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BARGAIN BASEMENT
COMPACT DISCS - Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey
Herschel Brown -> Charley Pride
| HERSCHEL BROWN | Document DOCD 8001 | Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, 1928-29 | ● CD |
| 23 tracks, 71 mins, recommended This disc features 23 tracks recorded 1928/29 by various groups featuring washboard player, spoons player and raconteur Herschell Brown. Half the cuts feature him on washboard with various small groups playing old time breakdowns and the rest are a mix of novelty sketches with music and talking blues. With the exception of L.K. Sentell who plays some very fine guitar most of the other musicians are unknowns but whoever they are they are generally good ans in addition to the usual fiddles and banjo some cuts include harmonica, piano and even clarinet - the latter fitting in surprisingly well. An entertaining selection of music - good sound, discographcal details and informative notes from Tony Russell who is one of the leading experts in the field of old time country music. (FS) |
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| JOHNNY CASH | Columbia 00739-2 | Cash: Ultimate Gospel | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 67 min., recommended Cash once called himself a "C-" Christian, but Billy Graham gives this collection his seal of approval. And now that the endless repackaging of Cash's recording catalog is in full swing, that distinction may be worth something. Be that as it may, this collection, which covers the period between 1957-1981, may not be deserving of the titular adjective it sports. The 1950s and early 1960s tracks, usually featuring Luther Perkins, outshine the rest by a quite a bit. The mid- to late-1960s recordings often include the Carter family, Maybelle Carter, the Statler Brothers and others, and while not as interesting as the Sun material, offer considerable satisfaction. But the overly slick production of the 1970s tracks render them bloodless and dull. Luckily, there aren't many of them. This set includes two previously unreleased cuts: It's No Secret (What God Can Do from 1981, and My Ship Will Sail from 1974. Neither is essential. On the whole, a pleasant if unspectacular disc. (JC) |
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| COWBOY JACK CLEMENT | Dualtone 1187 | Guess Things Happen That Way | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, 32 min., highly recommended He hired on at Sun Records back in the glory days and produced tracks by Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis (including Whole Lotta Shakin'). Since then he's produced Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, Louis Armstrong, and U2 (on the "Rattle & Hum" CD), to name a diverse few. And his songwriting credits are at least as impressive. This album is his second solo release--his first came about 25 years ago. This one opens with the Rolling Stones' composition No Expectations, previously covered by Johnny Cash, whose influence is all over this disc. But mainly Clement sings from his own pen, including Ballad Of A Teenage Queen (a #14 charter for Cash, who lends his voice and guitar), and the titular track (a #11 hit for Cash who again lends vocal assistance). Credit his sense of humor for Drinking Carrot Juice ("it will clean your goozle out"), though Leavin' Is The Lovin' Thing To Do is more typical. And political country fans will appreciate Every Place I've Ever Been, co-written by Zell Miller! It may be a long wait for the next one. (JC) |
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| ART DICKSON | B.A.C.M. 243 | ● CD |
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| 26 tracks, recommended Entertaining collection of western songs performed by Oklahoma singer Dickson accompanied by various groups. Dickson apparently had a fairly lengthy musical career performing in several different styles but settled on western music in the late 30s. He never recorded commercially and these tracks are all taken from radio transcriptions - presumably from the early/ mid 40s and while his trained voice is a little off putting the accompanying harmonies and instrumental work are excellent. Songs include Lonesome Days/ When Cookie Yells/ I'm Gonna Have A Cowboy Wedding/ Chant Of The Wanderer/ Close To Heaven/ He's Gone