NEWSLETTER #145
Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey
Roy Acuff
->
Bob Wills
| PUBLIC COWBOY NO. 1 |
Holly George-Warren |
The Life And Times Of Gene Autry |
● BOOK $27.95 |
Hardbound, 406 pages, counts as seven CDs for shipping
In
depth biography of the most popular, influential and succesful Westrn
performer and the only performer to earn five stars on the Hollywood Hall
Of Fame - for radio, recording, motion pictures, television and live
performances. Includes much newly unearthed information on Autry's
impovershed childhood, his adventures as an up-and-coming singer, his
mother who died on the brink of his success, his ne'er-do-well father, his
lengthy recording, radio and movie career and his own personal triumphs
and tragedies and battles with his own demons. The book includes rare
photos, deatils of all his recording sessions and a listing of all the
films he appeared in.
|
| NOTE: Unless otherwise noted all
DVDs offered are in NTSC format which means that they will not play on a
European DVD players unless you have a multiple format player. |
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
Shanachie DVD 611 |
Best Of The Flatt & Scruggs TV Show, Vol.
1 |
● DVD $17.98 |
First in a series of DVDs presenting, for the first time,
TV shows from the 50s and early 60s featuring one of the greatest
bluegrass groups - Lester Flatt & earl Scruggs and their great band The
Foggy Mountain Boys which at that time included Paul Warren/ fiddle, Josh
Graves/Dobro, Curly Seckler/ mandolin and Jake Tullock/ string bass. This
DVD features two shows from August 1961 and February, 1962 and includes
selections like Shortnin' Bread/ Pig In The Pen/ Jesus Savior Pilot Me/
Feast here Tonight/ before I Met You/ Lovesick & Sorrow/ Earl's Breakdown/
Down In The Valley/ The Hollow Poplar and more. Shows include comedy
routines and commercials for Martha White's Knick Knack Sticks and White
Corn Light Bread.
|
| FLATT & SCRUGGS |
Shanachie DVD 612 |
Best Of The Flatt & Scruggs TV Show, Vol.
2 |
● DVD $17.98 |
This volume features a second show from August 1961
featuring Mother Maybelle carter as guest plus a show from July 1961.
Selections include Fire Ball Mail/ Walking In My Sleep/ Foggy Mountain
Special/ Polka On A Banjo/ Wildwood Flower/ I Dreamed About Mama Last
Night/ The Liberty Dance/ Over There, etc.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Rhino Video 72848 |
Road To Nashville |
● DVD $7.98 |
110 mins, color, highly recommended
1967 movie. The story
of this movie involves hot shot Hollywood producer Richard Arlen sending
his goofy sidekick played by Doodles Weaver (formerly with Spike Jones &
The City Slicker) to line up country stars to appear in a movie about
country music. That's about it for the story, but you're not going to
watch this movie for the "plot" - you're going to watch this for the 36
musical performances by some of the top names of the time including Marty
Robbins (who co-produced the movie), The Stonemans (three performances
including an amazing rocking instrumental featuring the almost unbearably
perky Donna Stoneman playing wild electric mandolin), Webb Pierce, Waylon
Jennings (very fine indeed on Anita), Don Winters (osbcure but fine
singer who worked with Marty and does some fine yodeling), Kitty Wells,
Faron Young, Lefty Frizzell, Margie Singleton, Bill Anderson, hank Snow,
The Osborne Brothers (in great form), Porter Wagoner, The Carter Family,
Johnny Cash (who doesn't look too well) and others! Not all the
performances are great but enough are to make this indispensable. Cover
and label say movie is 88 minutes long but my DVD player says 110 minutes
which makes more sense considering the number of musical performances -
all full length. (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Time Life 19264 |
Bluegrass Country Soul |
● DVD $18.98 |
Live performances from a bluegrass festival held in Camp
Springs, North Carolina in 1971 by Earl Scruggs & The Earl Scruggs Revue,
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain boys featuring teenage Ricky Skaggs &
Keith Whitley, Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe, Chubby, The Osborne Brothers, The
Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman and others and includes a guest appearance
by Roy Acuff.
|
| ROY ACUFF |
Varese 66814 |
Sings Hank Williams |
● CD $13.98 |
17 tracks, recommended
Reissue of 1966 album originally
issued on Roy's own Hickory label featuring songs made famous by the great
Hank Williams sung by one of the artists who strongly influenced Hank and
who was his good friend. The CD includes 4 additional tracks of Roy doing
Hank's songs from other Hickory albums along with the previously unissued
Lonesome Whistle. Though lacking the intensity of Hank's originals,
Roy's performances are fine - he does the songs in his own distinctive
style with a small group with fine Dobro and harmonica work. Includes
Hey Good Looking/ Mansion On The Hill/ You Win Again/ Jamabalaya (On The
Bayou)/ Cold, Cold Heart/ Take These Chains From My Heart/ they'll Never
take Her Love From Me/ Lost Highway, etc. (FS)
|
| EDDY ARNOLD |
Castle PULSE 657 |
Country Music Legends |
● CD $12.98 |
Two CD set with 40 tracks from the late 40s through the
mid 50s including hits as well as lesser known sides including some tracks
not otherwise available on CD.
EDDY ARNOLD: Anything That's Part Of You/ Anytime/
Bouquet Of Roses/ Cattle Call/ Don't Bother To Cry/ Easy On The Eyes/ Easy
Rockin' Chair/ Echo Of Your Footsteps/ Eddy's Song/ Free Home
Demonstration/ Hep Cat Baby/ How's The World Treating You/ I Really Don't
Want To Know/ I Walk Alone/ I Wanna Play House With You/ I'd Trade All Of
My Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday)/ I'll Hold You In My Heart/ I'm
Throwing Rice At The Girl I Love/ It Makes No Difference Now/ It's A Sin/
Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go A Long Way)/ Just Call Me Lonesome/ Kentucky
Waltz/ Lovebug Itch/ Mama & Daddy Broke My Heart/ Many Tears Ago/ Million
Miles From Your Heart/ Molly Darling/ Older & Bolder/ One Kiss Too Many/
Prison Without Walls/ Prisoner's Song/ Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin'
Chair/ Second Fling/ Seven Years With The Wrong Woman/ Texarkana Baby/
This Is The Thanks I Get (For Loving You)/ What A Fool I Was/ What Is Life
Without Love/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken
|
| CHET ATKINS |
Country Routes 37 |
With The Carter Sisters & Mother Maybelle |
● CD $16.98 |
Brilliant Chet Atkins from his formative period (1949),
playing on every track. Nine tracks are guitar solos only; he also solos
on 18 vocal tracks and sings on 6 (3 in harmony). Fine singing from
sisters June, Anita and Helen as well as Mother Maybelle. 38 tracks (!) in
all including No Vacancy/ The Deaf Woman's Courtship/ Ain't It Hard To
Love/ I'm fading Fast With The Tide/ Lord Lead Me On/ When God Dips His
Love In My Heart/ In The Pines/ Meeting In The Air, etc.
|
| CHET ATKINS |
JSP JSPCD 7794 |
The Early Years, 1946-1957 |
● CD $28.98 |
Just arrived - 5 CD set with 158 tracks tracing the early
years of this important and influential country guitarist and Nashville
producer. Partly drawn from recordings in the Joe Bussard collection. Chet
is joined by a stellar cast of accompanying musicians including Louis
Innis, Roy Lanham, George Barnes, "Homer" Haynes, "Jethro" Burns, Jack
Shook, Jerry Byrd, Grady Martin, "Bud" Isaacs, Hank Snow and many others.
