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NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
 Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey, Part 1 + Books & DVD
 

  

 

BOOKS
 
BORDER RADIO: Quacks, Yodelers Pitchmen, Psychics & Other Amazing Broadcasters Of The American Airwaves by Gene Fowler & Bill Crawford ● BOOK $22.98
Paperback, 360 Pages, essential, Essential tome for any roots music fan or American historian. This tells the stories of a whole host of mavericks, madmen and eccentrics that populated the airwaves through the border blasting mega-watt radio stations that operated on the Mexican side of the border from the 1930's through the 1970's. Whether it is goat glad miracle medicine man Dr. John R. Brinkley or the majestic Wolfman Jack, there are so many legendary stories captured in this book. This is easily one of my favorite music books of all time and I am happy that we are bringing into the fold here. (JM)

 
A GUIDE TO THE CROOKED TRAIL:  VIRGINIA'S HERITAGE MUSIC TRAIL by Joe Wilson ● BOOK $19.95
Paperback 228 pages + 2 CDs, highly recommended, counts as five CDS for shipping
Planning a trip to Virginia soon? Well if you are and you are a big country, bluegrass and Old-Timey music fan, you should take along this book and plan on staying for about a year. This is an absolutely fabulous travel book that gives you explicate information on every museum, county fair, bluegrass jam session, homely eatery and historical (music) landmark, etc. throughout the "Heritage Music Trail" of Appalachian Virginia and beyond. Whether it is The Rocky Mount Dairy Queen Jam Session, The Carter Family Home, The Tri-state Gospel Sing, The Mountain Music School, Lee County Tobacco and Fall Festival or the Sugar Hollow Campground, if it's picked, plucked or pickled, this guide will show you how, where and why it's done. On top of all that you get two CDs jam packed with excellent old time country, bluegrass and some blues that has emanated out of Old Virginny over the last 80 years or so, with a wealth of it being material that is not at all easy to come by. Includes recordings by Lost & Found,Rabbit Muse,Frank Jenkins,  No Speed Limit, Jimmy Arnold, Wayne Henderson, Hobart Smith,The Carter Family, Martin, Bogan & Armstrong, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys & many more. Excellent stuff. (JM)
THE LOST AND FOUND: Love of the Mountains/ SAM CONNOR AND DENT WIMMER: Old-Time Fire in the Mountain/ ARCHIE EDWARDS: I called my Baby Long Distance/ DRY HILL DRAGGERS: Dry Hill/ RABBIT MUSE: Rocky Mount Shout/ FLOYD COUNTY RAMBLERS: Granny Will Your Dog Bite/ THE KORN KUTTERS: Old Jack Gillie/ KENNY AND AMANDA SMITH BAND: Big Ball in Boston/ DELL BLACKARD'S MOON SHINERS: Susanna Gal/ SAMMY SHELTER AND KIRK SUTPHIN: Darling Child/ RICHARD BOWMAN FAMILY; Liberty/ JAMES KING AND LONGVIEW: A Few More Years/ FRANK JENKINS: Baptist Shout/ ABE HORTON: The House Carpenter/ TED LUNDY: Speak to Me Little Darling/ BONNIE RUSSELL WITH THE RUSSELL FAMILY: Sail Away Ladies/ KILBY SNOW: Wildwood Flower/ AL HOPKINS AND HIS BUCKLE BUSTERS: Boatin' Up The Sandy River/ BALLARD'S BRANCH BOGTROTTERS: Those Cruel Slavery Days/ STEVE BARR: Leaving Gracen/ NO SPEED LIMIT: New East Virginia Blues/ CROCKETT WARD & HIS BOYS:Sugar Hill/ EDDIE BOND, KIRK SUTPHIN, WAYNE HENDERSON AND HERB KEY: Breaking up Christmas/ KELLY HARRELL: Charlie, He's a Good Man/ WADE WARD: Half Shaved/ G.B. GRACEN, HENRY WHITTER: Short Life of Trouble/ JIMMY ARNOLD: Doc Harris's Horn Pipe/ HAYWARD BLEVINS: Old Molly Hare/ BIG COUNTRY BLUEGRASS: Larry's Song/ FRANK BLEVINS AND HIS TAR HELL RATTLERS: Don't Get Trouble in your Mind/ E.C. AND ORNA BALL: Home Sweet Home/ ALBERT HASH AND THE WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN BAND: A Rake and a Rambling Boy/ HORTON BARKER: The Farmer's Curst Wife/ WAYNE HENDERSON: Beans and Cornbread/ WAYNE HENDERSON, JIMMY DAUGHTERY, RED RECTOR, DAWN STOVER, & EDMUND BEAUDREAU: Arkansas Traveler/ HOBART SMITH: The Devil's Dream/ THE SWEET BROTHERS OF DAMASCUS: Cousin Sally Brown/ WYATT RICE: Fisher's Horn Pipe/ KAY JUSTICE WITH JINNY HAWKER: Deep Settled Peace/ THE CHESTNUT GROVE QUARTET: Better Farther On/ CURLY KING: Something Got Hold of Me/ GRANT BROTHERS: Johnson Boys/ LINDA LAY, SAMMY SHELOR, DAVID LAY, RON STEWART & DAVID MCLAUGHLIN: Taking the Crooked Road Home/ THE CARTER FAMILY: Mid the Green Fields of Virginia/ THE GOOD SHEPHARD QUARTET: Mother's Bible/ MARTIN, BOGAN, and ARMSTRONG: Barnyard Dance/ DOCK BOGGS: False Hearted Lover/ THE COOKE DUET: Swing Down that Chariot/ JIM AND JESSE: Blue Ridge Mountain Sunset/ The MULLINS FAMILY: Turn Back Turn Back/ RALPH STANLEY AND THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS White Dove/ Bright Morning Star

