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COUNTRY,
BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIMEY
Ted Daffan ->
Little Jimmy Dickens
| VERNON DALHART |
King 3820 |
Hall Of Fame, Inducted 1981 |
● CD $9.98 |
10 tracks, 33 mins, recommended Although Dalhart is often
shunned by country music collectors because of his somewhat trained voice
and precise diction he is certainly an important perfomer. Among the 5,000
songs he is purported to have recorded in the 20s and 30s are many fine
performances including the first recordings of a number songs that have
become country standards. This is the first CD of his recordings so it's a
shame that it's so short - not that I would want to hear all 5,000 songs!
This set includes some of his most popular songs - The Prisoner's
Songs/ WReck Of The Old '97/ Death of Floyd Collins/ The Governer's Pardon
and others. Arrangements feature guitar, banjo, harmonica and occasional
Jews harp and piano. Sound is very good and there are brief notes on his
career. (FS)
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| DARBY & TARLTON |
Bear Family BCD 15764 |
Complete Recordings |
● CD $79.98 |
3 CDs, 71 tracks, 3 hrs, 48 min; essential
Will wonders
never cease!? Due to the technology that has given us compact discs, we are
able in 1995 to listen to one of the finest and most influential
traditional country duos from the dawn of recorded music history in this
country, with sound quality that we could only have dreamed of a few short
years ago. Thomas Darby and Jimmy Tarlton were the originators of the oft
recorded and incredibly popular Columbus Stockade Blues; their
recordings for Columbia, Victor, and A.R.C. from 1927 to 1933 made them
among the most popular of the traditional country acts recording at that
time, and their influence since then has been immense. Jimmy Tarlton is
credited with introducing the steel guitar to hillbilly music and was a
great yodeler; his style seems derived in about equal parts from Hawaiian
steel guitar styles and those of black country blues artists. Tom Darby
was rhythm guitarist and an appealing singer whose lead vocals featured
his melancholy delivery of the duo's repertoire, which consisted of sentimental
parlor songs from before the turn of the century, traditional
Appalachian folk ballads, and rags and blues from the black tradition.
Selections include, in addition to the classic Columbus Stockade Blues/
After The Ball/ Traveling Yodel Blues/ Frankie Dean (their take on the
Frankie and Johnny saga)/ Weaver's Blues/ My Blue Heaven(!), and many
more. Includes a 48 page booklet with an exhaustive biography by Ed Kahn,
along with notes on each song, and a discography compiled by Tony Russell,
and lots of vintage photos. (RP)
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| DARBY & TARLTON |
County 3503 |
On The Banks Of A Lonely River |
● CD $15.98 |
17 tracks, 55 min, essential
Powerful, even stunning music
from a marvelous Georgia duet, Tom Darby & Jimmie Tarlton, recorded
from 1927-30. The bluesy, soulful vocals of Darby are joined by the
heart-breaking harmonies and hair-raising yodels of Tarlton, backed by
Darby's steady fingerpicking and Jimmie's spectacular bottleneck guitar.
Jimmie had traveled widely, learning from blacks, Mexicans, and even the
Hawaiian guitarist, Frank Ferera, developing an expressive, fluid style
perfectly suited to the duo's vocal intensity. Tackling traditional
numbers like Lonesome In The Pines/Lonesome Railroad/& the anti-war
Captain Won't You Let Me Go Home, as well as sentimental tunes as Little
Bessie & The Black Sheep, and blue like Frankie Dean &
Birmingham Jail, they deliver each with passionate conviction. Sound
is good, but with rumble on some cuts, and good notes by Robert Nobley.
(JM)
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| JIMMIE DAVIS |
Bear Family BCD 15943 |
Nobody's Darling But Mine |
● CD $119.98 |
5 CD box set with book featuring recordings from 1928-1937
by this country pioneer. Lots of blues songs and other Jimmie Rodgers
flavored material - some with great blues and jazz accompaniments.
Includes his very rare first recordings for Doggone Records.
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| JIMMIE DAVIS |
Bear Family BCD 16216 |
You Are My Sunshine |
● CD $119.98 |
The second set of 5 CDs with books feature recordings from
the height of his popularity, 1937-46.