|
| BOBBY BARE |
Omni 106 |
A Bird named Yesterday/ Talk Me Some Sense |
● CD $16.98 |
36 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
This collection
pairs up Bobby Bare's two signature LPs from 1966 & 1967. Bare is
certainly one of the better proponents of socially aware Country music
artists, later to be somewhat lumped in with the Outlaw movement of the
1970's. At this stage in his career, Bare uses his rich baritone to sing
out about the injustices of urban sprawl/ renewal. In 2007 where the
damned corporations have paved over so much of this beautiful land of
ours, you would imagine Bobby Bare would be miserable, but I just caught
Ralph Emory interviewing him on the RFD channel and he seems in great
spirit and voice. This collection is a good jumping in point for new fans,
but he certainly has a ton of good stuff to check out over the last 40
years. Overall quality job, with fantastic sound, good notes and
reproductions of original LP artwork. (JM)
|
| JACK
BLANCHARD & MISTY MORGAN |
Omni 102 |
Life And Death (And Almost Everything
Else) |
● CD $16.98 |
29 tracks, 76 min., recommended Best known for the novelty
number Tennessee Bird Walk, Jack & Misty made a career from
off-beat novelties penned by Blanchard, including the memorable
Humphrey The Camel, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, The Legendary
Chicken Fairy, and How I Lost 31 Pounds In 17 Days, which
features the line, "She had the smile of an angel and the body of a
full-grown whale". And yet, for all their intentional strangeness, they
were a talented country act, capable of lovely ballads and such, including
Changin' Times, You've Got Your Troubles (I've Got Mine),
Somewhere In Virginia In The Rain, among others. This album reissues
two original LPs (Birds Of A Feather from 1970 & Two SIdes Of Jack & Misty
from 1972), adds songs only released on 45 rpms and ends with a pair of
previously unissued titles (Lonesome Song & The Sunset Train).
(JC)
|
| THE BUCKAROOS |
Sundazed 11115 |
The Best Of The Buckaroos |
● CD $16.98 |
Complementing Sundazed 11091 ("Country Pickin'" - $16.98)
this is another fabulous collection of country instrumentals plus a
handful of vocals featuring one of the greatest backup bands in the
business - Buck Owen's Buckaroos. 18 tracks recorded for Capitol between
1965 and 1970 featuring the dazzling lead guitar of Don Rich, the full
bodied steel guitar of Tom Brumley plus bassist Doyle Holly and drummers
Willie Cantu and Jerry Wiggins. The vocals are by Don Rich, Doyle Holly
and Wayne Wilson. Includes Buckaroo/ Seven Come Eleven/ My baby's
Comin' Home/ Tom's Waltz/ Sad Is The Lonely/ Woman Truck Drivin' Fool/
Anywhere, U.S.A., etc.
|
| HENSON CARGILL |
Omni 101 |
A Very Well Travelled Man |
● CD $16.98 |
27 tracks, mins, recommended for all the wrong reasons
Henson Cargill is part of a special breed of socially conscious country
artists of the late sixties. While Mac Davis went down to the Ghetto and
Loretta got herself the Pill, Cargill was loitering around playgrounds
eavesdropping on little girls jumping rope (Skip a Rope was his big
hit, included here.) Not to poke too much fun at him, but a little Henson
Cargill goes a long way and at 27 tracks you can get a little punchy
trying to take it all in. If you aren't familiar with the artist, you can
liken him to a mix between Rod Mckuen, William Shatner and CW McCall (of
Convoy fame). In general the worthy among you will have a good time
with this disk, not laughing with him, but.. (JM)
|
| JOHNNY CASH |
Bear Family BCD 16325 |
The Outtakes |
● CD $75.98 |
Here's one for the REAL Johnny Cash fan. This three CD set
features every known alternate take that could be found of his Sun
recordings including false starts, microphone tests, undubbed masters and
studio chatter. It comes with 100 page booklet. Songs include Wide Open
Road/ Folsom Prison Blues (four versions)/Cry, Cry, Cry/ Train Of
Love/ Don't Make Me Go (11 versions!)/Home Of The Blues/ Leave That
Junk Alone/ Guess Things Happen That Way/ Cold, Cold Heart/ Thanks A Lot
(11 versions) and more. Much f this material is making its first
appearance on CD.
|
| GENE CLARK |
Sundazed 11188 |
Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers |
● CD $16.98 |
17 tracks, highly recommended
Reissue of first solo album
from one of the founding members of the Byrds. After quitting the group
earlier in the year, singer/ songwriter/ guitarist Gene teamed with Gosdin
Brothers Vern and Rex on backing vocals for this classic of '66 rock awash
with echoes of the Byrds - no surprise really, since Byrds bassist Chris
Hillman and drummer Mike Clarke are present on the entire album, as well
as future Byrd Clarence White. Leon Russell plays keyboards and handles
the musical arrangements; Clark's vocal arrangements with the Gosdins
presage Crosby, Stills and Nash's 3-part harmonies. Some tunes harken to
country-rock sounds which would later be all the rage. And Russell's
harpsichord brings in just the right amount of '66 kitsch baroque. This
newly remastered reissue also boasts six bonus tracks - two alternate
takes, two acoustic demos and two mono mixes. (RS)
|
| WILMA LEE &
STONEY COOPER |
Bear Family BCD 16751 |
Big Midnight Special |
● CD $124.98 |
Four CD box set, 122 tracks, essential
The long awaited
collection featuring all the recordings made between 1947 and 1964 by this
superb duo accompanied by their group The Clinch Mountain Clan. Wilma Lee
is one of the greatest of all female country singers with a wonderful
emotion laden and expressive voice that is spellbinding - her singing
raises the hair on the back of my neck. Stoney is also a good singer and
together they produce some fine harmonies. Their sound neatly straddles
the line between bluegrass and honky tonk country featuring Wilma Lee on
rhythm guitar and occasionally banjo and Stoney on fiddle. The early sides
feature them accompanied by Dobro, mandolin and bass while the later
recordings have steel and electric guitars and rums but whatever the
arrangements their music always had an irresistable rural intensity.
Although they didn't write much of their own material they made whatever
they sang their own whether it was a traditional song or a song from the
repertoire of Roy Acuff, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, the Louvin Brothers
Lonnie Glosson or others. For the first time all their earliest recordings
for Rich-R-Tone in 1947 are available in one place including four superb
unissued sides. In 1949 they moved to Columbia where they recorded some of
their finest sides including the spine-chilling Johnnie & Jack composition
What's The Matter With This World , some incredible gospel songs
like Walking My Lord Up Calvary Hill and Thirty Pieces Of Silver,
a great version of Hank Snow's Golden Rocket with hot electric
guitar by Gene Jenkins and many others. From this period are three
unissued tracks from acetates in Wilma Lee's possession. In 1955 they moved
to Hickory where they stayed for nine years and had their first big
country hits with songs like Come Walk With Me, Big Midnight
Special - a reworking of bluesman Lead Belly's Midnight Special,
Don Gibson's There's A Big Wheel and a version of Wreck On The
Highway - a Dorsey Dixon composition that was originally a hit for Roy
Acuff in 1942. Many tracks are making their first appearance on CD and
those that have been reissued before sound so much better here thanks to
the superb mastering by Jurgen Crasser from original masters, wherever
possible. Set comes with 48 page LP sized book with notes by Bruce McGuire
which includes comments Wilma Lee along with loads of photos, label shots
and other memorabilia and full discographical details.
|
| RILEY CRABTREE |
Bronco Buster 9061 |
The Rare Riley Crabtree Radio Sessions |
● CD $18.98 |
Fine set of songs from radio transcriptions of the
"Absolute Security radio Shows" recorded in the mid/ late 50s by this
excellent honky tonk singer from Texas. Riley does a variety of material
including live versions of some of his commercial recordings, original
songs, covers of songs by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Pee Wee King and
others and a fine stab at rockabilly on two versions of Go, Cat, Go.
