The New World Singers "The New World Singers" (Atlantic Records, 1963) (LP)
(Produced by Tom Dowd)
Happy & Artie Traum "Happy & Artie Traum" (Capitol Records, 1969) (LP)
Happy & Artie Traum "Double-Back" (Capitol Records, 1971) (LP)
Mud Acres "Music Among Friends" (Rounder Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Mark Harmen & Jim Rooney)
Happy Traum "Bluegrass Guitar" (Oak Publications, 1974) (LP)
In addition to his work as a live performer and studio musician, Happy Traum was known for his work as an avid music teacher, including numerous publications, instructional albums and videos. I won't list them all, but this is a fine early example.
Happy & Artie Traum "Hard Times In The Country" (Rounder Records, 1975) (LP)
Happy Traum "Relax Your Mind" (Kicking Mule Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Stefan Grossman & Dave Palmer)
Happy Traum "American Stranger" (Kicking Mule Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Happy Traum & Andy Robinson)
Another lovely acoustic album, which includes among other gems Traum's jangly rendition of "When I Was A Cowboy," as well as his incandescent take on Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain," which I consider the definitive version. (Sorry, Bob.) A great record, one of the finest acoustic folk-blues albums of the 'Seventies. Definitely worth tracking down.
Woodstock Mountains "More Music From Mud Acres" (Rounder Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by George James, Thomas Mark, Artie Traum & Happy Traum)
Woodstock Mountains Revue "Pretty Lucky" (Rounder Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by George James, Thomas Mark, Artie Traum & Happy Traum)
Happy Traum "Bright Morning Stars" (Greenhayes Music, 1980) (LP)
Woodstock Mountains Revue "Back To Mud Acres" (Rounder Records, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Thomas Mark & Artie Traum)
The Happy Traum Band "Friends And Neighbors" (Vest Pocket Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Andy Robinson)
Happy Traum "Bucket Of Songs" (Shanachie Records, 1988)
Happy Traum "I Walk The Road Again" (Roaring Stream Records, 2005)
(Produced by Artie Traum, Chris Andersen & Tom Mark)
A fine chance to hear Happy Traum backed by a full band, including folk/bluegrass luminaries such as Larry Campbell (fiddle, mandolin and pedal steel), Cindy Cashdollar (dobro), Molly Mason (bass), John Sebastian (harmonica and guitar), and Jay Ungar on mandolin... Not to mention Artie Traum, who plays guitar and mandolin and helped produce the album. Also noteworthy is Happy Traum's son, Adam, who also became a recording artist and who plays slide guitar on this album.
Happy Traum "Just For The Love Of It" (Lark's Nest Music, 2015)
(Produced by Happy Traum & Larry Campbell)
Happy Traum (1938-2024), along with his brother Artie Traum, was one of the leading lights of the early 'Sixties folk revival. An easygoing multi-instrumentalist best known for his fluid finger-picking guitar style, Happy Traum was known as a picker's picker and in and much like his contemporary David Bromberg he was known as much for his behind-the-scenes studio work as for his on-stage career. Born in the Bronx, Happy and Artie Traum were early, central figures in the Greenwich Village folk scene, and in the early 'Sixties Happy Traum joined a trio called The New World Singers, which in 1963 recorded the first versions of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" and "Blowin' In The Wind." Traum's association with Dylan continued on through the 'Seventies, with work in the studio and on the road. The Traum brothers formed their own duo in the late '60s, then pursued solo careers on later recordings.