Down The Long, Long Trail/ Tired Little Wrangler/ Blue Ranger/ All Day On the Prairie, etc. (FS) ART DICKSON: A Dogie's Lullaby/ A Sinner's Prayer/ All Day On The Prairie/ At The Old Barn Dance/ Blue Ranger/ Chant Of The Wanderer/ Cindy/ Close To Heaven/ Don't Expect Me Home In The Morning/ He's Gone Down The Long, Long Trail/ I'm Gonna Have A Cowboy Wedding/ Jack O' Diamonds/ Lonesome Days/ Move On, You Lazy Cattle/ My Little Cow Pony And I/ No Good Son-Of-A-Gun/ No Letter Today/ Singin' On The Range/ Take That Night Train To Memphis/ Tired Little Wrangler/ When Cookie Yells/ Whoa Mule, Whoa/ Whoopee-Ti-Yi-Yo/ Would He Ride On A Roundup In Heaven/ You Nearly Lose Your Mind/ You're From Texas |
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| THE DILLARDS | Varese 66716 | Early Recordings, 1959 | ● CD |
| 10 tracks, 21 mins, recommended Fresh faced Doug and Rodney Dillard on banjo, guitar and vocals with "Special Guest" Dean Webb were already turning into some fine Bluegrass musicians when they recorded these tracks in 1959. All of this was recorded in a small home studio in St. Louis Missouri and has been in the vaults ever since. Re-mastered for this release, with Dillards member Dean Webb added on for extra flavor. This is a slim offering, clocking in at just under 21 minutes, but it's still quite enjoyable. Great photos included from the Dillard family photo album. (JM) |
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| THE DIXON BROTHERS | Document 8046 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 - 1936 | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, highly recommended The first of four volumes featuring the complete recordings of this superb South Carolina duo. Lifelong industrial millhands, The Dixon Brothers were also among the most influential of the early country brother duets and were also successful recording artists in the 30's. The brother's repertoire was an intriguing blend of mountain ballads, parlor songs, self-penned country songs in the style of the day, religious songs, country blues, and songs about the hardships in the cotton mills drawn from personal experience. Dorsey does most of the lead vocal and plays regular guitar, brother Howard provides harmony vocals and steel guitar. This volume includes a couple of their most enduring songs the topical Weave Room Blues and the humorous delight Intoxicated Rat. Other fine original songs include Sales Tax On The Women and Spinning Room Blues. There are "answer" songs to such popular ditties as Maple On The Hill/ I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail and Bonnie Blue Eyes, religious songs like Not Turning Back/ A Wonderful Day and Are You Sure? and more. Generally decent sound and good notes from Keith Briggs. (FS) |
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| JOE GOLDMARK | HMG 3014 | Strong Like Bull ... But Sensitive Like Squirrell! | ● CD |
| 2001 album from fine and idiosyncratic Bay Area steel
guitarist - mostly original tunes with accompaniments from The Axe
Murderers, The Heavenly Horns, The 10 Gallon cats and others - Joe's
Jump/ Butane/ Okra Dokey/ Going Up The River/ take Four/ Fog City/ Presence
Of The Lord/ Sensiive Like Bull, etc. |
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| MERLE HAGGARD | Koch 4054 | Sing Me Back Home | ● CD |
| Circa 1967, this one mixed originals, covers and material
from other Bakersfielder writers. The title song was based on Haggard's own
too-recent prison experiences at San Quentin, where he saw Death Row inmates
firsthand. Also from his pen came Good Times, the honkytonker I'll
Leave the Bottle on the Bar and Look Over Me as well as Wine
Take Me Away, a Hag-Tommy Collins collaboration . Hag and former
employer Wynn Stewart created My Past Is Present (not Bob Wills as
the back composer credits state). Mom and Dad's Waltz came from
Haggard's idol and stylistic mentor Lefty Frizzell. The rest including
Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp (Dallas Frazier), If You See My Baby
(Bob Morris and Eddie Miller) and Where Does The Good Times Go (Buck
Owens) reflected the Bakersfield contingent. (RK) |
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| ROY HARVEY | Document DOCD 8051 | Complete Recordings In Chronological Order, Vol. 2 | ● CD |
| 24 tracks recorded between February 1928 and October 1929.
