Mountain City Four: “Mountain City Four” (2022) CD Review

Mountain City Four was a Canadian folk group made up of Kate McGarrigle, Anna McGarrigle, Peter Weldon and Jack Nissenson, performing in the years before Kate and Anna began recording as a duo (and before artists like Emmylou Harris and Maria Muldaur began covering their material). This self-titled album collects previously unreleased tracks from the 1960s, along with one track from 1970 and one from a reunion in 2012. Most of these tracks are live recordings. This collection contains liner notes by both Anna McGarrigle and Peter Weldon, who offer their memories of the band and its performances. In addition, there are notes by Jane McGarrigle and Joe Boyd. The album was produced by Peter Weldon and Jane McGarrigle, and mastered by Fred Bouchard.

This special collection opens with “Jesulein Süss,” leading into “May The Circle Be Unbroken,” both delivered a cappella, though the second song includes some hand claps. This track was recorded in 1969 at Bishop’s University in Quebec. “Jesulein Süss” is beautiful, and there is a delicious energy to “May The Circle Be Unbroken.” What a great choice to open this disc with a track that showcases the group’s vocal talent. Kate McGarrigle sings lead on this track. Then Peter Weldon sings lead on a cool rendition of “Mean Old Frisco,” the first of several tracks recorded in 1963 at The Fifth Dimension in Montreal. It was written by Arthur Crudup, and the track includes the song’s introduction. This one is a total delight, and again, the performance contains some great energy. This is one of my personal favorites. Things then take a more somber turn with “Erev Shel Shoshanim,” with both Kate and Anna McGarrigle singing lead. That’s followed by “Motherless Children,” another serious number, this one sung a cappella by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. A gorgeous, passionate performance. “Some people will say that your sister will do when your mother is dead/Some people will say that your sister will do/But when she gets married, turns her back on you.”

Jack Nissenson sings lead on “Dark As A Dungeon,” a folk song recorded by Merle Travis in 1947. He has a beautiful voice. And I love the sound of everyone joining in for the chorus. “It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew/Where the dangers are double and the pleasures are few/Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines/It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.” This track also features some good work on harmonica. This one draws a lot of applause from the audience. That’s followed by a strong rendition of Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon Of Kentucky.” This track makes me want to gather friends around a backyard fire pit and sing all night (oh, I wish I had a yard). It contains some wonderful stuff on banjo, and has a great ending too.

This collection then moves into material recorded in 1964, at L’Ermitage in Montreal, beginning with “Reuben Ranzo.” This track includes a brief introduction: “We’d like to do an English sea shanty called ‘Reuben Ranzo,’ which we usually sing unaccompanied.” Jack Nissenson sings lead on this one. This track, as indicated in the introduction, is just vocals. Then Peter Weldon and Kate McGarrigle share lead vocal duties on “You’ve Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley,” a folk gospel tune, delivered with a good energy (though its lyrics kind of depress me, about how we are alone when we die). Kate and Anna then sing a pretty rendition of “En Filant Ma Quenouile.” Another highlight of the disc is the group’s rendition of “This Train,” with Peter, Jack and Kate each taking lead vocal duties on a verse. This track also includes some good work on harmonica. “This Train” is the last of the tracks from 1964.

“Log Driver’s Waltz” is a sweet track, featuring some nice work on harmonica. Kate sings lead on this. It was recorded at Peter Weldon’s home studio in 1969. “To please both my parents, I’ve had to give way/And dance with the doctors and the merchants and lawyers.” Interestingly, a different version of this song was used for a short animated film released in 1979. Then Anna sings lead on “V’La Le Bon Vent,” this track recorded in 1963. The group dips into the blues with the gospel blues tune “You’re Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond,” written by Blind Willie Johnson. This is the track that was recorded in 1970, in Peter Weldon’s home studio. These guys delivers a cool, lively rendition.

“All the good times are past and gone,” they sing on “All The Good Times.” And sometimes it certainly feels that way, particularly when I look at the news or my bank account balance. But when I listen to this music, I can’t help but disagree. There are many more good times to come. This track was recorded in 1963, and is another of the disc’s highlights. Also from 1963 comes “Sam Hall,” with Jack Nissenson singing lead. There is a bit of stage banter at the beginning: “It’s one that you know, I’m quite sure. You probably wrote it.” This is the disc’s most surprising song, with a certain humor to it, and is yet another of my favorites. “My name, it is Sam Hall/And I hate you, one and all/You’re a bunch of bastards all/Goddamn your eyes.” This collection concludes with “Shenandoah,” recorded at the group’s reunion in 2012 (at which point Kate was already gone). It was the final song of the show, and so has historical importance. And according to the liner notes, this was likely the last song Jack Nissenson ever performed in concert. Besides that, it is a beautiful rendition.

CD Track List

1. Jesulein Süss/May The Circle Be Unbroken
2. Mean Old Frisco
3. Erev Shel Shoshanim
4. Motherless Children
5. Dark As A Dungeon
6. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
7. Reuben Ranzo
8. Walk That Lonesome Valley
9. En Filant Ma Quenouile
10. This Train
11. Log Driver’s Waltz
12. V’La L’Bon Vent
13. Need Somebody On Your Bond
14. All The Good Times
15. Sam Hall
16. Shenandoah

Mountain City Four was released on September 23, 2022 through Omnivore Recordings.