Bulletin - January/
February
2010
Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey
Various Artists
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
B.A.C.M. 299 |
Classic Country Music On The Dude
Label |
● CD $13.98 |
The Dude label was a short lived label based out of
Dallas, Texas from 1947 through 1949 set up by Jim Beck and Leo
Tell. Beck set up his first studio for these sessions in a converted
garage which moved and expanded over the years and became one of the
most important studios in Texas recording rockabilly artists like
Roy Orbison, Sid King and Mac Curtis and country giants like Jim
Reeves, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Sonny James and many others.
This disc is an entertaining selection of western flavored music
from mostly obscure performers like Bob Manning & His RIders Of The
Silver Sage, Dub Adams & His K-Bar Ranch Hands, Stoney & Buster &
The Buckaroos, Dixie Harper & Her Gold Drifters, Otis West & His All
Star Cowboys and others.
DUB ADAMS & HIS K-BAR RANCH HANDS: Homer's
Schottische (instr.)/ K-Bar Blues (instr.)/ New Rancho Grande/ Send
Me Back My Broken Heart/ STONEY CARLISLE & HIS WESTERN MEN: Gosh
Gee-Mi-Nee/ Hiway Of Tears/ ART DAVIS & HIS RHYTHM RIDERS: Booga-Boo
Baby/ T-Town Sue/ COWBOY DIXON & HIS WESTERN PLAINSMEN: A Love Like
Ours/ THE DUDE RANCH BUCKAROOS: Meet Me By The River/ JIM FERGUSON:
Just To Break My Heart/ BIG ED HARDAGE & THE TEXAS JAY BOYS: The
Love That Wasn't Mine/ DIXIE HARPER & HER ALL GOLD DRIFTERS: I Love
You More Every Minute/ BUDDY HARRIS & HIS TRINITY VALLEY BOYS: I'm
Going Back To The Country/ LEROY JENKINS & HIS TEXAS SHOWBOYS: Too
Fat Boogie/ BOB MANNING & HIS RIDERS OF THE SILVER SAGE: As Long As
You Don't Care/ Cedar River Stomp (instr.)/ Green Light/ Lola Lee/
Old Folks Boogie/ Reading Your Letter With Tears In My Eyes/ Silver
Sage Stomp (instr.)/ THE RIDERS OF THE SILVER SAGE: I Hate To Say
Goodbye/ STONEY & BUSTER & THE BUCKAROOS: Tell Me Baby/ Today/
"COWBOY PAL" LOYD WEAVER: Kute-Te-Kue/ Too Many Tears/ “COWBOY PAL™
LOYD WEAVER & HIS PALS: Like The Leaves (I Fell For You)/ My Honey
Bee/ OTIS WEST & HIS ALL STAR COWBOYS: The Same Tear Twice
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
B.A.C.M. 300 |
Early California Cowboys &
Hillbillies, Vol. 1 |
● CD $13.98 |
22 tracks, recommended
Although California didn't become a leading center for western music
until the 1940s there was certainly an active community of
performers prior to this and this CD presents a fine selection of
sides recorded between 1929 and 1935 including three outstanding
groups The Arizona Wranglers, Charlie Marshall & His Maverick and
Len Nash & His Country Boys. These are essentially string bands with
occasional addition of accordion or harmonica doing a selection of
traditional and original western songs. The last four cuts featuring
Tom & Chuck and The Hollywood Hillbilly Orchestra features the same
vocalists - Tom Murray and Chuck Cook - two cuts with string band
backing and two with a studio orchesra - the latter is really quite
effective. The music here deserves a "highly recommended" rating but
the sound quality is unexceptional and the digital noise reduction
on some cuts is so severe that the accordion sounds like ane
electronic instrument. Fortunately not every cut is so egregious.
High quality notes by Kevin Coffey. (FS)
THE ARIZONA WRANGLERS: Goin' Back To Texas/ Going
Back To Arizona/ She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain/ Strawberry
Roan/ West Coast Special/ Wreck Of The Old 97/ THE HOLLYWOOD
HILLBILLY ORCHESTRA: Mellow Mountain Moon/ When The Bloom Is On The
Sage/ CHARLIE MARSHALL & HIS MAVERICKS: Take Me Back to Col-ler-rad-da
Fer To Stay/ The Mowin' Machine/ The Old Hitchin' Rail/ The Santa Fe
Trail/ Tom Bigbee River/ What Makes Your Head So Red/ LEN NASH & HIS
COUNTRY BOYS: Goin' Down To Town/ Kelley Waltz/ On The Road To
California/ Orphan Girl/ The Ozark Trail/ The Trail To Mexico/ TOM &
CHUCK: At The End Of The Lane/ White River Road
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 15945 |
"A Girl Named Johnny Cash" And Other
Tribute Songs |
● CD $21.98 |
18 tracks, 54 mins, recommended
Pretty much since the death of Jimmie Rodgers in 1933, there has
been a steady stream of Country tribute songs. On this collection of
recordings from the 1960's - '70s, you get tribute songs to not only
Johnny Cash, but also The Carter Family, Ernest Tubb, Lefty
Frizzell, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, and more. There are some bigger
names paying tribute like Merle Haggard and Charlie Rich, then you
also have a whole lot of Stoney Edwards, who was a good artist, one
who specialized in tribute songs. Stoney Edwards fills up about half
this disc with his recordings from his heyday in the 1970's. Stoney
was famous for two things: his tribute songs, and being the other
African American Country artist of the time. His catalog hasn't been
given much attention over the years and most of his tracks here are
making their long over-due debut on CD. Two of the most entertaining
tracks on this have to be Jane Morgan's titular track and Mac
Wiseman's great Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride ("If I Had
Johnny's Cash and Charley's Pride, I wouldn't have a Buck Owen on my
car.") In lesser hands a collection like this would be a bit of a
throwaway, but Bear Family picks the right tracks and has their
usual high standard of sound and documentation that make it a
quality release. (JM)
STONEY EDWARDS: Bill Monroe – Daddy Bluegrass/ Bob
Wills, The Fiddlin' Man/ Cash/ Hag Sang Me A Song/ Hank And Lefty
Raised My Country Soul/ Red Foley/ Roy Acuff, The King Of Country
Music/ The Carter Family/ The Jimmie Rodgers Blues/ The Night The
Ernest Tubb Show Came To Town/ MERLE HAGGARD: Goodbye Lefty/
Leonard/ JANE MORGAN: A Girl Named Johnny Cash/ CHARLIE RICH:
Gentleman Jim/ GORDON TERRY: The Ballad Of J.C./ RUDY THACKER: The
Ballad Of Johnny Horton/ ERNEST TUBB: Hank It Will Never Be The Same
Without You/ MAC WISEMAN: Johnny's Cash And Charley's Pride
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16956 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And
Hillbilly Music, 1951 |
● CD $24.98 |
Second set of releases in this great new series from
Bear Family featuring some of country music's greatest recordings on
a year by year basis starting with 1945 and ending in 1970. The
first six volumes covering 1945 through 1950 (Bear Family 16950
through 16955 - $24.98 each) were issued about a year ago and now
here are five more volumes covering 1951 through 1955. Each volume
has between 26 and 31 tracks - mostly chart hits but in a few cases
the compilers have chosen the original version of a country favorite
which may have become a hit for someone else or had a big influence.