It includes ten more tracks with the North Carolina Ramblers including a
terrific version of the old ballad George Collins. There are ten
tracks with Earl Shirkey which are essentially solo performances by Harvey
with Shirkey adding yodelling and spoken comments and doing two of the
vocals. There are also four excellent guitar intsrumentals with Harvey
joined by guitarist Leonard Copeland. |
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| ROY HARVEY | Document DOCD 8053 | Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 - 1931 | ● CD |
| 22 tracks from 1931 featuring vocalist/guitarist Harvey
including tracks as a member of The West Virginia Ramblers and
accompaniments to Branch and Coleman. |
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| THE HILL BILLIES | B.A.C.M. 223 | Volume 4 - Hilly Billy Band | ● CD |
| The fourth volume from this popular British quartet who
performed western flavored songs in the 30s with vocals, guitar, fiddle,
harmonica, banjo and accordion. Charming renditions of American Western
favorites along with several originals. THE HILL BILLIES: A Shanty In A One Horse Town/ All Ashore/ Bunk House Billy/ Bye Lo Bye Lullaby/ Climbing Up The Golden Stairs/ Dying Cowboy/bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie/ Good Night/ Hilly Billy Band/ Hilly Billy Wedding At The Old Town Hall/ Home On The Range/ In The Moonlight‘s Glow/ Jump On The Wagon/ Lily Lucy Lane/ Me And The Old Folks At Home/ Suzanna From Alabama/ Syncopatin‘ Cowboy/ The Last Of The Texas Rangers/ The Prairie Is A Lonely Place At Night/ The Strawberry Roan/ There‘s A Moon On The Mountain/ Timber/ Wanderin‘ Shoes/ When The Bloom Is On The Sage/ Yodeling Hobo |
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| WANDA JACKSON | CMH 8708 | Heart Trouble | ● CD |
| 16 tracks, 48 min., good For the Queen of Rockabilly, who earned her crown with wildness and a certain lack of adherence to musical orthodoxy, Jackson comes off here as a bit tame, despite the company of Rosie Flores, Elvis Costello, The Cramps, The Cadillac Angels, Dave Alvin, and others. That's not to say Jackson doesn't still have some orneriness in her voice (e.g., Riot In Cellblock #9 or Hard Headed Woman), or that she can't deliver the wistfulness necessary to bring off Anytime You Wanna Fool Around convincingly. And certainly Heart Trouble is a good album, but it's no use pretending that the sexagenarian is 17 years old, as the song selection might indicate. Perhaps more straight ahead country material and less rockabilly (where Jackson sounds forced and wildness is not exuded) would have played to her strengths better. (JC) |
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| WAYLON JENNINGS | New West 6091 | Live From Austin, Texas | ● CD |
| 17 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended Waylon in top form in 1989 with his fine band including the great Ralph Mooney on steel guitar plus Jerry BRidges on lead guitar, Barry Walsh on piano and others. All your Waylon favorites are here - I'm A Ramblin' Man/ Rainy Day Woman/ Amanda/ Me And Bobby McGee/ Mamas Don't Let Your baby's Grow Up To Be Cowboys/ Bob Wills Is Still The King/ Good Hearted Woman and best of all Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way. Waylon's wife, Jesse Colter, joins him for a couple of songs but doesn't really add a lot to the proceedings. No real surprises here - just a solid set of fine music. Also available on DVD ($17.98) (FS) |
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| FRED KIRBY | B.A.C.M. 179 | That Good Old Utah Trail | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, 72 minutes, excellent Complementing Cattle's earlier Fred Kirby collection, this B.A.C.M anthology focuses on the North Carolina singer's earliest recordings. The six tracks from Kirby's first February 1936 session reveals a pleasant, if undistinguished Jimmie Rodgers clone. Four duets recorded with Bob Phillips the following day are more interesting; Roll On, Roll On could have inspired Woody Guthrie's enduring Columbia River song. A June 1936 yielded more Rodgersesque solos plus duets with Don White and Cliff Carlisle. Another session four months later shows that Kirby evolved into a pleasant, if undistinguished western crooner, backed by the requisite cowboy string band. The disc's most engaging interesting track is a 1937 duet with Cliff Carlisle, Cowboy's Dying Dream. By 1938 Kirby was recording hillbilly fare for Decca, which was pleasant, if . okay, you get the picture. The sound is generally good; Brian Chalker offers brief notes. (DS) FRED KIRBY: Cathedral In The Pines/ Cottage By The Wayside/ Cowboy's Dying Dream/ Everyday Is Mother's Day To Me/ Find My Precious Home/ I Got A Red Hot Mama/ I'm A Gold Diggin' Papa/ I'm Lonesome Sad And Blue/ I'm The Roughest And Toughest/ In The Shade Of The Old Pine Tree/ Life's Railway To Heaven/ Lonesome Lullaby/ My Carolina Sweetheart/ My Darling Nell/ My Heavenly Sweetheart/ My Man/ My Old Fashioned Sweetheart/ My Old Saddle Horse Is Missing/ My Sweet Little Mother Of The Range/ Roll On, Roll On/ Round Up Time In Heaven/ Song Of The Golden West/ That Good Old Utah Trail/ Underneath The Texas Moonlight/ Wagon Train Keep Rolling Along |
