‘WOULD YOU MIND IF I RECORDED THE “SOUR CREAM” SONG? Henscratches and Flyspecks: How to Read Melodies from Songbooks

Four letters to Budnik from Pete Seeger are laid into the book, two concerning Seeger’s advocacy for ‘some crucial river scenes which may become parks if we push for ‘em - but which may become industrial sites or developments, if we don’t watch out. Would you have time this spring to photograph some of ‘em?’ (this letter on lined paper torn from a pad and in two pieces). In the longest of the letters Seeger asks for ‘a beautiful pic of [the] Hudson, with camera low, near water, and scenery...’ adding his own sketch of what he is envisaging - for the same advocacy work. Writing on Hotel Wellington headed paper Seeger apologises to Budnik for the misspelling of his name on the ‘cover of my new book “Hen Scratches and Fly Specks”’ which ‘I corrected’ before ‘some helpful person corrected it back to “Bodnick.” Now it’s printed. I’m sorry!!’ In the fourth letter written on yellow card Seeger asks his friend: ‘Would you mind if I recorded the “Sour Cream” song? Am making a new record for Warner Bros.’

DESCRIPTION: First edition, a near fine copy in a very good jacket inscribed by Seeger on the front flyleaf: ‘for Dan with many thanks love from Toshi and Pete [Japanese characters].

Provenance: from the estate of Dan Budnik (1933-2020), a photographer noted for his portraits of artists and photographs of the Civil Rights Movement. Pete Seeger (1919-2014) was an American singer song-writer and a crucial early mentor to Bob Dylan.