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NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
 Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey, Part 2
 

  

 

COMPACT DISCS
 

ROY HALL Bear Family BCD 16747 Rocks ● CD $22.98
27 tracks, 71 min., highly recommended
From Bear Family comes this collection spanning the career of Roy Hall. Liner noter Martin Hawkins provides illuminating quotes from Hall, whose autobiographical comments are occasionally punctuated by moments of truth. Hall is best known, perhaps, as co-writer of Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, a song he claims to have taught to Jerry Lee Lewis. It may even be true. Hall fits in the Bill Haley school of country-rocking guys whose age worked against him once the mania of associating rock and roll with youth became firmly entrenched. But Hall's lifestyle was rock and roll before such excesses became popular, or at least celebrated. This set includes many of rollicking pianists sides for the Fortune label, including his earliest hit, Dirty Boogie. Some of the finest moments come on Hall's covers of what are now classics, such as Blue Suede Shoes, All By Myself, and Go Go Little Queenie. A few cuts appear here for the first time, including a trio of songs recorded at Sun Studio (Lost My Baby, Sweet Love On My Mind, Christine). A discography of Hall's 1950s work ends the 54-page booklet. (JC)
 
THE HI-FLYERS Krazy Kat 35 1937-1941 ● CD $16.98
28 tracks, 74 mins, highly recommended
28 tracks recorded between 1937 and 1941 by one of the first and best western swing bands based around Fort Worth, Texas. The group line up varied over the years but always included Elmer Scarborough (guitar, tenor guitar, banjo, bass), Landon Beaver (piano) and Darrell Kirkpatrick (fiddle, accordion, bass). Other musicians and vocalists included Billy Briggs (steel guitar), Steve Wooden (guitar & vocal), Buster Ferguson (guitar & vocal), Andrew Schroder (steel guitar & bass), Dick Reinhart (bass) and others. A varied collection of vocals and hot instrumentals including Honolulu Flapper Girl/ There's A Little Green Mill (By A Little Green Hill)/ Lonesome Mama Blues/ Answer To It Makes No Difference Now/ Get Hot Or Go Home/ Barn yard Romp/ Juke Box Jump/ You Can't Do That To Me/ I Thought You Meant It/ Blonde-Haired Woman and more. Includes two previously unissued songs and seven alternate takes. Excellent sound, informed notes by Kevin Cofey and full discographical info. (FS)

 
GOLDIE HILL B.A.C.M. 107 The Golden Hillbilly - I let The Stars Get In My Eyes ● CD $13.98
24 tracks recorded between 1952 and '54 by this fine female honky tonk singer including her #1 hit I Let The Stars Get In My Eyes - the anser song to Slim Willet's Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes. Goldie, who was the sister of songwriter and musician Tommy Hill, married Carl Smith in 1957 and virtually retired from recording touring. This set includes four duets with Ernest Tubb's son Justin including the hit Looking Back To See. Other songs include Liquor & Women/ Fickle Heart/ I Miss You So/ My Love Is Aflame/ I'm Yvonne Of The Bayou (an answer song to Hank Williams' Jambalaya)/ Young At Heart/ Why Don't You let Me Go and others.
GOLDIE HILL: Ain't Gonna Wash My Face For A Month/ Am I Still Your Baby/ Call Off The Wedding/ Cry, Cry, Darling/ Don't Send No More Roses/ Fickle Heart/ I Let The Stars Get In My Eyes/ I Miss You So/ I'm The Loneliest Gal In Town/ I'm Yesterday's Girl/ I'm Yvonne Of The Bayou/ Let Me Be The One/ Liquor & Women/ Looking Back To See/ Make Love To Me/ My Love Is Aflame/ Please Don't Betray Me/ Say Big Boy/ Sure Fire Kisses/ Treat Me Kind/ Waiting For A Letter/ Why Don't You Let Me Go/ Why Talk To My Heart/ Young At Heart

