COUNTRY,
BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIMEY
The
Farmer Boys -> The Flying Burrito Brothers
| THE FARMER BOYS |
Bear Family BCD 15579 |
Flash, Crash & Thunder |
● CD $21.98 |
The Farmer Boys' story hasn't been told even though their
records have long been favorites among rockabilly and country
collectors, particularly in Europe. Now, for the first time, the story
of Bobby Adamson and Woody Murray, transplanted Arkansans whose families
moved to Northern California during the War years. After the duo formed
in the early fifties, they became a part of the same regional scene that
nurtured the Maddox Brothers and Rose and evolved into the Bakersfield
scene. And from 1955-1957 they recorded 16 incredible numbers in
Capitol's L.A. studios, most of them upbeat country, backed by the cream
of the Bakersfield pickers. Among these were Maddox Bros. lead guitarist
Roy Nichols and steel guitarist Norm Hamlet (both future members of
Merle Haggard's Strangers), Buck Owens and Tommy Collins (as sidemen),
legendary Bakersfield bandleader Bill Woods, and former Bob Wills
drummer Johnny Cuviello. The Boys' sound was a rawer, uptempo,
tongue-in-cheek version of the Louvin Brothers. Their material came from
various sources (Charming Betsy is an old Lulubelle and Scotty
number), some of the best tunes like You're A Humdinger and Oh,
How It Hurts came from Tommy Collins. Yearning, Burning Heart
came from Buck Owens, who co-wrote three other numbers. Indeed, their
harmonies anticipated those on Buck's Capitol sides several years later.
But though they toured extensively in the fifties, the timing wasn't
right and they eventually disbanded and left music. Cary Ginell's notes,
based on interviews with Adamson, place everything in perspective. Comes
complete with rare in-studio photos. Another gem. (RK)
|
| GLENDA FAYE |
Flying Fish 432 |
Glenda Faye |
● CD $15.98 |
Porter Wagoner's former guitar player, Glenda is a
hellacious flatpicker, and on this record, she's backed by a veritable
Bluegrass Hall Of Fame of pickers, including Vassar Clements, Jesse
McReynolds, Bobby Thompson, Roy Huskey Jr. and on 2 tunes, Bill Monroe.
If at first glance the repertoire seems overly familiar, don't worry,
it's nice to hear these warhorses done in the straightahead, no frills
approach Glenda uses, and her "sidemen" shine on such tunes as
Black Mountain Rag/ Down Yonder/ Bill Cheatum/ Orange Blossom
Special/ Rocky Top/ Beaumont Rag and others. There's also a spoken
introduction by Porter, it's long, but folks, it's sincere. (RP)
|
| TERRY FELL |
Bear Family BCD 15762 |
Truck Driving Man |
● CD $21.98 |
24 tracks, 53 minutes, fans only
Terry Fell had one
shining moment: his 1954 recording of Truck Driving Man for the
RCA subsidiary label X. It remains a classic of the trucker genre that's
been covered numerous times (though Buck Owens didn't play on it, as
he's said he did -- he's on Fell's last RCA session). That said, it's
also safe to say that little else Fell recorded for X or RCA was
terribly interesting, though Mississippi River Shuffle is
pleasant and I'm Hot to Trot anticipates Roger Miller's looniness.
Fell's own compositions are mildly interesting, and Don't Drop It
is mildly amusing the first couple times. Like other RCA country artists
of the fifties, Fell also endured the label's proclivity for shoving
crappy novelties down artists' throats, hence the dreadful Wham! Bam!
Hot Ziggety Zam and (We Wanta) See Santa Do The Mambo. You
may want to keep the worst novelty, the revoltingly stupid Caveman,
around to play in the background if you have unwanted guests. If it
doesn't convince 'em to hit the road nothing will. Aside from Fell's
biggest hit, virtually nothing else here was worth reissuing. Try as he
might, Colin Escott has trouble mustering up much enthusiasm in his
notes. (RK)
|
| NARVEL FELTS |
Bear Family BCD 15690 |
Drift Away - Best, 1973-1979 |
● CD $21.98 |
|
| LESTER FLATT |
Bear Family BCD 15975 |
Flatt On Victor .. And More |
● CD $149.98 |
6 CD box set with 52 page book.
|
| LESTER FLATT |
Flying Fish 70015 |
Lester Raymond Flatt |
● CD $15.98 |
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
Bear Family BCD 15472 |
1948-59 |
● CD $85.98 |
With this set, Bear Family makes another invaluable
contribution to our understanding and appreciation of bluegrass history.