Being Bear Family the sound quality is as good as it gets -
remastered from original tapes or masters wherever possible. Each CD
is presented in a small hardbound book with a 72 page booklet with
biographical and discographical info, rare photos and label shots.
This volume has 29 tracks including such hits as Shotgun Boogie
by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Golden Rocket by Hank Snow, Cold,
Cold Heart by Hank Williams and Always Late by Lefty
Frizzell along with rarities like the original version of Mockin'
Bird Hill by The Pinetoppers, Rocket 88 by Bill Haley and
the original version of Just Out Of Reach by The Stewart
Family plus sides by Johnnie & Jack, Carl Smith, Moon Mullican, The
Carlisles and others.
EDDY ARNOLD: I Wanna Play House With You/ BIG
JEFF: Step It Up And Go/ JOHNNY BOND: Sick, Sober And Sorry/ ELTON
BRITT: Rotation Blues/ THE CARLISLES: Too Old To Cut The Mustard/
RED FOLEY: (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley/ TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD:
The Shot Gun Boogie/ LEFTY FRIZZELL: Always Late (With Your Kisses)/
Mom And Dad's Waltz/ BILL HALEY AND THE SADDLEMEN: Rocket '88'/
EDDIE HILL: The Hot Guitar/ JOHNNIE & JACK: Poison Love/ PEE WEE
KING: Slow Poke/ BILL MONROE AND HIS BLUE GRASS BOYS: Uncle Pen/
MOON MULLICAN: I Was Sorta Wonderin'/ JIMMY MURPHY: Electricity/ THE
PINETOPPERS: Mockin' Bird Hill/ CARL SMITH: Let Old Mother Nature
Have HerWay/ Let's Live A Little/ HANK SNOW: The Golden Rocket/ The
Rhumba Boogie/ THE STEWART FAMILY: Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open
Arms)/ ZEB TURNER: Chew Tobacco Rag/ JESS WILLARD: Honky Tonk
Hardwood Floor/ CURLEY WILLIAMS: Half As Much/ HANK WILLIAMS: Cold
Cold Heart/ Hey Good Lookin'/ MAC WISEMAN: 'Tis Sweet To Be
Remembered/ DEL WOOD: Down Yonder
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16957 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And
Hillbilly Music, 1952 |
● CD $24.98 |
26 tracks including hits like High Noon by
Tex Ritter, Wild Side Of LIfe by Hank Thompson and Kitty
Wells' answer song It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,
Jambalaya by Hank Williams along with lesser known sides like
Lattie Moore's proto-rockabilly classic Juke Joint Johnny,
Doye O'Dell's early trucking classic Diesel Smoke and Slim
Willet's original recording of Don't Let The Stars Get In Your
Eyes. Also includes sides by Johnnie & Jack, Jimmie Dean, Bill
Haley, Webb Pierce and more.
EDDY ARNOLD: Easy On The Eyes/ JIMMIE DEAN:
Bumming Around/ JIMMY DICKENS: They Locked God Outside The Iron
Curtain/ JIM EANES: I Cried Again/ RED FOLEY: Midnight/ LEFTY
FRIZZELL: Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses)/ BILL HALEY:
Rock The Joint/ JOHNNIE & JACK: Ashes Of Love/ BIG BILL LISTER:
There's A Tear In My Beer/ BILL MONROE: Raw Hide/ LATTIE MOORE: Juke
Joint Johnny/ GEORGE MORGAN: Almost/ DOYE O'DELL: Diesel Smoke/ WEBB
PIERCE: Back Street Affair/ Wondering/ RENO & SMILEY: I'm Using My
Bible For A Roadmap/ TEX RITTER: High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) (from
the movie "High Noon")/ CARL SMITH: Are You Teasing Me/ HANK SNOW:
The Gold Rush Is Over/ JIMMY SWAN: I Had A Dream/ HANK THOMPSON:
Wild Side Of Life/ KITTY WELLS: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk
Angels/ SLIM WHITMAN: Indian Love Call/ SLIM WILLET: Don't Let The
Stars (Get In Your Eyes)/ HANK WILLIAMS: Honky Tonk Blues/ Jambalaya
(On The Bayou)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16958 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And
Hillbilly Music, 1953 |
● CD $24.98 |
28 tracks including hits like Your Cheatin' Heart
by Hank Williams, A Fool Such As I by Hank Snow, Mexican
Joe by Jim Reeves and There Stands The Glass by Webb
Pierce along with rarities like Johnny Bond's Let Me Go Devil
(later a hit as Let Me Go Lover), Tommy Duncan's country
rendition of Big Mama Thornton's Hound Dog and Joe Maphis's
original version of the songs that gives this series its title
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And Loud Loud Music. Also includes Jack
Cardwell, Red Cook, Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell, Onie Wheeeler and
more.
CHET ATKINS: Country Gentleman/ JOHNNY BOND: Let
Me Go, Devil/ JACK CARDWELL: The Death Of Hank Williams/ THE
CARLISLES: No Help Wanted/ RED COOK: Playin' Dominoes And Shootin'
Dice/ LINK DAVIS: Big Mamou/ THE DAVIS SISTERS: I Forgot More Than
You'll Ever Know/ ARLIE DUFF: You All Come/ TOMMY DUNCAN: Hound Dog/
LEFTY FRIZZELL: California Blues (Blue Yodel #4)/ DARRELL GLENN:
Crying In The Chapel/ RUDY GRAYZELL: Looking At The Moon And Wishing
On A Star/ JOHNNIE & JACK: South In New Orleans/ HANK LOCKLIN: Let
Me Be The One/ JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And
Loud, Loud Music)/ MERRILL MOORE: Red Light/ WEBB PIERCE: It's Been
So Long/ There Stands The Glass/ JIM REEVES: Mexican Joe/ MARTY
ROBBINS: I'll Go On Alone/ JEAN SHEPARD & FERLIN HUSKY: A Dear John
Letter/ CARL SMITH: Hey Joe!/ HANK SNOW: (Now And Then There's) A
Fool Such As I/ MITCHELL TOROK: Caribbean/ ONIE WHEELER: Run 'em
Off/ HANK WILLIAMS: Take These Chains From My Heart/ Your Cheatin'
Heart/ FARON YOUNG: Goin' Steady
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16959 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And
Hillbilly Music, 1954 |
● CD $24.98 |
This 29 track collection features Elvis's first
single That's All Right along with big hits like This Ole
House by Stuart Hamblen, I Really Don't want To Know by
Eddy Arnold, Release Me by Ray Price and I Don't Hurt
Anymore by Hank Snow plus significant non-hits like Too Hot
To Handle by Sonny Burns and the original version of Truck
Drivin' Man by Terry Fell plus sides by Slim Whitman, Wade Ray,
Little Jimmy Dickens, Roy Acuff, Jimmy Newman and others.