 

DVD
 
MARTY ROBBINS Bear Family DVD 20007 At Town Hall Party ● DVD $29.98
Songs and an interview from two shows in 1959 including songs with Tompall & The Glaser Brothers as well as solo performances by Tompall and The Glaser Brothers and Joe Hudgins.
JOE HUDGINS: Where'd You Stay Last Night/ MARTY ROBBINS: Down Where The Tradewinds Blow/ I Can't Quit/ I'll Go On Alone/ Just Married/ My Isle Of Golden Dreams/ My Isle Of Golden Dreams/ Oh, How I Miss You (since You Went Away)/ Pretty Words/ The Story Of My Life/ Time Goes By/ A White Sport Coat/ Stairway Of Love/ The Hanging Tree/ TOMPALL & THE GLASER BROTHERS: Nothing But Sweet Lies/ When I've Learned (old Enough To Cry)

 

COMPACT DISCS
 
 
ROY ACUFF Columbia CK 48956 The Essential Roy Acuff, 1936-1949 ● CD $9.98
20 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended
This is a fabulous collection of 20 early recordings by this country music pioneer who was the first inductee in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Acuff's group was one that helped popularize the sound of the dobro and these sides feature two of the best - Clell Sumney and Pete "Oswald" Kirby. Sumney really gets to work on the wonderful 1937 recording of Steel Guitar Blues. The set includes the classic Great Speckle Bird recorded at Roy's first session in OCtober, 1936 and 1947 remakes of two of his most popular songs Wabash Cannonball and Freight Train Blues.  Good sound and informative notes from Colin Escott. (FS)
ROY ACUFF: A Sinner's Death (I'm Dying)/ Black Mountain Rag/ Fireball Mail/ Freight Train Blues/ Great Speckle Bird/ I'll Forgive You, But I Can't Forget You/ It Won't Be Long (Till I'll Be Leaving)/ Jole Blon/ Just To Ease My Worried Mind/ Lonesome Old River Blues/ Night Train To Memphis/ Not A Word From Home/ Steel Guitar Blues/ Tennessee Waltz/ The Precious Jewel/ The Prodigal Son/ This World Can't Stand Long/ Wabash Cannon Ball/ Waltz Of The Wind/ Wreck On The Highway

 
ROY ACUFF Proper BOX 70 King Of Country Music ● CD $24.98
4 CDS, 101 tracks, highly recommended
Invaluable collection devoted to the early recordings of this great country pioneer featuring all of the important recordings he made between 1936 and 1950 including all his early hits and the many songs that have been covered by numerous other artists. Includes four from his first recording sessions in 1936 including the first recording of what was to become his trademark song - the Carter Family's Wabash Cannonball with vocals by the mysterious Sam "Dynamite" Hatcher who also played harmonica with the group - a later recording of this song from 1947 with Acuff doing the vocals is also included. Acuff's group was one that helped popularize the sound of the Dobro and these sides feature two of the best - Clell Sumney and Beecher "Pete" Kirby. Sumney (later known as Cousin Jody) appears on the earlier sessions (1936-1938) and turns in some impressive playing particularly on the instrumental Smokey Mountain Rag and the hot honky tonk numbers like Shout Oh Lulu/ Honky Tonk Mamas and Steel Guitar Blues and also contributes the chime like fills heard on the ballads. Kirby who appears on the sessions from 1939 on also turns in some fine work. Some of the later sessions feature Jimmy Riddle on accordion or harmonica and Tommy Magness takes over the fiddle chores from Acuff. Roy's material included traditional songs, Carter Family songs honky tonk, pop songs and gospel and includes many songs that have become country standards like Great Speckle Bird/ Freight Train Blues/ Beautiful Brown Eyes/ You're The Only Star In My Blue Heaven/ Streamlined Cannonball/ Be Honest With Me/ Drifting Too Far From The Shore/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ Be Honest With Me/ Fireball Mail/ We Live In Two Different Worlds/ Prodigal Son/ Waltz Of The Wind and many others. Sound quality is decent though a little too much of the high end has been cut off and the set includes a 40 page illustrated booklet with biographical and discographical details. (FS)
ROY ACUFF: A Sinner's Death (I'm Dying)/ A Vagabond's Prayer/ An Old Three Room Shack/ Answer To Sparkling Eyes/ Are You Thinking Of Me Darling/ Automobile Of Life/ Be Honest With Me/ Beautiful Brown Eyes/ Black Mountain Rag/ Blue Ridge Sweetheart/ Blues In My Mind/ Bonnie Blue Eyes/ Brother Take Warning/ Charming Betsy/ Come Back Little Pal/ Dance Around Molly/ Doin' It The Old Fashioned Way/ Drifting Too Far From Shore/ Easy Rockin' Chair/ Eyes Watching You/ Fireball Mail/ Fly Birdie Fly/ Freight Train Blues/ Freight Train Blues/ Golden Treasure/ Gone Gone Gone (But Not Forgotten)/ Gonna Have A Big Time Tonight/ Great Speckle Bird/ Heartaches And Flowers/ Honky Tonk Mamas/ I Called And Nobody Answered/ I Heard A Silver Trumpet/ I Know You're Saying Goodbye/ I Talk To Myself About You/ I Think I'll Go Home And Cry/ I'll Always Care/ I'll Forgive But I Can't Forget/ I'll Reap My Harvest In Heaven/ I'm Building A Home/ Ida Red/ It Won't Be Long (Til I'm Leaving)/ It's All Right Now/ It's Just About Time/ It's So Hard To Smile/ Jesus Died For Me/ Just To Ease My Worried Mind/ Let Me Be The First To Say I'm Sorry/ Living On The Mountain Baby Mine/ Lonesome Indian/ Low And Lonely/ Lying Woman Blues/ Mother's Prayers Guide Me/ Mule Skinner Blues/ My Mountain Home Sweet Home/ New Greenback Dollar/ Night Train To Memphis/ Not A Word From Home/ Old Age Pension Cheque/ One Old Shirt/ Our Own Jole Blon/ Pins And Needles (In My Heart)/ Po' Folks All The Time/ Polk County Breakdown/ Red Lips/ Sad Memories/ Shout Oh Lulu/ Smoky Mountain Rag/ Smoky Mountain Rag/ Steamboat Whistle Blues/ Steel Guitar Blues/ Stuck Up Blues/ Tennessee Central (No.9)/ Tennessee Waltz/ That Beautiful Picture/ The Broken Heart/ The Day They Laid Mary Away/ The Midnight Train/ The Precious Jewel/ The Prodigal Son/ The Streamlined Cannonball/ There's A Big Rock In The Road/ Wabash Cannonball/ Wabash Cannonball/ Wait For The Light To Shine/ Waiting For The Call To Glory/ Walkin' In My Sleep/ Waltz Of The Wind/ We Live In Two Different Worlds/ Weary River/ What Would You Do With Gabriel's Trumpet/ When I Lay My Burden Down/ When They Take The Last Look At You/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ Worried Mind/ Wreck On The Highway/ Write Me Sweetheart/ Yes Sir That's My Baby/ You Are My Love/ You'll Reap These Tears/ You're The Only Star In My Blue Heaven/ You've Gotta See Mama Every Night

