From: et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA   
      
   "steve s" (steve@tommyjarrell.gov) writes:   
   > "Abby Sale"  wrote in message   
   > news:megrl2ls4061gqvj51g3ut4jkd1h1n5ptm@4ax.com...   
   >   
   >   
   >>"Unfortunately" as Lomax notes, the singing quality - intensity - of   
   >>the songs had much deteriorated.  It is suggested this may be due to   
   >>significantly humanized working conditions.  A shame.   
   >   
   > by the use of that logic, the best prison songs should have come out of   
   > Beria's NKVD camps, and we should feel disappointed the supply dried up.   
   >   
   Well no.  He's not saying it's unfortunate that things have improved in   
   prison.  He's saying it's unfortunate that the singing isn't the same,   
   and giving a possible explanation of why.   
      
   The whole point the Lomax's went recording in prisons in the first place   
   was because they were isolated from society at the time, so the songs   
   were closer to a snapshot of what they had been.  No tv, likely no radio,   
   likely no newspapers, and few visitors, and the songs would change a lot   
   less fast than if the singers had been outside.   
      
   He returned to the prisons later either because he was expecting similar   
   findings, or to see how things had changed.  ANd he found things had changed.   
      
   By your logic, he supported the prison system as it was back in the thirties   
   because it was a good thing for music.  And I don't read that at all.   
      
       Michael   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)