ROY ACUFF: I Closed My Heart's Door/ EDDY ARNOLD:
I Really Don't Want To Know/ THE BROWNS: Looking Back To See/ SONNY
BURNS: Too Hot To Handle/ CARL BUTLER: I Wouldn't Change You If I
Could/ TOMMY COLLINS: You Better Not Do That/ LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS:
Take Me As I Am (Or Let Me Go)/ TERRY FELL: Truck Drivin' Man/ RED
FOLEY & KITTY WELLS: One By One/ STUART HAMBLEN: This Ole House/
JOHNNIE & JACK: Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)/ JIMMY LEE & JOHNNY
MATHIS: If You Don't Somebody Else Will/ JIMMY NEWMAN: Cry, Cry
Darling/ EDDIE NOACK: Take It Away, Lucky/ WEBB PIERCE: Slowly/
Sparkling Brown Eyes/ ELVIS PRESLEY: That's All Right/ RAY PRICE:
I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)/ Release Me/ WADE RAY: Idaho
Red/ JIM REEVES: Bimbo/ CARL SMITH: Loose Talk/ HANK SNOW: I Don't
Hurt Anymore/ AL TERRY: Good Deal, Lucille/ ERNEST TUBB: Two Glasses
Joe/ SLIM WHITMAN: Rose Marie/ SHEB WOOLEY: Blue Guitar/ FARON
YOUNG: If You Ain't Lovin (You Ain't Livin')
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16960 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And
Hillbilly Music, 1955 |
● CD $24.98 |
31 tracks on this one including the unedited version
of George Jones' first hit Why Baby Why reissued for the
first time along with other hits like Ballad Of Davy Crockett
by Fess Parker, In The Jailhouse Now by Webb Pierce, Cry,
Cry, Cry by Johnny Cash and Marty Robbin's country cover of
Chuck Berry's Maybelline. Among the important non-hits are
Big Blue Diamonds by Jimmy Dean and Arthur Smith's Feudin'
Banjos which was reworked as Duelling Banjos for the
movie "Deliverance." There are also cuts by Bud Deckleman, Little
Jimmy Dickens, Carl Smith, Eddy Arnold, Porter Wagoner and others
and as a bonus track the original 1930 recording of In The
Jailhouse Now No. 2 by Jimmie Rodgers.
EDDY ARNOLD: Just Call Me Lonesome/ The Cattle
Call/ HYLO BROWN: Lost To A Stranger/ JOHNNY CASH: Cry! Cry! Cry!/
JIMMY DEAN: Big Blue Diamonds/ BUD DECKELMAN: Daydreamin'/ LITTLE
JIMMY DICKENS: We Could/ CHARLIE FEATHERS: Peepin' Eyes/ FLATT &
SCRUGGS: Before I Met You/ TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD: Sixteen Tons/
FERLIN HUSKY: I Feel Better All Over (More Than Anywheres Else)/
GEORGE JONES: Why Baby Why/ THE LOUVIN BROTHERS: When I Stop
Dreaming/ JIMMY MARTIN & THE OSBORNE BROTHERS: 20/20 Vision/ FESS
PARKER: Ballad Of Davy Crockett/ WEBB PIERCE: I Don't Care/ In The
Jailhouse Now/ ELVIS PRESLEY: I Forgot To Remember To Forget/ RAY
PRICE: Run Boy/ JIM REEVES: Yonder Comes A Sucker/ MARTY ROBBINS:
Maybellene/ RUSTY & DOUG: So Lovely Baby/ CARL SMITH: There She
Goes/ ARTHUR SMITH & DON RENO: Feudin' Banjos/ HANK SNOW: Let Me Go,
Lover!/ ERNEST TUBB: The Yellow Rose Of Texas/ PORTER WAGONER: A
Satisfied Mind/ THE WEBSTER BROTHERS & CARL BUTLER: Angel Band/
JIMMY WORK: Makin' Believe/ FARON YOUNG: Live Fast, Love Hard, Die
Young
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus INTCD 1 |
Intro Hillbilly, Vol. 1 |
● CD $15.98 |
30 tracks, highly recommended
A particularly nice volume in this series featuring 30 tracks
recorded between 1952 and 1958 for this excellent West Coast label -
the country subsidiary of the great blues & R&B label Aladdin. A
great mix of country boogie, western swing, bluesy boppers and up
tempo hillbilly. There are several familiar names including ex-Bob
Wills vocalist Tommy Duncan, Texas honky tonker Gene O'Quinn and
West Coast favorites Doye O'Dell and Eddie Dean. Most of the other
artists are fairly obscure though just about all excellent including
Jimmy Walker (three songs including the superb High Geared Daddy),
Rusty McDonald, Betsy Gay (an outstanding bluesy singer, who had an
extensive career in Western movies and recorded quite a bit, with
two songs including a great cover of Big Mama Thornton's Hound
Dog from 1953), Gary Van (the hot Rockin' Too Much with
an unexpected jazzy trumpet solo!), Eddie Hazelwood, Pete Pyle and
others. Another winner. (FS)
CHARLIE ALDRICH: Somebody Goofed/ LANKY HANK
DAWSON: Catfish Wiggle/ Drinkin' Beer In Tennessee/ EDDIE DEAN: Put
A Little Sweetnin' ( In Your Love)/ TOMMY DUNCAN: Hound Dog/ There's
Not A Cow In Texas/ BETSY GAY: Hound Dog/ This Is My Last Night In
Town/ EDDIE HAZELWOOD: A Rag ,A Bone, A Hank Of Hair/ Dirty Linen/
Texas Oil Man/ Truck Drivin' Woman/ DOUG LEWIS: Ice Worm Boogie/ Son
Of A Sourdough/ RUSTY MCDONALD: Baby Sittin' Boogie/ Call Operator
210/ Don't Say “I'm Sorry” Anymore/ You Got The Right Number/ DOYE
O’DELL: Diesel Smoke/ Mabel, Mabel/ GENE O’QUINN: Joe, Joe ,Joe/
PETE PYLE: Little Blue Eyed Blonde Goodbye/ Mark Me Off Your List/
RED ROWE: Brand New Broom/ Waste Paper Doll/ GARY VAN: Rockin' Too
Much/ JIMMY WALKER: High Geared Daddy/ I Plowed A Crooked Furrow/
Out Of Money, Out Of Place, Out Of Style/ EDDIE WILSON: Lifetime
Guarantee
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus MGMCD 4 |
MGM Hillbilly, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, 78 mins, recommended
First, let's get the bad news out of the way - this CD has two
tracks by Audrey Williams. A note on the back states "Although the
best efforts are made to restore these rare sides, no amount of
re-mastering or filtering can fix Audrey Williams's voice". Ain't it
the truth! Audrey was the Florence Foster Jenkins of country music.