RILEY CRABTREE: A Handful Of Nickels/ Don't Cry Old Pal/
Don't Give Me No Back Talk/ Eat, Drink And Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry)/
Go, Cat, Go (# 1)/ Go, Cat, Go (# 2)/ Hang Your Head In Shame/ Hey Good
Lookin'/ I Don't Want To Be There/ I Saw Your Face In The Moon/ If You
Don't Believe I Love You, Just Try Me/ Just Call Me Lonesome/ Let Me Be
The One/ My Mother Was A Lady/ Once A Day And Twice On Sunday/ Pack Your
Clothes And Come On Down/ Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rockin' Chair)/
Shackles And Chains/ So Doggone Lonesome/ Tennessee Waltz/ That's What I
Like/ Till The End Of The World/ Trust And Obey/ Walkin' The Streets/
Whisperin' (Inst.)/ You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry
|
| STONEY EDWARDS |
Hux 069 |
Stoney Edwards/ She's My Rock |
● CD $16.98 |
20 tracks, 55 mins, highly recommended
Most welcome
reissue featuring the first two Capitol albums from 1971 and 1973 by this
very fine and underrated honky tonk singer. Edwards, who was part
African-American and part Native-American was an excellent singer with
echoes of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard in his approach and was also an
excellent songwriter. Although he never made it to the top ten he had
quite a few fondly remembered lesser hits included here like the wonderful
She's My Rock (his biggest hit) plus A Two Dollar Toy and
You're A Believer. Other songs here were not hits but are consistently
fine including All She Made Of Me/ A Kingdom I Call Home/ Why Don't You
Go Home (Where You Belong)/ I Won't Make It Through the Day/ She's Helping
Me get Over You, etc. 8 page booklet has original cover art plus new
notes by John Philbert. (FS)
|
| TERRY FELL & THE
FELLERS |
B.A.C.M. 191 |
Get Aboard My Wagon |
● CD $13.98 |
Terry Fell is a decent honky tonk singer who is best known
for writing and recording the original version of Truck Driving Man
(included here). This is a collection of 25 recordings made for Memo, Four
Star and RCA between 1946 and 1957 and is a bit of a mixed bag ranging
from fine honky tonk performances to really lame novelties which are here
in abundance. His Hillbilly Impersonations is embarrising since,
except for Ernest Tubb, his impersonations do not sound remotely like the
artists he's attempting to imitate.
TERRY FELL & THE FELLERS: Consolation Prize/ Don't Do It
Joe/ Don't Drop It/ Dreamer's Paradise/ Fa So La/ Get Aboard My Wagon/
He's In Love With You/ Hillbilly Impersonations/ I Can Hear You Cluckin'/
I'm Hot To Trot/ I've Done All I Know To Do/ If I Didn't Have You/
Mississippi River Shuffle/ Over And Over/ Paper Heart/ Rainbow At
Midnight/ Smokin' Cornsilk/ That's What I Like/ There's A Gold Moon
Shining/ Truck Drivin' Man/ Yesterday/ You Don't Give A Hang About Me/ You
Don't Want Me Anymore/ You Ran Around/ You're Not Wanted Here
|
| CHARLIE GORE |
B.A.C.M. 185 |
Absolutely Free |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Excellent
collection of sides recorded by this outstanding, little known, honky tonk
singer from West Virginia between 1951 and 1956. Gore was a superb
vocalist and arrangements are straight ahead honky tonk - guitars, steel
guitar & fiddle. Some of the bluesy uptempo numbers are pretty close to
rockabilly and a couple have been reissued on rockabilly collections but
most of the tracks here are new to CD. Possibly my favorite is the bluesy
Gonna Take A Walk Down Town that sounds like something that Hank
Williams could have written. He does a fine rendition of the song
Stumbling Block which was first recorded by fellow King artist - the
great bluesman Champion Jack Dupree. A real find! (FS)
CHARLIE GORE: Absolutely Free/ All My Love Up And Died/
Chances Are I'll Lose/ Come Back To Me/ Everything But A One Man Woman/
Gonna Take Another Walk Down Town/ Heaven Sent You To Me/ I Wish There Was
Something I Could Do/ I'll Find Somebody/ I'm Going to Lock You Up/ I've
Got My Doubts About You/ If God Can Forgive You So Can I/ If I Told You
Would You Believe Me/ It's A Long Walk Back To Town/ Mabel, Mabel/ Over
You/ Post Office/ Railroaded/ She Just Walked In/ Somebody's Been Rockin'
My Dream Boat/ Stumbling Block/ Take Me Back/ The Moon Won't Tell/ This
Orchid Means Goodbye/ What About You/ When I Gave You My Love
|
| MERLE HAGGARD |
Hip-O 03831 |
The Definitive Collection |
● CD $13.98 |
22 tracks, 71 mins, essential
Not many can be called a
"Living Legend;" thankfully, Merle Haggard is still around to have that
title bestowed upon him, and Hip-O does a fine job collecting all the
evidence needed to verify that proclamation. Starting with The Fugitive
from 1967 and going through If I Could Fly from the stunning album
of the same name from 2000 and a fine 2001 cover of the Lefty Frizzell
classic Always Late (With Your Kisses). Despite leaving out any
1990's recordings, this nonetheless provides us with outstanding tunes
from four different decades. The only other omissions would be his tribute
albums (Jimmy Rodgers etc.) that he has made throughout his career, which
could easily be a box set of their own. (JM)
|
| R.D. HENDON |
Cattle 329 |
And His Western Jamboree Cowboys,
1951-1956 |
● CD $18.98 |
31 tracks, 79 mins, recommended
Excellent collection of
country recorded between 1951 and 1956 by various groups under the name of
Western Jamboree Cowboys led by non-musician Rigsby Durwood Hendon. Their
earliest sides feature the fairly dull vocalist Charlie Harris who also
played guitar in the group and is featured on the fine boogie No Shoes
Boogie and the topical Oh Mr President about President Truman's
firing of General Douglas MacArthur. Subsequent vocalists were better
including the great Texas honky tonker Eddie Noack who is featured on half
a dozen songs including a couple of duets with the excellent Gig Sparks.
Other vocalists included Harold Sharp (who also played fine electric
guitar with the group), Chuck Davis, Jack Rodgers and others. The
personnel of the band changed quite a a bit over the years and though most
of the musicians are little known these days the individual musicians and
the ensemble sound are excellent. The group disbanded at the end of 1956
after Hendon, who was a troubled man, took his own life. A most worthwhile
release. (FS)
R. D. HENDON & HIS WESTERN JAMBOREE COWBOYS: Blues
Boogie (Inst.)/ Don't Push Me (Let Me Fall)/ Don't Say No/ For Now And
Always/ Hit And Run Driver/ I Ain't Got A Lick Of Sense/ I Can't Run Away/
I'd Still Want You/ I'm Going To See My Baby/ Little White Cottage/ Lonely
Nights/ Marking Time/ Music Making Mama From Memphis/ Nervous Breakdown
(Inst.)/ No Shoes Boogie/ Oh Mr President/ Please Mr Postman/ Return My
Broken Heart/ Spanish Fireball/ Step By Step/ Talking To Myself/ The Waltz
Of Texas/ The Wandering Blues/ There's A Place In My Heart/ This Moon
Won't Last Forever (# 1)/ This Moon Won't Last Forever (# 2)/ Those Tears
In Your Eyes/ Trademark/ We Smiled/ You Crazy Mixed Up Kid/ You Traveled
Too Far
|
| WANDA JACKSON |
Country Stars 55541 |
Before The Fame |
● CD $9.98 |
18 tracks, 46 mins, recommended Great collection that
rounds up Wanda's pre-Rockabilly tracks, starting with her sessions for
Decca records in front of Hank Thompson's Country Western band up through
the first of her recordings for Capitol. Her voice is strong and beautiful
showing hints of the Dynamo to come without quite going to the edge of
Rock 'n' Roll. Contains her first hit with Thompson's band, the duet with
Billy Gray on If You Don't, Somebody Else Will, as well as other
western numbers and Country standards and a whole parcel of great tunes
penned by Wanda herself, in my opinion quite an under-rated songsmith. Not
the magic that we would get later with her 'Billy' recordings or even her
later country career, but still a fine collection. (JM)
|
| JOHNNIE & JACK |
B.A.C.M. 183 |
& The Tennessee Mountain Boys |
● CD $13.98 |
28 tracks by this great country duo recorded between 1947
and 1956 and including some of their great but lesser known titles. There
are a number of forgettable novelty songs though their Sing Tom Kitty
complete with Donald Duck impersonations is so outrageous as to be
irresistabe.