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| LINK DAVIS |
Krazy Kat KKCD 06 |
Let The Good Times Roll |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 53 minutes, recommended. Texas-born
singer/fiddler/sax blower Link Davis was a formidable talent throughout
the rock'n'roll era. He started out in Western Swing bands in the 30's
eventually winding up in Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers. The 20 cuts here
trace his career from 1948 to 1963. There are a half dozen nice
bluesy/jazzy tunes from 1948-49 including a version of Good Rockin'
Tonight done as Have You Heard The News - a true rock'n'roll
precursor. He backs (on fiddle) Floyd Tillman on Baby I Just Want You/
Save A Little For Me and the Harmonica Kid on a trio of blues/cajun
tunes from 1952, but the best stuff features Link's own distinctive gruff
voice on rockin' classics like Grasshopper/ Airliner/ Big Mamou ,
etc....
AE
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| SKEETER DAVIS |
RCA 66536 |
The Essential Skeeter Davis |
● CD $10.98 |
20 tracks, 50 min., recommended. Her life was a little like
the country songs she sang, full of failed marriage, crashed cars, bad
luck and hit records. This disc spans the years 1953-71 and chronicles her
career from her stint as a Davis Sister (I Forgot More Than You'll Ever
Know) to her pop leanings My Last Date (With You), and beyond.
In the 1960s her sound anticipated the girl groups -- in fact her vocals
were multi-tracked until she was a girl group! -- as a listen to the
Goffin-King ditty I Can't Stay Mad At You will confirm. Other songs
include Bus Fare To Kentucky, I'm Saving My Love, No,
Never, (I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too, and more. Nice
collection, good notes, photos. (JC)
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| THE DAVIS SISTERS |
Bear Family BCD 15722 |
Memories |
● CD $41.98 |
Two CDs, 79:28 70:33, 60 songs, recommended
On the heels of
Skeeter Davis's autobiography comes this Bear Family collection compiling
the complete Davis Sisters legacy, save a couple of lost RCA masters. In
preparation for several years, it brings together 60 songs on two compact
discs. These include not only the complete RCA recordings (most featuring
Chet Atkins) but also 1952-53 live appearances and radio recordings done
in Detroit, their output for the Detroit- based Fortune label (with
pianist Roy Hall) and their complete released and unreleased RCA output
(except for the two lost RCA sides). Four gospel numbers recorded after
Betty Jack Davis's death feature Skeeter with Betty Jack's sister, Georgie,
who replaced her in the group (a story dealt with by Skeeter in horrific
detail in her book) until they finally split. The songs include I
Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know, Sorrow and Pain, Rock-A-Bye Boogie, The
Christmas Boogie, the swinging Fiddle Diddle Boogie and more.
More alternate takes appear than needed, and at times the Davises got a
bit samey. Liner notes were written by Bob Allen and Colin Escott, and the
booklet boasts near complete session data and rare photos from Skeeter's
archives. (RK) 2 discs, 60 tracks, 149 min., recommended Known best for
their hit, I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know, the Davis Sisters
began life as high school friends Betty Jack Davis and Mary Frances Penick.
It was only a radio announcer's hurried shortening of their individual
names that resulted in the "sisters" tag. They first recorded
for Fortune Records in late 1952, and their one solid hit came out of
their very first RCA session in 1953. Tragically, an auto accident took
Betty Jack's life shortly after that. Thereafter Betty's older sister
Georgie joined the act, and she and Mary Frances recorded together through
1957. This excellent compilation includes 11 early acetates, the five
Fortune numbers, and all of the RCA numbers laid down by both duos.
Highlights include Rock-A-Bye Boogie/ You're Gone/ Crying Steel Guitar
Waltz/ Takin' Time Out For Tears/ Show Me/ The Christmas Boogie/ I'll Get
Him Back/ Baby Be Mine, and Dig A Little Deeper In God's Love.