At least the band accompanying her are fine. Fortunately the rest of
the disc is excellent featuring fine up-tempo hillbilly including
sides by Randy Atcher (the always popular Soft Shoulders And
Dangerous Curves), Braxton Shooford (singing Rockin' Chair
Daddy that he co-wrote with hank Williams), Les Willard, Billy
Jack Wills, George McCormick (great honky tonk), Tom Anderson, Jack
Turner (his Shake My Hand is pure rockabilly), The Andrews
Brothers, Ray Haney, Sheb Wooley, etc. (FS)
TOM ANDERSON: My Heart's In A Whirl/ No More Blues
From You/ THE ANDREWS BROTHERS: That's Why We Drifted Apart/ RANDY
ATCHER: Flying High/ Them Soft Shoulders & Dangerous Curves/ CECIL
CAMPBELL: Go Man Go/ CHARLIE CARSON: I'll Sure Come A-Runnin'/ RUSTY
GABBARD: I Gotta Get My Sugar/ I'm Lookin' For Somebody/ RAY HANEY:
Rosie's TV Song/ BUD HOBBS: Goose Rock/ You're Just What The Doctor
Ordered/ JOE (CANNONBALL) LEWIS: (Down The) Road To Love/ I'd Be
Sweet Talkin' You/ GEORGE MCCORMICK: Hi There Sweet Thing/ SAM
NICHOLS: Ain't That Too Bad/ Red Hair & Green Eyes/ DONN REYNOLDS:
All Alone/ BRAXTON SHOOFORD: Rockin' Chair Daddy/ ARTHUR SMITH: RSVP
Uncle Sam/ Your Way/ JACK TURNER: Shake My Hand/ TED WEST: Wrong
Side Of The Road/ LES WILLARD: Double Up & Catch Up/ AUDREY
WILLIAMS: Ain't Nothing Gonna Be All Right No How/ Livin' It Up &
Havin' A Ball/ BILLY JACK WILLS: Bottle Baby Boogie/ She's The
Quarter Horse Type (Of A Gal)/ BOB WILLS: Steamboat Stomp/ SHEB
WOOLEY: Love Is A Fever/ Tom The Boogie Woogie Tomcat/ SKEETS YANEY:
Train Track Shuffle
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus CAPCD 5 |
Capitol Hillbilly, Vol. 5 |
● CD $15.98 |
30 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Volume 5 in the series is one of Cactus's "Crying In Your Beer Honky
Tonk Ballads" specials and is crammed full of soulful gems. Besides
familiar tunes like Tommy Collins' fabulous original version of
High On A Hilltop and Wynn Stewart's classic Keeper Of The
Key are lots of great lesser known gems like Bill Dudley's
One More Heartbreak, Lee Bonds' Undecided Heart and Ray
Parks' Just A Hangin' Around. Other artists include HYlo
Brown, Werly Fairburn, Skeets McDonald, The Louvin Brothers, Jerry
Reed (the bluesy This Great Big Empty Room), Jimmy Heap, Gene
O'Quin (the gorgeous I'll Stop Loving You), Jess Willard,
Leon Payne, Jean Shepard and more. Another winner from Cactus. (FS)
BOBBY BARE: Another Love Has Ended/ LEE BONDS: No
Hope/ Undecided Heart/ HYLO BROWN: One Way Train/ JOE CARSON: Crazy
Dream/ TOMMY COLLINS: High On A Hilltop/ RAMBLIN’ JIMMIE DOLAN: I'll
Make Believe/ BILL DUDLEY: One More Heartbreak/ The Ghost Of Our
Love Affair/ WERLY FAIRBURN: Love Spelled Backwards Is Evol/ THE
FARMER BOYS: No One/ FREDDIE HART: I'm Going Out On The Front Porch
& Cry/ CARL HAYES: Go On With Your Dancing/ RED HAYES: Leave Him
Alone/ JIMMY HEAP: This Night Won't Last Forever/ JACK HUNT: I Loved
You Better Than You Knew/ FERLIN HUSKEY: You'll Die A Thousand
Times/ THE LOUVIN BROTHERS: My Baby's Gone/ SKEETS MCDONALD: Each
Time A New Love Dies/ ROD MORRIS: Everything To Lose, Nothing To
Gain/ GENE O'QUIN: I'll Stop Loving You/ RAY PARKS: Just A Hangin'
Around/ LEON PAYNE: Empty Dreams/ JERRY REED: This Great Big Empty
Room/ JEAN SHEPARD: Please Don't Divorce Me/ The Glass That Stands
Beside You/ WYNN STEWART: Keeper Of The Key/ TEXAS BILL STRENGTH:
Turn Around/ JESS WILLARD: Till The Day I Die/ FARON YOUNG: A Place
For Girls Like You
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 056 |
High On The Hog: Honky Tonk &
Hillbilly Bop, Vol. 2 |
● CD $15.98 |
30 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended
Another great collection of up-tempo hillbilly drawn from small
labels. Although the cover says "1958-1968" I think that several
tracks are earlier than 1958. Some of the tracks are borderline
rockabilly and a number have appeared on rockabilly compilation.