Accompanied by a fifteen page booklet by Neil Rosenberg that includes a
discography of the period, this four CD set includes all of the
recordings made by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain
Boys for Mercury and Columbia between 1949 and April, 1959. Although the
Mercury material has been available domestically on Rounder for some
time, this is the first time a comprehensive collection of all
the material from their classic period has been assembled. Because of The
Ballad Of Jed Clampett and the inclusion of the original Foggy
Mountain Breakdown in the soundtrack of Bonnie & Clyde, Flatt
and Scruggs were world famous in the 60's and 70's. But by then, as with
many innovators, their most important groundbreaking work had been done.
Alumni of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, Lester and Earl advanced the art
of bluegrass in their own ways, both individually and collectively. Earl
Scruggs was the first true virtuoso of bluegrass banjo - he may not have
invented the three fingered style of picking, but he refined it and
ultimately defined it. Lester Flatt's unique lead guitar style, with its
patented G run, and his easygoing, tightlipped vocal style are still
much imitated. Many other innovators, great players and singers were
members of the band. Buck "Uncle Josh" Graves set the standard
on bluegrass dobro for years to come, Paul Warren, Benny Martin, Art
Wooten and Chubby Wise were among the fiddle players employed by Flatt
and Scruggs, and mandolinist Curly Seckler's wonderful, bellowing tenor
added much of the raw country emotion to the Foggy Mountain Boys' trios
and quartets. Also with the band during this period were singer and
guitarist Mac Wiseman, bassists and singers Hylo Brown, Howard Watts,
Jody Rainwater and Onie Wheeler. There are 112 tracks in this
collection, containing some of the greatest bluegrass ever recorded from
one of its' greatest bands. Highly recommended to anyone who cares about
bluegrass. 9RP)
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
Bear Family BCD 15559 |
1959-63 |
● CD $129.98 |
Deluxe 5-CD follow-up to their great 4-CD set (Bear Family
BCD 15472), which was devoted to this seminal bluegrass band from
1948-59. These 4 years find singer/guitarist Flatt and banjo-player
extraordinaire Scruggs cranking out fine 45s for their traditional
country and bluegrass fans, while creating fine concept albums for the
new LP market, and especially for the nascent folk revival, which had
discovered them at the 1959 & 1960 Newport Folk Festival. Both these
hard-charging, full blast bluegrass 45s and the more laid-back LPs are
in this chronological set, along with rare or unissued tunes. All 6 LPs-
the gospel "Songs of Glory", the all instrumental banjo
showcase "Foggy Mountain Banjo", their 3 LPs exploring classic
American folklore, "Songs Of The Famous Carter Family" /
"Folk Songs Of Our Land" & "Hard Travelin'--Ballad Of
Jed Clampett & the live Carnegie Hall concert- are here. The whole
of the concert is here, with 19 tunes not on the LP, including the
encore with Merle Travis. In addition, a rare square dance session led
by fiddler Gordon Terry, with the Flatt & Scruggs band, Travis on
guitar, and, unfortunately, a caller, recorded for RCA in 1963, is
included. Highlights are rare 45s like Go Home/ Too Old For A Broken
Heart/ Welcome To The Club/ & Just A'int, which recreate the
brilliance of their early years, while the whole set captures them in
fine form, before they are set adrift in a sea of Beverly Hillbillies.
The usual tremendous job from Bear Family, with fine notes from Neil
Rosenberg, pictures & discography, which no self-respecting banjo
picker can do without. (JM)
