Bulletin - November/
December
2009
Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey
Gene Autry
->
Hank Williams + DVD
| THE NEW LOST
CITY RAMBLERS |
Arhoolie DVD 204 |
Always Been A Rambler |
● DVD $19.98 |
58 minute documentary + 30 minutes of bonus
features, highly recommended
This superb documentary by filmmaker Yasha Agimsky celebrates the
50th anniversary of the birth of The New Lost City Ramblers, one of
the first urban groups to pursue the old-time music traditions of
the American south. It is, unfortunately, also a memorial to one of
its founders, Mike Seeger, who died in August 2009 after a lengthy
battle with cancer. The group was formed in 1958 by Mike, John Cohen
and Tom Paley - all multi instrumentalists with a deep love and
knowledge of traditional music. Paley left in 1962 to be replaced by
Tracy Schwartz. The group brought their love of the music to people
all over the world through live performances and numerous recordings
for Folkways. Though they split in the 1970s to pursue other
projects they frequently would get together again to perform and
this DVD includes footage of the group at the 2007 Hardly Strictly
Bluegrass festival as well as performing at house parties with
friends. The Ramblers gave back more to the music more than they
took bringing old time musicians out of retirement to perform again
and tracking down some great previously unknown performers. The
documentary is told mostly through the words of the group itself and
includes live footage of onstage performances, rehearsals, a
Greenwich Village jam session from the late 50s with Clarence Ashley
and Doc Watson as well as footage of some of the many musicians the
group worked with and promoted over the years like Dock Boggs,
Roscoe Holcomb, Maybelle Carter, Nathan Abshire, The Balfa Brothers
Elizabeth Cotton and others. The documentary includes excerpts of
more than 50 musical performances. The bonus features includes a 25
minute film from 1969 featuring the group performing 8 songs out in
the country and meeting with octogenarian banjo player George
Landers plus never before seen 1959 footage of the group when it
featured Tom Playe doing two songs. This DVD is a joy from beginning
to end. (FS)
|
| GENE AUTRY |
JSP JSPCD 77112 |
The Early Years Of One Of Country's
Biggest Stars |
● CD $19.98 |
Four CDs, 100 tracks, highly recommended
This set features all the issued recordings made by Gene Autry from
his first session in October 1929 through April, 1931. Though Autry
became best known as a singing movie cowboy, on these early
recordings the influence of his idol Jimmie Rodgers is very strong
featuring a selection of sentimental songs, blue yodels, blues, Gene
Austin style ballads and the occasional risqué song. Autry was a
warmer singer than Rodgers, but his records don't have much
stylistic diversity since most of the tracks feature just Autry
accompanied by his own guitar. About a third of the tracks benefit
from the fine steel guitar, harmonica or jews harp playing of his
long time associate Frankie Marvin and a handful of tracks feature
an unknown mandolin player. There are a handful of covers of
Rodgers' songs (Waiting For Train/ California Blues/ High Powered
Mama, etc.) but most of rest are Autry's own. He recorded for a
number of labels during this period and some of the songs appear
than once in slightly differeng versions. Sound quality is generally
fine and there are informative notes by Pat Harrison. Real Autry
fans will want Bear Family's magnificent box set (BCD 15944 -
$239.98) with nine CDs and a hard cover which goes up to 1933 and
includes a number of unissued songs and alternate takes but for the
rest of us this modestly priced collection provides a fine
introduction to this important artist. (FS)
|
| THE BAR X COWBOYS |
B.A.C.M. 282 |
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks, recommended
The first of two volumes
featuring the complete recordings of this group that were among the
first western swing groups to record. The 26 tracks here were
recorded between 1937 and 1941. The group's performances were fairly
tame compared to some of their contemporaries though they did help
launch the careers of Ted Daffan who plays steel guitar on 15 of the
cuts here and Jerry Irby who sings and plays guitar on two cuts.
Sound quality is fairly mediocre but set has good notes by Kevin
Coffey. (FS)
THE BAR X COWBOYS: Blue Bonnet Governor/ Blue
Steele Blues/ Drifting And Dreaming/ Hang Over Blues/ Houston
Shuffle/ I Don’t Think I’d Care/ I Want Somebody Like You/ I’d Love
To Live In Loveland/ I’m Just An Outcast/ Just For Tonight/ Let’s Go
Honky-Tonkin’ Tonight/ Lies/ Locket Of Gold/ My Dark Eyed
Sweetheart/ Only Time Can Tell/ Rockdale Rag/ Smile, Darn Ya, Smile/
South/ Struttin’ Around/ Sunset Valley/ There Is A Tavern In The
Town/ Underneath The Sun/ When Mama Goes Out The Maid Comes In/ When
Your Hair Has Turned To Silver/ You’re Still My Darling/ You’ve Got
To Stop Fussin’ At Me
|
| DOCK BOGGS/
EMRY ARTHUR |
B.A.C.M. 274 |
Old Time Songs From Virginia And
Kentucky |
● CD $13.98 |
22 tracks, 69 mins, essential
If you missed out the
1997 Revenant CD of VIrginia singer and banjo player Dock Boggs
here's another chance to get the pre-war recordings of of one of the
greatest and most unique old time country performers of the era. In
addition to the influence of rural white music Boggs was also
influenced by black blues and his music draws on elements on both.
His intense vocals and powerful banjo give his music a unique dark
and haunting quality that brings to mind the music of Skip James -
not stylistically but rather in the emotional impact it has on the
listener. His material includes incredible original songs like
Country Blues and Sugar Baby as well as unique takes on
familiar old timey songs like Danville Girl and Pretty
Polly. Although this CD doesn't include the unissued alternate
takes included on the REvenant CD it does feature all his issued
sides and every one is a gem. Boggs was rediscovered by Mike Seeger
in 1963 and made a number of appearances on the folk circuit and
recorded three fine Lps for Folkways redoing some of his early
recordings as well as many songs not recorded before. These have
been reissued on a two CD set (Smithsonian Folkways 40108 - $24.98)
- while lacking the ferocity of his early sides they are still
outstanding. A couple of Boggs's performances feature him
accompanied by Kentucky guitarist Emry Arthur and the remaining 10
tracks featuring recordings made by Arthur who is best known for
having made the first recording of Man Of Constant Sorrow.
His earliest sides from 1928 are particularly fine including a great
version of the gospel song Let That Liar Alone and a couple
of gospel songs with a group which included a harmonium. His later
sides were dominated by unspectacular sentimental songs. But you
should get this for the stunning performances by Boggs. (FS)
EMERY ARTHUR: I’ll Remember You Love In My
Prayers/ I’m Always Thinking Of You/ Let That Liar Alone/ Look Out
For The Window/ Mother’s In Heaven Tonight/ No Not One/ Remember The
Folks Back Home/ Six Months In Jail Ain’t Long/ The Blind Boy/ Why
Not Tonight/ DOCK BOGGS: Country Blues/ Danville Girl/ Down South
Blues/ False Hearted Lover's Blues/ Hard Luck Blues/ Lost Love
Blues/ New Prisoner's Song/ Old Rub Alcohol Blues/ Pretty Polly/
Sammie, Where Have You Been So Long/ Sugar Baby/ Will Sweethearts
Know Each Other There
|
| THE BROWNS |
B.A.C.M. 275 |
Bonnie, Jim Ed And Maxine |
● CD $13.98 |
28 tracks, recommended
This album reissues 28 sides
recorded between 1954 and 1957 by this family group before they hit
it really big in the pop market with the smooth sound of songs like
The Three Bells and Scarlet Ribbons. The earliest
sides feature just Jim Ed and sister Maxine who were joined by
younger sister Bonnie in 1955. It includes their early hits like the
much covered Looking Back To See plus Here Today & Gone
Tomorrow/ I Take The Chance and the superb I Heard The
Bluebirds Sing. A varied selection of material with fine
mountain style harmonies and solid hillbilly accompaniments. (FS)
THE BROWNS: A Man With A Plan/ Do Memories Haunt
You/ Don't Tell Me Your Troubles/ Don't Use The Word Lightly/
Draggin' Main Street/ Goo Goo Da Da/ Here Today And Gone Tomorrow/
How Can It Be Imagination/ I Guess I'm Crazy/ I Heard The Bluebirds
Sing/ I Take The Chance/ I Will Hold You In My Heart/ It Takes A
Long Train With A Red Caboose/ Itsy Witsy Bitsy Me/ Jungle Magic/
Just A Lot Of Sweet Talk/ Just As Long As You Love Me/ Just In Time/
Looking Back To See/ My Isle Of Golden Dreams/ Sky Princess/ The Man
In The Moon/ The Table Next To Me/ True Love Goes Far Beyond/ Why Am
I Falling/ You Thought I Thought/ You'll Always Be In My Heart/ Your
Love Is As Wild As The West Wind
|
| HENSON CARGILL |
Omni 130 |
On The Road, The Mega Years |
● CD $17.98 |
26 tracks, 74 mins, recommended
Henson Cargill is
just the kind of Country artist that the Omni record label likes to
feature. He's a unique talent: written off by some, an acquired
taste by others and adored by a few. Best known for his #1 hit from
1968, Skip a Rope, Cargill was hitting the Country top 40 off
and on until 1980. This collection focuses on his early 1970's
recordings after leaving Monument records -- home of the Skip a
Rope single -- for the more willing Mega records. This period
would see the release of his concept album about the Depression era,
"On The Road," and much more politically charged and controversial
material. 1932/ Naked and Crying/ Oklahoma Hell, and a cover
of Merle Haggard's Daddy Frank give you a feel for the depth
of this material. It's no wonder Nashville didn't eagerly embrace
Cargill; he looked like Tom T. Hall, but came across like a pop
Country Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger. A fine, rich baritone
delivered the message and should have provided him a few more hits
than it did, but I can see Nashville of the time not exactly
embracing him. All in all, an interesting collection from an
under-rated artist, one that fans of artists like Kris Kristofferson
and Bobby Bare really should check out, if they haven't already.