Most of the artists are incredibly obscure with only one or two
releases to their credit. Probably the most well known artists is
New Zealand performer Luke Simmons who was originally from Canada
and recorded quite a bit in New Zealand - his two sides are as hard
core hillbilly as it gets. Other artists include Charlie Lightfoot,
Webster Dunn Jr., Jim Worley, George Beck (his Used Car Blues
No.1 and No. 2 are a variation on the Hot Rod Race
theme), Dwight Todd, Shorty Sullivan, Hiram Griffis (a fine
rendition of the old favorite John Henry), Sterling Blythe,
Dixie Rogers, The Echo Valley Boys (a superb group featuring the
lead vocals of Bill Browning on a sparkling rendition of Detour
which I think is earlier than 1958), Jess Willard and more. Another
fine set. (FS)
BILLY BARTON: Blues In The Blue Of The Night/
GEORGE BECK: Used Car Blues No.1/ Used Car Blues No.2/ SANDY BEELER:
Carry Me Down/ BLUEGRASS ERVIN: I Won't Cry Alone/ STERLING BLYTHE:
Boss Of Ghost Town/ THE COUNTRY COWBOYS: Mississippi Boogie/ JACK
DERRICK: Black Mail/ SLIM DOSSEY: Don't Just Stand There/ BIG PETE
DUKER: Google Eye/ WEBSTER DUNN JR: Black & White Shoes/ THE ECHO
VALLEY BOYS: Detour/ THE FLYING W WRANGLERS: He's A Killer/ RAY
GODFREY: Overall Song/ SKIP GRAVES: Indian Giver (With Your Love)/
HIRAM GRIFFIS: John Henry/ MAY HAWKS: Meet Me Down In Nashville/
JIMMY KEY: I'll Get Out Of Your Way/ CHARLIE LIGHTFOOT: Yes Baby/
BILL LOOP: My Foolish Heart/ MIKE MILLER: Don't Mess Up My Hair/
DIXIE ROGERS: Our First Date/ LUKE SIMMONS: Frazer River Valley
Blues/ Throw A Little Love My Way/ SHORTY SULLIVAN: Gotta Have Your
Love Tonight/ DWIGHT TODD: When The North Wind Blows/ BOBBY WAYNE:
Albino/ JESS WILLARD: Every Dog Has His Day/ DUSTY WILLIAMS: Don't
Crawl Back To Me/ JIM WORLEY: Hard Hat
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 058 |
RCA Hillbilly, Vol. 5 - Crying In
Your Beer Honky Tonk |
● CD $15.98 |
31 tracks, highly recommended
Another great collection devoted to slower honky tonk ballads from
the early/ mid 50s including lots of obscure artists and many tracks
new to CD. Includes Porter Wagoner (the fine early side Don't
Play That Song), Elton Britt (the really fine Blue Guitar),
Carol Johnson (wild vocal!), Wade Ray, Tommy Sands (great early
honky from this singer who later turned to teen pop), Terry Fell,
Curtis Gordon, Merv Shiner, Eddie Marshall, Jimmy Murphy (his
classic Mother, Where Is Your Daughter), Jimmy Smith and
others. (FS)
EDDY ARNOLD: How's The World Treating You/
CHARLINE ARTHUR: Double, Crossed By Love/ The Good & The Bad/
SKEETER BONN: There's No Use Now/ ELTON BRITT: Blue Guitar/ TERRY
FELL: Don't Do It Joe/ DON GIBSON: Red Lips, White Lies & Blue
Hours/ CURTIS GORDON: What's A Little Pride/ HAWKSHAW HAWKINS: Why
Don't You Leave This Town/ AUTRY INMAN: The Hard Way/ CAROL JOHNSON:
According To Law/ KENNY LEE: But Not Like Mine/ Runaway Angel/ EDDIE
MARSHALL: I Could Lose These Blues/ KEN MARVIN: Forbidden Love/
BILLY MCGHEE: Rumors/ JIMMY MURPHY: Mother, Where Is Your Daughter/
WADE RAY: Let Me Go, Devil!/ DAVE RICH: Darling, I'm Lonesome/ TOMMY
SANDS: Never Let Me Go/ Transfer/ MERV SHINER: Don't Believe/ JIMMY
SMITH: Angel From East Tennessee/ JIMMIE RODGERS SNOW: Love Me/ REDD
STEWART: Don't Make Me Fall In Love With You/ BUDDY THOMPSON: Point
Of No Return/ JACK TURNER: I Couldn't Keep From Crying/ PORTER
WAGONER: Don't Play That Song/ DICK WILLIAMS: Robber/ DON WINTERS:
Forgive My Mistake/ I've Been Thinking It Over
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 059 |
"X" Label Hillbilly |
● CD $15.98 |
Another great collection of up-tempo hillbilly, this
time from RCA susbsidiary "X." It includes 10 tracks by Terry Fell
including his great original 1954 recording of Truck Driving Man
which has been recorded hundreds of time. Other artists include
Happy Wainwright, Shorty Long, Al Rogers (four fin sides including a
topical song about the The Hydrogen Bomb), Geer Sisters
(soulful harmonies on Unloved & Unclaimed which is very much
like a traditional ballad), Zeke & Red, Bonnie Owens, May Hawk,
Maybelle Seiger and others.
THE DALTON BOYS: Just Like Me/ Roll, Rattler,
Roll/ TERRY FELL: Don't Drop It/ Fa-So-La/ Get Aboard My Wagon/ He's
In Love With You/ I'm Hot To Trot/ Let's Stay Together Till After
Christmas/ Mississippi River Shuffle/ Truck Driving Man/ We Wanna
See Santa Do The Mambo/ You Don't Give A Hang About Me/ THE GEER
SISTERS: Menu Love/ Unloved & Unclaimed/ MAY HAWK: Don't Let Them
See My Face/ Pastime Girl/ SHORTY LONG: I Was Standing In The
Station/ Make With Me De Love/ BONNIE OWENS: I Traded My Heart For
His Gold/ Take Me/ AL ROGERS: I Ain't Spoken Fer/ The Hydrogen Bomb/
The Mirror 'Cross The Bar/ Workin' Man Blues/ MAYBELLE SEIGER:
Unwanted/ JACK TUCKER: First On Your List/ Stark, Staring Madly In
Love/ HAPPY WAINWRIGHT: Chig-A-Loo/ ZEKE & RED: Get Your Dad Burn
Fingers Offa Me/ The World Would Be A Better Place If It Was A Farm
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 060 |
RCA Hillbilly, Vol. 6 |
● CD $15.98 |
The sixth volume is back to the uptempo material
with 32 tracks from Johnny Tyler (a cover of The Delmore Brothers
Freight Train Boogie that's very close to the original), Anita
Carter (a country cover of R&B singer Nellie Lutcher's Real Gone
Guy), Eddie Marshall, Ken Marvin, Bob King, Tex Williams, Homer
& Jethro, Lone Pine, Rosalie Allen, Ruby Wells, Dave Denny (doing
My Bucket's Got A Hole In It followed by Eddie Marshall doing
My Bucket's Been Fixed), Jack Turner, Johnny Lee Wills and
others.