When Mary Frances Penick went solo in 1958, she combined her nickname with
her lost friend's last name, performing and finding major chart success as
Skeeter Davis. Fine sound quality and graphics, lots of photos and
thorough notes. (DH)
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| JIMMY DAY |
Bear Family BCD 15583 |
Golden Steel Guitar Hits - Steel &
Strings |
● CD $21.98 |
Best known for his work with the bands of Ray Price and
Willie Nelson in his pre-Outlaw days, Jimmy Day began as the staff steel
player on the Louisiana Hayride in the early fifties (Floyd Cramer was the
band's pianist). He occasionally backed Elvis, Scotty and Bill on Hayride
tours. Day became a much-recorded Nashville sideman in the sixties, his
skill at modulating chords and his unique tone becoming his trademark. His
work with Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys particularly stood out. In 1961 and
1962 he recorded two albums for Mercury, both included on this CD. Neither
album was terribly strong because of the overproduction (voices and
orchestrations). "Golden Steel Guitar Hits", the better LP of
the two, featured Day performing steel guitar "standards" from Steel
Guitar Rag to Bootheel Drag, Bud's Bounce and Georgia
Steel Guitar. Day's playing is outstanding; it's the choral voices
that become annoying. The second LP, Steel and Strings, featured him
playing country standards including I Fall to Pieces/ Making Believe/
Wild Side of Life/ Release Me and A Fallen Star. Again,
overproduction spoils the music. It might have been better to assemble
Day's solo work from Abbott Records and combine it with some of the
material he cut with Price and others as a featured sideman. Booklet is
mostly testimonials from fellow steel players with a 1955 photo of Day
backing Elvis onstage in the booklet. (RK)
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| EDDIE DEAN |
Cattle 214 |
The Late & Great Eddie Dean |
● CD $18.98 |
Collection of sides from mid 40s radio transcriptions.
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| EDDIE DEAN |
Cattle 233 |
The Golden Age Of Eddie Dean |
● CD $18.98 |
Complementing Cattle 214 this features 24 sides from the 40s
including recordings for small labels and radio transcriptions. Some
tracks have Speedy West on steel or Joe Maphis on lead guitar.
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| JIMMY DEAN |
Bear Family BCD 15723 |
Big Bad John |
● CD $21.98 |
26 tracks 78 min. fans only
It's easy to dismiss
Jimmy Dean as the purveyor of bad recitation records and as spokesman for
his Pure Pork Sausage. If you hate recitations, you'll dismiss this set as
well. Aside from the 1961 megahit single Big Bad John some of these
songs were "big," many were "bad," and a few belong in
the "john." These 1961-62 Columbia recordings are mostly
recitation- heavy including the right-wing Dear Ivan and the JFK
World War II saga song P.T. 109. Since this was the era of the saga
songs, their inclusion is understandable. That's about as far as it should
have gone. Two followups to John, The Cajun Queen and Little
Bitty Big John (Big John's son) are so bad that even the titles should
warn anyone off, and you could pour To A Sleeping Beauty over
flapjacks. Actually Dean wasn't a bad singer and recorded some decent
material for Columbia, as the relatively few vocal selections indicate.
