Smithsonian Folkways Announces Definitive Vinyl Reissue of Michael Hurley’s Seminal 1964 Debut Album First Songs

The enduring legacy of the late American folk artist Michael Hurley continues to unfold posthumously with the official announcement from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings regarding the upcoming deluxe vinyl reissue of his 1964 debut studio album, First Songs. Scheduled for release on November 6, the newly remastered LP arrives following the April passing of the celebrated musician at the age of 83, and closely trails the release of his final studio recording, Broken Homes and Gardens, issued via No Quarter.

This meticulously curated reissue aims to honor the foundational work of an artist widely revered as a primary architect and godfather of the freak folk genre. The project brings renewed attention to a recording that captured the nascent genius of a 22-year-old Hurley, preserving an essential artifact of American roots music history for both longtime vinyl collectors and a new generation of listeners.

A Masterclass in Audiophile Restoration and Historic Packaging

To ensure the highest fidelity while maintaining the rustic charm of the original recordings, Smithsonian Folkways enlisted GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer Mike Monseur—known for his acclaimed work with prominent heritage acts and contemporary roots artists including The Seldom Scene, The War & Treaty, and Wynonna Judd—to oversee the audio restoration. Monseur painstakingly remastered the master tapes, breathing new life into performances that originally captured Hurley’s singular acoustic dexterity and idiosyncratic vocal delivery.

The physical release mirrors the classic packaging valued by collectors, arriving on Smithsonian Folkways’ iconic original black gatefold LP format. Furthermore, the reissue preserves the historically significant original liner notes written by Frederic Ramsey Jr., providing crucial contextual depth that connects contemporary listeners to the vibrant, bohemian folk revival milieu of the early 1960s.

The Genesis of a Masterpiece: Greenwich Village, Bellevue, and Bucks County

The backstory of First Songs is deeply intertwined with the itinerant, countercultural lifestyle that defined Michael Hurley’s entire existence. In the early 1960s, Hurley was deeply immersed in the thriving Greenwich Village folk scene in New York City. However, the relentless lifestyle of a bohemian troubadour took a severe toll on his physical health. Hurley contracted a debilitating combination of hepatitis, mononucleosis, and early traces of tuberculosis, which necessitated a grueling six-month recovery period as a patient at Bellevue Hospital.

Upon his discharge from the hospital, seeking a quieter environment conducive to convalescence and creative output, Hurley relocated to a small stone house situated in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This relocation proved pivotal to his artistic trajectory. Not far from his new residence lived Frederic Ramsey Jr., a respected musicologist, author, and producer who would play a monumental role in capturing Hurley’s unpolished artistry on tape.

Reflecting Hurley’s lifelong aversion to sterile, high-pressure corporate environments—and his instinctive preference for organic, comfortable surroundings—the artist explicitly requested that First Songs not be recorded in a professional commercial recording studio. Ramsey accommodated this wish, setting up his recording equipment in his own home in New Jersey.

The recording sessions yielded a piece of audio history through unconventional technical means: Ramsey utilized the exact same reel-to-reel tape machine that he had operated in 1948 to record the legendary sessions for Lead Belly’s Last Sessions, which later found a home in the Smithsonian Folkways catalog. This deliberate choice to record outside of traditional studios initiated Hurley’s lifelong dedication to crafting lo-fi, homemade recordings—a production aesthetic that Hurley frequently claimed to have invented.

The Animated Reimagining of The Werewolf Song

To coincide with the announcement of the reissue of First Songs, Smithsonian Folkways released an official animated music video for one of the album’s standout tracks, The Werewolf Song. The visual accompaniment was brought to life by artist and filmmaker Drew Christie, a longtime friend and admirer of Hurley whose creative process was intimately tied to the musician’s distinct aesthetic.

Recalling the genesis of the animation, Christie detailed an immersive creative process shaped by the raw immediacy of Hurley’s music. "When I first heard ‘The Werewolf Song,’ it inspired so many visual ideas in me," Christie explained. "I would just drive in my car listening to it on repeat, letting ideas and images flow to me through the music. At the time I was working mainly in charcoal, and I liked how immediate and raw the material was and how it didn’t allow you to get bogged down in details. Michael’s music is much the same way: very raw and direct and honest and not worried about perfection and precision."

Utilizing a hands-on, tactile approach, Christie animated the song frame-by-frame on newsprint placed over an old door table with an illuminated glass center, using a lamp positioned beneath the glass to cast light upward through the paper. Once completed, Christie traveled to Astoria to screen the completed animation for Hurley.

The reaction was immediate and enthusiastic. According to Christie, Hurley immediately embraced the visual interpretation, remarking, "That’s always how I pictured him moving and stepping! You got it!" Hurley’s affection for the video was such that he frequently screened it for acquaintances and strangers alike during their encounters.

An Outsider’s Outsider and a Poet’s Soul

The reissue of First Songs arrives in the wake of widespread critical reappraisal following Hurley’s passing in April at the age of 83. Upon the release of his final studio album, Broken Homes and Gardens, music critics underscored the timeless, uncompromised nature of his artistry. Noted critic Thomas Blake eloquently characterized Hurley as "an outsider’s outsider, an essentially itinerant worker whose work was mining the raw product of his unique mind and presenting it as entertainment."

Blake further observed the unwavering consistency of Hurley’s creative vision across his prolific career, noting, "If he had plans to slow down or to tie up any creative loose ends, there is no evidence of that in these songs. They show Hurley in his essential form: digressive, surreal, jokey, ultimately moving. A folk prankster with a poet’s soul."

Spanning a recorded legacy of more than thirty albums, Hurley’s catalog gains substantial emotional and historical gravity when measured against First Songs. Recorded when the artist was merely 22 years old, the album showcases a maturity and singular perspective that defied his chronological age.

Drew Christie echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Hurley’s deliberate avoidance of commercial ambition. "’First Songs’ is a truly special record and statement of a young artist who was wise beyond his years and had something truly unique to sing," Christie stated. "It seems to come from another dimension or realm. Whenever people aks who I think is the most original artist or just a favorite, I always say ‘Michael Hurley.’ And then they always say ‘Who?!’ and that’s part of the reason why Michael is so special. His music is so undeniably amazing, and yet he tried with all his might to avoid fame and all its trappings. And he was successful in that. He was a true mystic and his legend will only grow with time."

Broader Implications and Legacy

The reissue of First Songs by Smithsonian Folkways serves a dual purpose within the broader landscape of American roots music preservation. Practically, it rescues a historically significant, long-out-of-print masterwork from physical scarcity, making it accessible to contemporary audiophiles on high-grade vinyl. Thematically, it anchors Hurley’s complex, sprawling career to its foundational roots, offering listeners a clear trajectory of an artist who remained entirely uncorrupted by commercial trends for six decades.

As traditional folk, Americana, and outsider music continue to find enthusiastic audiences in the digital age, the definitive reissue of First Songs reinforces the permanence of Hurley’s contributions. By documenting the exact moment a young visionary found his voice—armed with an acoustic guitar, a reel-to-reel tape machine in a New Jersey home, and an unyielding spirit of independence—Smithsonian Folkways ensures that the legend of the ultimate American folk mystic will endure for generations to come.

Pre-orders and advance purchases for the deluxe vinyl LP of First Songs are currently available directly through the official Smithsonian Folkways webstore and via Bandcamp, ahead of its official street date on November 6.