ROSALIE ALLEN: Shoot Him high Paw/ CECIL CAMPBELL:
You Kept Makin' Eyes At Me/ ANITA CARTER: False Hearted/ He's A Real
Gone Guy/ DAVE DENNY: My Bucket's Got A Hole In It/ THE DIAMOND
BROTHERS: Coal Dust On The Fiddle/ EDDIE HILL: 'Cause I Have You/
HOMER & JETHRO: That Tired Run Down Feeling/ JOHNNIE & JACK: Private
Property/ BOB KING: Anxious/ Did You Do It?/ LONE PINE: I Heard The
Bluebirds Sing/ MARTHA LYNN: Learning To Love/ EDDIE MARSHALL: Buddy
Stay Off Of That Wine/ My Bucket's Been Fixed/ KEN MARVIN: My Empty
Arms/ MINNIE & GRANDPA: Gotta Marry Off Our Daughter/ JOYCE MOORE:
Better Than Walkin' Home/ THE OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS: Hoot Owl Boogie/
WADE RAY: Easy Pickin's/ SUNSHINE RUBY: That Ain't In Any Catalog/
T. TOMMY: Baby You're The Only One/ Little Hoo-Wee/ JACK TURNER:
Hitchhiking A Ride/ JOHNNY TYLER: City Of Memphis/ Freight Train
Boogie/ PORTER WAGONER: Headin' For A Weddin'/ RUBY WELLS: You
Clobbered Me/ TEX WILLIAMS: Sweet Little Boogalie/ BOBBY WILLIAMSON:
Yo Yo Heart/ GUY WILLIS: Shine, Shave & Shower/ JOHNNIE LEE WILLS:
There Are Just Two I's In Texas
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 061A |
High On The Hog - Honky-Tonk &
Hillbilly Bop, Vol. 3 |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, highly recommended
Another very varied collection of honky tonk and boppin' hillbilly
drawn from small labels - most of it new to CD. All of it is good
but among the highlights is Jess Willard's gorgeous I'm Telling
You with one of those truly memorable melodies. The opening cut
Hobo Baby by Joe & Ray Shannon is another winner as is the
rockabilly flavored Now He's Gone by Reesa Lynn. The Jacoby
Brothers turn in fine Louvin Brothers style harmonies on Warmed
Over Love and Mack McQuire's great Mother-In-Law blues
features some might fine guitar pickin' along with accordion and
clarinet! Other artists include Jimmy Woodard, Johnny Stills, Billy
Stoltz, Rusty Ridgel, Sonny LeBarron, Jimmie King, Eddie Gaines, Bob
Cole and others. As usual sound is excellent though there are no
notes. (FS)
GEORGE BECK: Foolish Questions/ Millie’s Mine/
STERLING BLYTHE: Nothing But The Night/ TENNESSEE BUCK: Automobile
Song/ BOB COLE: You Lied/ EDDIE & CHUCK: Boogie The Blues/ EDDIE
GAINES: She Captured This Heart Of Mine/ JERRY GRAY: Heart’s
Breaking Up Over Love/ BENNIE HESS: Country Style Boogie/ Queen Of
Sylvan Beach/ ALDEN HOLLOWAY: Red Rose Of Arkansas/ Woodpecker Love/
THE JACOBY BROTHERS: Warmed Over Love/ GRADIE JOE: It’s Blue Monday/
JIMMIE KING: Pretty Little Baby/ JACK KINGSTON: Road Of Broken
Hearts/ TOMMY KIZZIAH: Two Timing Kind/ SONNY LEBARRON: Jack & Jill/
LEO & DOT: I’m Nobody’s Darlin’ Now/ BUDDY LIVINGSTON: Back When She
Was Young/ REESA LYNN: Now He’s Gone/ MACK MCQUIRE: Mother-In-Law
Blues/ BILLY MIZE: Pusan/ CURLEY RASH: Bubble Gum Boogie/ RUSTY
RIDGEL: Careless Lover/ JOE & RAY SHANNON: Hobo Baby/ JOHNNY STILLS:
The Storm/ BILLY STOLTZ: I Can’t Make Up My Mind/ I’ve Been
Everywhere/ UNKNOWN ARTIST: I’m Comin’ Home/ JESS WILLARD: I’m
Telling You/ JIMMY WOODARD: Go On & Leave
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 061B |
Tennessee Hillbilly |
● CD $15.98 |
33 tracks, highly recommended
More fine honky tonkin' hillbilly - this
time from the short lived but productive Nashville based Tennessee
label which between 1950 and 1952 turned out a whole slew of fine
hillbilly, R&B and black gospel recordings. This one features 33
hillbilly tracks by mostly obscure but fine artists. There are three
tracks by the excellent and underrated Billy Wallace, two by Lee
Bond including a recording of Uh Uh Honey that was later
covered by Charlie Feathers, a welcome postwar recording of veteran
country performer Kirk McGhee plus tracks by Bob Williams, Tiny
Bennett, Ricky Riddle, Helen Carter (of Carter Sisters fame), Allen
Flatt (an Ernest Tubb imitator whose name describes his voice),
Randy Hughes (five songs including a fine cover of Skeets McDonald's
Tatooed Lady) and more. The music is fine and sound is
excellent but I should point out that most of these tracks have been
reissued before - about half are on the Bear Family box set "A Shot
In The DarK" and more are on the two Collector CDs devoted to
Tennessee hillbilly (Collector 2879 & 2880). (FS)
BUDDY ALLEN: Shine, Shave, Shower/ TINY BENNETT:
Boogie Woogie Plowboy/ LEE BOND: Uh-Huh-Honey/ Wild Cattin’ Woman/
HELEN CARTER: I’m All Broke Out With Love/ DON DAVIS: If You Did
Half As Much Flirtin’/ TOBY DOWDY: I’d Cut Your Water Off/ BOB
EATON: Don’t You Know Me Anymore/ ALLEN FLATT: All I Like Being A
Monkey/ Cheat Cheat Cheatin’/ RANDY HUGHES: It’ll Feel So Good/ I’d
Rather Be A Rooster/ Roll On Freight Train/ Sweetly, Neatly & So
Completely/ Tattooed Lady/ When Elephants Start To Roost In Trees/
BOB JENNINGS: My Little Blue Eyes/ KIRK MCGEE: Ramblers Blues/ RICKY
RIDDLE: Boogie Woogie Tennessee/ Cold Icy Feet/ I’m So Lonesome/
DICK STRATTON: I Ain’t Crying Over You/ Love, Love, Love/ Pistol
Boogie/ THE VAUGHN BROTHERS: I’ve Gone & Done It Again/ BILLY
WALLACE: Dog Hauled Around/ I’m Gonna Turn You A’Loose/ Southwind/
You Got Some Explaining To Do/ BOB WILLIAMS: Crackers, Cheese &
Beer/ Pickup Truck/ So Don’t You Weep/ Waiting For The Tide To
Change
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
El Toro CH 104 |
Collectors Choice Vol. 4 - What A
Night |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 48 min, highly recommended