 
ROSCOE HOLCOMB Smithsonian Folkways 40104 The High Lonesome Sound ● CD $15.98
21 tracks, 71 mins, essential
Many great traditional musicians were discovered in the late 50s and 60s but a few stand out above the rest - Roscoe Holcomb, discovered by John Cohen in Daisy, Kentucky in 1959, is just such a person. He was a superb singer, banjo player and guitarist with a high, intense vocal style that is drenched with emotion. His music was steeped in blues, traditional ballads and the Baptish church and carries an emotional charge that has few parallels - Robert Johnson is one that springs to mind! This wonderful collection features all the aspects of his diverse repertoire originally issued 3 Folkways LPs in the 60s and 70s and makes for spellbinding listening. His singing frequently sends shivers down my spine it is so affecting. The 24 page booklet includes detailed, informative and affectionate notes from Cohen along with some wonderful photos. If you love traditional music this is a must. (FS)

 
HOMER & JETHRO B.A.C.M. 043 Ground Hog ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 71 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection featuring all but one of the tracks recorded by this fine comedic duo for King in 1947. Featuring vocal and guitar from Henry "Homer" Haynes and vocal and stunning mandolin playing from Kenneth "Jethro" Burns they perform traditional songs (Boll Weevil/ Poor Little Liza Poor Girl/ Ground Hog, etc), twisted version of Tin Pan Alley Songs (Margie/ Five Minutes More/ Night And Day/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now/ Glow Worm, etc) and a few originals (I Brusied Her Somewhat/ Goodbye Old Booze/ All Night Long, etc. Sound is generally excellent and there are brief notes by Brian Golbey. (FS)
HOMER & JETHRO: All Night Long/ Always/ Bill Bailey Won‘t You Please Come Home/ Blue Tailed Fly/ Boll Weevil/ Cielito Lindo/ Donkey Serenade/ Don‘t Let Your Sweet Love Die/ Don‘t Telephone, Don‘t Telegraph/ Five Minutes More/ Fly Birdie Fly/ Glow Worm/ Goodbye Old Booze/ Ground Hog/ I Feel Old Age Creeping On/ I Wonder Who‘s Kissing Her Now/ It Bruised Her Somewhat/ I‘ll Close My Eyes/ I‘m Glad I Waited For You/ Margie/ Night And Day/ Poor Little Liza Poor Girl/ Rye Whiskey/ Sympathy-symphony/ When It‘s Long Handle Time In Tennessee

 
HOOSIER HOT SHOTS B.A.C.M. 011 Rural Jazz ● CD $13.98
Delightful collection of 20 tracks from the 30s and 40s by this popular novelty group performing country, popular and jazz songs and tunes with a line up that includes clarinet, kazoo, banjo, slide whistle, guitar, washboard and more.
THE HOOSIER HOT SHOTS: Barn Dance Polka/ Bye Bye Blues/ Dark Town Strutters Ball/ Divorce Me C.O.D./ Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream)/ Down By The Ohio/ Farewell Blues/ Hold ‘Er Eb'ner/ I Like Mountain Music/ Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider/ Is It True What They Say About Dixie?/ Margie/ No More/ Nobody's Sweetheart Now/ She Broke My Heart In Three Places/ She Was A Washout In The Blackout/ Them Hillbillies Are Mountain Williams Now/ Wah Hoo/ Where You Going, Honey/ You Two Timed Me Once Too Often

 
BUDDY JONES B.A.C.M. 014 Police Officer & Honky Tonk Singer ● CD $13.98
20 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
If you don't buy this you'll be arrested! A terrific collection of bluesy western swing by this fine singer, guitarist and songwriter accompanied by a hot band. Band members are not identified but usually included the likes of Buster Jones (Buddy's brother), Bob Dunn, Moon Mullican and others. One cut features a duet with his good friend Jimmie Davis and one track, the raunchy, Butcher Man Blues is a fine example of talking blues. No duplication with Cattle 206. (FS)
BUDDY JONES: Actions Speak Louder Than Words/ Butcher Man Blues/ Carry The Good Work On/ Dear Old Sunny South By The Sea/ Don't Ever Leave Me Alone/ Ease My Troubled Mind/ Every Day Blues/ Gonna Change My Business All Around/ I Wish I'd Never Met You/ I'll Get Mine Bye And Bye No. 2/ I'm Gonna Get Me A Honky Tonk Baby/ Mean Hangover Blues/ Mean Old Sixty Five Blues/ Ragged But Right/ Red River Blues/ She's A Hum Dum Dinger/ She's Selling What She Used To Give Away/ Shreveport County Jail Blues/ What Is Life Lived Alone/ You've Got Just What It Takes