Extensive liner notes tell a big part of Henson Cargill's story and
should inspire more appreciation (hopefully). (JM)
|
| DAVE DENNEY |
B.A.C.M. 276 |
It's Nobody's Fault But Your Own |
● CD $13.98 |
27 tracks, recommended
27 tracks recorded between
1945 and 1954 by this fine Western style singer who was originally
from Indiana but spent most of his musical career in New York state.
The material is a mix of original songs and covers of popular
western and hillbilly hits. He is give fine accompaniments by a
number of different groups featuring such stellar musicians as Eddie
South, Vaughn Horton, Shorty Long, Noel Boggs, Noel Boggs, Joaquin Murphey, Billy Mure, Dale Potter, Chet Atkins, and others. Includes
Would You Like To See A Picture Of My Baby/ Silver Dew On The
Bluegrass Tonight/ Cheatin' On Your Baby/ You Only Want me When
You're Lonely/ Part Of My Heart Is Missing/ There's Two Sides To
Every Story., etc. Usual fine notes by Kevin Coffey. (FS)
DAVE DENNEY: A Million Miles Away/ Cheatin’ On
Your Baby/ Cry Fool Cry/ For Old Times Sake/ Have You Got Someone
Else On The String/ Honey, Be My Honey Bee/ I Gotta Have My Baby
Back/ I Just Can’t Let You Go/ If That’s The Way You Want It/ If The
Truth Were Ever Known/ It’s Nobody’s Fault But Your Own/ I’m
Waltzing With A Broken Heart/ Little Brown Jug/ My Bucket’s Got A
Hole In It/ Out Of Control/ Part Of My Heart Is Missing/ Silver Dew
On The Blue Grass Tonight/ Stop, You’re Breaking My Heart/ The Fate
Of A Fallen Rose/ There’s Two Sides To Every Story/ Weary With
Worry/ When Red Grow The Roses/ Who Cares Who Cares/ Would You Like
To See A Picture Of My Baby/ You Only Want Me When You’re Lonely/
Your Big Bouquet Of Roses/ You’d Better Be Sure Or You’ll Be Sorry
|
| DYKES'
MAGIC CITY TRIO/ MELVIN ROBINETTE & BYRD MOORE |
B.A.C.M. 280 |
Complete
Recordings |
● CD $13.98 |
22 tracks, highly recommended
Wonderful collection
featuring the complete recordings of two excellent groups. The Dykes
Magic City Trio were formed in Virginia by fiddler John Riley Dykes
in the mid 20s with Hub Mahaffey on guitar and lead vocal and Myrtle
Vermillion on autoharp and harmony vocal on several tracks. They
recorded three sessions in 1927 and though most of their material is
familiar songs like Frankie/ Poor Ellen Smith/ Free Little Bird/
Golden Slippers, etc. their performances benefit from the superb
fiddle playing of Dykes and the expressive vocals of Mahaffey and I
always enjoy the musical texture that the presence of an autoharp
lends. Melvin Robinette was another superb Virginia fiddler who, in
1930, at the age of 24 beat 60 year old John Dykes in a fiddle
contest. In 1929 he teamed up with prolific but obscure singer and
guitarist Byrd Moore and recorded eight songs over two days in April
1929. Their material is also mostly drawn from recently popular
songs like Birmingham Jail/ Mama Don't Allow No Low Down Hangin'
Around and Flop Eared Mule but are splendid performances including a
couple as vocal duets. Sound quality varies but is generally
excellent and there are informative notes from Tony Russell. (FS)
DYKE'S MAGIC CITY TRIO: Callahan’s Reel/ Cotton
Eyed Joe/ Far Beyond The Blue Sky/ Frankie/ Free Little Bird/ Golden
Slippers/ Hook And Line/ Huckleberry Blues/ Ida Red/ Poor Ellen
Smith/ Red Steer/ Shortening Bread/ Tennessee Girls/ Twilight Is
Stealing/ MELVIN ROBINETTE & BYRD MOORE: Birmingham Jail/ Favorite
Two Step/ Flop Eared Mule/ Good Bye Sweetheart/ Last Days In
Georgia))/ Mama Don’t Allow No Low Down Hangin’ Around/ That Old
Tiger Rag/ When The Snowflakes Fall Again
|
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
Collector's Choice 2064 |
Foggy Mountain Banjo |
● CD $12.98 |
12 tracks, 25 mins, highly recommended
This is a
re-issue of one of the truly great Bluegrass albums of all time.
Originally released in 1961, this caught Flatt & Scruggs at almost
the height of their popularity (The Beverly Hillbillies theme would
make them even bigger within a year or so) and certainly in top form
as musicians and songsmiths. Largely songs penned by Earl Scruggs,
or traditionals arranged by Scruggs, with only a couple tunes from
other sources like Little Darlin', Pal of Mine by The Carter
Family. Such magic moments as Ground Speed/ Sally Ann/ Reuben/
Cripple Creak/ Fire Ball Mail, and Cumberland, appear
here, but no one track defines this album; it's a fantastic work as
a whole and it sounds just as good today as it did when I first
heard it as a kid. Fresh liner notes by Rich Kenzle gives some
background information on the legendary duo. Certainly, if you are a
County and/ or Bluegrass music fan, this album is essential for your
collection. (JM)
|
| JOHNNY HORTON |
Bear Family BCD 16354 |
Take Me Like I Am - Gonna Shake This
Shack Tonight |
● CD $21.98 |
33 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended Another great
entry in this series featuring up tempo hillbilly has 33 tracks from
the superb Johnny Horton recorded between 1951 and 1958 drawing on
recordings made for Abbot, Mercury and Columbia plus a demo acetate.
Eschewing the obvious hits this includes great lesser known numbers
like the title song, Tennesse Jive/ Smoky Joe's Barbecue/ The
Devil Made A Masterpiece/ Bawlin' Baby/ Shotgun Boogie
(originally unissued)/ The Train With The Rhumba Beat/ First
Train Headin' South and others. Johnny was alway s a great
singer and he has fine honky tonk accompaniments though
unfortunately personnell on many of the cuts is unknown. Sound
quality is exceptional and 34 page illustrated booklet has notes by
Deke Dickerson and discographical info. (FS)
JOHNNY HORTON: Bawlin' Baby/ Big Wheels Rollin'/
Broken Hearted Gypsy/ Candy Jones (acetate vers.)/ Goodbye Lonesome,
Hello Baby Doll/ Ha Ha And Moonface/ Hey, Sweet Thing/ I'll Do It
Everytime/ In My Home In Shelby County/ It's A Long Rocky Road
(overdub vers.)/ Mister Moonlight/ Move Down The Line/ No True Love/
On The Banks Of The Beautiful Nile/ Out In New Mexico/ Rhythm In My
Baby's Walk/ Ridin' The Sunshine Special/ S.S. Lureline/ Seven Come
Eleven/ Shadows On The Old Bayou/ She Knows Why/ Shotgun Boogie/
Smokey Joe's Barbeque/ Take Me Like I Am/ Talk Gobbler Talk/
Tennessee Jive/ The Devil Made A Masterpiece/ The First Train
Headin' South/ The Train With The Rhumba Beat/ Two Red Lips And Warm
Red Wine/ You Don't Move Me Baby Anymore/ You're My Baby/ You, You,
You
|
| CHARLIE LOUVIN |
Tompkins Square 2127 |
Sings Murder Ballads And Disaster
Songs |
● CD $13.98 |
12 tracks, 37 mins, highly recommended
Since Johnny
Cash's come back albums in the 1990's with Rick Rubin, there have
been a pretty steady stream of old Country artists getting a similar
treatment: stripped down production, grittier performance, no doubt
hoping for some of the same rewards. One of my favorites to reemerge
in this fashion is Charlie Louvin. From the legendary records with
his brother to a quite successful solo career, Louvin has had many
high-lights in his long career, just not many lately. This outing
ranks among his best. Although released last year, it flew under our
radar until recently; thankfully we finally got a hold of it. Filled
with new recordings of vintage material like Darling Corey/ Wreck
of The Old 97/ Dark As A Dungeon/ Mary Of The Wild Moor, etc.
this album is a treat through and through. More than a touch of
melancholy is added to Louvin's weathered vocals on tracks like
Wreck on The Highway and My Brother's Will, where one
can't help but imagine the presence of the ghost of the long
deceased Louvin Brother Ira. Features accompaniment by a host of
fine musicians, Chris Scruggs on steel guitar and Andrew Bird and
Billy Contreras on fiddle, to name a few. Also features some fine
notes by Holly George-Warren and attractive packaging by the
always-artful Tompkins Square record label. (JM)
|
| TIM MCNAMARA |
B.A.C.M. 278 |
McNamara's Rodeo |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks recorded in the early 50s by popular
Australian country vocalist and yodeler. Many feature Tim alone with
his guitar and some feature him with small groups. He performs a mix
of Australian originated material and covers of American hits.