Volume 4 in the "Collectors Choice" series drawn from Dave Penny's
record collection, and despite the source material being vinyl, the
sound is pretty good, all things considered. The theme is first
generation 1950s rock and rollers, with emphasis placed on obscurity
are rarity. As one would expect, more than a few artists have
trouble hiding their debt to Elvis, among them, Jaycee Hill, Who cut
the well-known Bump!, but who is represented here by its
little-known flip, Crash Out. Hank Williams' influence is
also noticeable on such cuts as I Want Her Blues, which is
excellent. But some performances suffer from playing it too tame
(Benny Martin's Hoebe Snow) and some from pretending to feel
the rock 'n' roll spirit a bit too enthusiastically (listen to
Roberta Sherwood's forced Blue Moon Of Kentucky). Plenty of
cool sides here, though, including a pre-Sun recording from Tracey
Pendarvis (One Of These Days), Jack Tucker's Lonely Man,
Lee Emerson's What A Night, Long Road by Nancy Dawn &
The Hi-Fi Guys, and more. You're not likely to find this stuff any
where else any time soon. Decent booklet notes and photos too. (JC)
BETTY JO & JOHNNY STARR: Eskimo Boogie/ BILLY
BROWN: Next/ Next/ GATEMOUTH BROWN: Swingin' The Gate/ Swingin' The
Gate/ ERNIE CHAFFIN: The Stop, Look & Listen Song/ The Stop, Look &
Listen Song/ NANCY DAWN & THE HI-FI GUYS: It's A Long Road/ It's A
Long Road/ EDDIE DEAN & JOANIE HALL: Open Up Your Door, Baby/ Open
Up Your Door, Baby/ EDDY DUGOSH & THE AH-HA PLAYBOYS: Don't You
Realise?/ Don't You Realise?/ EDDY DUGOSH & THE RED TOPS: One Mile/
One Mile/ JIMMY EDWARDS: My Honey/ My Honey/ LEE EMERSON: What A
Night!/ What A Night!/ BOB GALLION: I Want Her Blues/ I Want Her
Blues/ JAYCEE HILL: Crash Out/ Crash Out/ MUVVA "GUITAR" HUBBARD:
Ponytail/ MUVVA 'GUITAR' HUBBARD: Ponytail/ BOBBY LORD: The Fire Of
Love/ The Fire Of Love/ BENNY MARTIN: Hoebe Snow/ Hoebe Snow/ TRACY
PENDARVIS: One Of These Days/ One Of These Days/ ROBERTA SHERWOOD:
Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ BETTY JO & JOHNNY
STARR: Eskimo Boogie/ JACK TUCKER: Lonely Man/ Lonely Man/ JIMMY
WOODALL: Uncle Sam's Call/ Uncle Sam's Call/ Woody's Rock/ Woody's
Rock
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Heartwood 1246 |
Coal Country Music |
● CD $14.98 |
19 tracks, 71 min., highly recommended
Whether you think removing mountain tops for the sake of cheap coal
is an affront to God or you believe that "clean coal" technology and
the Justice League will deliver the planet from this pesky and
probably imaginary global warming situation, this wonderful
collection will serve you well. Some songs are actually about coal
and related subjects, some not so much. The compilation opens with
the voice of the great Ralph Stanley singing Keys To The Kingdom
and follows with Gillian Welch's moving Acony Bell, lifted
from her "Revival" album. Other standout moments include John
Prine's Paradise (from "German Afternoons"), Diana Jones' Appalachia
(from "Better Times Will Come"), Jason Wilber's In Her Veins (from
"King For A Day"), and others. Previously unreleased selections
include Willie Nelson's take on Blowin' In The Wind, Celeste Krenz's
excellent Big Coal River, Justin Townes Earle's Down In The Valley,
Shirley Stewart Burns' Leave Those Mountains Down, Phylis Geller's
Canary, and Public Outcry's Can't Put It Back (Wrecklamation Song).
Other featured artists include Jean Ritchie, Tom T. Hall, The Klezmatics, Jason And The Scorchers, Natalie Merchant, and Kathy
Mattea. And it says here that all net proceeds go to the Alliance
for Appalachia to stop mountaintop removal. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
New West 6140 |
The Imus Ranch Record |
● CD $16.98 |
13 tracks, 49 min, highly recommended
Say what you
will about Don Imus and then pick this collection of veteran
country-folk-rock singers and songwriters. Worth it just for the
opening track of Patty Loveless putting her stamp on Stevie Nicks'
Silver Springs. Same for Dwight Yoakam's take on Uncle
Tupelo's Give Back The Key To My Heart. Same for Bekka
Bramlett's What Happened. Delbert McClinton does an admirable job
on the Clapton fave Lay Down Sally, even if it doesn't take
any chances. Lucinda Williams version of Mama Don't Let Your
Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys seems like a natural fit. And John
Hiatt, apparently trusted to write his own song, disappoints no one
on Welfare Music, no doubt soon to be covered. As the story
goes, Imus picked the songs and matched the singers to them,
although it isn't clear why that matters. What is clear is that Big
& Rich should have stayed the hell away from the Beastie Boys'
You've Got To Fight For Your Right To Party. Little Richard
singing I Ain't Never is another head scratcher. Not bad,
just an odd choice all around. And somehow Willie Nelson brings all
the beauty out of What A Difference A Day Makes, with an
understated subtlety that only Willie Nelson has access do. And the
profits all go "a working cattle ranch run by Don and Deirdre Imus,
which hosts children who are afflicted with cancer or other serious
blood diseases," so says the records label. (JC)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Not Now 260 |
Essential Bluegrass Anthology |
● CD $9.98 |
Two CDs, 50 tracks, recommended
A budget priced
introduction to classic bluegrass from the mid 40s through mid 50s.