 
REX ALLEN B.A.C.M. 083 The Voice Of The West ● CD $13.98
B.A.C.M.'s third collection of this popular Western singer features 26 tracks drawn from radio transcriptions made in the late 40s
REX ALLEN: Buffalo Gals/ Covered Wagon Trail/ Cowboy’s Heaven/ Cowboy’s Lullaby/ Dreaming Of My Texas Home/ Happy Yodeling Man/ I Left My Heart In Texas/ Little Old Sod Shanty/ Little Ranch House On The Old Circle B/ Lonely World/ Low Rollin’ Hills/ Me And My Burro/ Mellow Mountain Moon/ Melody Of The Plains/ My Music Mountain Home/ Pop Goes The Weasel (Instr.)/ Red River Valley/ Ridin’ Towards The Red Setting Sun/ Rock Me To Sleep In My Rocky Mnt Home/ Tears On My Old Guitar/ The Range In The Sky/ Wastin’ Time/ Way Out West In Texas/ When It’s Prayer Meeting Time/ When The Bloom Is On The Sage/ When The Roses Bloom Again

 
TERRY ALLEN Sugar Hill 1057 Smokin' The Dummy/ Bloodlines ● CD $16.98
18 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Terrific collection of country rock from this outstanding singer/ songwriter/ sculptor/ painter/ screenwriter/ piano player! Originally issued on Terry's own Fate label in 1980 and 1984, I never heard them when they first came out so this reissue came as a pleasant surprise. Terry's music occupies some of the same musical landscape as his friend and musical compadre Joe Ely with tales of life on the road and the joys and misery of the Texas experience - often told with a wicked sense of humor. Terry is a fine singer with a soulful voice, his songs have memorable melodies and he is accompanied by a coterie of great Texas & California musicians (Lloyd Maines, Jesse Taylor, Joe Ely, Ponty Bone, Richard Bowdan and others). Among the highlights here are The Heart Of California/ Whatever Happened To Jesus (and Maybellene)?/ Helena Montana/ Bloodlines/ Gimme A Ride To Heaven Boy and Ourland but they're all good. Definitely makes me want to check out Terry's other albums. (FS)

 
THE AMAZING RHYTHM ACES Collector's Choice CCM 122 Stacked Deck/ Too Stuffed To Jump ● CD $15.98
22 tracks, highly recommended
What a treat - the first two albums by one of the finest country rock bands of the 70s finally on CD. The Aces were an outstanding group featuring the distinctive and expressive lead vocals of Russell Smith who also wrote the majority of the songs here. Smith was a terrific songwriter and this set includes the groups biggest hits which he wrote - Third Rate Romance/ Amazing Grace (Used To Be Her Favorite Song) and the wonderful The End Is Not Sight. But there are lots of other good ones like The "Ella B"/ Anything You Want/ My Tears Still Flow/ King Of The Cowboys/ Typical American Boy/ These Dreams Of Losing You and others. The only tracks not written by Smith or other group members feature superb treatments of the traditional Life's Railway To Heaven and Charlie Rich's Who Will The Next Fool Be. A winner! (FS)
 
