Witches And War-Whoops (Early New England Ballads Collected And Sung By John Allison)

Witches and War-Whoops was released in 1962 as part of the extensive catalog of Folkways Records, a label dedicated to preserving the folk music and oral traditions of diverse cultures. This album features John Allison performing early New England ballads, an era defined by the anxieties and social conflicts of colonial settlement. The collection draws heavily from the regional folklore of the 17th and 18th centuries, capturing themes of survival, superstition, and conflict with indigenous populations that permeated the early American psyche.

The album was produced under the curatorial guidance of Folkways founder Moses Asch, who prioritized archival authenticity over commercial viability. John Allison’s approach was academic and grounded, intended to serve as a preservationist record of lyrics that had largely faded from contemporary memory. While the record remained an niche entry within the broader folk revival movement of the early 1960s, it gained respect among ethnomusicologists for its commitment to documenting the grim and often haunting song traditions of early New England history.