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
Bear Family BCD 15879 |
1964-1969, plus |
● CD $139.98 |
6 CDs,169 tracks,7 hours 3 min; , good, but not that good.
During the period covered by this boxed set, Flatt and Scruggs became
the most commercially successful bluegrass of all time; at the same
time, forces beyond their control were moving them inexorably toward a
breakup that became more inevitable as time went on. The music presented
here contributed greatly to the break-up. This set is a fascinating
object lesson in how popular success and the pressures that come with it
can destroy the very essence of a band from outside the popular
mainstream. There is good Flatt and Scruggs music here, but as the the
band's chronology draws to a close, there is less and less, and by 1969,
when the band finalloy splits, the music on the albums they are
producing is hardly recognizable as bluegrass -- but it isn't very good
anything else, either. There is a nice live album recorded live at
Vanderbilt University in 1963, there is a fine all instrumental album
with Doc Watson cut in 1966. By this time, however, The Foggy Mountain
Boys' sound was changing noticeably. Charlie McCoy's harmonica was
becoming ubiquitous, drums and electric guitar were ever more present,
and the band's producers, Don Law and later Bob Johnston were insistent
on the band including more contemporary "folk"compositions on
each new album. Some of the material worked , after a fashion; but more
and more, however, the band found themselves recording Bob Dylan
compositions, with whom Flatt and Scruggs shared a label, and in Bob
Johnston, a producer. Worse, they were prodded to cover John Sebastian,
The Monkees, even Buffy Saint Marie. The band also recorded themes for
"The Beverly Hillbillies" television show, as well as themes
for "Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction" and an
album's worth of material based on the movie "Bonnie and
Clyde". Also included is an album's worth of material featuring
vocals by various members of the Beverly Hillbillies Cast, with titles
like Jethro's a Powerful Man and What A Great Doctor Granny Is.
An unexpected bonus here is the inclusion of a square dance album cut
for RCA Victor in 1961 under the leadership of the great fiddler Gordon
Terry , with Flatt and Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain boys, Merle
Travis, plus drums and piano, but without the calls that were on the
second Flatt and Scruggs Boxed set; this reissue also includes four
tracks from that session never before issued; Cheyenne/ Chicken Reel/
Down Yonder, and Bile Them Cabbage Down. It is the purest
manifestation of Flatt and Scruggs' genius to be found on the whole set.
(RP)
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
Columbia CK 8464 |
Songs Of The Famous Carter Family |
● CD $9.98 |
Reissue of Flatt & Scruggs LP featuring Mother
Maybelle Carter and the Foggy Mountain Boys. 12 songs - Keep On The
Sunny Side/ Foggy Mountain Top/ Jimmy Brown The Newsboy/ Worried Man
Blues/ Gathering Flowers From The Hillside and 7 more.
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
Columbia CK 37469 |
Columbia Historic Edition |
● CD $9.98 |
50's material - Dear Old Dixie, Foggy Mountain Special,
Cabin On The Hill and 7 more.
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
County 102 |
Blue Ridge Cabin Home |
● CD $15.98 |
CD reissue of the excellent Rebel LP taken from Columbia
and including 15 F & S masterpieces as the title number along with
Josh Graves' dobro tour-de-force Shuckin' The Corn, Earl's Randy
Lynn Rag, Don't Let Your Deal Go Down, Six White Horses,
A Hundred Years From Now, I'll Take the Blame and nine
more, recorded from 1955-57. They were just on the verge of a wider
audience, but still were remaining true to their original fans at this
point. With Graves, fiddler Paul Warren and mandolinist Curly Sechler in
the band, they were in many ways at their musical peak. All original
packaging remains including Doug Green's fine liner notes. (RK)
|
| LESTER FLATT
& EARL SCRUGGS |
County 111 |
You Can Feel It In Your Soul |
● CD $15.98 |
Another outstanding reissue from County, this time
focusing on the gospel output of Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain
Quartet, which consisted of Curly Sechler and bassist Paul Warren on
vocals in addition to Lester and Earl. Buck Graves on dobro is also on
most cuts. These are classic vocal performances by a great band at its
peak. Many of these songs have become staples of the standard bluegrass