They should have added more of those and less talk. (RK)
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| THE DELMORE BROTHERS |
Ace CDCH 455 |
Freight Train Boogie |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks, 55 min, recommended
Alton and Rabon Delmore
settled in Memphis in 1945 and, unsurprisingly, their style shifted from
what it had been in the '30s. Their records for the King label were
primarily boogies and blues-based numbers that maintained their close
harmonies and fine guitar work. (Check the Mobile Boogie if you
care to be impressed.) This set offers many King faves, including the
title track, Hillbilly Boogie/ Boogie Woogie Baby/ Steamboat Bill
Boogie, and other fare not far from rockabilly. Wayne Raney's
plaintive harmonica wails sympathetically throughout. Old fashioned and
ahead of their time all at once. (JC)
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| THE DELMORE BROTHERS |
Ace CDCHD 1074 |
Fifty Miles To Travel - The King & Deluxe
Acetate Series |
● CD $18.98 |
24 tracks, 68 mins, essential
Ace's second in their new
series of reissues drawn from original King acetates (see Roy Brown in
blues section for more details) is another killer featuring the wonderful
music of the Delmore Brothers. Although Ace now has access to the original
cleaner sounding acetates they have stayed clear of duplications with their
previous Delmore reissue (Ace 455 - "Freight Train Boogie" - $18.98) with
the exception of their biggest hit Blues Stay Away From Me. They
have also included a previously unissued alternate take of that song which
is quite close to the issued version though not as good. The rest of the
set is a wonderful blend of blues, boogie, straight country, traditional
songs and a spiritual recorded for King between 1945 and 1950 - most of it
making it's first appearance on CD and those issued before never sounding
this good. The earliest cuts features just the brothers and their guitars
while later sides feature great accompaniments from harmonica player Wayne
Raney, guitarist Zeb Turner and others. There are three utterly superb
previously unissued songs - the title song plus (When I'm Gone) Don't
talk About Me and the western swing flavored Leavin' Town - the
latter with hot guitar from Turner. Stunning sound and informative, if
somewhat convulted, notes by Tony Rounce round out another essential
package. (FS)
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| THE DELMORE BROTHERS |
B.A.C.M. 044 |
That Old Train |
● CD $14.98 |
Superb collection of sides by this brilliant brother duo. 17
of the 22 tracks here are from their Decca sessions of 1940 and 1941 with
the remaining five from their later King sessions. The Decca sessions
feature them performing traditional and original songs with their gentle
harmonies accompanied by their fine interlocking guitar work. The King sides
finds them in a more bluesy mood with Wayne Raney contributing harmonica on
a couple of tracks.
THE DELMORE BROTHERS: Baby Girl/ Gathering Flowers From The Hillside/ Gospel
Cannonball/ Honey I'm Ramblin' Away/ I Found An Angel/ I Needed You/ I Now
Have A Bugle To Play/ I Wonder Where My Darling Is Tonight/ I'm Leaving You/
I'm Sorry I Caused You To Cry/ In The Blue Hills Of Virginia/ Last Night I
Was Your Only Darling/ Make Room In The Lifeboat For Me/ Old Mountain Dew/
Precious Jewel/ She Won't Be My Little Darling/ Silver Dollar/ That Old
Train/ There's Something bout Love/ There's Trouble On My Mind Today/ When
It's Time For The Whip-poor-wills To Sing/ Will You Be Lonesome Too
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| AL DEXTER |
Bronco Buster 9030 |
The Original "Pistol Packin' Mama" |
● CD $18.98 |
20 cuts recorded between 1941 and 1942 by this talented
singer, guitarist and songwriter who was one of the most popular country
artists of the 40s. It includes the original version of his most famous
song Pistol Packin' Mama, a million selling #1 hit in 1944 plus
other songs like Hot Foot Shuffle/ You've Been Cheating Baby/ I Don't
Suppose/ There'll Come A Time/ Fisherman's Boogie, etc. , etc. (FS)
AL DEXTER: A Good Man Is Hard to Find/ Blow That Lonesome Whistle, Casey/
Calamity Jane/ Counting My Teardrops/ Darling, It's All over Now./
Fisherman's Boogie (Voc. Aubrey Gass)/ Guitar Polka (Old Monterey) (Inst.)
(No.1)/ Hot Foot Shuffle (Inst.)/ I Don't Suppose/ I'll Wait for You Dear/
I'm Setting You Free/ Pistol Packin' Mama (No.1)/ Rosa/ Saturday Night
Boogie (Inst.)/ So Long Pal (No.1)/ There'll Come a Time/ Walking with the
Blues/ Who's Been Here/ Who's Gonna Love You When I'm Gone/ You've Been
Cheating Baby
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| AL DEXTER |
Cattle 211 |
Country Hit Maker Of The 1940s |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks, 1939-1947 - Is That The Way To Treat A Friend/
I'm Leaving My Troubles Behind/ Triflin' Gal/ Love Lanes Of Yesterday/ I'm
Losing My Mind Over You/ Alimony Blues/ New Jelly Roll Blues, etc.
