in 1915, but most probably originating from Scotland, as attributed to the reference to the Clyde in the song's lyrics. The musicologist Alan Lomax supported this Scottish origin saying the song was an American "re-make of British materials."[1] The first recording was made by Mrs. Lizzie Roberts in 1916 as "Black Is The Colour". (http://www.originals.be/nl/originals.php?id=9969)

Many different versions of this song exist, some addressed to females and others addressed to males, as well as other differences:

These words are set to two distinct melodies, one of which is traditional and the other was written by the Kentucky folk singer and composer John Jacob Niles. Niles recalled that his father thought the traditional melody was "downright terrible", so he wrote "a new tune, ending it in a nice modal manner." This melody was used in the Folk Songs song cycle by Luciano Berio.[2]

While it is unclear which version should be considered "original", it is believed that originally the song was addressed to a woman, with the male-addressed version made popular by Nina Simone in the middle of the 20th century.

The song has become a part of the traditional repertory of Celtic music artists.

In the 1960s, Patty Waters sang an extended version on ESP disk which veered towards the avant garde and extremes of vocal improvisation,[3] standing as a landmark in the use of folk tunes as a starting point to other musical areas.

Contents

Recorded versions

Versions of the song have been recorded by many artists, including;

Artist Album Genre Year Comments
John Jacob Niles American Folk Lore Vol. 3 1941 Also appears on American Folk Love Songs to Dulcimer Accompaniment, Six Favorite Folk Songs, John Jacob Niles Sings American Folk Songs, I Wonder As I Wander / Carols and Love Songs, The Best of John Jacob Niles, and The John Jacob Niles Collection.
Burl Ives Wayfaring Stranger Traditional folk 1944
Jo Stafford American Folk Songs Traditional folk 1950
Gordon Heath & Lee Payant Chants Traditionnels Des États-Unis / The Ballad Of The Boll Weevil and other Traditional Songs Of The United States Traditional folk 1955
Phineas Newborn, Jr. While My Lady Sleeps 1957
Nina Simone Nina Simone at Town Hall Jazz 1959 Nina Simone made it part of her standard repertoire, revitalizing the song's popularity.[4]
Joan Baez Joan Baez in Concert Folk music 1962
Smothers Brothers Think Ethnic Folk 1963 "Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love’s Hair)" (3:04) - Turned into "Black Is the Colour of My Love's True Hair" [But only her Hairdresser knows--/("Does she or Doesn't she?")--/Only her Hairdresser knows!] (a play on the advertising 'tag line' at that time for Clairol hair-coloring products).
Davy Graham Folk, Blues and Beyond Folk 1964
Smothers Brothers It Must Have Been Something I Said! Folk 1964 They also did a parody version: Black is the color (of my love's true hair)
Nina Simone Wild Is the Wind Jazz 1965
Patty Waters Patty Waters Sings Jazz 1965 Described as "the performance that established her as a vocal innovator"[5]
Hamish Imlach Hamish Imlach 1966
Carola Carola & Heikki Sarmanto Trio Jazz 1966 Recorded in the spirit of the modal jazz scene going down in Europe in the 1960s,[6] Carola's accosting tone[7] and the groovy approach of Heikki Sarmanto Trio remained undiscovered until issued by the Jazzpuu label in 2004.[6]
The Throb Single 1966 A version by Australian act recorded as "Black"
The Human Beinz Nobody But Me 1968 A version by US act
Cathy Berberian Folk Songs 1968 Recorded with the Berio setting, followed by two more recordings next decade, all conducted by the composer to whom she was married for a time
Alfred Deller, Desmond Dupré, Mark Deller Folksongs 1972
Marc Johnson with Bass Desires Bass Desires Jazz rock 1985
Linda Hirst Songs Cathy Sang 1988 The Berio setting
Joe Sample Invitation Jazz 1993 Instrumental version recorded as "Black Is The Color".
This version has been featured on The Weather Channel's Local On The 8s segments.
Luka Bloom Turf Folk / Singer-songwriter 1994
The Stomping Clawhammers All Change... Small Change Traditional folk 1996 Female-addressed version
The Eccentric Opera Hymne 1997 The eighth track of Hymne album
Kendra Shank Wish Vocal jazz 1998
Susan McKeown Mighty Rain Traditional folk 1998
Judy Collins Both Sides Now Traditional love song 1998
Niamh Parsons In My Prime Traditional Folk 2000 Also performed on Live At Fylde (2005)
Stringmansassy Persuasion 2000
Gaelic Storm Tree Folk rock 2001 Sixth track of the album Tree.[8]
The Liberty Voices A Cappella Americana 2001 As seen at Epcot's American Adventure
Cara Dillon Cara Dillon Folk 2001 Irish folk singer Cara Dillon chose to perform a female-addressed version opening her eponymous album which won her many awards including "Best Traditional Song" at the 2002 BBC Folk Awards. It has become a favourite in her live repertoire and has undergone huge success as a Trance remix by 2Devine (see below)[9]
Blue Mountain Roots Alternative country/roots rock 2002
Clann Lir Clann Lir Traditional folk 2002 Male-addressed version by Russian Irish Celtic act, sung by Melnitsa front-woman Hellawes
Grace Griffith Sands of Time 2003
Larry Mathews Easy and Slow Folk 2003 Third track on the Album Easy and Slow[10]
Pete Seeger American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 2 2003
Nurse with Wound She and Me Fall Together in Free Death Experimental 2003
Ensemble Planeta Aria A capella 2003 Tenth track of the Aria Album[11]
Eala Clarke Longing Celtic 2004
Paul Weller Studio 150 Rock 2004
Julie Poole The Ash Grove 2005
2Devine featurung Cara Dillon House 2005 DJ Pete Devine (also known as 2Devine and Coco & Green) produced a trance remix to Cara Dillon's version.
The Corrs Home Pop Folk 2005
Espers The Weed Tree 2005
Eilis Kennedy Time to Sail Folk Singer 2005
Tellen Gwad N/A Neo-folk 2006 Female-addressed version by Russian acoustic act
The Czars Sorry I Made You Cry Rock 2006 Male-addressed version by American rock band
The Twilight Singers She Loves You Rock 2007
Cara Dillon vs. 2 Devine Trance 2007 Above & Beyond's Devine Intervention Mix
Karan Casey Ships in The Forest Folk 2008 Acoustic piano version by Karan Casey, an Irish folk singer
Elane Lore of Nén Medieval Folk 2008
Andre Ethier Born Of Blue Fog Neo-Folk 2008 Canadian Artist
Kokia Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland Celtic 2008
Natacha Atlas Ana Hina Arabesque/World 2008 Male-addressed version with the Mazeeka Ensemble[12]
Angelo Kelly Lost Sons