THE ARMSTRONG TWINS ARhoolie 9046 Mandolin Boogie ● CD $9.98
17 tracks, 45 mins, highly recommended
It's a real delight to finally have Floyd & Lloyd on CD! There were many fine brother duets in the history of country music but Floyd & Lloyd Armstrong were the only twins. Originally from Arkansas they moved to California in the 40s where they recorded a series of great 78s for the Four Star label in the late 40s and early 50s. The first 10 tracks are from this period and feature some truly dynamic performances with great rural harmonies and instrumental work spearheaded by Lloyd's driving mandolin leads and featuring FLoyd sturdy guitar accompaniment. The material ranges from the traditional gospel song Mother's Only Sleeping to the wonderful novelty song Beetle With A Boogie Beat with some truly inspired mandolin from Lloyd. Other songs from these sessions include Mandolin Boogie/ Mandolin Rag/ Sparkling Blue Eyes/ Address From Heaven and others including a beautiful version of the Stanley Brothers' It's Never Too Late. The last seven tracks are from 1979 when the brothers reunited, after a period away from music, following the release of their old recordings on Old Timey. While not as sparkling as their earlier sides there is still some fine singing and playing on songs like Eight Thirty Blues/ Just A Country Boy/ Old Three Room Shack/ Beautiful Brown Eyes and more with dobro and bass accompaniment. Booklet includes affectionate notes by Chris Strachwitz. My only complaint is that Arhoolie should have include more of the duos early sides - I think they recorded at least 20 tracks. (FS)

 
GENE AUTRY B.A.C.M. 015 Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On ● CD $13.98
20 tracks recorded between 1931 and 1937 by the popular and prolific Gene Autry. Includes many duets with Jimmy Long. As far as I can tell there are no duplications with any other Autry reissues.
 GENE AUTRY: After 21 Years/ Answer To Red River Valley/ Beautiful Texas/ Cradle Of My Dreams/ Daddy & Home/ Don't Waste Your Years On Me/ Gosh, I Miss You All The Time/ Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On/ I'm Always Dreaming Of You/ Lamp Lighting Time In The Valley/ Little Old Lady Waiting/ Memories Of That Silver Haired Daddy/ My Carolina Mountain Rose/ My Cross Eyed Gal/ Red River Lullaby/ Someday In Wyoming/ That Silver Haired Mother Of Mine/ When The Golden Leaves Are Falling/ Why Don't You Come Back To Me/ ‘Leven Months In Leavenworth

 
GENE AUTRY B.A.C.M. 037 Rollin' Around ● CD $13.98
20 tracks form the period 1947 through 1952.
GENE AUTRY: A Broken Promise Means A Broken Heart/ Blue Shadows On The Trail/ Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves/ Ellie Mae/ Gold Can Buy Anything But Love/ I Lost My Little Darling/ I Love You Because/ I've Lived A Lifetime For You/ Last Straw/ Loaded Pistols And Loaded Dice/ Love Is So Misleadin'/ Mister And Mississippi/ Old Soldiers Never Die/ Play Fair/ Rollin' Along/ Roses/ Stop Your Gambling/ Story Book Of Love/ They Warned Me About You/ When The Silver Colorado Turns To Gold

 
GENE AUTRY B.A.C.M. 038 Goodbye Pinto ● CD $13.98
21 tracks recorded between 1937 and 1947.
GENE AUTRY: A Face I See At Evening/ A Goldmine In Your Heart/ Address Unknown/ Amapola/ Darling How Can You Forget So Soon/ Don't Take Your Spite Out On Me/ Empty Cot In The Bunkhouse Tonight (2)/ Goodbye Pinto/ I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/ I Want To Be Sure/ I'm A Cowpoke Pokin' Along/ Keep Rollin' Lazy Longhorns/ Lone Star Moon/ Merry Go Roundup/ Old Buckaroo Goodbye/ Old November Moon/ Ride Tenderfoot, Ride/ There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder/ Too Late/ Twilight On The Trail/ When It's Roundup Time In Heaven

 
ELDON BAKER B.A.C.M. 145 And His Brown County Revelers ● CD $13.98
26 tracks, 69 mins, essential
Fabulous collection of country swing by this obscure but utterly superb group from Kentucky. Led by Eldon Baker who took ocassional vocals it featured his brother Floyd on guitar and Wade who also played guitar and took most of the vocals. Joining the Bakers were two incredible musicians - Charlie Linville on fiddle and Harry Baker on guitar - this duo perform in a jazzy style that is in the same vein as Hugh & Karl Farr. The bulk of the recordings here (10 of them originally unissued!) are from a lengthy 18 trcak session recorded over two days and includes a varied selection of material including including traditional numbers, Western flavored songs, religious songs, novelty songs and blues. Additionally there are two rare sides from 1945 by Wade Baker as well a song by him from a radio transcription that same year. Rounding out the set are six fabulous sides from 1952 from guitarist Harry Adams who now plays electric guitar and also occasionally sings on five rocking numbers that proves he had lost none of his instrumental chops. An exemplary release from B.A.C.M. with notes from the knowledgeable Kevin Coffey. (FS)
ELDON BAKER & HIS BROWN COUNTY REVELERS: Arkansas Traveller/ Bile Em Cabbage Down/ Chokin' The Reeds/ Come Along Down To The Old Plantation/ Dear Old Dixieland/ Don't Hang Around Me Anymore/ Don't You Want To Go/ Froggie Went Acourtin'/ Giving Everything Away/ Happy Cowboy/ I Know There Is Somebody Waiting/ I Will Meet You/ In The Hills Over There/ It's Hard/ Little Bonnie/ Long Gone From Bowling Green/ Lost John/ Milk Bucket Boogie/ One Eyed Sam/ Plodding Along/ Roll Along Jordan/ Sittin' Round The Fireside/ Vine Street Stomp/ When The Roses Bloom In Dixieland/ You Can't Do Wrong And Get By/ You Can't Make Me Cry Anymore