repertoire and these are definitive performances. It's good to have
these gospel performances gathered together here on one album. Songs
include Cabin On The Hill/ Heaven/ Joy Bells/ Who Will Sing For Me/
Gone Home/ Give Me Flowers While I'm Living . Good liner notes and
session information. Highly recommended. (RP)
|
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
Columbia-Legacy C2K 64877 |
The Essential Flatt & Scruggs |
● CD $21.98 |
2 CDs, 34 tracks, 86 mins, essential. As with Lefty, Bear
Family has chronicled Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, but the cost is
high. The alternative is this compilation of their best from 1950
through 1967 including such obvious favorites as the 1951 title song (a
Mac Wiseman composition), Earl's instrumental showcases Earl's
Breakdown, Foggy Mountain Chimes, a 1967 Columbia
re-recording of Foggy Mountain Breakdown (the original was on
Mercury), Flint Hill Special and Randy Lynn Rag. Dobroist
Josh Graves shows his stuff on Shuckin' The Corn and the Carter
Family's You Are My Flower. Also here is the original of Crying
My heart Out Over You, which Ricky Skaggs later made a hit, The
trite F & S chart hit Polka On A Banjo appear with three of
their TV-related songs: The Ballad of Jed Clampett and Pearl,
Pearl Pearl (from The Beverly Hillbillies) and Petticoat
Junction. Two covers of 60's pop tunes appear, the Lovin Spoonful's Nashville
Cats and Bob Dylan's Down in the Flood, and Scruggs's desire
to record such fare helped split them up in 1969 when Lester quit to
play traditional bluegrass and Earl chose a more progressive direction
with his sons in the Earl Scruggs Revue. Again, Patrick Carr's
appreciation is heartfelt but inadequate on its own. (RK)
|
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
County CCS-CD 118 |
Foggy Mountain Jamboree |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 31 min; essential. Previously released as
Columbia CL 1019, this album is described in the loving liner notes by
John Hartford as having a profound effect on both he and Doug Dillard as
teenagers; it is among the first and most influential long playing
albums devoted to bluegrass music, and as such, it has had far reaching
effect in the world of bluegrass. Containing singles recorded between
the years of 1951 ans 1955, the album contains twelve songs and tunes
that have become standards, showcasing all the elements that made Flatt
& Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys an abiding benchmark by which
all bluegrass bands since have been measured, from the revolutionary
banjo picking of Earl Scruggs, the laid back lead vocals and patented G
runs of guitarist Lester Flatt, the exciting licks of Josh Graves,
father of modern bluegrass dobro , the tart, bellowing tenor voice of
mandolinist Curly Seckler, the fiddling of Paul Warren, Howdy Forrester,
Benny Martin, or Chubby Wise, the airtight trios of Flatt, Scruggs, and
Seckler, and the overall drive and verve that served as the introduction
to modern bluegrass for many a fan and fledgling picker. Songs and tunes
include Flint Hill Special/ Earl's Breakdown/ Foggy Mountain Special/
Shuckin' The Corn/ Randy Lynn Rag/ Your Love Is Like A Flower and
others. (RP)
|
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
Koch 7929 |
At Carnegie Hall |
● CD $15.98 |
First time this historic concert from 1962 has been issued
in the USA in its entirety. Over 70 minutes long with 32 tracks.
|
| BELA FLECK |
Rounder 11518 |
Daybreak |
● CD $15.98 |
18 selections from various Rounder releases, with the
usual complement of progressive players - Darol Anger, Sam Bush, Jerry
Douglas, David Grisman, Mark O'Connor and more.
|
| BELA FLECK |
Rounder 11522 |
Places |
● CD $15.98 |
CD-only sampler from four Rounder LP's, 18 tracks.
|
| BELA FLECK
& TONY TRISCHKA |
Rounder 0247 |
Solo Banjo Works |
● CD $15.98 |
25 tracks, 70 min., good. This is what happens when banjo
virtuosos get the itch to explore musical horizons beyond the three
finger roll. Newgrass pioneer Tony Trischka has 14 solo tracks here,
including a very nice traditional nod to Earl Scruggs, a Beatles medley,
the fiddle tune Beaumont Rag, a free improvisation piece, and a
version of Ruben's Train utilizing a Wah-wah pedal (sounds wierd,
but it's one of the most enjoyable things on the album). Bela Fleck's
notions include combining the fiddle/ bagpipe tune Gary Owen with
Did You Ever Meet The Devil, a Bach violin piece on banjo, Uncle
Joe, a middle-eastern medley, and a rag inspired by George Van Eps.
