This book is a real eye-opener, even to someone who has spent a long lifetime messing with folk music (and even taught ethnomusicology). I had no idea there was so much incredibly good music recorded from the northern Midwest. It can be an ordeal to listen to some of Lomax' recordings--he couldn't resist getting everyone who could even make a noise--but almost all the cuts on these records are really fine music. The singers are mostly excellent and the instrumentals good to superb. Most interesting are the very extensive notes on ethnic groups, their settlements, their songs, their accommodation to the new environment. Extensive recordings of Finnish, Slavic, German, and other European groups are here; it is very difficult to find decent Finnish records in the US, so this is a real addition.The folk society immortalized here is now pretty thoroughly gone. A world where people had to make their own music is hard to imagine now, but the music is infinitely better than the trash on TV now. A world where people manage their own lives, govern themselves, and succeed through hard work is getting awfully hard to imagine now too, with giant multinational firms ruling most people's lives and claiming it's "free enterprise" when they collude with governments to crush local communities. Folk society, folk culture and folk songs will probably not be coming back, to the infinite loss of the human species.I bought this as though I am very familiar with forays into the South to document folk, gospel and blues performers I had never heard of Wisconsin or Michigan field recordings my Alan Lomax and others. Since I'm from Wisconsin this is of particular interest to me. This set did not disappoint. The book was done by University of Wisconsin press written and curated by a UW professor whose specialty is this kind of music. The field recorders who did these were particularly interested in documenting music from people who carried on traditions of "the old country". The book is fairly extensive and discusses the artists as well as music content. One big surprise, I found a few tracks by a guy who sang in the Walloon language that turned out to be a relative of a guy I work with. These recordings were done around 1940 and my co-worker thought he may have met this man a few times in his youth . I found this a fascinating glimpse of music performed by immigrants to this country and others who had not yet lost the traditions of their ancestors. Sound is very good consider the equipment and conditions used in recordings. Dust to Digital did an excellent job of transferring to CD format. Highly recommended unless you have no interest in the roots.Of course the recording quality is not going to be like the recordings of this day and age, but the content is so authentic. What a great chance to look back into the past and hear these wonderful moments of singing together and jam sessions. I am still working my way through - there are many songs and lots of written information. I am really happy to have this set of recordings and book.I love that it includes several music CD's. Comprehensive research and very complete. Recordings have studio banter and musician comments which makes this quite real. This book and included music will help keep this wonderfully naive craft alive. Thank you for producing this material.It isn't completely clear in the product review - this book includes five CDs and on DVD of field recordings, so it's a real treasure.The book gives the full story of every track on the recordings. It's a rich resource of music of the Upper Midwest, an aspect of American music that has long been neglected.Beautifully put together compilation of Alan Lomax's folk recordings of the Upper Midwest. This book and its accompanying CDs and DVD has become a family treasure.I recieved the book today in relatively good condition as advertised. However it is missing "CD3". I am dissapointed that it is not the complete set.Returned itemThis is a mind boggling book. The text part of the package is absolutely fantastic. Enough to browse and devour for the most avid folk music fan. The book runs to over 400 pages and is crammed full of photos and song texts from the American "Upper Mid West".Included with the book is a treasure trove of 5 CDs of field recordings and if that isn't enough there is also a DVD covering that early field collecting.This is a true gem and not to be missed.Excellent product, well packed, fast delivery. Recommended.great book plus cdsgreat history very informative