About
Folkways Records was originally the label of Folkways Records & Service Corp., which was founded in 1948 by Moses Asch with Marian Distler in New York City to document music, spoken word, and sounds from around the world. With more than 2,000 titles, Folkways grew to be one of the largest and most influential independent record companies in the world. In 1987, following the death of Moses Asch, the Smithsonian Institute acquired the label and all of its files and assets. As one of the terms of that deal, the Smithsonian agreed to keep all titles in print, which they continue to do to this day under Smithsonian Folkways. Folkways releases were often kept in print for decades and the copyright date(s) on a release rarely match up to the release date. The release date can usually be narrowed down to a range of years by looking at the mailing address on the labels and/or back cover (which sometimes don't match as new vinyl would be placed in leftover covers, or new covers printed for leftover vinyl.) For information on the numerous pre-Smithsonian addresses that appear on Folkways Records labels, covers and booklets issued between 1948 and 1987 and the periods in which each address was relevant, see the page. Labelcode: LC 9628.
Top Folkways Records Releases
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Sub-labels
Understanding Of Sex
Folkways Anthology Collection
Leadbelly Legacy
Series of Leadbelly releases by Folkways Records.
Lest We Forget (2)
Folkways/Basart Library
Ethnic Folkways Library
Original early-1950s pressings have a catalog number starting with P or EFL and have covers featuring plainer graphics, usually pasted on a heavyweight, textured maroon-colored cover. Later issues,...
Science Series
Folkways Records Science Series provided documentaries "under the supervision of leading scientists". Catalogue numbers begins with FX but "Science Series" should be clearly stated as such on slee...
Ethnomusicological Series
Series produced in cooperation with the Indiana University Archives of Traditional Music. Editor: Louise S. Spear.
Record, Book And Film Sales, Inc.
American record company that issued early jazz, blues, gospel, and country recordings. Also printed as: -Record, Book, And Film Sales, Inc. -Record, Book & Film Sales, Inc. Please use this...
Music From The South
Series of releases from compiled from field recordings made by
Custom Compact Disc Series
Sounds Of Steam Locomotives
American Favorite Ballads
Anthology Of American Folk Music
Filmmaker Harry Smith compiled the Anthology of American Folk Music from his personal collection of 78 RPM records. The series of three double albums was released in 1952 by Folkways Records, compr...
Dances Of The World's Peoples
Jazz (19)
A series of compilation releases from . The recordings that were compiled all came from the collection of . The music on this series is not "jazz" as we use the term today, but co...
Folkways Bluegrass / Old Time Series
The Blues In St. Louis
Watergate (3)
A series of five volumes released from 1973-75 chronicling the Watergate Scandal as it played out in front of America in those years.
Contact Label
Smithsonian Folkways PO Box 37012, MRC 520, CG 2001 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Tel: 1-888-FOLKWAYS (365-5929) Tel: 1-202-633-6450 Fax: 202-633-6477 Email: mailorder@si.edu Information: smithsonianfolkways@si.edu