1 & 2 (Remastered)

The Holy Modal Rounders made “freak folk” music at least a generation before the term was invented. The bizarre antics of co-founders Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber placed them on the far fringes the ‘60s Greenwich Village folk scene. This expanded edition of the Rounders’ first two Prestige albums offers a grab bag of tweaked traditional songs and skewed original numbers, united by an irreverent sensibility and an eclectic musical approach. Stampfel and Weber turn folk and blues chestnuts like “Long John,” “Junko Partner” and “Hop High Ladies” inside out, messing with the lyrics as they romp through the tunes. (The Rounders’ rewrite of “Hesitation Blues” contains one of the earliest references to psychedelics on record.) Transcending satire, these numbers spin off into free-associative flights worthy of a Beat poetry session. Weber’s careening guitar lines finds a perfect match in Stampfel’s manic fiddle and banjo work. The duo’s twang-drenched harmonies are a hoot all by themselves. The Holy Modal Rounders never gained widespread fame, although their legacy continues to influence younger disciples today.