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| HAZEL DICKENS |
Rounder 11529 |
A Few Old Memories |
● CD $15.98 |
18 tracks, 68 mins, essential
West Virginia singer/
songwriter Hazel Dickens is one of those wonderful singers whose voices
have the ability to evoke an immediate and emotional response. She's not a
pretty singer - but her singing has an honesty and directness that will
send a chill down your spine. Many of her songs are originals though they
have a timeless quality. They tell real stories about real people - often
rural workers. The tracks here were recorded over an 11 year period and
are drawn from six different albums. Accompaniments are varied from a
bluegrass sound to a more electric country sound and also includes one unaccompanied
vocal Pretty Bird. Other songs include the
magnificent Working Girl Blues (with Alice Gerrard from their
acclaimed "Hazel & Alice" album)/ A Few Old Memories/
Busted/ It's Hard To Tell The Singer From The Song/ Hills Of Home/ Only
The Lonely (not the Roy Orbison song)/ Little Lenaldo/ Scars From
An Old Love/ Mama's Hand/ West Virginia, My Home and others. This is
the real thing, folks. (FS)
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| HAZEL DICKENS
& ALICE GERARD |
Smithsonian Folkways SF CD 40065 |
Pioneering Women Of Bluegrass |
● CD $15.98 |
| 26 tracks, 68 min., highly recommended. The very welcome
digital reissue of two Folkways albums originally released in 1965 and
1973, the first recordings by these two fine singers of traditional song.
Titled Who's That Knocking
Won't You Come and Sing For Me
The One I Love Is Gone
Walkin' in My Sleep
Darling Nellie
Coal Miner's Blues
Lee Highway Blues
Memories of Mother and Dad
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
Mommy Please Stay Home with Me
Just Another Broken Heart
I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling
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| LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS |
B.A.C.M. 063 |
Hot Diggity Dog |
● CD $14.98 |
25 track collection of early sides from 1949 through 1952 by
the diminutive but highly talented Little Jimmy Dickens. Best known for his
novelty songs he was also a superb honky tonk singer and both these aspects
of his music are featured here. Jimmy was always accompanied by top studio
musicians.
LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS: Bessie The Heifer/ Cold Feet/ F-o-o-l-i-s-h M-e Me/
Galvanised Washing Tub/ Hot Diggity Dog/ I Wish You Didnt Love Me So Much/
If It Aint One Thing Its Another/ It May Be Silly But Aint It Fun/ Ill
Be Back A Sunday/ Im In Love Up To My Ears/ Ive Just Got To See You Once
More/ Just When I Needed You/ Lola Lee/ Lovin Lies/ Old Country Preacher/
Out Of Business/ Sign On The Highway/ Then I Had To Turn Around And Get
Married/ They Dont Know Nothin At All/ Waitress Waitress/ Walk Chicken
Walk/ Wedding Bell Waltz/ What About You/ When That Love Bug Bites You/ You
Dont Have Love At All
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| LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS |
Bear Family BCD 16218 |
Out Behind The Barn |
● CD $94.98 |
Second set on Bear Family features all the recordings of the
small but mighty Little Jimmy Dickens recorded for Columbia between 1957
and 1966. Includes his hits The Violet & The Rose/ Another Bridge
To Burn/ He Stands Real Tall/ May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
and much more.
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| LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS |
Sony Music Special Products 24201 |
Country Giant |
● CD $7.98 |
10 tracks, 27 min; recommended Despite the decidedly
minimalist packaging (no notes, session info, or dates), short playing
time and concentration on Jimmy's novelty numbers at the expense of his
honky tonkers and ballads, this valuable and much needed disc provides a
good if brief overview of Dickens' career. It includes most of Jimmie's
biggest novelty hits, including the biggest (and silliest), 1965's
somewhat flukish hit, May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose;
this forgettable ditty was a number one country hit and even reached
number 15 on the pop charts. Jimmy's more conventional novelty numbers
describing country life in a humorous way had been staples of country
radio since 1949's Take An Old Cold Tater And Wait, included here.
Also included are Country Boy/ Hillbilly Fever, the rockabillyish I
Got A Hole In My Pocket, plus the ballads My Heart's Bouquet/ We
Could. There is far too little evidence of Jimmie's compelling way
with a ballad here, but it's nice to have even these ten. This diminutive
Hall of Famer has been shortchanged by the country reissue specialists for
too long. (RP)
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