This is a tape featuring old-time gospel from the 20’s and 30’s that was created by Marimac Recordings in the 80’s. Larry McBride started the company with the intent of reissuing 78s, and later began to record old time musicians of his era as well. “Larry’s desire was to keep as much personality into the recording as possible. Beginning with the reissuing of forgotten 78s, Marimac eventually expanded to recording musical groups that preserved old style of folk music and songs that are rarely if ever written down.” – Tom Chmwielewski, Kalamazoo Gazette, 1993.
In 1996, 3 years after McBride’s passing, Rounder released a CD compilation featuring a sample of recordings from his now defunct label. McBride was a member of the Volo Bogtrotters from 1991 until his passing in ‘93. The Bogtrotters released four recordings under the Marimac label, and in 2011 members of the group began to reunite for the occasion festival or event.
A Joyful Noise Vol. 1 features cuts from a myriad of groups: The Bush Brothers, Cliff & Tommy Carlisle, Emry Arthur, Mr. & Mrs. R.N. Grisham and more. Ray Alden assisted in making the Marimac anthology for Rounder and says “Larry initially formed Marimac to re-issue old time 78 rpm records, mostly from Frank Mare’s collection.” Ray goes onto explain he invited Larry to do some recording of Garry Harrison’s Indian Creek Delta Boys in Illinois, which inspired Larry to “go beyond issuing 78 rpm recordings and to record contemporary old time musicians.” Listen to the release below, and on YouTube as well. Full tracklist with artist credits available archived here.