 
BUEL KAZEE B.A.C.M. 027 Legendary Kentucky Ballad Singer ● CD $13.98
22 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
A number of Buel Kazee tracks have appeared on various compilations but this is the first CD reissue exclusively devoted to thi his fine and important ballad singer. Kazee, who was a trained singer, accompanied himself on banjo and recorded seminal versions of songs like Butchers Boy/ East Virginia/ Lady Gay/ Wagoner's Lad/ The Moonshiner and others. This set also features tracks with guitar and violin accompaniment, some duets with Carson Robison and some gospel songs with Frank & James McCravy as The Blue Ridge Gospel Singers. Wonderful stuff. (FS)
BUELL KAZEE: Don't Forget Me Little Darling/ East Virginia/ Faded Coat Of Blue/ I'm Alone In This World/ If You Love Your Mother/ Lady Gay/ Little Mohee/ Old Whisker Bill, The Moonshiner/ Poor Orphan Boy/ Redwing/ Roving Cowboy/ Snow Deer/ The Blind Man/ The Butcher Boy/ The Cowboy Trail/ The Cowboy's Farewell/ The Dying Soldier/ The Orphan Girl/ The Ship That's Sailing High/ The Wagoner's Lad/ Toll The Bells/ Why Not Tonight

 
JAMES KING Rounder 0490 Thirty Years Of Farming ● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended
Splendid new album by this outstanding and soulful bluegrass vocalist from Virginia. His vocals are exceptional with a powerful and intense delivery that lies somewhere between Carter Stanley and Dave Evans. His band is excellent, both in their spot on instrumental work and spendid harmonies. His material is a mix of new and old bluegrass and country songs from a diverse selection of writers like Fred Eaglesmith, Tom T. Hall, George Jones, Carl Story, Buddy Starcher and others. (FS)

 
LILY MAY LEDFORD June Appal 078 Rare Concert & Studio Recordings, 1968-1983 ● CD $14.98
22 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
Wonderful collection of traditional singing, banjo and fiddle playing by this outstanding performer from Kentucky who led the first all female string band The Coon Creek Girls who were active from the mid 30s through the mid 50s. The group retired from performing in 1957 but Lily Mae was coaxed to perform again in 1966 by Ralph Rinzler and pursued an active career up to her death in 1985. These recordings, drawn from a variety of sources, gives us a glimpse into her repertoire including banjo songs, minstrel songs, traditional ballads, an African-American spiritual, banjo and fiddle instrumentals and more. Many of the songs and tunes are familiar - How Many Biscuits Can You Eat/ Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow/ Wild Bill Jones/ Babes In The Woods/ Sally Goodin/ John Henry and others but Lily May sings them with originality, conviction and authority. I particularly like her moving version of the traditional ballad The Brown Girl based on the Child Ballad Lord Thomas And Fair Annet. Interspersed among the songs we hear Lily Mae with introductions and reminiscences which are a sheer delight in their own right. Excellent sound and 16 page booklet with informative notes. (FS)

 
LAURIE LEWIS & KATHIE KALLICK Rounder 0318 Together ● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 40 min., highly recommended
This outstanding set was originally released in 1991 on the Kaleidoscope label, and God bless Rounder for reissuing it. The two featured artists have long known one another, having performed together with the Good Ol' Persons ensemble in the mid-70's. Then, still friends, they performed separately for more than a decade. This reunion finds both in particularly fine form, their voices and their stringed instruments blending with the subtle assurance of a sister duet. Among the wonderful, bluegrass-tinged numbers are Going Up the Mountain, Don't You See That Train, The Touch of the Master's Hand, Count Your Blessings, and Little Annie. But the highlight of the set has to be Hideaway, one of the best new love songs I've heard in years. Don't miss this one. (DH)