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| THE LILLY BROTHERS & DON STOVER | Smithsonian Folkways 40158 | Bluegrass At The Roots | ● CD |
| Reissue of Folkways 2433 with two previously unissued
tracks. Wonderful old time singing and traditional bluegrass from this
superb duo. The first eight tracks features just the duo accompanying
themselves on guitar and mandolin in the style of earlier brother teams like
The Blue Sky Boys and The Monroe Brothers. On the remaining tracks they are
joined by Don Stover on banjo, Herb Hooven on fiddle or bass annd
occasionally Mike Seeger on bass on a wonderful selection of traditional
bluegrass. |
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| JIMMIE LOGSDON | Bear Family BCD 15650 | I Got A Rocket In My Pocket | ● CD |
| 31 tracks, 73 minutes, good Jimmie Logsdon, alias Jimmie Lloyd, enjoyed two distinct identities as a honkytonk singer and a rockabilly from 1951 to 1958. This, the definitive Logsdon collection, assembles his rare 1951 Harvest 78 (his first record) and 27 Decca, Dot, Starday and Roulette sides. The early Logsdon was a straight ahead Hank Williams honkytonker, reflected in the Harvest single that helped him land a contract with Decca. He did some respectable work there, including Let's Have A Happy Time, Jimmie Davis's Where The Old Red River Flows and the impressive (and previously unissued) One Way Ticket to Nowhere. One problem was the overemphasis on a Hank Williams sound, and flat material like I Wanna Be Mama'd and the two tedious 1953 postmortem Hank tributes. The Dot and Starday sides are equally mediocre, but Logsdon regained his power with Roulette as rockabilly Jimmie Lloyd. Where the Rio De Rosa Flows in 1957 and 1958's Rocket in My Pocket (featured in the film "The Right Stuff") both aged well. The hot band on Rocket featured Grady Martin, Harold Bradley, Hank Garland, Floyd Cramer and other Nashville regulars. Along with rare photos, Colin Escott's notes are based on a new interview with Logsdon. Check out the inside back cover: a strange photo of Logsdon with a string-tie wearing Raymond Burr. (RK) |
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| ROSE MADDOX & JOHN JORGENSON | Country-Town Music 1005 | The Moon Is Rising | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, 36 minutes, recommended When you consider that Rose Maddox's recording career began in 1947, it's a truly amazing thing to be reviewing her latest record in 1997! Actually the majority of these tracks are 10 years old, with 3 new songs added in 1996. According to the booklet, Jorgenson and Maddox met in L.A. during the early 80's when he backed her up in a punk club! The two vocalists trade off singing chores on most numbers and sing harmony as well. Of course Rose's singing is not as sharp and intense as it once was, but it remains instantly recognizable and better than many country vocalists. Several of these songs are familiar Maddox material, like "Stand Up Fool" and "Down to the River" and they sound fine. There's some other good material like "What Makes Me Hang Around" and "Love is Spoken Here", but others, like the title tune and Hoyt Axton's "Old Greyhound", just don't fit with Rose's style. Musical backing is top notch, especially Jorgenson's guitar and Jay Dee Maness' pedal steel. (DP) |