Includes Down By the Railroad Track/ My Curly Headed Buckaroo/
Carolina Waltz/ Slippin' Around With Sweet Georgia Brown/ We're
Branding A Little Critter/ Down the Trail Of Achin' Hearts, etc.
TIM MCNAMARA: A Girl Without A Sweetheart/ A
Strange Little Girl/ Carolina Waltz/ Christmas On The Range/ Down By
The Railroad Track/ Down The Trail Of Achin’ Hearts/ Heartbreak
Trail/ Honeymoon On A Rocket Ship/ I Can’t Hide The Tears/ I Wish
All My Children Were Babies Again/ I’ve Got Five Dollars And It’s
Saturday Night/ I’ve Just Got To Be A Cowboy/ Keep A Light In Your
Window Tonight/ McNamara’s Rodeo/ Midnight Train/ Mother The Queen
Of My Heart/ Mr. Moon/ My Curly Headed Buckaroo/ My Kind Of Country/
My Precious Memory/ Old Shep/ Slippin’ Around With Sweet Georgia
Brown/ Swiss Lullaby/ Tell A Woman/ The Old Barn Dance/ We’re
Branding A Little Critter
|
| THE MILO TWINS |
B.A.C.M. 272 |
Swamp Woman Blues |
● CD $13.98 |
32 tracks, highly recommended
The Milo Twins were
one of the very few twin acts to record and this CD features all
their commercial recordings for Decca & Capitol plus a dozen songs
from radio transcriptions. The duo were obviously very strongly
influenced by The Delmore Brothers and their first session for Decca
in 1939 features covers of eight songs originally recorded by the
Delmores including Weary Lonesome Blues/ Singing My Troubles
Away/The Fugitives lament with sweet harmonies and fine twin
guitar work. The radio transcriptions, probably from the mid 40s,
find them tackling a wider range of material, including some of
their own compositions. Their 12 sides recorded for Capitol in the
late 40s find them again emulating their heroes by adding electric
guitar and occasional harmonica into the mix but sticking to
original material or songs from other writers and including several
fine boogies. If you enjoy the music of the Delmores there's a good
chance you will also like the Milo twins. (FS)
THE MILO TWINS: A Soldier’s Last Letter/ Ain’t It
Hard/ Baby Buggy Boogie/ Blow Freight Train, Blow/ Blow Your Whistle
Freight Train/ Blue Eyed Elaine/ Brushy Mountain/ Coo See Coo/ Down
Town Boogie/ Frail Quail/ Homesick For Home/ I Wonder Why You Said
Goodbye/ It’s Sinful To Flirt/ I’m Through With You/ I’m Worried
Now/ I’ve Got The Ramblin’ Blues/ Johnson To Jones/ Keep Your Big
Mouth Shut/ Love In An Aeroplane/ Pretty Little Miss/ Pretty Mama
Boogie/ Quit Treatin’ Me Mean/ She’s A Shady Lady/ Singing My
Troubles Away/ Swamp Woman Blues/ Take Me Back And Try Me One More
Time/ The Fugitive’s Lament/ This Town/ Truck Driver’s Boogie/ Weary
Lonesome Blues/ When The World Has Turned You Down/ Yesterday’s
Tears
|
| BILL MONROE |
JSP JSPCD 77119 |
And His Bluegrass Blues, 1950-1958 |
● CD $19.98 |
Four CDs, 97 tracks, essential
The second volume of
the classic recordings of the Father Of Bluegrass and his incredible
band The Bluegrass Boys. This features all the recordings he made
from the time he joined Decca in 1950 until 1958. The classic Flatt-
Scruggs- Chubby Wise band had by now disbanded, and Monroe had left
Columbia for Decca, but his influence on the music he had fathered
was far from over. If anything, the period covered here had
consequences as far reaching in the history of bluegrass as the
previous eras, for it was at this time that the Bluegrass Boys
became the training grounds for such future greats as Jimmy Martin,
Vassar Clements, Sonny Osborne, Bobby Hicks, Kenny Baker, and
countless others, including such unheralded geniuses as fiddler Red
Taylor, banjoist Don Stover, and fiddler Tex Logan. Also included
here are the only five selections Carter Stanley recorded with the
Bluegrass Boys, including the magnificent Get Down On Your Knees And
Pray. There is also the Bluegrass Boy-less session run by Owen
Bradley in an attempt to "modernize" Monroe's sound, as well as the
eight sides cut in an abortive way to record a Jimmy Rodgers tribute
album. Also included here are the original recordings of such
classics as Wheel Hoss/ Roanoke/ Uncle Pen/ You'll Find Her Name
Written There/ Scotland Big Mon/ Rawhide, and countless others. In
addition, this collection illustrates fully how Monroe's music
changed to fit the talents and needs of the many musicians who
passed through the band during this fertile period. This is very
similar in content to Bear Family BCD 15423 ("Blue Moon Of Kentucky"
- $84.98) but without the unissued songs, alternate takes or massive
booklet. (RP/ FS)
BILL MONROE & THE BLUEGRASS BOYS: Alabama Waltz/
Angels Rock Me To Sleep/ Beautiful Life, A/ Blue Grass Ramble/ Blue
Moon Of Kentucky/ Boat Of Love/ Brakeman's Blues/ Brand New Shoes/
Cabin Of Love/ Changing Partners/ Cheyenne/ Christmas Time's
A-Coming/ Close By/ Come Back To Me In My Dreams/ Country Waltz/ Cry
Cry Darlin'/ Fallen Star, A/ First Whipoorwill, The/ Footprints In
The Snow/ Four Walls/ Get Down On Your Knees And Pray/ Get Up John/
Good Woman's Love, A/ Goodbye Old Pal/ Gotta Travel On/ Happy On My
Way/ He Will Set Your Fields On Fire/ Highway Of Sorrow/ House Of
Gold/ I Am A Pilgrim/ I Believed In You Darling/ I Hope You Have
Learned/ I Saw The Light/ I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning/
I'll Meet You In The Morning/ I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome/ I'm On My Way
To The Old Home/ I'm Sittin On Top Of The World/ I'm Working On A
Building/ I've Found A Hiding Place/ In Despair/ In The Pines/ Jesus
Hold My Hand/ Kentucky Waltz/ Let The Light Shine Down On Me/ Letter
From My Darling/ Life's Railway To Heaven/ Little Girl And The
Dreadful Snake, The/ Lonesome Road To Travel, A/ Lonesome Truck
Driver's Blues/ Lord Build Me A Cabin In Glory/ Lord Lead Me On/
Lord Protect My Soul/ Memories Of You/ Memories of Mother and Dad/
Mighty Pretty Waltz, A/ Molly And Tenbrooks/ My Little Georgia Rose/
My Little Georgia Rose/ New John Henry Blues/ New Mule Skinner
Blues/ No One But My Darlin'/ Old Fiddler, The/ On And On/ On The
Old Kentucky Shore/ Out In The Cold World/ Panhandle Country/ Pike
County Breakdown/ Poison Love/ Precious Memories/ Prisoner's Song/
Put My Little Shoes Away/ Raw Hide/ River Of Death/ Roane County
Prison/ Roanoke/ Rotation Blues/ Sailor's Plea/ Sally Jo/ Scotland/
Sitting Alone In The Moonlight/ Sugar Coated Love/ Swing Low Sweet
Chariot/ Travelin' Blues/ Uncle Pen/ Voice From On High, A/ Wait A
Little Longer Please Jesus/ Walking In Jerusalem/ Wayfaring
Stranger/ Wheel Hoss/ When The Cactus Is In Bloom/ When The Golden
Leaves Begin To Fall/ White House Blues/ Wishing Waltz/ Y'All Come/
You'll Find Her Name Written There/ You're Drifting Away
|
| OKLAHOMA ED MOODY |
B.A.C.M. 281 |
Down The Trail To Home |
● CD $13.98 |
20 tracks, recommended
The complete recordings made
between 1945 and 1947 by this fine singer whose music lies somewhere
between honky-tonk and western swing. He performs a mix of original
and covers of other artists songs accompanied by fine small groups
featuring musicians like fiddler Slim Duncan, guitarist Porky
Freeman, accordion player Frank Buckley and others. Songs include a