It includes seminal and influential recordings from Flatt & Scruggs (Foggy
Mountain Breakdown/ Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms, etc), Bill
Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys (Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ Molly And
Tenbrooks, etc.), The Stanley Brothers (I'm A Man Of Constant
Sorrow/ The Fields Have Turned Brown, etc.), Molly O' Day (Poor
Ellen Smith/ Tramp On The Street, etc) plus other major figures
like Jimmy Martin, Mac Wiseman, The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Carl
Story, Jim & Jesse, Reno & Smiley and others plus some more obscure
artists Frank Hunter & His Black Mountain Boys,
Hobo Jack Adkins, The
Bailey Brothers and others. Sound quality is rough on several tracks
but is generally fine and booklet has brief notes. Lots of classic
music for a very low price. (FS)
HOBO JACK ADKINS: Going Back To Old Kentucky/ THE
BAILES BROTHERS: Something Got Hold Of Me/ THE BAILEY BROTHERS:
Happy Valley Special/ Beautiful Brown Eyes/ THE BLUE SKY BOYS:
Garden In The Sky/ THE BROWN'S FERRY FOUR: Will The Circle Be
Unbroken?/ WILMA LEE AND STONEY COOPER: Sunny Side Of The Mountain/
Are You Walking And A-Talking For The Lord/ JOHNNY DUNCAN AND HIS
BLUEGRASS BOYS: Last Train To San Fernando/ JIM EANES & THE
SHENANDOAH VALLEY BOYS: Tomorrow May Be Different/ JIM EANES AND HIS
SHENANDOAH VALLEY BOYS: Blue Yodel No.1 ('T' For Texas)/ JIM EANES
AND THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY BOYS: Florida Blues/ I Cried Again/ LESTER
FLATT AND EARL SCRUGGS: Doin' My Time/ Don't Get Above Your Raisin'/
Foggy Mountain Breakdown/ Get In Line Brother/ Roll In My Sweet
Baby's Arms/ SHANNON GRAYSON AND HIS GOLDEN VALLEY BOYS: I Like The
Old Time Way/ FRANK HUNTER AND HIS BLACK MOUNTAIN BOYS: Long Time,
No See/ Tenessee Boy/ JIM AND JESSE & THE VIRGINIA BOYS: Are You
Missing Me?/ THE LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS: Lonesome Pine Breakdown/
Lonesome, Sad And Blue/ Pain In My Heart/ Twenty One Years/ TOMMY
MAGNESS & HIS TENNESSEE BUDDIES: When I Safely Reach That Other
Shore/ WADE MAINER AND HIS TRIO: Little Birdie/ JIMMY MARTIN AND THE
OSBORNE BROTHERS: She's Just A Cute Thing/ BILL MONROE AND HIS
BLUEGRASS BOYS: Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ Molly And Tenbrooks (The Race
Horse Song)/ Orange Blossom Special/ Y'All Come/ MOLLY O'DAY AND THE
CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN FOLK: Higher In My Prayer/ Poor Ellen Smith/
MOLLY O'DAY WITH THE CUMBERLAND MUNTAIN FOLKS: The Tramp On The
Street/ SONNY OSBORNE: I'm Gonna Leave You/ RENO & SMILEY: Tennessee
Cut-Up Breakdow/ RENO AND SMILEY: Crazy Finger Blues/ I'm Gone, Long
Gone/ L.C. SMITH, RALPH MAYO & THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAI: Radio Boogie/
THE STANLEY BROTHERS: Cotton-Eyed Joe/ I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow/
The Fields Have Turned Brown/ This Little Glass Of Wine/ Too Late To
Cry/ CARL STORY AND HIS RAMBLING MOUNTAINEERS: He Will Set Your
Fields On Fire/ MAC WISEMAN: 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered/ Dreaming
Of A Little Cabin/ Going Like Wildfire
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Righteous PSALM 23:23 |
Jukebox At The Last Chance Saloon |
● CD $15.98 |
23 tracks, recommended
Twenty-three toe-tappin'
tracks of instrumental country music from the '50's, much of it in
the Western Swing genre (a la Jimmy Bryant/ Speedy West), with a
heapin' helpin' of bluegrass, blues, and a spot of laid-back, Chet
Atkins style pickers. A lot of guitar work here, with piano,
mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and steel guitar given time to shine. Some
exceptional playing in places - check out Joe Maphis' guitar
calisthenics on "Fire on the Strings", for example. Imagine yourself
at an old roadside caf‚ back in the 50s. Includes sides by Eddie
Eddings, Jackie Pehlps, Al Petty With The Rainbow Riders, Arthur
"Guitar Boogie" Smith, Jackson & Buddy Emmons, The Musical-Aires,
Buck Ryan, Buzz Busby, Thumbs Carlisle, Ernest V. Stoneman & The
Stoneman Family and others. Most tracks appear on Cd for the first
time. (JM)
BUZZ BUSBY: Banjo Whiz/ BILLY BYRD: Teenage Blues/
THUMBS CARLILLE: Thumbs Guitar Boogie/ LINK DAVIS: Waltz Of The
Jambalaya/ BUDDY DEE: Country Rockin' And Flyin'/ EDDIE EDDINGS:
Country Guitar/ JACKSON AND BUDDY EMMONS: Fort Worth Drag Shot/
HARDROCK GUNTER: Memphis/ JOE MAPHIS: Fire On The Strings/ LEON
MCAULIFF AND HIS CIMARRON BOYS: Boogie On Strings/ THE
MUSICAL-AIRES: Skip Along Guitar/ AL PETTY WITH THE RAINBOW RIDERS:
Steel Guitar Special/ JACKIE PHELPS: Alabam/ Guitar Cannonball/ Ham
And Biscuits/ Tennessee Strings/ HERBIE REMINGTON: Station Break/
BUCK RYAN: Nervous Breakdown/ ALLEN SHELTON: Bending The Strings/
ARTHUR 'GUITAR BOOGIE' SMITH: Boogie Battle/ THE STANLEY BROTHERS:
Fling Ding/ ERNEST V. STONEMAN AND THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Orange
Blossom Breakdown/ BILL WIMBERLY: Missouri Drag
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
T-Bird 011 |
Early Country Rock From Nashville |
● CD $18.98 |
An interesting compilation of artists that recorded
early country rock at Spar Records in Nashville in the 1960's.
Nearly all of the Country sessions at Spar utilized the cream of the
crop of young studio musicians working in Nashville during the
1960s. Some of the legendary names who participated were Mac Gayden,
Wayne Moss, Kenny Buttrey, Norbert Putnam, Lloyd Green, Hargus "Pig"
Robbins, Pete Drake and Charlie McCoy. This collection should help
to shine a little light on some obscure, but nevertheless fine sides
by Bobby Russell, Jay Dee Pepper, Nashville Country Jamboree, Johnny
Elgin, Carl KNight, Gene Snipes and others.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Tompkins Square 2288 |
Face A Frowning World - An E.C. Ball
Memorial Album |
● CD $14.98 |
16 tracks, 56 min., recommended
First recorded by
John A. Lomax in 1939, Ball was a gifted guitarist and a fine singer
who called the Virginia mountains home. Along with his wife Orna,
E.C. Ball recorded humorous songs, mountain ballads, instrumentals,
and, most prolifically, religious material. This tribute album,
spends most of its time on the religious songs, and some of the
interpretations are sure to please Ball's fans, some certain not to.
Included among the few nearly-well-known artists are Bonny "Prince"
Billy, Jolie Holland, and the Handsome Family, whose version of
Jenny Jenkins will impress just about everyone and is a reason
to get up in the morning. But many of the finest moments belong to
Rayna Gellert (Lord I Want More Religion), Glen Dentinger (When
I Can Read My Titles Clear), Michael Hurley The Early Bird
Always Gets The Worm), Nathan Salsburg (One Day I Will),
and Catherine Irwin (Cabin On The Hill), not exactly
household names (depending on the house). Suspect the purists will
be displeased by Dave Bird's take on He's My God and by
Bonnie "Prince" Billy's John The Baptist, but you can't
please everyone, and even if you did, someone would complain about
it. Catherine Irwin's Cabin On The Hill may charitably be
described as misguided. Fans will be pleased to see Ball is getting
some much-deserved attention, even if it is posthumous, and
newcomers will be driven to the originals where they will surely
dwell all of the days of their life. (JC)
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