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| HARRY MCCLINTOCK | B.A.C.M. 082 | The Great American Bum | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended 22 tracks recorded between 1928 and 1931 by this fascinating performer whose classic recording of In The Big Rock Candy Mountain from 1928 (featured here) was included in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". McClintock was a world traveler who settled in San Francisco in the 1917 where he landed a radio spot on KFRC in 1925. McClintock, who was involved in the labor movement, performed a mix of hobo, vaudeville and cowboy songs including another song that has become a standard Hallelujah, I'm A Bum. Half the songs feature just Mac and his guitar - most of the rest feature a small group ("The Haywire Orchestra") and one song features fiddler Virgil Ward. Includes Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister/ Get Along Little Dogies/ The Man On The Flying Trapeze/ Trail To Mexico/ The TRusty Lariat/ Roamin'/ My Last Old Dollar/ The Bum Song/ Bald Top Mountain/ Jerry Go 'Ile That Car/ Circus Days and more. (FS) HARRY MCCLINTOCK: Bald Top Mountain/ Billy Venero/ Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister/ Circus Days/ Fifty Years From Now/ Fireman Save My Child/ Get Along Little Dogies/ Hallelujah I’m A Bum/ Hobo Spring Song/ Homespun Gal/ If I Had My Druthers/ In The Big Rock Candy Mountains/ Jerry Go ‘ile That Car/ My Dad’s Dinner Pail/ My Last Old Dollar/ Old Chisholm Trail/ Roamin’/ The Bum Song/ The Bum Song #2/ The Man On The Flying Trapeze/ The Trusty Lariat/ Trail To Mexico |
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| THE MCCOURY BROTHERS | Rounder 0230 | Mccoury Brothers | ● CD |
| Del McCoury, one time guitarist and lead singer for Bill
Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, has long been considered one of the premier
traditional bluegrass vocalists around. Here he joins with bassist-vocalist
brother Jerry and David McLaughlin, Eddie Stubbs and Richard Underwood of
The Johnson Mountain Boys to create one of the nicest traditional new
bluegrass records in a while. On I'll Never Make You Blue/ My Sweet Love
Ain't Around/ Lonesome Wind and 9 others, Del and Jerry evoke memories
of the great brother duets of the past. (RP) |
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| PATSY MONTANA | ASV CDAJA 5516 | The Original Cowboy's Sweetheart | ● CD |
| 27 t racks,
recommended This is a nice collection with a whole herd of great Patsy Montana from her heyday: 1934-1944. Starting off with her landmark recording "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" in 1944 and following her career up to 1944 recording with the WLS band members. The bulk of the material is with varying line-ups of the Prairie Ramblers, but they also sneak in a fun outing of "Gallopin' To Gallup" with The Sons Of The Pioneers. (JM) PATSY MONTANA: Back on Montana Plains/ Cowboy Rhythm/ Echoes from the Hills/ Goodnight, Soldier/ I Only Want a Buddy, Not a Sweetheart/ I Want to Be a Cowboy's Dream Girl/ I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart/ I'm an Old Cowhand/ Leanin' On the Old Top Rail/ Little Sweetheart of the Ozarks/ Lone Star/ Montana/ Moon Hangs Low (On the Ohio)/ My Baby's Lullaby/ My Dear Old Arizona Home/ My Poncho Pony/ Old Nevada Moon/ Ridin' the Sunset Trail/ Rodeo Sweetheart/ She Buckaroo/ Shine On, Rocky Mountain Moonlight/ Singing in the Saddle/ Smile and Drive Your Blues Away/ Swing Time Cowgirl/ Wheel of the Wagon Is Broken/ When the Flowers of Montana Are Blooming/ Gallopin' to Gallup |
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| NORMA JEAN | Omni 111 | I Guess That Comes From Being Poor | ● CD |
| 30 tracks, 77 mins, recommended Considered to be the proto Dolly Parton in some Country music circles (and a Dolly clone, in others), Norma Jean sang songs of cheating and heartache (as the "other woman") before it became fashionable. Omni has compiled onto one CD her "concept album" from 1972, "I Guess That Comes From Being Poor," her ninth album "Body and Mind" (1968), and her 1970 album "Another Man Loved Me Last Night," all recorded for RCA. The first two are presented in their entirety, while all except three songs are included from "Another Man." Norma Jean gained her notoriety from her duets with Porter Wagoner (pre-Dolly), her ahead-of-her-time songs, and the pure voice with which she sang them. The CD's notes are well done, and the artwork-which reproduces the original album covers-is superb. The sands of time have made her little more than a footnote in Country music history, but this CD is definitely worth a listen for songs that are both sexy and knowing. (GMC) |
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| CHARLEY PRIDE | RCA 67428 | The Essential Charley Pride | ● CD |
| 20 tracks - Just Between You And Me/ Please Help Me, I'm
Falling/ Kaw-Liga/ I'd Rather Love You/ I Can't Believe That You've Stopped
Loving Me/ Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'/ I'm Just Me/ Amazing Love/ I'll Be
Leaving Alone/ Burgers & Fries, etc. |
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