fine cover of Jack Guthrie's Oklahoma Hills plus Sittin'
Alone On My Doorstep/ Can't Win, Can't Place, Can't Show/ Bad Little
Girl/ Don't Hand Me That Line/ You'll Never Change/ Gracy Train,
etc. Fine sound and high quality notes from Kevin Coffey. (FS)
OKLAHOMA ED MOODY: Bad Little Girl/ Can’t Win,
Can’t Place, Can’t Show/ Careless Darlin’/ Don’t Hand Me That Line/
Don’t Look Down On Me/ Down The Trail To Home/ Forever Is A Long,
Long Time/ Gravy Train/ If I Could Go Back/ I’ll Remember You Love
In My Prayer/ I’m Still Cryin’ Over You/ Mail Order Mama/ No Alibis/
No Kisses For You/ Oklahoma Hills/ Sitting Alone On My Doorstep/ The
Devil In Disguise/ Too Many Sweethearts/ What Good Would It Do/
You’ll Never Change
|
| EDDIE NOACK |
B.A.C.M. 277 |
Have Blues Will Travel |
● CD $13.98 |
29 tracks, recommended
This is the third Eddie Noack
CD to appear in the past year and though not as strong as the two
Cactus CDs ($15.98 each) this is certainly worth your attention. 11
of the tracks here duplicate tracks on the Cactus Cds and those are
the best tracks here (Have Blues Will Travel/ Walk 'em Off/ Don't
Look Behind, etc) but this does include Eddie's very first
recordings for Houston's Gold Star label in 1949 and 1950 and
although his style hadn't matured yet they are nice to hear and he
does a very nice version of the old favorite Greenback Dollar
with fine bluegrass harmonies. Many of Eddie's recordings were made
for the legendary "Pappy" Dailey who roped him into doing
pseudonymous sound alike covers of current hits by Elvis, Johnny
Cash, Don Gibson and others. This was work for hire and although
Eddie's singing is fine it lacks any real conviction on these
tracks. The set is rounded out with a handful of tracks from the
mid/ late 50s that didn't make it to the Cactus CDs and are good
without being great. Sound is fine and, unlike the Cactus Cds this
has notes by Marin Hawkins. (FS)
EDDIE NOACK: A Thinkin’ Man’s Woman A Loving Man’s
Girl/ Alone With You/ As The Band Played Paul Jones/ Blue Blue Day/
Curtain In The Window/ Don’t Look Behind/ First And Last Thing/
Frown On The Moon/ Green Back Dollar/ Have Blues Will Travel/ How
Does It Feel To Be The Winner/ I Don’t Live There Anymore/ I Love
You/ I Need You/ I Want You/ I’ll Be So Good To You/ Man On The
Wall/ Nothing/ Oh Lonesome Me/ Price Of Love/ Pride/ Relief Is Just
A Swallow Away/ Stairway Of Love/ There You Go/ Too Hot To Handle/
Train Of Love/ Triflin’ Mama Blues/ Twenty Feet Of Muddy Water/
Unlucky Me/ Walk ‘Em Off/ Wanderin’ Okie
|
| JOHNNY PAYCHECK |
Bear Family BCD 16738 |
aka Donny Young |
● CD $21.98 |
29 Tracks, recommended
Johnny Paycheck was not born
with that name (no surprise), nor was he born Donny Young (that was
just his first stage name). I'm not gonna tell you his real name;
you can get that and much more from the extensive liner notes. Much
like Waylon, Willie, and so many more, he spent a lot of time in
music's minor leagues before he really hit the big time. This
collection gathers up the best of his earliest work under his
earliest names and features a lot of real good stuff. Reminds me a
lot of early Hank Jr. and directions he took on the way to Outlaw
Superstardom. I Guess I Had It Coming/ The Old Man and The River/
Big Swamp Land, and Accidentally on Purpose, are some of
the stand out tracks, and I think you Country fans out there will
enjoy those and find a few more that they didn't know were so good
as well if you check this out. Features an outstanding production
job as usual from Bear Family. (JM)
|
| DEUCE SPRIGGINS |
B.A.C.M. 279 |
Down The Trail To San Antone |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks from commercial recordings, radio
transcriptions and film soundtracks by singer/ bandleader Deuce
Spriggins (George Braunsdorf) between 1945 and 1947. Spriggins was
an alumnus of the Spade Cooley band and most of his material is
Western Swing oriented - much of it of a novelty nature. He is
accompanied by various different bands with musicians like Cactus
Soldi/ fiddle, Smokey Roger/ guitar, Joaquin Murphey/ steel guitar,
Rex Call/ fiddle, Hank Penny/ guitar & vocal, Tex Achison/ fiddle
and others. Tracks include Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)/
Ten More Miles Down The Road/ She's A Real Gone Oakie/ The Hep And
The Square/ I Learned To Love You Too Late/ Down The Trail To San
Antone/ Wabash Cannonball/ I'd Love To Be A Cowgirl/ Cachita,
etc.
DEUCE SPRIGGINS: Cachita/ Down The Trail To San
Antone/ I Learned To Love You Too Late/ Idaho-Ho/ Idaho-Ho/ If You
Ever Come To Texas/ I’d Love To Be A Cowgirl/ Little Rock Getaway/
Loaded Pistol – Loaded Dice/ Missouri/ Oh I Went And Got A Bucket
For My Tears/ Peekin-Peekin-Peekin (The Keyhole Song)/ Rosetta/
She’s A Gone Oakie/ Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)/ Ten More
Miles Down The Road/ Texas With A Capitol T/ The Hep And The Square/
The Peanut Polka/ Wabash Cannonball/ Wave To Me My Lady/ What’s The
Matter With You/ When Payday Rolls Around/ When Payday Rolls Around/
Who Broke The Lock On The Hen House Door/ Who Broke The Lock On The
Henhouse Door
|
| RALPH STANLEY |
Rebel 7520 |
Old-Time Pickin' |
● CD $9.98 |
18 tracks, 39 mins, highly recommended
Ralph Stanley
is not only one of the greatest bluegrass performers he is also one
of the finest living exponents of the traditional style of banjo
playing known as clawhammer. Even today with his hands arthritic
after years of playing he still usually includes a clawhammer banjo
medley in each performance. Ralph's record label for 30 years Rebel
has delved into its vaults to present this superb collection of
songs and tunes featuring an emphasis on his banjo playing drawing
from recordings made between 1971 and 2001 in the company of members
of his great Clinch Mountain including nine previously unissued
tracks. The material is a mix of vocal and instrumental pieces
ranging from the first tune he learned from his mother Lucy when he
was a child Shout Little Lulie to instrumental jams like
Battle Ax. Other tracks include Cripple Creek/ Shady Grove/
Little Birdie/ Bound To Ride/ Black-Eyed Susie/ True Blue Bill,
etc. (FS)
|
| MERLE TRAVIS |
Raven 299 |
The Merle Travis Guitar/ Walkin' The
Strings.. Plus |
● CD $19.98 |
39 tracks, essential
If there was any doubt that
Merle Travis was one of the greatest guitarists of all time this
great collection should put those doubts to rest. Travis, whose
refinement of the thumb and finger style picking favored by his
fellow Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, guitarists Mose Rager and Ike
Everly made him world famous and among the most influential country
instrumental stylists ever. "Travis style" guitar is universally
understood to identify the uniquely syncopated, loping style which
influenced generations of country and other guitarists. This set
focuses almost exclusively on his instrumental recordings featuring
two complete Capitol LPs plus bonus tracks from singles and LPs.
"The Merle Travis Guitar" from 1955 features Merle on solo electric
guitar on a selection of original tunes, jazz and pop standards.