Up Close

 Pop rock 2008 Appears as the last track in Lost Sons and was also recorded live for Up Close
Christy Moore Live at the Point 2009
Julie Murphy Black Mountains Revisited 2009
Nyle Wolfe Home Ground Folk Classical 2009
Wye Oak Splice Today Presents: The Old Lonesome Sound Folk 2009 An original compilation album
Silverwheel Single studio recording Unknown Silverwheel plays live and maintains several websites with their tracks sampled.
Phil Coulter Timeless Tranquility: 20 Year Celebration Folk Celtic Classical 2008
Marc Gunn Irish Drinking Songs: A Cat Lover's Companion Folk 2007 Album was a followup of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers which included the track "Black Is the Color (of My Cat's Fur)" based on this song.
Angel Olsen Indie Folk 2010[13]
Lisa Lambe Celtic Woman: Believe Folk Celtic 2011
Celtic Thunder Heritage Folk Celtic 2011

Settings

References

  1. ^ Reprint Sing Out magazine nº 5, 289
  2. ^ "Program notes for performances by the Concertgebouw for 10-11 february 2007" (PDF). Barbican Centre. http://www.barbican.org.uk/media/events/4291royalconcertgebouwweb.pdf. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
  3. ^ Monypeny, Derek (2000-06). "What Is the Color When Black is Burned? A Patty Waters Appreciation". Perfect Sound Forever. http://www.furious.com/perfect/pattywaters.html. Retrieved 2010-11-26. 
  4. ^ "Nina Simone dies". The Age. 2003-04-22. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/22/1050777237715.html. Retrieved 2008-10-04. 
  5. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Patty Waters Sings: Review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r70420. Retrieved 2010-11-26. 
  6. ^ a b "Carola & Heikki Sarmanto Trio". Dusty Groove American music store. http://www.dustygroove.com/browse.php?kwfilter=Carola+%26+Heikki+Sarmanto+Trio&incl_oos=1&incl_cs=1&format=all. 
  7. ^ Carola & Heikki Sarmanto Trio (In Finnish). Soundi magazine
  8. ^ "Gaelic Storm: Discography". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=KhL1LDZQ3wKnvDhGhFsFn5Xh3B22zFppPxyC9Ychj1jV4JLGqLKM!-1212055899&pid=279617&aid=482157. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
  9. ^ Caral Dillon in Swindon on October 30
  10. ^ "Black is the Colour - Larry Mathews". YouTube. 2011-04-30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZVKsrx2yOM. Retrieved 2011-05-22. 
  11. ^ Ensemble Planeta Discography
  12. ^ Denselow, Robin (2008-05-23). "Natacha Atlas, Ana Hina". The Guardian Online. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/may/23/worldmusic1. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
  13. ^ "Angel Olsen - B.I.T.C.O.M.T.L.H.". Youtube. 2010-12-10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8PVwQukHmQ. Retrieved 2011-04-27. 

External links

Origins Of Song Discussion: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=32248