Additionally, the two play two numbers together. How successful this is
depends upon how interested the listener is in having the boundaries of
bluegrass banjo extended, I suppose. (RP)
|
| ROSIE FLORES |
Hightone HCD 8033 |
After The Farm |
● CD $13.98 |
Rosie is back and although she seems a bit lost in the
guitar uproar here, her voice has enough power to hold her own against
the onslaught. The production, by 2 of her guitar players (natch), is
topflight though and I don't blame them (Dusty Wakeman(b), Greg Leisz
and Duane Jarvis on guitars) for bringing the guitars to the fore
because they can really play in a variety of styles. Rosie is at her
best on the slow and mid-tempo numbers (and that's what is mostly here)
where she gets to wrap her plaintive voice around a sweet country tune,
and throw that vulnerable 'break' into the mix - the kind that even
melts tough old cowboy hearts. I only hope Rosie and the boys don't get
to far above their raisin' because Dent In My Heart , the only
true honky-tonk tune here, is still the best. More To Offer/ Price To
Pay/ Blue Highway/ West Texas Plains , etc. (AE)
|
| ROSIE FLORES |
Rounder 3136 |
A Honky Tonk Reprise |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks, 48 mins, essential. At last Rosie's wonderful
1987 album is available on CD and with six bonus cuts that were intended
for a second album that never happened. Rosie Flores is one of the great
new young country singers to emerge in the late 80s. She has a marvelous
voice which has the soulful sincerity of Loretta Lynn and the rockabilly
urgency of Wanda Jackson. The songs are a mixture of new and old songs -
some written by Rosie and her guitarist on some of these sessions James
Intveld. The originals include the Latin flavored Midnight To
Moonlight with accordion by David Hidalgo and the hard driving Heartbreak
Train - a version which appeared on the legendary
Town South Of Bakersfield collection. There is also a fine version of
Freddie Hart's Lovin' In Vain and Carl Perkins' Turn Around
plus a version of the Wanda Jackson rockabilly song I Gotta Know.
Highglight of the album however is the incredible honky tonk ballad God
May Forgive You (But I Won't written by the brilliant Harlan Howard.
The six bonus cuts are mostly covers but are very fine indeed
particularly the rocking Truck Driver's Blues and Fats Domino's I'm
Walking, the later with hot guitar from Albert Lee. You gotta hear
this! (FS)
|
| "HARMONICA"
FRANK FLOYD |
Genes 9905 |
The Great Medical Menagerist |
● CD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 44 min., recommended The reissue of 1972
recordings by this American original, a man whose is certainly best
known for his early 50's recordings for the Sun and Chess labels. When
these later numbers were laid down, Floyd was in his mid-60's, and it's
fair to say that he sounds his age. But it's equally fair to say that he
still sounds like Harmonica Frank too. And I don't know of anyone else
of whom that could be said. Selections include Mosquito Bar Britches,
Blue Yodel #6, Swamproot, Tour de Floyd, Sweet
Temptation, the crudely risque number Shampoo, Steppin' to
Convington, and Knothole Blues. Unique music, nicely reissued
here with solid notes by Denise Tapp. (DH)
|
| THE FLY-RITE BOYS |
Hightone 8090 |
Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys! |
● CD $13.98 |
Big Sandy's backing group step into the spotlight for a
mostly instrumental selection mixing country, swing and hillbilly boogie
featuring guitarist Ashley Kingman, steel guitarist Lee Jeffriess,
bassist Wally Hersom, drummer Bobby Trimble and newest member - piano
wiz Carl "Sonny" Leyland.
|
| THE FLYING
BURRITO BROTHERS |
Edsel 194 |
Burrito Deluxe |
● CD $17.98 |
The country rock pioneers 2nd album for A & M was
originally released in '69, and faced the unenviable task of trying to
duplicate the success of their critically acclaimed "Gilded Palace Of
Sin." The cohesiveness of their compositional and lyrical debut, somehow
runs aground on this uneven follow-up. Still Messers' Parsons, Hillman
& Leadon (who replaced Chris Ethridge) at this time were the
undisputed standard bearers for this special brand of California
country, mixed with gospel tinged bluegrass & rock sentimentality.
About half the tunes stir the emotions convincingly - Lazy Days/ High
Fashion Queen/ Older Guys/ Lady, Lady/ God's Own Singer . The
chestnut is of course the Jagger/ Richard classic Wild Horses ,
written especially for Gram & it closes this album on a positive
note. (SG)
|
| THE FLYING BURRITO
BROS. |
Edsel EDCD 197 |
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And Loud Loud
Music |
● CD $17.98 |
Another fine compilation of long neglected Burrito goodies
featuring Gram Parsons. These 13 songs have been culled from two A&M
treasures - Close Up The Honky Tonks from '74 and Sleepless
Nights, originally released in '76. The songs were originally cut in
early '70 right before Gram split to begin his all too brief solo
career, and feature Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon, Sneaky Pete &
Michael Clarke doing classic country-honky tonk in the style of Merle
Haggard - Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down & Buck Owens - Together
Again , mixed liberally with contemporary impressions from The
Everly Brothers, Delaney & Bonnie and The Rolling Stones (Honky
Tonk Women). This album is worth it's weight in gold because it
includes the powerful heart stopper Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven.
(SG)
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