"Walkin' The Strings" from 1960 features 22 solo acoustic guitar
transcriptionsl produced by Cliffie Stone and also includes a wide
variety of material including oldies like Bicycle Built For Two/
My Old Kentucky Home and a slew of original tunes including a
tribute to fellow Muhlenberg guitar wizard Ike Everly (The Everly
Brothers father) Everly Rag. The five bonus tracks are all
vocal performances with great guitar solos including Turn My
Picture Upside Down/ A Too Fast Past and So Round, So Firm,
So Fully Packed. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
B.A.C.M. 273 |
Canadian Country - Lynn Russwurm's
2nd Selection |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks, highly recommended
Complementing BACM 199
this is another fine and varied collection of country music from
North of the border compiled by Lynn Russworm. Some of the material
is covers of American country favorites while others are
distinctively Canadian and the influence of Canada's two most
popular country stars Hank Snow and Wilf Carter. Among the artists
included are The Hillbilly Jewels (superb bluegrass style
harmonies), Dixie Bill Hilton, Carl Lofstrom & Aubrey Hanson (the
lovely Castle Of Cards), Eddie Mehler & The Rustic Ramblers,
The Mighton Brothers (more fine harmonies on the gospel song
Walkin', Walkin'), Barry Nesbitt & His Alter Ego "Rog Dodunk",
Marge Osburne, The Prairie Rangers, Johnny Six (actually Orval
Prophet), Terry Roberts (a great cover of Don Gibson's Oh
LOnesome Me with hot rockabilly style guitar solo), Fiddlin' Red
Crawford, Slim Wilson, Big John Ford, etc. (FS)
FIDDLIN’ RED CRAWFORD WITH STU DAVIS’ COWTOWNERS:
Queen Elizabeth Special/ ANDY DEJARLIS & THE EARLY SETTLERS:
Nobody’s Business/ BIG JOHN FORD: It Never Is Too Late/ KING GANAM &
THE SONS OF THE WEST: Ridin’ The Fiddle/ GABY HAAS: Moonlight Waltz/
THE HILLBILLY JEWELS: I Told My Pillow/ DIXIE BILL HILTON & THE
CALGARY RANGE RIDERS: What A Waste (Of Good Corn Likker)/ THE
HOMETOWNERS: Miss Molly/ BILL LAUGHY: Cowboy’s Memories/ CARL
LOFSTROM & AUBREY HANSON: Castle Of Cards/ MYRNA LORRIE: Life’s
Changing Scene/ EDDIE MEHLER & THE RUSTIC RAMBLERS: Just A Weary
Traveler/ THE MIGHTON BROTHERS WITH THE RODEO ALL STAR: Walkin’,
Walkin’/ GLENN MITCHELL & THE MAINSTREETERS: Sweet Little Miss Blue
Eyes/ BARRY NESBIT & HIS ALTER EGO “ROG GODUNK™: Old Age/ GEORGE
OLIVER: Wabash Cannonball/ MARGE OSBURNE WITH DON MESSER’S
ISLANDERS: Bookworm/ HOD PHARIS: Call Of The Mountain/ THE PRAIRIE
RANGERS: I’m Just Tired Of Dreaming For Tomorrow/ ORVAL “REX™
PROPHET: Goodbye Katie, Bar The Door/ DONN REYNOLDS: If I’d Only
See’d You/ TERRY ROBERTS: Oh, Lonesome Me/ THE ROUND-UP TRIO WITH
JIMMY MORRIS: Swingin’ Down The Lane To See My Gal/ ORAL SCHEER WITH
CAMMIE HOWARD AND THE WESTER: My Blue Ridge Mountain Home/ JOHNNY
SIX AKA ORVAL PROPHET: The Tennessean’s Rolling Home/ SLIM WILSON &
THE PRAIRIE SONS: The Red We Want Is The Red We’ve Got
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16632 |
Songs, Of Love, Loss And Longing |
● CD $24.98 |
28 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Here's
another loosely themed compilation from the Family of Bears, this
one full of broken-hearted and broken down Cowboys and Country folk,
spilling out their trials and tribulations in the studio in front of
the microphone. If the old adage is true that "Happy songs sell
records and sad songs sell beer," then this collection is worth a
few kegs of what made Milwaukee famous. They must have sold a lot of
beer in 1960 especially, because each and every one of these
tear-jerkers comes from that magic year. You don't get a whole lot
of rare records here, just ones that are rarely compiled, done so in
fine fashion with complete discographal info and track by track
features that have full lyrics, accompanied by rare and candid
artist photos. You'll be enjoying such gems as: Echoes by
Tompall Glaser, All of me Belongs to You by Hank Cochran,
She Thinks I Still Care by George Jones, Let Me Talk to You
by Wanda Jackson, Did She Mention my Name by Gordon
Lightfoot, Come in Stranger by Johnny Cash, What Have You
Got Planned Tonight Diana by Merle Haggard, plus many more, 21
more to be exact. This is a truly fine collection, with not a single
mis-step in the whole compilation. (JM)
EDDY ARNOLD: You Don't Know Me/ JOHNNY CASH: Come
in Stranger/ I Still Miss Someone/ PATSY CLINE: There He Goes/ HANK
COCHRAN: All of Me Belongs to You/ If She Could See Me Now/ LITTLE
JIMMY DICKENS: We Could/ DON GIBSON: I May Never Get to Heaven/ Just
One Time/ TOMPALL GLASER: Echoes/ THE GLASER BROTHERS: How Are You
Brown Eyes/ BONNIE GUITAR: If You See My Love Dancing/ Letter from
Jenny/ MERLE HAGGARD: What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana/ BILL
HALEY: I Almost Lost My Mind/ FERLIN HUSKY: Gone/ WANDA JACKSON: Let
Me Talk to You/ Tip of My Fingers/ GEORGE JONES: She Thinks I Still
Care/ GORDON LIGHTFOOT: Did She Mention My Name/ MARVIN RAINWATER:
Then I'll Stop Loving You/ JIM REEVES: Am I Losing You/ HANK SNOW:
Hello Love/ I Don't Hurt Anymore/ Someone Mentioned Your Name/ KITTY
WELLS: Just When I Needed You/ HANK WILLIAMS: I Can't Help It/ FARON
YOUNG: Miss You Already
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus MERCD 1 |
Mercury Hillbilly, Volume 1 |
● CD $15.98 |
31 tracks, highly recommended
Originally on Official
5055. A terrific collection of honky tonk country recorded for the
Mercury label in the early and mid 50s. A mix of familiar and
obscure artists. A number of tracks have been on CD before but
usually on single artist collections. Most of the music is uptempo
and a number of tracks border on rockabilly and some have appeared
on rockabilly collections. Includes sides by Eddie Hill (his classic
Hot Guitar), James O'Gwynn (two great sides including the
rockabilly Easy Money and a terrific rendition of Mule
Skinner Blues), Jimmie Skinner, The Carlisles, Tibby Edwards,
Joe Carson, Johnny Horton (a couple of his earliest sides), Mac
O'Dell (beautiful acoustic country with fine Dobro and harmonica),
Tiny Hill (another contribution to the Hot Rod Race Saga),
Jimmy Dean, George & Earl, Tibby Edwards, Paul & Roy (two excellent
bluegrass numbers), Hank Noble, Ernie Lee and others. Sound is
excellent. (FS)
THE CARLISLES: I'm Rough Stuff/ Tain't Nice/ JOE
CARSON: I'm Not Allergic To Love/ l'll Do The Dishes/ LEW CHILDRE:
Ridin' On The Elevated Railroad/ JIMMY DEAN: I Found Out/ TIBBY
EDWARDS: C'est Si Tout/ Shift Gears/ There Ain't No Better Time/
GEORGE & EARL: Can I?/ Got Anything Good/ CURTIS GORDON: So Tired Of
Crying/ EDDIE HILL: The Hot Guitar/ TINY HILL: Hot Rod Race No.2/
JOHNNY HORTON: First Train Headin' South/ The Devil Made A
Masterpiece/ RED KIRK: Suger Coated Love/ ERNIE LEE: If You Got The
Money, I Got The Time/ No, No, Joe/ DUDE MARTIN: Pistol Boogie/ KEN
MARVIN: Let's Take The Long Way Home/ COUNTRY JOHNNY MATHIS: One
Life/ HANK NOBLE: Wa-Ha-Ne-Na/ MAC O'DELL: The Redball Rocket Train/
JAMES O'GWYNN: Easy Money/ Mule Skinner Blues/ PAUL & ROY: Every Dog
Must Have His Day/ You're All Alone Tonite/ JIMMIE SKINNER: Born To
Be Wild/ How Low Can You Feel?/ Just Ramblin' On
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus OKCD 1 |
OKeh Hillbilly |
● CD $15.98 |
28 tracks, highly recommended
Okay it's now the OKeh's label's turn with 28 up tempo gems recorded between 1952 and
'54. There are a few familiar names here like Carl Butler with a
couple of his earliest songs done in a quasi bluegrass style, Joe &
Rose Lee Maphis with a couple of forgettable novelties, several fine
sides by the always excellent and distinctive Onie Wheeler and
several by Louisiana favorite Link Davis. Mother Maybelle's daughter
Helen is here with two songs which are far away from the Carter
Family style but are fine. Most of the other artists are obscure but
most are excellent including Ace Ball (two songs including the odd
One Armed Love - what is he singing about), Sammy Barnhart,
Bill Morgan (the dullest performer here), Billy Ray (very bluesy),
The Webster Brothers (fine old time brother duet singing) and
others. Another winner. (FS)
ACE BALL: Lost/ One-Armed Love/ There'll Be a New