 
E.C. BALL & ORNA Copper Creek 141 Through The Years, 1937-1975 ● CD $14.98
28 tracks, 78 mins, essential
Superb retrospective collection of this outstanding singer and guitarist, many in the company of his wife Orna. It includes 1937 and 1967 recordings for the Library Of Congress, early 50s Starday recordings, 1967 County recordings, radio broadcasts and more. Includes a wonderful introduction from 1937 by John Lomax and several fascinating interview segments. Songs include Jenny Jenkins/ Nine Pound Hammer/ When I Get Home I'm Gonna Be Satisfied/ Warfare/ Standing On The Promises/ Passing Away/ Ten Thousand Angels/ What A Friend We Have In Jesus/ God Be With You Till We Meet Again, etc. 12 page booklet has extensive notes and interview material from Kip Lornell and some great photos. (FS)
 
BILL BOYD & HIS COWBOY RAMBLERS B.A.C.M. 049 Singing & Swinging ● CD $13.98
21 tracks, highly recommended
21 tracks from one of the finest and most prolific Western Swing bands led by singer/ guitarist Bill Boyd. The varied material here was recorded between 1934 and 1950 and features appearances by lots of stellar musicians like Bob Dunn, Noel Boggs, Zeke Campbell, Cecil Brower, Knocky Parker, Art Davis and others. Includes I Wish I Knew The Way You Feel/ That's Why I'm Jealous Of You/ Singing And Swinging For Me/ Spanish Fandango, etc. Excellent sound and informative notes from Kevin Coffey. (FS)
BILL BOYD & HIS COWBOY RAMBLERS: An Ace/ Boyd’s Tin Roof Blues (instr)/ Fan It/ Goofus (instr.)/ Guess Who’s In Town/ Homecoming Waltz (instr.)/ I Can’t Tame Wild Women/ I Wish I Knew The Way You Feel/ I’ve Got The Blues For Mammy/ Lone Star/ Mama Don’t Like No Music/ New Steel Guitar Rag (instr.)/ Oh Monah (You Shall Be Free)/ Palace In Dallas/ Ramblers Rag (instr.)/ Singing And Swinging For Me/ Spanish Fandango (instr.)/ That’s Why I’m Jealous Of You/ Wah Hoo/ Why Don’t You Love Me/ Windswept Desert (Desert Blues)

 
ELTON BRITT B.A.C.M. 086 Jackass Blues & Other Country Songs ● CD $13.98
24 tracks recorded in the 40s by this popular artist including sides with The Skytoppers, Rosalie Allen and The Three Suns.
ELTON BRITT: After We Say Goodbye/ Anyone/ Before You Know It Christmas Will Be Here/ Beyond The Sunset/ Blueberry Lane/ Game Of Broken Hearts/ Got To Get Together With My Gal/ I Get The Blues When It Rains/ I‘ve Lived A Lifetime For You/ Jackass Blues/ Lonely Little Robin/ Looking Around/ Merry Texas Christmas You All/ Mocking Bird Hill/ Rainbow In My Heart/ Someday/ Summer Kisses/ Swiss Lullaby/ Tale A Sailor Told/ Talk To The Boss In The Sky/ Tell Her You Love Her/ The Red We Want Is The Red We‘ve Got/ Tomorrow You‘ll Be Married/ Written Guarantee

 
JUNIOR BROWN Curb 77635 12 Shades Of Brown ● CD $6.98
12 tracks, 35 mins, essential
Original released by the U.K. indie Demon in 1990, this is a reissue of the debut record by the most welcome new country performer since Steve earle and Dwight Yoakam arrived nearly a decade ago. Brown is a terse traditional writer, a soulful singer in the Ernest Tubb mode (My Baby Don't Dance To Nothing But Ernest Tubb is the theme song here), and an oustanding guitarist in any country, blues, or rock 'n' roll style you can name. (JG)

 
HOYT "SLIM" BRYANT B.A.C.M. 178 And His Wildcats ● CD $13.98
31 tracks, 70 minutes, highly recommended
A cowboy-flavored ensemble that evolved from Clayton McMichen's Louisville-based Georgia Wildcats, Slim Bryant and His Wildcats were staples on Pittsburgh radio and television during the '40s and early '50s. Taking its vocal cues from California's close-harmony Western trios, the Wildcats were particularly notable for their hot take-off guitar, fiddle and accordion solos. The group made precious few recordings, but a healthy sampling of its music survived via 16" NBC Radio Thesaurus transcriptions cut around 1946-47. Slim Bryant was - and at age 98, still is - one of the country and jazz guitar's unsung heroes. His leads are smart and dazzling; his fills are a primer in how to accompany a vocalist. Sharp-eared listeners will recognize some familiar licks; Les Paul was a Bryant fan. Of the two instrumentals on this disc, Walking the Pup best showcases Bryant's skill. Fiddler Ken Newton, accordionist Al Azzaro and bassist Loppy Bryant all could swing, as does an unidentified rhythm guitarist. The trio harmonies compare to early Sons of the Pioneers; Newton and Bryant's brother Loppy share vocal leads. Though recommended listening to anyone who appreciates Pee Wee King/ Whippoorwills-styled music, this disc is a must for serious country guitar aficionados. Sound is better than usual for B.A.C.M.; Bryan Chalker penned a brief appreciation. (DS)
HOYT "SLIM" BRYANT & HIS WILDCATS: Answer To Rainbow At Midnight/ Back To Old Smokey Mountain/ Barnyard Band/ Deep Water/ First Rose/ Got A Gal In A Town Way Out West/ He Holds The Lantern/ I Ain't Gonna Worry No More/ I Hate To See You Go/ I'll Never Make The Same Mistake Again/ I'm A Lonely Little Petunia In An Onion Patch/ Lone Star Moon/ My Little Texas Gal/ My Saddle My Bronco And You/ Nag Oh Nag Oh Nag/ New San Antonio Rose/ Oklahoma City/ Penny Ante Polka (instr.)/ Sioux City Sue/ Slow Train Through Arkansas/ Someday You'll Want Me To Want You/ Ten To One/ That's How Much I Love You/ The Letter I Forgot To Mail/ Thunder Storm/ Train Whistle Boogie/ Tweedle O Twill/ Walking The Pup (Instr.)/ Where The Mountains Meet The Sky/ Whistle/ Winter Fell On The Range

