Sing Out! Vol. 9 (1959–60) – Lomax, Sonny Terry, MacColl, Rev. Gary Davis | Revival Legends, Captured in Print

Description

By 1959, Sing Out! had hit its stride as “The Folk Song Magazine” — the subtitle now printed loud and proud on its cover. The folk revival was no longer fringe: Pete Seeger had been summoned before HUAC, the Kingston Trio was topping charts, and a new crop of politically charged, deeply rooted performers were emerging. The magazine’s design sharpened too — bold graphics, clean layouts, and striking cover photography made it visually distinctive. But the soul of Sing Out! remained unchanged: grassroots music, radical politics, and international solidarity. This volume captures the growing reach and sophistication of the revival — from field recording legends to virtuosic bluesmen and protest balladeers — all curated by a publication still beholden to no commercial interests.

This 4-issue lot from Vol. 9 includes a dream team of revival icons. Alan Lomax (Summer 1959) graces the cover as the tireless collector and preservationist whose field recordings shaped generations of folk awareness. The Fall 1959 issue features Sonny Terry, the master blues harmonica player whose partnership with Brownie McGhee defined postwar folk-blues. Winter 1959–60 presents Ewan MacColl, the British balladeer, playwright, and folklorist behind “Dirty Old Town” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” And finally, the Feb–March 1960 issue celebrates the mighty Rev. Gary Davis, a blind gospel blues singer with unmatched fingerpicking prowess — a direct influence on the likes of Dylan, Grossman, and Jorma Kaukonen.

These aren’t just folk musicians — they’re architects of the sound and spirit of the era.