Day/ SAMMY BARNHART: Get Off My Telephone/ Hi-Dee, Da-Dee/ I'm
Wishing I Had You/ CARL BUTLER: I Wouldn't Change You If I Could)/
I'll Go Steppin' Too/ HELEN CARTER: I Like My Lovin' Overtime/ Like
All Get Out/ LINK DAVIS: Crawfish Crawl/ Fallin' for You/ Mama Say
No/ JIMMY HAYNIE: Johnny On the Spot/ My Mind Goes Blank/ The Fast
Silver Meteor/ JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Henhouse Serenade/ The Go 'Fer
Song/ BILL MORGAN: Follow the Leader/ Someone Like You/ BILLY RAY: I
Couldn't Sleep Last Night/ She Buys & Buys & Buys/ You Gotta Pet Me
Baby/ THE WEBSTER BROS.: It's All Left Up to You/ Till the End of
the World Rolls 'Round/ ONIE WHEELER: Closing Time/ I'll Swear You
Don't Love Me/ Little Mama
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus TRUCD 1 |
Trumpet Hillbilly |
● CD $15.98 |
29 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
Although best
known for it's blues and gospel recordings the Trumpet label out of
Jackson, Mississippi also issued a fair number of hillbilly releases
between 1952 and 1955 - and as this release many of them were very
good indeed. The best known artist here is Lucky Joe Almond with his
proto rockabilly classic Gonna Roll & Rock and his great
cover of bluesman Pianos Red's Rockin' With Red. The blues is
also present in the music of Jimmy Swan who is obviously influenced
by the more bluesy recordings of Hank Williams - his six tracks here
are exceptional. Werly Fairbun is another fine honky tonker who also
made some fine rockabilly records. The Hodges Brothers perform in a
more old time style with beautiful harmonies and fine fiddle and
mandolin work. Luke McDaniels has two fine songs here including the
moving A Tribute To Hank Williams, My Buddy. Other artists
include Bill Blevins, Tag Williams (about the only dull artist
here), Tex Dean, Kay Kellum (a fine male singer) and Don "Red" Barry
(the topical White Cross In Korea. Excellent stuff. (FS)
LUCKY JOE ALMOND: Every Day Of The Week/ Gonna
Roll & Rock/ Hickory Nut Boogie/ Rock Me/ Tanglewood Waltz/ DON
'RED' BARRY: Give Me Back The Love I Gave/ White Cross In Korea/
BILL BLEVINS: An Hour Late & A Dollar Short/ Honeymoon Waltz/ TEX
DEAN: Naponee/ WERLY FAIRBURN: Camping With Marie/ Let’s Live It
Over/ ROY HARRIS: No One Else/ THE HODGES BROTHERS: It Won’t Be
Long/ My Heart Fell At Her Feet/ KAY KELLUM: Love Stay Away From My
Heart/ When I Get Back/ LUKE MCDANIEL: A Tribute To Hank Williams,
My Buddy/ Whoa Boy!/ JIMMY SWAN: I Had A Dream/ Juke Joint Mama/
Lonesome Daddy Blues/ Losers Weepers/ Mark Of Shame/ One More Time/
Triflin’ On me/ TAG WILLIAMS: By & By/ I Wouldn’t Change A Thing/
One-Sided Love
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus SPECD 1 |
Specialty Hillbilly |
● CD $15.98 |
25 tracks, highly recommended
Although best known
for it's great R&B blues, rock 'n' roll and gospel recordings the
Specialty also issued a handful of country recordings between 1952
and 1953 and this superb disc features about 2/3 of them. Although
the label didn't record much hillbilly, what is featured here is
very good indeed - a mix of honky tonk and Western Swing and
features some of the earliest recordings of artists who went on to
more extensive careers. The most well known artist here is probably
Claude King is had a slew of hits for Columbia in the 1960s. His
five tracks are solid honky tonk and includes the splendid Got
The World By The Tail which he later recorded for Columbia. Shot
Jackson became a much in demand Dobroist and steel guitar player but
here he is featured on four honky tonk ballads including the great
If The Truth Was Known. Other artists include Johnny Tyler
(western swing oriented), Biff Collie, Bruce Trent, Joyce Lawrence &
Earney Vandergriff, Jerry Green, Leon Stancil and others. Many of
the artists were from Texas and Louisiana so I supect that they were
recorded there (maybe by Stan Lewis in Shreveport?). An unexpected
delight. (FS)
BIFF COLLIE: Don't Talk About Love/ JOHNNY
CROCKETT: Just A Minute/ JERRY GREEN: Are You Going My Way?/ Naggin'
Women & Braggin' Men/ SHOT JACKSON: Grandad He's Not Old/ If The
Truth Was Known/ You Can't Get The Country Out Of The Boy/ l'm
Trading You In On A Later Model/ CLAUDE KING: Got The World By The
Tail/ I Think Of You & Me/ She Knows Why/ She's My Baby/ Take It
Like A Man/ BILLY LEE: I Don't Know Why I Love You/ JOYCE LOWRANCE &
EARNEY VANDAGRIFF: Hush Money/ EARL NUNN: Double Talkin' Woman/ LEON
STANCIL: Why Don't You Quit Hangin' Around/ SMOKEY STOVER: Because I
Loved Her So/ What A Shame/ BRUCE TRENT: Alimony/ River Blues/
JOHNNY TYLER: A Sinner's Song/ Hillbilly Preacher/ Take Your Blues &
Go/ EARNEY VANDAGRIFF: Wishing
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus MERCD 2 |
Mercury Hillbilly, Volume 2 |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, highly recommended
Another great
collection of up-tempo honky tonk and country boogie recorded for
Mercury in the early/ mid 50s including some artists returning from
the first volume and many not. It opens in great style with Bill
Carlisle's hot blues Rattlesnakin' Daddy, a song he
originally recorded in 1933 and then continues with Eddie Hill's
answer to his own Hot Guitar (on volume 1) with Cold, Cold
Woman (& The Hot Guitar) featuring more of his guitar
pyrotechnics and includes fine sides from Tibby Edwards, Joey Gills,
Bill Nettles (the risque Push & Pull Boogie), Clyde Beavers,
Jimmie Skinner (his great One Dead Man Ago), Dude Martin,
Chuck Reed, Paul & Roy, Roger Miller (his early recording Poor
Little John), George Jones (the great and infrequently reissued
uptempo gospel song Take The Devil Out Of Me), George & earl
(superb honky tonk), Betty Amos, Joe Carson, Jerry Byrd (the fine
steel guitar instrumental Texas PLay Boy rag), Benny Barnes
and others. No notes but great sound. (FS)
BETTY AMOS: Gotta Have Some Lovin'/ Yes Mam' Mama/
BENNY BARNES: No Fault Of Mine/ CLYDE BEAVERS: Crying For My Baby/
JERRY BYRD: Texas Play Boy Rag/ BILLY CARLISLE: Rattlesnake Daddy/
JOE CARSON: I Could Love The Devil Out Of You/ Show Me Now/ JIMMY
DEAN: Freight Train Blues/ TIBBY EDWARDS: Flip Flop & Fly/ You Made
A Believer Out Of Me/ ALLEN FLATT: Chills & Fever/ JIMMIE FLETCHER:
I'm Changin' Business/ GEORGE & EARL: Cry Baby Cry/ ART GIBSON: L'm
A Truck Driving Man/ JOEY GILLS: My Name Is Joe/ CURTIS GORDON: Play
The Music Louder/ EDDIE HILL: Cold Cold Woman (& The Hot Guitar)/
TINY HILL: Diesel Smoke Dangerous Curves/ JOHNNY HORTON: Tennessee
Jive/ LOUIE INNIS: Stomp That Thing/ GEORGE JONES: Take The Devil
Out Of Me/ RED KIRK: Knock Out The Lights & Call The Law/ BENNY
MARTIN: (i Can) Read Between The Lines/ DUDE MARTIN: Tennessee
Wedding/ KEN MARVIN: I've Got My Love/ ROGER MILLER: Poor Little
John/ BILL NETTLES: Push & Pull Boogie/ PAUL & ROY: The Way You Lied
To Me/ LEON PAYNE: Lumberjack/ CHUCK REED: Cry Like A Baby/ JIMMIE
SKINNER: One Dead Man To Go
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus MERCD 3 |
Mercury Hillbilly, Volume 3 |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Another fine
selection of mid 50s up tempo honky tonk including sides by Eddie
Hill, Louie Ennis, Tibby Edwards (two great sides including the
Cajun flavored Come On Chere), Chuck Reed (obscure but fine
performer), Red Kirk, Benny Martin (two particularly fine sides),
Curtis Gordon, Art Gibson, Betty Amos, Allen Flatt (his name
describes his voice!), Paul & Roy (great bluegrass with fine
harmonies and mandolin work), Denver Duke & Jefferey Null (the fine
bluegrass tune All Washed Up Over You by this unique sounding
duo), Roy King, Country Johnny Mathis (much funkier than the pop
Johnny Mathis), Johnny Horton, Buz Butler, Lulu Belle & Scotty
(their classic piece of bluegrass paranoia I'm No Communist -
Rush Limbaugh would be proud), etc. (FS)
BETTY AMOS: Cheater Cheater/ BUZ BUTLER: Chew
Tobacco Rag/ Rubber Ball Bounce/ BOUNDING BILLY CARLISLE: Doggie
Joe/ THE CARLISLES: Woman Driver/ DENVER DUKE & JEFFERY NULL: All
Washed Up With You/ TIBBY EDWARDS: Come On Chere/ Play It Cool, Man,
Play It Cool/ ALLEN FLATT: No Love, No Worries Anymore/ Triflin'
Girl/ GEORGE & EARL: Don't, Don't, Don't/ Sweet Little Miss Blue