JOHNNIE & JACK: A Pleasure Not A Habit/ Banana Boat
Song/ But I Love You Just The Same/ Called From Potter's Field/ Carry On/
Cheated Out Of Love/ Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes/ Eastern Gate/
From The Manger To The Cross/ God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds/ How Can I
Believe In You/ Just For Tonight/ Just What The Doctor Ordered/ Live And
Let Live/ Look Out/ Love Trap/ Mr. Clock/ Pig Latin Serenade/ Pray
Together And We'll Stay Together/ Private Property/ Sing Tom Kitty/ The
Humming Bird/ Tom Cat's Kitten/ Too Many Blues/ Weary Moments/ When My
Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again/ When You Want A Little Lovin'/ You're My
Downfall
|
| GEORGE JONES |
Epic 69319 |
16 Biggest Hits |
● CD $12.98 |
16 tracks, recommended O.K., how 'bout "16 of His Biggest
Hits That Epic Has The Rights to, Mostly from the 1970's and 80's" for a
much more appropriate title? Classics like A Picture Of Me (Without
You)/ The Door/ He Stopped Loving Her Today/ I Always Get Lucky With
You/Wine Colored Roses, etc. (JM)
GEORGE JONES: A Picture of Me (Without You)/ Bartender's
Blues/ He Stopped Loving Her Today/ I Always Get Lucky with You/ If
Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)/ Radio Lover/ She's My Rock/
Still Doin' Time/ The Door/ The Grand Tour/ The King Is Gone (So Are You)/
The Right Left Hand/ These Days (I Bareley Get By)/ What My Woman Can't
Do/ Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes/ Wine Colored Roses
|
| DOUG KERSHAW |
Wounded Bird 1906 |
Doug Kershaw/ Mama Kershaw's Boy |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks, 69 min., almost recommended
Cajun fiddle player
Doug Kershaw had a couple country hits in the early 1960s and eventually
gained enough popularity to land a recording contract with Warner
Brothers, where he waxed a mess of LPs in the 1970s, including the
self-titled album (1906) issued in 1970 and Mama Kershaw's Boy (B-2793)
released in 1974. Got to hand it to Wounded Bird Records for rescuing so
much music from the far reaches of obscurities closet and for issuing two
LPs on each CD, but given Kershaw's WB output, perhaps a greatest hits
would have been the way to go. Because, while there are some fine moments
here, a cut such as The Battle Of New Orleans misses by so much it
alone is enough to keep the whole deal off the iPod. Kershaw's music, like
his slightly peculiar stage persona, if that's what it is, can have
limited appeal. Some solid, self-penned county rock here, but neither one
of these is his best WB effort anyhow. No liner notes beyond listing the
song titles and musicians. (JC)
|
| ROSE MADDOX |
Arhoolie 9062 |
This Is Rose Maddox |
● CD $9.98 |
14 tracks, 41 mins, essential
CD reissue of Arhoolie 5024
from 1980. A wonderful collection featuring the great pioneering and
influential female country vocalist who started her recording career
performing with her brothers in 40s. After a period of inactivity in the
60s and early 70s Rose returned to performing again in the late 70s,
usually in the company of bluegrass bands and showed that her singing was
as good as ever and had lost none of her feistiness. On this set she is
joined by one of the best bluegrass bands in California - the Vern
Williams Band with Vern's former partner Ray Park guesting on fiddle and Kraig Hutchens providing some tasty electric guitar licks. Rose sings a
wide variety of songs - new versions of songs she recorded with her
brothers, country standards and gospel songs and the mood ranges from the
raucous Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down to a sensitive rendition of
Merle Travis's Dark As A Dungeon. Apart from their stellar
instrumental accompaniments, Vern and the group provide some terrific
vocal harmonies. I had the privilege of being present at this session, all
recorded in one day, and can vouch that the vibrant spirit you hear on the
record was present in the studio. A true classic from a great performer
and a wonderful lady who was frequent visitor to the Bay Area. (FS)
|
| ROSE
MADDOX & THE MADDOX BROTHERS |
B.A.C.M. 189 |
When The Sun Goes Down |
● CD $13.98 |
24 tracks, 63 mins, highly recommended 24 tracks from "the
most colorful hillbilly band in America." 17 are from their classic
recordings made for Four Star from the late 40s and early 50s. As far as I
can tell these have not been not on CD before and there are some great
performances including some great gospel performances which show, that, in
spite of their general zaniness they could perform songs like Flowers
From A Master's Bouquet/ Gonna lay My Burden Down/ Unclouded Day and
others. There is also a stunning version of Tramp On Your Street
plus other great performances like Sweet Little You/ I'll Still Write
Your Name In The Sand/ Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die and a riotous
rendition of Bring It Down To My House Honey with great rockin'
mandolin. The remaining seven tracks are from the groups early/ mid 50s
Columbia recordings which are available in their entirety on Bear Family
(BCD 15850 - The Most Colorful Hillbilly Band - 4 CDS - $84.98) and are
enjoyable but pretty tame compared to the Four Star sides. The rest of the
groups Four Star sides are available on Arhoolie 391 and Arhoolie 437
($12.98 each) and are also indisoensible releases. (FS)
ROSE MADDOX & THE MADDOX BROTHERS: Baby You Should Live
So Long/ Bring It On Down To My House Honey/ Cowboy Bugle Boy/ Don't Let
Your Sweet Love Die/ Flowers From The Master's Bouquet/ Gonna Lay My
Burden Down/ Hasty Baby/ Hummingbird/ I'd Rather Die Young/ I'd Rather
Have Jesus/ I'll Be No Stranger There/ I'll Still Write Your Name In The
Sand/ In A Land Where We Never Grow Old/ Just When I Needed You/ Old Pal
Of Yesterdays/ Rosalie By The Rio/ Sweet Little You/ The Nightingale Song/
There's No Right Way To Do Me Wrong/ Tramp On The Street/ Unclouded Day/
Waltz Of The Pines/ Wedding Blues/ When The Sun Goes Down
|
| ROSE
MADDOX WITH THE VERN WILLIAMS |
Arhoolie 9058 |
BAND : Beautiful Bouquet |
● CD $9.98 |
Reissue of 1983 Arhoolie LP featuring the great Rose
Maddoc accompanied instrumentally and vocally by the superb Vern Williams
band on a selection of 14 country gospel numbers. Mostly old standbys
given the distinctive Rose Maddox touch - We Are Climbing Jacob's
Ladder/ Church In The Wildwood/ I Can't Feel At Home/ I'll Fly Away/ Kneel
At The Cross/ Beautiful Bouquet/ If We Never Meet Again, etc.
|
| DUDE
MARTIN & HIS NEVADA NIGHT HERDERS |
B.A.C.M. 194 |
RS: Cowboy's Nightmare |
● CD $13.98 |
Excellent collection of Western songs by this excellent
group from San Francisco recorded as radio transcriptions in 1935 and '36.
Martin didn't record commercially until the mid 40s when he performed in a
smooth western swing flavored style but these earlier sides are a stright
ahead collection of cowboy songs and tunes with Martin's vocals
accompanied by a small group with fiddles, guitar and accordion. Some
vocals are solo, some feature fine harmonies from the group members.
Includes a mic of old favorites, traditional songs and some originals.
