Songs of Russia Old & New/Songs of a Russian Gypsy

I've had these two albums on vinyl for ages; I think my (grand?)parents bought them new, but they've gotten so worn over the past half-century that a CD reissue is welcome. Really good stuff. I hope they get the rest of Theo's LPs out; I'd love to see "Bravo Bikel: The Town Hall Concert" back in print.

Nitpick: Many of the tracks as listed here are mixed up; for whatever reason, they've got the titles switched around. If you want to buy individual songs from this collection, definitely preview them first so you know what you're getting; e.g. track 26, listed as "Sudarinya (LP Version)" is actually "Karobushka", which is shown as track 22; "Nichevo, Nichevo, Nichevo" is track 21, not 24 as shown, and so forth. Hopefully they'll read this and fix it.

I grew up with these albums in vinyl. It was wonderful to re-discover them again in CD format, and be able to add them to my collection as an adult. Theodore Bikel is a wonderful curator and transmitter of these lively folk songs.

Ever since I was a little kid, I thought there was something magical in the sound of ethnic folk songs. This CD only reaffirms my idea. If you have any interest at all in ethnic folk music, these songs will really take you to another place. My imagination runs wild with this music; some songs are so joyful you can't help but to imagine dancing, and others so sorrowful you want to weep. The bottom-line is anyone with an interest in world music NEEDS this album. I don't think any CD of ethnic folk music had lived up to my expectations, until I got this one. It is a true treasure; especially if you'd like some help with your Russian!

Growing up post-WWII, and in college and the military during the Cold War, I wanted to understand my "enemy", a the military demands. This album was part of my learning, and is just good music. Many pop and rockers will not be interested: their loss. Bikel took folk singing a step further, and even not understanding all the words (I took Russian in college), it has a good intro to the Russian "soul", from Ivan the Terrible to Putin.

I have owned the LP of "Songs of a Russian Gypsy" since the early 60's, and it has always been a favorite. This record was a "breakthrough hit" for Elektra records in the early days (See "Follow The Music" by Jac Holzman and Gavan Daws).
"Songs of a Russian Gypsy" was re-issued as a CD by Bainbridge Records, in the 90's, but in limited numbers. When the supply dried up, only an uncertain "used" market remained, with prices quite variable. (see my review of the used CD).
This re-issue also includes another Bikel favorite, "Songs of Russia Old and New". Hopefully, more early Electra Albums will surface through the efforts of Collectors Choice Music!