Eyes/ ART GIBSON: Honky-tonk Mama/ CURTIS GORDON: Baby, Please Come
Home/ EDDIE HILL: Buckshot/ JOHNNY HORTON: Big Wheels Rollin'/ You,
You, You/ LOUIE INNIS: Honky-tonk Man/ LOUIS INNIS: Better Back Up
Mama/ ROY KING: Story Of Shelly Liles/ RED KIRK: Walking Round In
Circles/ LULU BELLE & SCOTTY: I'm No Communist/ BENNY MARTIN: Ice
Cold Love/ That's What I'll Do To You/ KEN MARVIN: I'd Like To/
COUNTRY JOHNNY MATHIS: You Don't Care/ BILL NETTLES: When I Pick
Another Wife/ HANK NOBLE: Tell Me The Reason Why/ PAUL & ROY: Don't
Ever Tell Me/ CHUCK REED: It's Better To Be A Has Been/ Love, Love,
Love/ JIMMIE SKINNER: Want You For My Baby
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus CAPCD 4 |
Capitol Hillbilly, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Another
terrific selection mixing familiar artists with obscure names
including Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, Lee Bonds (the outstanding Done
Gone Crazy), Boots Faye & Idaho Call, Texas Bill Strength (a
fine cover of Johnny Cash's Cry Cry Cry), Wynn Stewart, Jack
Guthrie, Werly Fairburn (a fine cover of Al Terry's great Good
Deal Lucille), Billy Strange, Bob Atcher, Cliffie Stone (not
much of a vocal but fine guitar from Jimmy Bryant), Ann Jones, Leon
Payne, etc. (FS)
ROY ACUFF: Rushing Around/ BOB ATCHER: Smoke Comes
Out My Chimney/ FRED BAKER: I Gotta Do What I Gotta Do/ LEE BONDS:
Done Gone Crazy/ HYLO BROWN: The Wrong Kind Of Love/ CARL BUTLER:
Plastic Heart/ JOE CARSON: Take Me In Your Arms/ TOMMY COLLINS: All
Of The Monkey's Ain't In The Zoo/ RAMBLIN' JIMMIE DOLAN: Hot Rod
Mama/ WERLY FAIRBURN: Good Deal Lucille/ BOOTS FAYE & IDAHO CALL:
Grinnin' Like A Possum/ JACK GUTHRIE: When The Cactus Is In Bloom/
JIMMY HEAP: Cat'N Around/ ANN JONES: Doin' Fine/ JIMMY LEE: Knocking
On Your Front Door/ IRA & CHARLEY LOUVIN: Plenty Of Everything But
You/ SKEETS MCDONALD: Remember You're Mine/ MERRILL MOORE: Snatchin'
& Grabbin'/ ROD MORRIS: Cold Cold Cornbread/ GENE O’QUINN: I Get The
Blues/ LEON PAYNE: Poke Salad Green/ OLE RASMUSSEN: Sleepy Eyed
John/ AL ROGERS: All Alone All Alone/ JIMMIE SKINNER: Your Flyin'
Days Are Through/ WYNN STEWART: Why Do I Love You So/ CLIFFIE STONE:
Jump Rope Boogie/ BILLY STRANGE: Catsup & Honey/ TEXAS BILL
STRENGTH: Cry Cry Cry/ HANK THOMPSON: Hangover Tavern/ MERLE TRAVIS:
Turn My Picture Upside Down/ BOOTS WOODALL: I Might Have Been/ FARON
YOUNG: It's A Great Life
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus COLCD 4 |
Columbia Hillbilly, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
Another great collection of up-tempo hillbilly from
Columbia recorded in the 50s including a few familiar names and lots
of obscurity. Includes sides by Johnny Hicks (the goofy Hamburger
Hop), Jimmy Johnson, Don Gibson, Billy Walker, Oakie Jones, Neal
Burris, Riley Crabtree, Riley Crabtree, Andy Reynolds, Little Jimmy
Dickens, Dusty Owens, JOhnny Bond, Johnny Ragsdale, etc.
CHARLIE ADAMS: You've Wounded The Heart/ JOHNNY
BOND: All I Can Do Is Cry/ Sale Of Broken Hearts/ BILLY BROWN: Tight
Wad/ NEAL BURRIS: River Of Love/ Start The Music/ THE CARTER
SISTERS: He Went Slippin' Around/ RILEY CRABTREE: Maybe It's You Or
Maybe It's Me/ LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS: Me & My Big Loud Mouth/ DON
GIBSON: Ice Cold Heart/ JOHNNY HICKS: Hamburger Hop/ Pick Up Blues/
PAUL HOWARD: I'm Drinking All My Troubles Away/ STONEWALL JACKSON:
(You're Right) I Need You Real Bad/ OAKIE JONES: Love Fever/ Warm
Warm Kisses/ BOBBY LORD: Ain't Cha Ever Gonna?/ Hawkeye/ MADDOX
BROTHERS & ROSE: I've Got Four Big Brothers/ SMILEY MAXEDON: Until
Then/ BILL MORGAN: The Mucher We Do It/ GEORGE MORGAN: A Shot In The
Dark/ DUSTY OWENS: Give Me A Little Chance/ POLLY POSSUM & JOE
WOLVERTON: Save The Pieces/ RAY PRICE: I've Got To Hurry, Hurry,
Hurry/ JOHNNY RAGSDALE: Come Right In & Set A Spell/ ANDY REYNOLDS:
Beer Bottle Mama/ JACK RHODES FEAT. JIMMY JOHNSON: I've Lived A Lot
In My Time/ THE TUNESMITHS: Baby, I'm Ready/ BILLY WALKER: Mexican
Joe/ Whirlpool/ TOMMY WARREN: I'm Gonna Fall Out Of Love With You
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus RCACD 4 |
RCA Hillbilly, Vol. 4 |
● CD $15.98 |
Another 32 fine up tempo hillbilly sides from the
RCA label with perhaps a few too many novelty items for my liking.
Includes The Oklahoma Wranglers (their Country Kisses is
particularly nice), Hank Penny, Eddie Kirk, Johnny & Jack (the great
I Never Can Come Back To You), Jesse Rogers, Ken Marvin, Eddy
Arnold, Tom James, Minnie Pearl, Charline Arthur, Jimmy Murphy (his
classic We Live A Long Time To get Old), Jim Boyd, etc.
ROSALIE ALLEN & CHET ATKINS: Dream Train/ EDDY
ARNOLD: Two Kinds Of Love/ CHARLINE ARTHUR: Soft Hearted Gal/ LEE
BELL: Let Me Love You/ JIM BOYD: The Big 'D'Boogie/ ELTON BRITT:
Jackass Blues/ THE DIAMOND BROTHERS: Hickory Stick/ Sugar Coated
Lemon/ RED GARRETT: Moon Tan/ JERRY GLENN (KENNEDY): Too Young to
Cut The Mustard/ EDDIE HILL: Knock It Off/ TOM JAMES: Sample Of Your
Love/ JOHNNY & JACK: I Never Can Come Back to You/ EDDIE KIRK: Hit &
Run Lover/ Wanderin' Eyes/ KENNY LEE: It's Tit for Tat/ EDDIE
MARSHALL: Honky Tonk Blues/ KEN MARVIN: How About A Dale/ JIMMY
MURPHY: We Live A Long Time to Get Old/ THE OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS:
Country Kisses/ MINNIE PEARL: Huntin' Season/ HANK PENNY: You're
Bound to Look Like a Monkey/ WADE RAY: The Fiddlin' Rag/ RITA
ROBBINS: If You Don't Somebody Else Will/ TEXAS JIM ROBERTSON: l'm
Gonna Be Long Gone/ JESSE ROGERS: But I'll Go Chasin' Women/ HANK
SNOW: The Gold Rush Is Over/ JACK TURNER: Shoot, I Reckon I Love
You/ l'm Getlin' Married Tonight/ PORTER WAGONER: Takin' Chances/
BOBBY WILLIAMSON: I Need Everything/ JOHNNIE LEE WILLS: Sold Out Doc
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus COLCD 5 |
Columbia Hillbilly, Volume 5 -
Crying In Your Beer |
● CD $15.98 |
30 tracks, highly recommended Subtitled "Crying In
Your Beer Honky Tonk Special" this volume slows down the tempo to
give us a great selection of honky tonk ballads, waltzes and
shuffles including sides Billy Walker, Bobby Lord, Dusty Owens,
Jimmy Dickens, Neal Jones, Stonewall Jackson (his classic Don't
Be Angry), Werly Fairburn (a fine cover of Tommy Collins' I
Guess I'm Crazy), Johnny Hicks (the fine bluesy Rainy Night
Blues), Onie Wheeler, Smiley Maxedon, Lee Emerson, Earl
Peterson, Neal Burris and others. (FS)
CHARLIE ADAMS: They Can't Make A Devil Out Of My
Angel/ NEAL BURRIS: Poison Kisses/ You're Stepping Out (To Be With
Me)/ JIMMY DICKENS: I Never Thought It Would Happen To Me/ Take Me
As I Am/ LEE EMERSON: A Pair Of Broken Hearts/ WERLY FAIRBURN: I
Guess I'm Crazy/ LEFTY FRIZZELL: Your Tomorrow's Never Come/ FREDDIE
HART: Blue/ JOHNNY HICKS: Rainy Night Blues/ STONEWALL JACKSON:
Don't Be Angry/ JIMMY JOHNSON: Throwing My Life Away/ NEAL JONES:
Two Wrongs/ BOBBY LORD: I'm The Devil Who Made Her That Way/
Something's Missing/ ROSE MADDOX: When The Sun Goes Down/ SMILEY
MAXEDON: You've Lost Too Much/ FRANKIE MILLER: What You Do From Now
On/ LOU MILLET: Your Own Heart You Must Mend/ DUSTY OWENS: The Life
You Want To Live/ EARL PETERSON: The Heart You're Gonna Break/ ROCKY
PORTER: I Knew It All Along/ POLLY POSSUM: Don't Talk To Me About
Men/ MARTY ROBBINS: This Broken Heart Of Mine/ BONNIE SLOAN: Don't
Call Me A Tramp/ CARL SMITH: There's A Bottle Where She Used To Be/
BILLY WALKER: The Record/ TOMMY WARREN: Fading Away/ CHUCK WELLS:
The Barroom Girl/ ONIE WHEELER: A Beggar For Your Love
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus DECCD 5 |
Decca Hillbilly, Vol. 5 |
● CD $15.98 |
Subtitled "Crying In Your Beer Honky-Tonk Special"
this volume in this great series features 30 waltzes, shuffles and
barroom ballads. It opens with four songs on the perils of booze
including Webb Pierce's classic There Stands the Glass and
Billy Mize's fine Who Will Buy The Wine? (with the great line
"Last night you held the baby's bottle/ Tonight you have a different
kind) that was also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis. There are other
fine weepers from Vernon Claud, Autry Inman, Jimmy Logsdon, Glenn
Douglas, Ernest Tubb, Gene Stewart and others.