Includes Strawberry Roan/ Home On the Range/ Roundup Time Is Over/ Jim
Crack Corn/ There's A Blue Sky Way Out Yonder/ Ridin' Home/ Sourwood
Mountain/ The Little Shirt That Mother Made For Me, etc. Sound quality
is generally excellent and there are the usual high quality notes from
Kevin Coffey.
|
| JANET MCBRIDE |
Bronco Buster 9060 |
Honky Tonk Ballads & Classic Yodeling,
1960-1967 |
● CD $18.98 |
Reissue of two old Binge LPs on one CD featuring sides by
this fine singer and yodeler recorded in the 60s for various small Texas
labels. Janet has a nice honky tonk style and is given strong support by
various bands which include such fine musicians as Phil Baugh, Ralph
Mooney, Red Rhodes, Dale Potter, etc - it's a shame that the sound from
the rare 45s couldn't be better
JANET MCBRIDE: A Woman's Point Of View/ Almost Three/
Another Woman's Man/ Can You Love Us Both?/ Common Law Wife/ Crazy Heart/
Even If I Win (I'm Gonna Lose)/ Help Me Forget Him/ Holding On/ Home Away
From Home/ Home Away From Home/ I'm Wild Bill Tonite (& Vern Stovall)/
It's The Truth That's Killin' Me/ Mass Confusion/ My Johnny Lies (Over And
Over)/ Outside Of That/ Play Like You Love Me/ Sweethearts By Night/ Swiss
Cheese/ Tell Me Again (& Vern Stovall)/ That's Not Like Me/ The Arms Of A
Child/ The Guy Here With Me/ What Did She Do?/ Where Did The Other Dollar
Go? (& Vern Stovall)/ Why'd You Do It?/ Yodelin' Jan/ Your Nights In
Charlie's Shoes
|
| THE OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS |
B.A.C.M. 190 |
Hillbilly Rhythm |
● CD $13.98 |
24 tracks, 64 mins, recommended
Complementing Cattle 290
(The Golden Age Of The Willis Brothers - $18.98) this is another fine and
varied collection of western swing, blues, straight country and novelty
songs the brothers Willis - Guy (guitar & vocals), Skeeter (fiddle and
vocals) and Vic (accordion, piano & vocals) with various added musicians.
The group originally started performing in the 30s as The Oklahoma
Wranglers and changed their name to The Willis Brothers around 1950. The
group continued through the mid 70s and didn't have their first hits until
the mid 60s! It features two sides from their first session for Sterling
Records in 1946 where they also accompanied Hank Williams on his first
session. The tracks here are from the late 40s and early 50s and includes
Who Pptt Tobacky On Tessie's Wedding Gown/ Eat A Little More/ Country
Kisses/ Poor Boy/ Look What Thoughts Will Do/ Flop eared MuleI Didn't Mean
To Tell You/ I May Be Lonesome, etc. (FS)
THE OKLAHOMA WRANGLERS: Back Up And Push (Instr.)/
Country Kisses/ Darling Please Forget And Forgive/ Drive My Blues Away/
Eat A Little More/ Farther And Farther Apart/ Flop Eared Mule (instr.)/
Flying Saucer Baby/ Hillbilly Rhythm/ I Didn't Mean To Tell You/ I Know
You'll Never Change/ I May Be Lonesome/ I'm Sorry If That's The Way You
Feel/ If You Want The Rainbow You've Gotta Have The Rain/ Lonesome
Polecat/ Long Gone/ Look What Thoughts Will Do/ Monogehela Valley/ Poor
Boy/ Shine Shave Shower/ Slow Horses Fast Women/ Soldier's Joy (Instr.)/
Who Pptt Tobacky On Tessie's Wedding Gown/ You're The Worm That Used To Be
The Apple Of My Eye
|
| BUDDY ALAN OWENS |
Sundazed 11189 |
The Best Of Buddy Alan Owens |
● CD $16.98 |
18 tracks of first class Bakersfield country recorded for
Capitol between 1969 and 1978 by the talented son of Buck and Bonnie Owens
including duets with his Dad and with Don Rich. Most of the tracks made
the lower rungs of the country charts though his duet with Buck on Let
The World Keep On A Turning was a big hit. Includes Big Mama's
Medicine Show/ A Whole Lot Of Somethin'/ Lookin' Out My Back Door/ Too Old
To Cut The Mustard/ Move It On Over/ All Around Cowboy Of 1964/ Here In
Frisco/ Ride 'Em Cowboy, etc.
|
| RED RIVER DAVE MCENERY |
Jasmine 3582 |
There's A Blue Sky Way Out Yonder |
● CD $11.98 |
Complementing Jasmine 3529 this is another fine collection
of tracks by this popular singing cowboy. 29 tracks from the 40s and early
50s including cowboy songs, country ballads and western swing flavored
numbers featuring his band The Texas Tophands. Includes There's A Blue
Sky Way Out Yonder/ Life Is Not The Same/ Tumbling Tumbleweeds/ Fiesta In
San Antone/ Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild Women/ Stars Over Laredo/ San
Antonio Rose/ Wrong Number/ Eighth Of January/ You Didn't Want Me,
etc.
|
| DON RENO & RED
SMILEY |
Gusto 0955 |
And The Tennessee Cutups, 1959-1963 |
● CD $45.98 |
Complementing Starday 7001 (still available - $45.98)
which featured the recordings of this fine bluegrass group made for King
between 1951 and 1959, this volume continues the story featuring their
recordings made between 1959 and 1963. The first volume ended part way
through a session from October 26th, 1959 where Don is featured on guitar
rather than his usual banjo and this set opens with the remainder of that
session as well as a session from the next day with Don on guitar - all
gospel songs with simple bass and percussion accompaniment to the duos
vocals. The remaining sessions feature Don in his more familiar role as a
banjo player with the whole group. Most of these sessions feature son
Ronnie on mandolin and Mark Magaha on fiddle. 102 songs in all including
the previously unissued Honky Tonk Heaven and a previously unissued
alternate take of Row Your Boat. Housed in a 12" x 6" long box it
includes a 24 page booklet with extensive notes on each session by the
set's compiler Gary Reid.
|
| JIMMIE SKINNER |
B.A.C.M. 184 |
Too Hot To Handle |
● CD $13.98 |
25 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
Fine collection of
this distinctive performer with his jagged baritone vocal style that is
similar to Ernest Tubb and stripped down instrumental arrangements often
featuring the fine mandolin work of Ray Lunsford. This doesn't include any
of his hits but it does include his original recording of You Don't
Know My Mind - one of several Skinner compositions that has become a
country standard - in fact most of the songs here are Skinner originals.
It also includes the interesting Hank Williams tribute Singing Teacher
In Heaven which is built around song titles of Hank's songs, a
countrified version of Duke Ellington's Don't Get Around Much Anymore
and his excellent cover of Eddie Noack's great Too Hot To Handle.
Some tracks have a bit too much noise reduction but souind is generally
fine. (FS)
JIMMIE SKINNER: Baby I Could Change My Ways/ By Degrees/
Don't Get Around Much Anymore/ Fallin' Rain Blues/ Here's My Goodbye To
You/ I Can't Believe It's Our Goodbye/ I Need A Little Lovin' Too/ I'm
Afraid To Love You Anymore/ I'm Allergic To Your Kisses/ I'm Gonna Put You
In My Pocket/ I've Got A Lot Of Love Baby/ It's All The Same To Me/ John
Henry And The Water Boy/ Journey's End/ Kentucky And You/ My Broken Heart
Is Starting To Show/ Rambler's Call/ Running Out Of Time/ Singing Teacher
In Heaven/ Steppin' Out On You/ There Won't Be Much More Time/ Too Hot To
Handle/ Want You For My Baby/ What A Pleasure/ You Don't Know My Mind
|
| RALPH STANLEY |
Columbia 93629 |
A Distant Land To Roam - Songs Of The
Carter Family |
● CD $18.98 |
13 tracks, 44 mins, highly recommended
On this recent
recording Ralph pays tribute to one of his influences and one of the most
influential traditional country groups of all time - The Carter Family.
