Since 1960 the tiny performance space of Caffè Lena, located in Saratoga Springs, New York, has played host to some of of the most influential artists across diverse genres of music; traditional folk, blues, singer-songwriters, jazz and bluegrass.
Many of these decades-spanning performances were fortunately caught on tape and will be made available as ‘Live At Caffè Lena.’ The collection is a 3-CD box set, containing 47 never-before released tracks by Dave Van Ronk, Mary Gauthier, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Kate McGarrigle, Rick Danko, Anais Mitchell, Sleepy John Estes, Arlo Guthrie, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and more. Included are unpublished photographs. Images include selections from the archive of esteemed photographer Joe Alper, who captured many iconic, intimate portraits from the folk era of the 1960s.
From the press release: “‘Live At Caffè Lena’ documents an important folk universe that was and is still happening in upstate New York, a story heretofore largely untold. The release of this collection comes at an auspicious time in light of renewed interest in the New York folk scene of the 60s as depicted in the forthcoming Coen Brothers film, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis.’ The film is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk’s 2005 memoir ‘The Mayor of Macdougal Street.’ Van Ronk, a Caffè Lena regular, served as a mentor to many artists, some who would go on to eclipse his fame. His 1974 recording of “Gaslight Rag”featured on the box set references the Gaslight Café, a famed Greenwich Village venue that along with Caffè Lena was a catalyst for the folk music revival.
Caffè Lena embodied the spirit of the folk boom, the era and its artistry, building a reputation as a hotbed of creativity and connection. It was also a safe haven and nurturing space for artists, its atmosphere cultivated personally by Lena Spencer herself. She would graciously house wayward artists, sometimes for months at a time. But she was not merely a host. She championed artists, from Bob Dylan as early as 1961 all the way through the 80s until her passing. Her passion for identifying and promoting talent is evident throughout this 3-CD set. That Caffè Lena is still open for business tonight is a testament to her legacy.”
‘Live At Caffè Lena.’ will be available Worldwide on Tompkins Square, September 24, 2013 – Pre-order here.
‘Live At Caffè Lena: Music From America’s Legendary Coffeehouse, 1967-2013′
DISC ONE
01 Intro – Lena Spencer / Guy Carawan Cripple Creek 1970
02 Hedy – West Shady Grove 1968
03 Intro by Lena Spencer / – Sleepy John Estes Holy Spirit 1974
04 Frank Wakefield and Friends – Will The Circle Be Unbroken 1971
05 Jean Ritchie – West Virginia Mine Disaster 1969
06 Billy Faier – Hunt The Wren 1967
07 Greenbriar Boys – Hit Parade of Love 1968
08 Mike Seeger – O Death 1971
09 Jacqui and Bridie – Hello Friend 1974
10 Tom Paxton – Morning Again 1968
11 David Amram – Little Mama 1974
12 Patrick Sky – Reality Is Bad Enough 1971
13 Rosalie Sorrels – Travelin’ Lady 1974
14 Smoke Dawson – Devil’s Dream 1968
15 Utah Phillips – The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia 1974
16 Michael Cooney – Thyme It Is A Precious Thing 1974
17 Kate McGarrigle and Roma Baran – Caffè Lena 1972
DISC TWO
01 Intro by Lena Spencer / Dave Van Ronk – Gaslight Rag 1974
02 Jerry Jeff Walker – Mr. Bojangles 1968
03 Barbara Dane – Mama Yancey’s Advice / Love With a Feeling 1968
04 Roy Book Binder – Ain’t Nobody Home But Me 1974
05 Intro by Lena Spencer / David Bromberg – The Holdup 1972
06 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – Pretty Boy Floyd 1992
07 Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans 2010
08 Aztec Two Step – The Persecution and Restoration of Dean Moriarty 1989
09 Happy And Artie Traum – Trials Of Jonathan 1974
10 Rick Danko- It Makes No Difference 1988
11 Paul Geremia – Something’s Gotta Be Arranged 1989
12 Robin and Linda Williams – S-A-V-E-D 1987
13 John Herald – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott 1991
14 Pete Seeger- Somos El Barco (We Are the Boat) 1985
DISC THREE
01 Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion – Folksong 2013
02 Anais Mitchell – Wedding Song 2013
03 Bill Morrissey – The Last Day Of The Furlough 1990
04 Patty Larkin – Island Of Time 1992
05 Greg Brown – Flat Stuff 1989
06 Mary Gauthier – I Drink 2013
07 Sean Rowe – Old Black Dodge 2013
08 Tom Chapin – Cats In The Cradle 1987
09 Intro by Lena Spencer / Christine Lavin – It’s A Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind 1987
10 Bill Staines – Sweet Wyoming Home 1990
11 Bucky and John Pizzarelli – I Like Jersey Best 1989
12 Rory Block – That’s No Way To Get Along 1989
13 Chris Smither – Killing The Blues 1989
14 Tift Merritt – Traveling Alone 2013
15 John Gorka – Down In The Milltown 1990
16 Lena Spencer- Dear Little Cafe 1972