 
THE BUCHANAN BROTHERS Bronco Buster 9018 Atomic Power ● CD $18.98
18 tracks 48 minutes essential
Georgia's Buchanan Brothers, Chester and Lester, whose close-harmony music was in the traditions of the Blue Sky Boys and the Monroe Brothers, are known primarily for the post-World War II song Atomic Power and the gospel followup There's A Power Greater Than Atomic. Beyond those songs, the Buchanans have been pretty much ignored, and this album of 1944-1948 RCA Victor material proves they deserved better. The music here, usually featuring the brothers backed by jumping bands of various sizes (drums, trumpet and clarinet prominent on certain tunes), is never less than inspired, particularly the opening number High Tempered Mama. Even after Atomic Power, the Buchanans stayed up with postwar events, waxing bizarre on (When You See) Those Flying Saucers in 1947. Ervin T. Rouse's The Silver Meteor is supercharged. Uptempo numbers like I Got Worries, the Ted Daffan favorite Shut That Gate, Left By the Wayside and Hootin- Nanny Papa are pure, playful fun that anticipate the novelty material Little Jimmy Dickens later excelled with. Only occasionally do they wax maudlin, as they do on the morbid My Little Boy Blue. For the most part, even on gospel tunes such as two Bob Miller tunes: Singing An Old Hymn and When I Put On My Long White Robe, (with kick-ass piano on the latter), the Buchanans' energy never flags. Anything they recorded, it seemed, could work, even an oldie like Don't Cry, My Coney Island Baby. Fans of the Louvins or the Armstrong Twins will love this one, a real sleeper among the recent Bronco Busters. This will be the definitive set unless Bear Family takes on a Buchanan Brothers collection, which they should. (RK)
THE BUCHANAN BROTHERS: (When You See) Those Flying Saucers/ Am I Still P-a-r-t of Your H-e-a-r-t/ Atomic Power/ Don't Cry (My Coney Island Baby)/ High Tempered Mama/ Hootin-nanny Papa/ I Got Worries/ Just Hangin' On/ Left by the Wayside/ Mama I'm Sick/ My Little Boy Blue/ Shut That Gate./ Singing an Old Hymn/ The Heartsick Blues/ The Silver Meteor/ Then You'll Be the One to Cry/ There's a Power Greater than Atomic

 
BUZZ BUSBY Starday 0123 Going Home - Greatest Starday Recordings ● CD $9.98
19 tracks, 41 minutes, essential
Simply put, this long-overdue anthology collects the most intense, unrelenting bluegrass ever captured on record. If anything, this music is the antithesis of the meticulously produced, easy-listening sludge that passes for bluegrass in the 21st Century. Imagine Carter and Ralph Stanley or Bill Monroe and Jimmy Martin on amphetamines, and you have a pretty fair idea of what Buzz Busby's classic 1956-1959 Starday recordings sound like. Everything is pitched a little higher, played a little faster or sung a little edgier. Busby's aggressive mandolin playing borders on the violent. His songs are a catalog of utter despair: Where Will This End?/ Me and the Juke Box/ Lonesome Wind/ Lost/ The Lonesome Road/ A Cold and Windy Night. Many tracks feature the brilliant, eerie fiddling of Scotty Stoneman, Busby's fellow traveler down that highway of self-destruction. His music is not without humor, though: on Buzz's Ramble he detunes and retunes his mandolin ala Earl Scruggs's Flint Hill Special - no easy feat. "Goin' Home" collects all fourteen of Busby's Starday recordings (three unreleased) plus five tracks featuring his sideman efforts for Bill Harrell and Bill Emerson. Besides Stoneman, Harrell and Emerson, Busby's Bayou Boys included such D.C.-area bluegrass notables as Charlie Waller, Pete Kuykendall, Smiley Hobbs, Porter Church and Carl Nelson. Kudos to Copper Creek Records' Gary Reid, who supervised production, wrote the notes and made sure Gusto-King didn't screw this one up - as they so often do. The only downside: Busby didn't live to see his music reissued. After a long illness, he died in January 2003 at age 69. (DS)
 
BILL CARLISLE B.A.C.M. 034 Duvall County Blues ● CD $13.98
20 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended
Complementing the recent releases on Cattle and Collector this is another fine collection by this superb singer and guitarist featuring 20 tracks recorded between 1933 and 1939. A varied selection - blues, sentimental songs, gospel songs and more. Includes solo sides as well as sides with his string band The Kentucky Boys. Includes Beneath The Weeping Willow Tree/ I Know What It Is To Be Lonesome/ Drifting Together/ Lost On Life's Sea/ Rattlesnake Daddy/ Little Wild Rose/ Penitentiary Blues/ I'm Heading For Home Sweet Home/ Roll On Old Troubles, Roll On/ Sugar Cane Mama, etc. (FS)
BILL CARLISLE: A Shack By The Side Of The Road/ Are You Going To Leave Me Lil/ Beneath The Weeping Willow Tree/ Cowgirl Jean/ Drifting Together/ Duvall County Blues/ I Done It Wrong/ I Dreamed I Searched Heaven For You/ I Know What It Is To Be Lonesome/ I'll Always Be Your Little Darling/ I'm Heading For Home Sweet Home/ If Jesus Should Come/ Little Wild Rose/ Lost On Life's Sea/ Penitentiary Blues/ Rattlesnake Daddy/ Roll On Old Troubles, Roll On/ Sugar Cane Mama/ The Girl I Left So Blue/ Why Did The Blue Skies Turn To Grey