Although Ralph's voice is showing signs of wear it still has a spine
chilling emotional core and he is joined by the impeccable playing of The
Clinch Mountain Boys and various guest musicians including Mike Seeger on
autoharp whose playing echoes the playing of Sarah Carter on the original
Carter Family recordings. Highlights include the gorgeous title song, a
powerful rendition of Worried Man Blues with fine group harmonies
and a moving rendition of Motherless Children with Ralph solely
accompanied by the fiddle of Todd Meade. (FS)
|
| RALPH
STANLEY & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN |
DCN 1002 |
Live At McCabes Guitar Shop |
● CD $13.98 |
23 tracks (includes intros), 50 mins, highly recommended
We've turned up a few more copies of this album issued in 2002 and
available for about five minutes. The greatest living bluegrass artist and
his magnificent band The Clinch Mountain Boys featuring his son Ralph II
who certainly sounds ready to carry on the tradition of his father and
uncle - his lead vocals are stunning. The other members of the band get a
spot in the spotlight with an instrumental or vocal and are all are
splendid. Then it's on to the main attraction - Dr. Ralph Stanley. Ralph's
voice is a little hoarse but his singing is still full of that intense
emotion that distinguishes him from just about anyone else - he does the
expected Man Of Constant Sorrow and O death along with some
other standards from his repertoire which always sound great no matter how
many times you hear them. Not only are Ralph's vocals magnificent but he
is also one of the world's greatest harmony singers as you can hear on the
songs led by Ralph II. No surprises here - just wonderful music from one
of this Nation's national treasures - may he live forever! (FS)
|
| THE STANLEY BROTHERS |
Starday 7000 |
The Early Starday King Years 1958-1961 |
● CD $45.98 |
4 CD's, 109 tracks, 4 hrs., 33 min., essential
Back in
print after being unavailable for a couple of years. This is the one we
Stanley Brothers fans have been waiting for. Although the Stanleys had
been recording for twelve years and had recorded many classic sides for
Columbia and Mercury by 1958, many feel that the recordings for King and
Starday represent their finest work. There is no denying the wealth of
great performances, including the eerie Rank Strangers and such
bluegrass standards as Love Me Darling/ Just Tonight/ How Mountain
Girls Can Love/ Clinch Mountain Backstep/ Another Night/ The Memory Of
Your Smile and many others. The quality of the material remains high
throughout the period, with the Starday sessions remaining more faithful
to the traditional set-up of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and bass.
King Records boss Syd Nathan hated bluegrass fiddle; at his insistence the
two guitar sound, often featuring the fancy crosspicking of Bill Napier
and then George Shuffler, became more prominent. Napier's hot, punchy
mandolin is also fetured on the sides for Starday and the early King
sessions, along with the great Chubby Anthony on fiddle. The inimitable
elements of the classic Stanley Bros. sound abound on this collection,
from the sorrowful lead vocals and wonderful original songs of brother
Carter to the bright banjo and quavering, intense singing of brother
Ralph, whose voice epitomizes their timeless quality. Box includes a well
researched, informative 20-page booklet and discography by Gary Reid, and
the sound is fine, certainly better than on the myriad reissue LPs issued
in the 70s. (RP)
|
| THE STANLEY BROTHERS |
Time Life 19303 |
The Definitive Collection, 1947-1966 |
● CD $39.98 |
Three CDs, 60 tracks, 153, highly recommended
This could
have been rated as essential but I'm a little peeved that they didn't put
more material on. The 60 tracks here could have fitted on two CDs so why
not add another 15 tracks and really give us a deal? That being said, this
is a beautiful retrospective covering the Stanley's entire recording
career from their first sides for Rich-R-Tone in 1947 through their last
King sessions in 1966 (the year Carter died). It includes tracks from
Columbia, Mercury, Starday and King along with material from radio
broadcasts and live performances. The earliest Rich-R-Tone sides are
deeply steeped in the mountain music of their youth though by the later
sessions, probably due to the influence of Bill Monroe, their music
evolved into what we think of as bluegrass though their music was always
imbued with that strong mountain influence that continues to this day in
the work of Ralph Stanley and is considered the "high lonesome sound." By
the time they recorded for Columbia in 1949 their recordings were
noteworthy for the inspired vocal trios featuring the lead of Carter
Stanley, tenor of brother Ralph, and unique "high baritone" of Pee Wee
Lambert and from these sessions are such classics as The White Dove
and The Fields Have Turned Brown. In 1953 they signed with Mercury
where they recorded many classic songs including Carter Stanley-composed
songs such as This Weary Heart You Stole Away/ Our Last Goodbye/I Just
Got Wise/ Nobody's Love But Mine and others that are now staples of
the bluegrass repertoire. There are also some gorgeous gospel songs like
Cry From The Cross and Ralph's composition - the spine chilling
Angel Band which was featured on the soundtrack of "O Brother Where
Art Thou." Among the musicians featured here are fiddlers Art Stamper, Joe
Meadows, Ralph Mayo, and Chubby Anthony. Mandolinists include Peewee
Lambert, Bill Napier, and Jim Williams. From 1958 on they recorded for
Starday and later King which took over the Starday label. King owner Syd
Nathan hated the fiddle and so a number of the King recordings feature
more emphasis on the guitar - first by Carter and then later by the superb
George Shuffler whose distinctive "cross-pickinG" style was another
contribution the Stanleys made to bluegrass. From These sessions come such
gems as How Mountain Girls Can love/ Think Of What You've Done/ Man Of
Constant Sorrow/ Rank Stranger/ Don't Cheat In Our Home Town/ Stone Walls
And Steel bars/ O Death and others. The third disc include some radio
and live concert recordings including three previously unissued including
a truly dlightful rendition of Sugar Coated Love where the Stanleys
are joined on vocal by Bill Monroe. In spite my reservations about playing
time there is no doubt that this a magnificent collection with terrific
sound - even the notoriously poorly recorded Rich-R-Tones sound good, and
informative notes by compiler Gary Reid. (FS)
THE STANLEY BROTHERS: (Say) Won't You Be Mine/ A Voice
From On High/ Angel Band/ Are You Waiting Just For Me/ Beuatiful Star Of
Bethlehem/ Black Mountain Blues/ Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ Cotton Eyed Joe
(theme)/ Don't Cheat In Our Home Town/ Dust On The Bible/ East Virginia
Blues/ Get Down On Your Knees And Pray/ God Gave You To Me/ Gonna Paint
The Town/ Hard Times/ Hide Ye In The Blood/ How Far To Little Rock/ How
Mountain Girls Can Love/ I Just Got Wise/ I'm Lonesome Without You/ If
That's The Way You Feel/ Jacob's Vision/ Let Me Rest/ Little Birdie/
Little Glass Of Wine/ Little Maggie/ Lonesome Night/ Man Of Constant
Sorrow/ Meet Me Tonight/ Molly And Tenbrook/ Mother No Longer Awaits Me At
Home/ Nobody's Business/ Nobody's Love Is Like Mine/ Oh Death/ Orange
Blossom Special/ Our Last Goodbye/ Pig In A Pen/ Pretty Polly/ Rank
Stranger/ Ridin' That Midnight Train/ Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms/ Single
Girl/ Soldier's Grave/ Stone Walls And Steel Bars/ Sugar Coated Love -
With Monroe/ Tell Me Why My Daddy Don't Come Home/ The Cry From The Cross/
The Fields Have Turned Brown/ The Girl Behind The Bar/ The Lonesome River/
The Old Home/ The White Dove/ Think Of What You've Done/ This Weary Heart
You Stole Away/ Train 45/ Where The Soul Never Dies/ Who Will Sing For Me/
Who Will You Call Your Sweetheart/ Will You Be Loving Another Man/ Will
You Miss Me
|
| MITCHELL TOROK |
B.A.C.M. 188 |
Drink Up And Go Home |
● CD $13.98 |
26 tracks recorded between 1950 and 1956 by this Texas
artist whose music was from the pop and novelty end of the country
spectrum. Includes his biggest hits Caribbean and Hootchy
Kootchy Henry From Hawaii plus an unexpected cover of Chuck Berry's
No Money Down. Also includes DRink Up And Go Home/ Red Light Green
Light/ Haunting Waterfall/ The World Keeps Turning Around/ Gigalo/
Judalina/ Love Me Like You Mean It/ Sweet Revenge, etc.
MITCHELL TOROK: A Peasant's Guitar/ Caribbean/
Dancerette/ Drink Up And Go Home/ Edgar The Eager Easter Bunny/ Gigalo/ Go
Ahead And Be A Fool/ Haunting Waterfall/ Havana Huddle/ Hootchy Kootchy
Henry From Hawaii/ I Wish I Was A Little Bit Younger/ Judalina/ Little Hoo
Wee/ Living On Love/ Love Me Like You Mean It/ Memories Of You Haunting Me
Night And Day/ No Money Down/ Pledge Of Love/ Red Light Green Light/ Sober
Up/ Sweet Revenge/ Take This Heart/ The World Keeps Turning Around/ Weep
Away/ What's Behind The Strange Door/ When Mexico Gave Up The Rhumba
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
B.A.C.M. 187 |
The Mercury Label |
● CD $13.98 |
25 tracks, 65 minutes, essential
If someone gave me an old
Seeburg under the condition I fill it with postwar country singles from
only one label, I'd pack every slot with Mercs. This B.A.C.M. compilation,
which barely scratches the surface of this Chicago independent's varied
and often adventurous 1946-1954 country output, validates my decision.