 
THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS B.A.C.M. 094 Guitar Jump ● CD $13.98
25 tracks from 1947 commercial recordings and previously unissued 1948 radio transcriptions. A mix of hot western swing, novelty songs and pop flavored numbers with Mel Cox & Carroll Hubbard/ fiddles, Lefty Perkins /lead & steel guitar, Marvin Montgomery/ tenor banjo & rhythm guitar, Knocky Fodwin/ accordion and others. 
THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS: A Tear For A Tear/ Billy Goat Rag/ Don‘t Make Me Cry/ Ezra‘s Waltz/ Fisherman‘s Polka/ Get Away Little Gal Get Away/ Guitar Jump/ Honolulu Lou/ I Cried And Cried And Cried/ I Never Done That Before/ It‘s A Dirty Shame/ It‘s Cold In Here/ I‘m Gonna Be Gone, Gone, Gone/ Jean From Abilene/ Move On Gal/ New Sow Song/ No Suh/ Oklahoma Waltz/ One Time Too Many/ Pappy‘s Banjo Boogie/ Smokey Joe From El Paso/ Starlight Waltz/ The Waltz That Broke My Heart/ There Ain‘t No More/ Truck Driver‘s Boogie

 
THE LILLY BROTHERS & DON STOVER Smithsonian Folkways 40158 Bluegrass At The Roots ● CD $15.98
Reissue of Folkways 2433 with two previously unissued tracks. Wonderful old time singing and traditional bluegrass from this superb duo. The first eight tracks features just the duo accompanying themselves on guitar and mandolin in the style of earlier brother teams like The Blue Sky Boys and The Monroe Brothers. On the remaining tracks they are joined by Don Stover on banjo, Herb Hooven on fiddle or bass annd occasionally Mike Seeger on bass on a wonderful selection of traditional bluegrass.
 
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS Bear Family BCD 15561 Close Harmony ● CD $189.98
Like their fellow Alabamians the Delmore Brothers, Ira and Charlie Louvin (born Loudermilk) of Sand Mountain, Alabama, long ago became legends for their exquisite vocal harmonies. Their influence in the bluegrass field and on both the music of the late Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris was immense. Various reissues of their Capitol and MGM recordings have existed on LP in the past along with the fine live recordings released by Rounder and Copper Creek. This collection, however, makes past reissues of their studio sides irrelevant. You have here 220 songs on eight CD's, starting (like the Johnnie and Jack) with the duo's first recording for Apollo, done at a 1947 Eddie Hill session. Their sole 1949 Decca single is included along with their dozen 1951-52 MGM recordings including Weapon of Prayer, The Get Acquainted Waltz and The Great Atomic Power. The over 200 Capitol recordings span 1952 to 1963, when the act broke up. 1965. This collection encompasses their classic LPs, including their gospel sets, the Delmore Brothers and Roy Acuff tributes and secular albums along with their single hits like My Baby's Gone, Cash on the Barrelhead, When I Stop Dreaming, You're Running Wild and Knoxville Girl (a traditional song those who decry violent rap lyrics should check out!). Those harmonies are further enhanced by the typically faultless Bear Family remastering. Again like Johnnie and Jack, a violent auto accident claimed Ira Louvin in 1965. The booklet by Charles Wolfe, based on recent interviews with Charlie Louvin and others is loaded with rare photos, outtakes from album cover picture sessions along with discographical and song data as well as session anecdotes. The stories about the Louvins' high and low times and Ira Louvin's complexity could spawn a movie. Ira, a gifted gospel composer could, in a foul mood or in his cups, become the mandolin player from Hell. He smashed mandolins onstage before any rock group ever thought of smashing guitars. An essential set worth every penny for the music and the booklet. (RK)