CHARLIE ADAMS: I Hope You’re Happy Now/ CHARLIE
ALDRICH: I Saw My Old Flame Last Night/ REX ALLEN: That’s What Makes
The Juke Box Play/ BILLY BROWN: Drunk, Drunk Again/ High Heels But
No Soul/ VERNON CLAUD: Foolish Pride/ Jungle Of Cement & Stone/
ALVADEAN COKER: Insufficient Love/ MARGIE COLLIE: Dim Lights, Thick
Smoke/ GLENN DOUGLAS: You Sure Look Lonesome/ ARLIE DUFF: So Close &
Yet So Far/ JIM EANES: When The One That You Love Is In Love With
You/ RED FOLEY: Stranded In Deep Water/ STAN HARDIN: Hungry Heart/
GOLDIE HILL: Liquor And Women/ AUTRY INMAN: It Hurts Too Much To
Cry/ Reality/ WANDA JACKSON: Tears At The Grand Ole Op’ry/ JIMMY &
JOHNNY: Imagination/ HANK LOCKLIN: Let Me Confess/ JIMMY LOGSDON:
These Lonesome Blues/ BILLY MIZE: Who Will Buy The Wine?/ JOHNNY
NELMS: I’ve Been Lonesome Before/ LEON PAYNE: A Lifetime To Regret/
You Haven’t Got A Heart/ WEBB PIERCE: Don’t Throw Your Life Away/
There Stands The Glass/ REX PROPHET: Wild Fire/ GENE STEWART:
Someday You’ll Know/ ERNEST TUBB: I’m With A Crowd But So Alone
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cactus 101 |
Hot Rod Race - Hillbilly Style |
● CD $15.98 |
32 tracks, highly recommended
Arkie Shibley's 1950
Gilt Edge recording about a race between two cars was not only a big
hit but launched an industry of cover songs and songs based around
the same theme and no doubt inspired such 50s rock 'n' roll hits as
Maybelline by Chuck Berry and Beep Beep by The
Playmates. This CD features no less than 32 country versions! It
includes Shibley's original plus his four sequels, covers by Bob
Williams (who also did several sequels included here) plus covers by
Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, Bob Sandy, Dorse Lewis, Jack Rivers, Chris
Clay and more. After a fallow period in the mid/ late 50s Johnny
Bond revitalized the genre in 1960 with his reworking of the songs
as Hot Rod Lincoln which hit the pop charts and Johnny had to
rerecord it as Hot Rod Jalopy for it's U.K. release since
Auntie BBC wouldn't allow songs to played that mentioned any
commercial product. Both versions are included here along with the
sequel X-15. Charlie Ryan also had a hit with the song and
followed it up with a whole LP devoted to variations on the song and
the final 12 tracks on the Cd features all the tracks from that LP
including Hot Rod race/ Side Car Cycle/ Burlington Chase/ The
Dart & the Lincoln and more. There's not a whole lot of musical
variety on this collection but it's fascinating to hear all the
variations on the theme and load of fun to boot. (FS)
JOHNNY BOND: Hot Rod Jalopy (Made For UK Version)/
Hot Rod Lincoln/ X-15/ CHRIS CLAY: Shot Rod Lincoln/ RAMBLIN’ JIMMIE
DOLAN: Hot Rod Race/ RED FOLEY: Hot Rod Race/ DORSE LEWIS: Hot Rod
Boogie/ JACK RIVERS: Navy Hot Rod/ CHARLIE RYAN: Burlington Chase/
Hot Rod Guitar/ Hot Rod Hades/ Hot Rod Harley/ Hot Rod Lincoln/ Hot
Rod Race/ I Married The Gal/ Rocket Race/ Side Car Cycle/ The Dart &
The Lincoln/ BOB SANDY: Hot Rod Race/ ARKIE SHIBLEY: Hot Rod Race/
Hot Rod Race #2/ Hot Rod Race #3 (Arkie Meets The Judge)/ Hot Rod
Race #4 (The Guy In The Mercury/ Hot Rod Race #5 (The Kid In The
Model A/ ARTHUR SMITH: Hot Rod Race/ DELBERT TRAPPER: Hot Rod Race/
REX TURNER: Hot Rod Race/ BOB WILLIAMS: Hot Rod Race #2/ Hot Rod
Race #3/ Hot Rod Race (Cumberland Version)/ Hot Rod Race (Tennessee
Version)/ MICK WOODWARD: Hot Rod Race Navy Style
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Old Hat 1007 |
Gastonia Gallop - Cotton Mill Songs
& Hillbilly Blues |
● CD $16.98 |
24 tracks, very highly recommended
Another fabulous
collection of old timey music from Old Hat - this one featuring
recordings made between 1927 and 1931 by North Carolina artists from
Gaston County, home of the booming textile industry in the 1920s and
30s with many textile mills in the city of Gastonia. Many of the
artists on this collection were mill workers and a number of the
songs have cynical commentary about life as a textile mill worker -
in particular those of the superb singer, guitarist and harmonica
player David McCarn who is featured on seven tracks including the
guitar and harmonica instrumental which gives this album its name.
There are also seven songs by the superb singer and banjo player
Wilmer Watts - most of them with group The Lonely Eagles and one a
duet with steel guitarist Frank Wilson, His songs include his
wonderful version of the traditional ballad Duncan And Brady
which he calls Been On The Job Too Long and was a particular
favorite of my dear departed friend Archie Green. He is also
featured on the topical Cotton Mill Blues. There are five
tracks from a duo featuring the brilliant singer and harmonica
player Gwin Foster with guitarist David Fletcher. Three of these
were issued as The Carolian twins and the other two as Fletcher &
Foster. Other artists include The Three 'Baccer Tags and George Wade
& Francum Braswell. Music is consistently fine, sound quality is
superb and the 16 page, copiously illustrated booklet, has detailed
notes by Patrick Huber. (FS)
THE CAROLINA TWINS: A Change in Business All
Around/ Gal of Mine Took My Licker from Me/ I Want My Black Baby
Back/ Southern Jack/ DAVE & HOWARD: Bay Rum Blues/ Serves 'Em Fine/
FLETCHER & FOSTER: Charlotte Hot Step/ Red Rose Rag/ DAVID MCCARN:
Cotton Mill Colic/ Everyday Dirt/ Gastonia Gallop/ Poor Man, Rich
Man [Cotton Mill Colic No. 2]/ Take Them for a Ride/ THE THREE 'BACCER
TAGS: Ain't Gonna Do It No More/ Get Your Head in Here/ GEORGE WADE
& FRANCUM BRASWELL: Think a Little/ When You Go a Courtin/ WILMER
WATTS & THE LONELY EAGLES: Been on the Job Too Long/ Bonnie Bess/
Cotton Mill Blues/ She's a Hard Boiled Rose/ Sleepy Desert/ Working
for My Sally/ WATTS & WILSON: Walk Right in Belmont
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| HANK WILLIAMS |
Time Life 24922 |
Hank Williams Revealed |
● CD $38.98 |
Hallelujah! Just arrived! The second box set
of recordings drawn from the previously unissued radio
transcriptions made by Hank in 1951 for the Mother's Best Flour
Company. Hank was at his peak and was accompanied by his great band
with Jerry Rivers on fiddle, Don Helms on steel guitar and Sammy
Pruett on guitar. Hank performed many of his hits as well as songs
he had not recorded commercially and covers of others artists' hit
which Hank made entirely his own. The first volume (Time Life 80024
- $39.98) was primarily devoted to just Hank's performances - for
this volume Time-Life has responded to the requests by Hank's fans
and each disc includes one complete 15 minute complete with an
instrumental by The Drifting Cowboys, commercials and chat between
Hank, announcer Louis Buck and members of the band and really gives
one a lot insight into Hank's character. Apart from the shows disc 1
features live performances of 12 of Hank's hits like Cold Cold
Heart/ Long Gone Lonesome Blues/ Hey, Good Looking and others.
The second disk features 11 gospel songs - many not recorded
commercially - (That Beautiful Home/ Lord, Build Me A Cabin In
The Corner Of Gloryland/ Jesus Died For, etc) and the third disk
features performances Hank had recorded as Luke The Drifter as well
as songs in a similar vein (Everything's O.K./ Where The Old Red
River Flows/ Deck Of Cards, etc.) THree CDs with 34 songs plus
three complete radio shows.
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