With a more diverse country roster than other indie labels, Mercury 78s
preserved the talents of regional acts beloved in the Midwest, mid-South,
western Appalachians and Texas plains, including such radio vets as WLS's
Sheriff Tom Owens and WSM's Lew Childre. Patti Page and Sue Thompson had
the goods to break into pop music, while obese Chicago bandleader Tiny
Hill, who married Jenny Lou Carson, went the other way, abandoning
mainstream pop for hardcore honky-tonk and eventual obscurity. Records by
Mac O'Dell and Carl Story remain treasured by bluegrass and country
aficionados, while those by Paul & Roy and the Tennessee River Boys
curiously and undeservedly languish in obscurity. Other acts captured on
Merc 78s include harmonica whiz Lonnie Glosson, take-off lead guitarist
Homer Briarhopper and the tragically short-lived singer Art Gibson. Tommy
Jackson began his decade-long quest to record the great American fiddlers'
repertoire at Mercury, eventually finishing at Dot. Memphis singer Eddie
Hill's Foleyesque cover of Steamboat Stomp blindsides casual
listeners by unexpectedly incorporating a bop instrumental break quoting
Holiday for Strings and Laura. Wow! Note that That Little
Old Country Church House, attributed here to Lester Flatt and Earl
Scruggs, is actually by the Masters Family. They were great, too. Martin
Hawkins contributes all-too-brief notes; sound quality is generally good
though some tracks suffer from B.A.C.M.'s knack of rolling off too much
high end. (Will they [B]ever[D] learn?) No, not every cut here is a gem,
but none could be considered awful, either. On the whole, this is a fun
disc that's perfect for road trips. (DS)
HOMER BRIARHOPPER: Briarhopper Boogie/ CLIFF BRUNER:
Lucille From Old Mobile/ COTTON CALYON: The Golden Rocket/ LEW CHILDRE:
Ridin' On The Elevated Railroad/ TOBY DOWDY: Rainbow/ JIMMIE FLETCHER: I'm
Changing Business All Around/ ART GIBSON: Honky Tonk Mama/ LONNIE GLOSSON:
I'll Make A Change In Business/ EDDIE HILL: Steamboat Stomp/ TINY HILL:
Milk Bucket Boogie/ JIMMIE HINCHEE: I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of
Jail/ LOUIS INNIS: Better Back Up Mama/ TOMMY JACKSON: Black Mountain Rag/
ROY KING: Story Of Shelly Liles/ RED KIRK & JUDY PERKINS: I Wonder Who We
Think We're Foolin'/ CHARLES LUNDY: Lover's Farewell/ KEN MARVIN: Rotation
Blues/ THE MASTERS FAMILY: That Little Old Country Church House/ SHERIFF
TOM OWENS: Freight Train Blues/ MAC O’DELL: Wild Rose Of The Mountain/
PATTI PAGE: I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart/ PAUL & ROY: Every Dog Must
Have Its Day/ CARL STORY: He Will Set Your Fields On Fire/ SUE THOMPSON:
Last Night I Heard Somebody Cry/ JAKE WATTS: Too Late To Regret
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family BCD 16633 |
Shit Happens! Songs Of Everyday Life |
● CD $25.98 |
25 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
This collection is
full of cautionary tales, caustic criticism and cantankerous country lore.
Red Foley, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, Dolly Parton, George
Hamilton IV, Eddy Arnold, Porter Wagoner, Hank Thompson and many more pour
out their hearts out on each tear-jerkin' track on this fantastic
compilation. Porter Wagoner graces the cover in his infamous Skid Row
Joe character, setting the tone for the misery within. Porter gets 4
tracks on this (with Dolly for 2 of them), outdone only by Hank Snow's
staggering 5 tracks of woe. Great sound, Great packaging, etc.--up to the
high standard of Bear Family. Little Tom/ Little Blossom/ Nobody's
Child/ Little Rosa/ The Hobo and the Rose, or Old Shep: no
matter who the story is about, there is heartbreak ahead. (JM)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Global Village 1010 |
Early Roanoke Country Radio |
● CD $15.98 |
14 tracks, highly recommended
Available again. A
remarkable documentation of live country music programming in the Roanoke,
Va. area from 1929 to 1952. The first part consists of snippets of radio
shows, from 5 minutes to 55 seconds (Paddy on the Turnpike by the
Dixie Playboys from 1951). All forms of country music are represented
here, from jug bands and old time country hoedowns and fiddle tunes to
cowboy balladeers and Bob Wills inspired Western Swing. Most bands here
represented achieved only regional notoriety, and would likely be
forgotten if not for this exhaustive documentation. The rest of the disc
presents two 15 minute country shows, a common format of the time. Roy
Hall and the Blue Ridge Entertainers from 1941 feature some first rate old
time country, including some hot fiddling by Roy Magness. The show is
complete with commercials and rather amazing claims for Dr. Pepper soft
drinks. The disc concludes with some fine 1947 sides by Magness and his
band, the Orange Blossom Boys. The sound is not not the best, but
acceptable for this fascinating document of early country radio. (RP)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Jasmine 3578 |
The Old Rugged Cross - Country Gospel |
● CD $11.98 |
28 track collection of country gospel from the 40s and
early 50s including mainstream country music, western music and bluegrass
and mixing familiar and obscure performers. Includes The Sons Of The
Pioneers, Andy Wilson, Jimmy Swan & The Tall Men, Carl Story & His
Rambling Mountaineers, Redd Stewart & His Kentucky Colonels, Paul & Bob,
The Masters Family, Rusty Gabbard, Esco Hankins, The DElmore Brothers,
etc.
ARKANSAS WOODCHOPPER: The Last Great Roundup/ PAPPY 'GUBE'
BEAVER: Great Judgement Day/ BOYD CAMERON: Bright Chain Of Gold/ CLIFF
CARLISLE: The Devil’s Train/ THE DELMORE BROTHERS: The Wrath Of God/ RUSTY
GABBARD: You Can’t Do Wrong (And Get By)/ ESCO HANKINS: Waiting For My
Call To Glory/ THE MASTERS FAMILY: This Old World Is Rocking In Sin/ You
Gotta Pray/ THE MCCRAVY BROTHERS: When They Ring The Golden Bells/ GEORGE
MORGAN & THE ANITA KERR SINGERS: Oh Gentle Shepherd/ MAC O’DELL: That
Final Day/ PAUL & BOB: Thirty Pieces Of Silver/ ROCKY PORTER: The
All-Seeing Eye/ DON RENO, RED SMILEY & THE TENNESSEE CUTUPS: Kneel Down/
KENNY ROBERTS: Wide Is The Gate/ It’s Great To Be A Christian/ THE SMITH
BROTHERS AND BILL LOWERY WITH THE: I Have But One Goal/ THE SONS OF THE
PIONEERS: Lie Low Little Doggies/ Power In The Blood/ Read The Bible Every
Day/ The Bar-None Ranch/ The Old Rugged Cross/ What This Country Needs (Is
A Good Old Fashioned Talk With The Lord)/ REDD STEWART & HIS KENTUCKY
COLONELS: Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine/ CARL STORY & HIS RAMBLING
MOUNTAINEERS: When He Reached Down His Hand For Me/ JIMMY SWAN & THE TALL
MEN: Little Church/ ANDY WILSON: Great Speckle Bird
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smith & Co. 1103 |
Rock 'n' Roll Roots - The Country
Influence |
● CD $9.98 |
Budget priced collection of 27 tracks of country from the
40s and early 50s that pointed the way to the birth of rock 'n' roll.