 
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS Gusto GTCD 0105 Tragic Songs Of Life ● CD $9.98
12 tracks, 36 mins, essential
This remains remains one of their finest moments on record, with the rich Louvin harmonies against an all-acoustic backing (except for Paul Yandell's lead guitar.) If their In The Pines doesn't send chills down your spine, see a doctor. It also includes Kentucky/ Let Her Go, God Bless Her/ A Tiny Broken Heart/ Alabama/ My Brother's Will/ Take The News To Mother, etc. Reissue of Capitol T-769 from 1956. (RK)
 
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS Gusto GTCD 0108 A Tribute To The Delmore Brothers ● CD $9.98
12 cuts, 33 min; essential
Reissue of Capitol T-1449 from 1960, a classic album featuring a tribute from the last great brother duet in country music to their counterparts from the 30s and 40s. The Louvins, like the Delmores natives of Alabama, here acknowledge their musical debt to their musical forebears, with heartfelt renderings of 12 classics from the Delmore's repertoire. Ira Louvin, he of the trademark achingly pure and wild tenor voice, normally played mandolin on the Louvin's records, but here he plays Rabon Delmore's tenor guitar, loaned by surviving Delmore brother Alton especially for the session. The haunting melancholy melodies and syncopated guitar rhythms lend themselves particularly well to the Louvin sound. Their instrumental work here is augmented by guitarist Jimmy Capps, and every track is a delight. Songs included are Weary Lonesome Blues/ Blues Stay Away From Me/ Southern Moon/ Brown's Ferry Blues/ Freight Train Boogie/ The Last Old Shovel, etc. (RP)
 
THE LOUVIN BROTHERS Gusto GTCD 0114 My Baby's Gone ● CD $9.98
12 tracks, essential
Reissue of Capitol T-1385 from 1960. This album includes funky Blue From Now On and the exquisite When I Loved You and She Didn't Even Know I Was Gone, a truly underrated ballad. Remember when Nashville didn't let anyone play drums? On their superb You're Running Wild , the "drum" is Ray Edenton's rhythm guitar. Capitol did some great album covers in the late 50s and early 60s and this is one of their classics. (RK)

 
BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD Smithsonian Folkways 40082 Ballads, Banjo Tunes & Sacred Songs Of North Carolina ● CD $15.98
19 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
Bascom Lamar Lunsford was a remarkable man. Not only a fine singer and banjo player, as heard here, during his long life he was a fruit tree salesman, honey bee promoter, publisher, lawyer and political advisor. He also organized the first Folk Music festival in Nashville, North Carolina in 1927 - an event which continues to this day. He recorded for commercial labels and more than 300 songs for the Library Of Congress. The 18 songs and tunes on this collection reflects only a fraction of his repertoire but provides a good cross section which included traditional British and American ballads, banjo shouting songs, parlor songs and more. Lunsford was an immensely engaging singer and his banjo playing, while not flashy is spot on. Some cuts feature him playing a mandoline which combined a mandolin-shaped body with five-string banjo neck and the result is a lighter more melodic sound. He also plays some powerful fiddle on Ten Steps. This collection features five of his commercial recordings for Brunswick & Vocalion in 1928 including the wonderful I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground, Old Mountain Dew an original composition that has become a folk standard plus Little Turtle Dove/ Dry Bones, etc. The rest of the performances were made for the Library Of Congress in 1949 and include Swananoa Tunnel/ In The Shadow Of The Pines/ Bonny George Campbell/ On A Bright & Summer's Morning and others. Lunsford was diligent about giving credit to all the people who he collected his songs from and his Library Of Congress recordings are frequently introduced with a reminiscence of the person he collected it from. An excellent and valuable release with good notes by Loyal Jones and a brief introduction from one of Lunsford's daughters. (FS)