 
BILL CARLISLE Collector 2865 Rough And Rowdy Hillbilly Of The 1930s, Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
Fabulous collection of 25 tracks by singer/ guitarist Bill Carlisle - often in the company of his brother Cliff. Only two duplications with the recently issued Cattle release - this one emphasizes his 30s recordings where the Cattle emphasized his 40s sides. Lots of great blues songs - some in the Jimmie Rodgers style and others in a more original style.
 
THE CARTER SISTERS Country Routes 35 And Mother Maybelle With Chet Atkins ● CD $16.98
39 tracks, 75 minutes, essential
Finally - a first-rate collection of eight RadiOzark shows by one of the premier show bands from country music radio's golden age! The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins recorded more than three dozen, fifteen-minute open-ended transcriptions about 1949 or 1950 that were sold to small Southern radio stations. Spunky June Carter was the band's focal figure, singing many leads and bantering with veteran announcer Joe Slattery. Younger sisters Helen (playing accordion) and the angelic Anita (playing bass) also had solo turns, while matriarch Maybelle was often spotlighted on a Carter Family classic. Atkins delivers a dazzling guitar or fiddle solo on each show plus an occasional vocal. The group's blend and range is impressive, shifting from gospel and pop standards to contemporary country and western hits and novelties. Its joyous, spontaneous music couldn't be further removed from that of the original Carter Family, the comparatively few commercial records the group did about this time or the lackluster sides Maybelle and her daughters (not to mention Atkins) made through the 1960s. Transfers were sourced from pristine 16" discs recorded late in the series' run; the brief, uncredited liner notes offer little of value or insight. (Slattery's participation confirms that these ETs were cut in Springfield, Missouri - not Nashville as stated here.) Some themes and superfluous chatter were deleted to create a more listenable disc. Truly a wonderful, welcome release. (DS)

 
TOMMY COLLINS B.A.C.M. 165 Think It Over Boys ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 63 mins, highly recommended
Splendid collection of honky tonk country, novelty songs and the occasional gospel number from this brilliant singer and songwriter and pioneer of the Bakersfield sound. Recorded between 1953 and 1956 and accompanied by musicians like Buck Owens, Roy Nichols, Ralph Mooney, "Fuzzy" Owen and others he performs songs (nearly all self written) like Let Me Love You/ High On A Hilltop/ No Love Have I/ I'll Be Gone/ What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You/ Those Old Love Letters From You/ Feet Of The Traveler/ Think It Over Boys/ Upon This Rock and others. This set also includes his worst song - the utterly stupid Boob I Lak but one dud out of 25 isn't bad. (FS)
TOMMY COLLINS: A Man We Ought To Know/ Are You Ready To Go/ Boob I Lak/ Feet Of The Traveler/ High On A Hilltop/ I Always Get A Souvenir/ I Guess I'm Crazy/ I Love You More And More Each Day/ I Think Of You Yet/ I Wish I Had Died In My Cradle/ I'll Always Speak Well Of You/ I'll Be Gone/ Let Down/ Let Me Love You/ Love A Me S'il Vous Plait/ No Love Have I/ Smooth Sailin'/ That's The Way Love Is/ There'll Be No Other/ Think It Over Boys/ Those Old Love Letters From You/ Untied/ Upon This Rock/ Wait A Little Longer/ What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You

 
THE COOKE DUET & SON Freeland 659 The Cooke Duet & Son ● CD $14.98
12tracks, 34 mins, highly recommended
Another most welcome reissue of oldtime country gospel by this wonderful group. Joining Hubert & his wife Jeanette are their oldest son James on electric bass. Though the bass doesn't add much it doesn't really get in the way. The focus is still Jeanette's intense leads and the interweaving harmonies of the duo. The tracks here are drawn from two LPs issued in the late 60s and features a fine selection of country gospel songs highlighted by a stunning version of Martha Carson's Satisfied. Also includes Thank God I'm Free/ King Of The Jews/ God Our Maker/ He Loved Me More And More/ One More River, etc. Their previous reissues "Early Cooke Duet" (Freeland 647) and "The Best Of The Cooke Duet" (Freeland 641) are still available and also highly recommended. (FS)

 
COWBOY COPAS ASV CDAJA 5434 Tennessee Waltz ● CD $11.98
26 track collection of sides by this fine country performer recorded for King between 1945 and 1951 including most of his hits from this period. 
COWBOY COPAS: . Tennessee Moon/ Believe It Or Not/ Breeze Blow My Baby Back To Me/ Crazy Over You/ Don't Let Them Change Your Mind/ Down In Nashville Tennessee/ Feudin' Boogie/ Filipino Baby/ From The Manger To The Cross/ Hangman's Boogie/ I Don't Blame You/ I'm Waltzin' With Tears In My Eyes/ It's A Lonely World When You're All Alone/ Kentucky Waltz/ My True Confession/ Oceans Of Love/ Road Of Broken Hearts/ Signed Sealed And Delivered/ Steppin' Out/ Strange Little Girl/ Sundown And Sorrow/ Sweet Thing/ Tennessee Flat Top Guitar/ Tennessee Waltz/ Tis Sweet To Be Remembered/ Tragic Romance

 
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN Starday 3510 High Lonesome - Complete Starday Recordings ● CD $19.98
Two CD set featuring 51 tracks recorded by this fine and influential bluegrass group for Starday between 1957 and 1965 including five previously unissued song and a previously unissued alternate take of New Freedom Bell. Includes Backwoods Blues/ It's The Blues/ The Church Back Home/ The Devil's Own/ I'll Never Marry/ The Hills And Home/ Helen/ Red Rockin' Chair/ Willie Roy, The Cripple Boy/ These Men Of God/ Nigh Walk, etc.