CHET ATKINS & HIS GUITAR PICKERS: Boogie, Man, Boogie/
THE BLUE SKY BOYS: Garden In The Sky/ SPADE COOLEY & HIS ORCHESTRA: Three
Way Boogie/ COWBOY COPAS: Hangman Boogie/ THE DELMORE BROTHERS: Blues Stay
Away From Me/ LITTLE JIMMIE DICKENS: Hillbilly Fever/ TENNESSEE ERNIE
FORD: The Shotgun Boogie/ HARDROCK GUNTER: Boogie Woogie On A Saturday
Night/ Birmingham Bounce/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Crazy Man Crazy/
Green Tree Boogie/ Rock The Joint/ Sundown Boogie/ ROY HALL & HIS COHUTTA
MOUNTAIN BOYS: Dirty Boogie/ BILL MONROE & HIS BLUEGRASS BOYS: Rocky Road
Blues/ CLYDE MOODY: Tend To Your Business/ MERRILL MOORE: House Of Blue
Lights/ MOON MULLICAN: Grandpa Stole My Baby/ ARTHUR SMITH'S HOT QUINTET:
Guitar Boogie/ HANK SNOW: I'm Movin On/ The Golden Rocket/ HANK WILLIAMS &
THE DRIFTING COWBOYS: Kaw-Liga/ Move It On Over/ Rootie Tootie/ JOHNNY LEE
WILLS & HIS BOYS: Milk Cow Blues
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Threadgill's 95372 |
The Gospel According To Austin, Vol. 5 |
● CD $19.98 |
31 tracks, 113 mins, highly recommended Another great
volume in the series that collects Gospel music in it's various forms in
one of the most musically rich cities in the world. Recorded in the early
1990's and arriving here in an expanded edition with bonus tracks. Whether
its Don Walser singing his high yodel up to the heavens, with the Kronos
Quartet backing him up or it's the Bells Of Joy Bringing it all back down
to earth, this is a collection not to be missed. There are only a couple
of clunker that feature a bit too much Casio keyboards, but all in all
it's fantastic stuff. Includes WC Clark, Dale Watson, Ruthie Foster, Billy
Joe Shaver and many more. Second disk features the wonderful Rev Dan Smith
who does some preachin' and testifying mixed in with some fantastic tunes.
(JM)
|
| PORTER WAGONER |
Omni 103 |
The Rubber Room |
● CD $16.98 |
29 tracks, highly recommended
A great collection of tracks
recorded for RCA between 1966 and 1977 and focusing on some of the more
offbeat and darker material he recorded. It includes the crazed title song
plus songs dealing with murder, child abuse and suicide along with the
more familiar cheating and drinking songs. Only a couple of these tracks
were hits - most were album tracks and B-sides and show that there was
more to Porter than the cheerful gregarious figure that he cut on stage.
Most of the songs were written by Porter along with a few by Dolly Parton
(he duets with her on the truly grim The Party about children dying
in a fire). Many of the tracks feature soulful narrations by Porter.
Probably not the ideal album to listen to if you're feeling depressed or
are expecting mainstream country but a real eye opener. (FS)
PORTER WAGONER: As Simple As I Am/ Bones/ Cassie/ Crumbs
From Another Man's Table/ Fairchild/ First Mrs Jones/ George Leroy
Chickashea/ He's Alone Again Tonight/ Indian Creek/ Jim Johnson/ Julie/
Let Me In/ Life Rides The Train/ Little Boy's Prayer/ Lonely Comin' Down/
Lonelyville/ Moments In Meditation/ My Last Two Tens/ My Many Hurried
Southern Trips/ Nothing Between/ Out Of The Silence (Came A Song)/
Shopworn/ The Bottom Of The Bottle/ The Caroll County Accident/ The Cold
Hard Facts Of Life/ The Rubber Room/ Wino/ Woman Hungry/ The Party
|
| BOB WILLS |
JSP JSPCD 7770 |
King Of Western Swing, Vol. 1 |
● CD $28.98 |
The first in a series of four CD sets to reissue all the
issued recordings by Bob Wills. This first volume starts with his first
two sides from 1932 as a member of The Fort Worth Doughboys then proceeds
to the first session with his Texas Playboys in September, 1935 continuing
through to a session in April, 1940. It also includes his fiddle/ guitar
duet from 1935 with Sleepy Johnson. Lots of great musicians in his band
like Jesse Ashlock, Leon McAuliffe, Al Stricklin, Johnnie Lee Wills, Cecil
Brower, Smoky Dacus and others along with the great vocals of Tommy
Duncan. It includes the first recordings of such classic tunes as Osage
Stomp/ Maiden's Prayer/ Four Or Five Times/ Steel Guitar Rag/ Sunbonnet
Sue/ I'm A Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas)/ San Antonio Rose/ Ida Red/ My
Window Faces The South and lots more - 100 tracks in all. All tracks
are from the collection of famed collector Joe Bussard and this set does
not include any of the unissued songs or alternate takes featured on the
massive Bear Family set (Bear Family 15933 - San Antonio Rose - 11 CDs
plus DVD covering everything through 1945 - $ 339 .98) but is an inexpensive
way to get all those key early recordings of this country pioneer.
THE FORT WORTH DOUGHBOYS: Nancy Jane/ Sunbonnet Sue/ BOB
WILLS & HIS TEXAS PLAYBOYS: Alexander's Ragtime Band/ Back Home Again In
Indiana/ Basin Street Blues/ Beaumont Rag/ Black And Blue Rag/ Black
Rider/ Bleeding Hearted Blues/ Blue Prelude/ Blue River/ Bluin' The Blues/
Bring It On Down To My House/ Carolina In The Morning/ Corrine Corrina/
Dedicated To You/ Don't Let The Deal Go Down/ Dreamy Eyes Waltz/
Drunkard's Blues/ Empty Bed Blues/ Everybody Does It In Hawaii/ Fan It/
Four Or Five Times/ Gambling Polka Dot Blues/ Get Along Home Cindy/ Get
With It/ Good Old Oklahoma/ I Ain't Got Nobody/ I Can't Be Satisfied/ I
Can't Give You Anything But Love/ I Don't Lov'a Nobody/ I Wish I Could
Shimmy Like My Sister Kate/ I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do/ I'm A Ding
Dong Daddy From Dumas/ Ida Red/ If I Could Bring Back My Buddy/ Keep
Knocking (But You Can't Come In)/ Let Me Call You Sweetheart (I'm In Love
With You)/ Little Girl, Go Ask Your Mama/ Little Red Head/ Liza Pull Down
The Shades/ Lone Star Rag/ Loveless Love/ Maiden's Prayer/ Mean Mama
Blues/ Mexicali Rose/ Moonlight And Roses (Bring Mem'ries Of You)/ My
Window Faces The South/ Never No More Blues/ Never No More Hard Times
Blues/ No Matter How She Done It/ No Wonder/ Oh Lady Be Good/ Oh You
Beautiful Doll/ Oklahoma Rag/ Old Fashioned Love/ Oozlin' Daddy Blues/
Osage Stomp/ Playboy Stomp/ Pray For The Lights To Go Out/ Prosperity
Special/ Red Hot Gal Of Mine/ Right Or Wrong/ Rosetta/ San Antonio Rose/
She's Killing Me/ Silver Bells/ Sittin' On Top Of The World/ Sophisticated
Hula/ Spanish Two Step/ St. Louis Blues/ Steel Guitar Rag/ Steel Guitar
Stomp/ Sugar Blues/ Sunbonnet Sue/ Swing Blues #1/ Swing Blues #2/ That
Brownskin Gal/ That's What I Like ‘Bout The South/ The Convict And The
Rose/ The New St. Louis Blues/ The Waltz You Saved For Me/ There's Going
To Be A Party(For The Old Folks)/ Tie Me To Your Apron Strings Again/ Too
Busy/ Trouble In Mind/ Tulsa Stomp/ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/ Wang Wang
Blues/ Way Down Upon The Swanee River/ Weary Of The Same Old Stuff/ What's
The Matter With The Mill/ White Heat/ Who Walks In When I Walk Out/ Whoa
Babe/ Yearning (Just For You)/ You Don't Love Me (But I'll Always Care)/
You're Okay/ BOB WILLS & SLEEPY JOHNSON: Harmony/ Smith's Reel
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