 
CROCKETT'S KENTUCKY MOUNTAINEERS B.A.C.M. 023 Classics Old Time String Band Music ● CD $13.98
19 tracks, highly recommended
Excellent string band recorded between 1928 and '31. In spite of the groups name they were actually based in Fowler, California (near Fresno) though the group's founder John "Dad" Crockett was originally from West Virginia. They were one of the first West Coast based string bands featuring the fine lead vocals of "Dad" and instrumental work from other family members on fiddle, guitar, banjo and occasional Jew's harp and bones. They perform fine versions of traditional songs and tunes like Cripple Creek/ Bile Them Cabbage Down/ Little Rabbitt/ Gambling Man/ Medley Of Old Time Dance Tunes/ I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago/ Skip To My Lou and others. There also a superb instrumental blues Fresno Blues which features just two guitars. (FS)
CROCKETT'S KENTUCKY MOUNTAINEERS: After The Ball/ Bile Them Cabbage Down/ Buffalo Gals Medley/ Convict's Lament/ Cripple Creek/ Fresno Blues/ Gambling Man/ Granny's Old Arm Chair/ Hard Cider Songs/ I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago/ In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree/ Little Rabbit (intro. Rabbit Where's Your Mammy)/ Medley Of Old Time Dance Tunes Pt. 1/ Medley Of Old Time Dance Tunes Pt. 2/ My Blue Eyed Girl And I/ Rosalee/ Skip To My Lou/ Sugar Hill/ The Lightning Express

 
THE DELMORE BROTHERS JSP JSPCD 7727 Classic Cuts, 1933-1941 ● CD $28.98
4 CDs, 87 tracks, essential
It's no wonder that the Delmore Brothers are so revered by country music fans - the music they made was just so appealing with Alton and Rabon's wonderful close and distinctive harmonies and their terrific intertwing guitar work featuring Alton on lead and and Rabon on tenor guitar. Although their late 40s and early 50s King sides are featured on a number of releases this is the first in depth look at their earlist recordings with many tracks making their first appearance on CD. Unlike many other brother groups that relied on traditional and old popular songs for their repertoire most of the Delmores songs were originals - mostly composed by Alton and includes a mix of ballads, blues, gospel, novelty songs and more. Most of the tracks are just the duo and their guitars and Alton lets loose with some hot guitar solos on some of them. A few tracks feature the great fiddler Arthur Smith, a few are with a small group and there are three tracks feature a fine and unknown steel guitar - his playing on Scatterbrain Mama is particularly fine. Among the songs here are such timeless classics as Blue Railroad Train/ Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar/ Don't You See That Train, and Brown's Ferry Blues. The Delmores were very popular and influential and many of their songs frequently recorded by bluegrass and traditional country acts today. Sound quality is generally excellent - notes by Pat Harrison gives us the basic facts on the duos career but not much more. (FS)

 
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.

 
HAZEL DICKENS Rounder 0126 Hard Hitting Songs For Hard Hit People ● CD $15.98
Hazel's brilliant first solo album - a collection of original and traditional songs - many about the lives of working class and poor people. Her wonderful lonesome vocals have tasteful backup ranging from old time to a more modern country sound. With Ray Edenton, Lloyd Green, Norman Blake, Tony Trischka, Matt Glaser and others. Songs include Busted/ Old Calloused Hands/ Out Among The Stars/ Tomorrow's Already Lost/ Lost Patterns/ Rocking Chair Blues, etc.

 
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 unaccomapnied 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. I only hope that Rounder has the sense to get the rest of her recordings onto CDs - they're all great! (FS)

 
HAZEL DICKENS & ALICE GERARD Rounder 0027 Hazel & Alice ● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 43 min.; essential
A classic, now on CD. It's difficult to overestimate the far-reaching influence of this album. Certainly the repertoires of such country icons as Emmylou, Linda Ronstadt, and even Dolly Parton would be much less soulful and heartfelt if they hadn't heard this album when it first appeared in 1973, and The Judds freely acknowledge that they were heavily influenced by this wonderful collection of traditional material and traditional-sounding originals by Hazel or Alice and Utah Phillips (the version here of his Green Rolling Hills Of West Virginia is the finest I've ever heard). Hazel Dickens springs from several generations of West Virginia coal miners, and her wonderfully soulful vocals reflect that heritage. Alice Gerrard grew up on the west coast and came relatively late to traditional country music; together, they created a unique and magical sound, and this album is its finest manifestation. Alice's deeper voice generally takes over the baritone part in the duets, and Hazel's wild, untrammeled leads ride over it. Theirs was such an unusual and striking way to approach their material that, when the album first came out, it aroused a great deal of attention and has since influenced a lot of traditional country singers. Instrumental accompaniment by Trace Schwarz, Mike Seeger, Lamar Grier, and Hazel on guitar or bass and Alice on guitar or autoharp. (RP)