 
MAC AND BOB B.A.C.M. 116 Songs For Country Home Folks, Vol. 2 ● CD $13.98
22 tracks, 64 minutes, highly recommended
A beloved, highly successful close-harmony duet of the '20s and '30s, Lester McFarland and Robert Gardner recorded dozens of sides for Brunswick and ARC that have long eluded reissue. Accompanying themselves on guitar, mandolin and sometimes harmonica, this Knoxville (later Chicago-based) duo favored sentimental, sacred and morality tales of yesteryear, appealing to older listeners who had little tolerance for the hotcha music of the Jazz Age. Mac and Bob weren't reluctant to take on novelties like Women's Suffrage, and their takes on familiar songs like The Girl I Loved in Sunny Tennessee are often startlingly different. Their most immediate disciples were Karl & Harty, Doc Hopkins, Gene Autry & Jimmie Long, and the Blue Sky Boys. Mac Wiseman later drew upon their repertoire for his early Dot sessions. Listening from a modern perspective, the duo opens a window to country music's genesis in popular 19th century parlor music. A worthy successor to B.A.C.M's first Mac and Bob set, ("Songs for Country Home Folks, Vol. 1," B.A.C.M. 067, $13.98). Generally excellent sound; brief notes by Brian Golbey. (DS)
MAC & BOB: A Picture No Artist Can Paint/ Birmingham Jail/ Bright Sherman Valley/ Go And Leave Me If You Wish To/ I Heard My Mother Call My Name In Prayer/ I Love You Best Of All/ I Wish I Had Died In My Cradle/ I've Nothing To Live For Now/ Just A Kerosene Lamp/ Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight/ Out In This Cold World/ Paint A Rose On The Garden Wall/ Please Let Me Broadcast To Heaven/ Rocky Mountain Rose/ Songs My Mother Used To Sing/ Sunny Tennessee/ Take Up Thy Cross And Follow Me/ The Orphan Boy/ Under The Old Sierra Moon/ Under The Old Umbrella/ When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming/ Woman Suffrage

 
UNCLE DAVE MACON JSP JSPCD 7729 Classic Sides, 1924-1938 ● CD $28.98
4 CD box, 100 tracks, essential ... but
A wonderful retrospective of recordings from the unlikely first star of the Grand Old Opry, Uncle Dave Macon. Born in 1870 in Tennessee, he was a wagoner until until age 50, when his prowess with banjo and his earthy humor and showmanship led him first to vaudeville and then to radio success. Uncle Dave had a vast repertoire including traditional ballads, string band numbers, minstrel songs, gospel songs and some wonderful topical numbers all of it suffused with Uncle Dave's irrepressible good humor and enthusiasm featuring spoken asides and chuckles that are a delight. About half the tracks are just Dave and his banjo or with Sam McGhee/ guitar and the rest feature various accompaniments including some truly wonderful sides with vocal and instrumental accompaniments from Sam & Kirk McGhee and Mazy Todd that were issued as by Uncle Dave Macon & His Fruit Jar Drinkers or (for the gospel songs) as The Dixie Sacred Singers. There are also tracks with fiddle Sid Harkreader and with The Delmore Brothers. Sound is generally excellent though the earliest acoustically recorded sides which are particularly hard to master sound a bit thin. Each CD comes with a four page booklet with notes by Pat Harrison and discographical information. The reason for the "but" at the beginning of this review is that at the end of June Bear Family will be releasing a box set of Uncle Dave that will be the definitive reissue and will include ALL of Uncle Dave's recording, is sure to have better sound, will include a 176 page hard cover book and will include a DVD which we don't have details on yet. It will be a lot more expensive than this set but will be the one to get if you can afford it - otherwise this set will give you a superb cross section of his music. (FS)

 
THE MADDOX BROTHERS & ROSE Arhoolie 391 Americas Most Colorful Hillbilly Band, Original Recordi ● CD $12.98
27 tracks, 69 min. 10 sec. essential
Since most of this material appeared on two 1976 LPs, interest has grown in the Maddox Brothers and Rose. Her singing and the band's importance to both the Bakersfield sound and to rockabilly are finally seen as significant. The material, recorded from 1946 to 1951, holds up today with its sense of fun, hot guitar and Rose's riproaring vocals. They're a riveting listening experience whether you're hearing Hank Williams covers (Move it On Over, Honky Tonkin'), Woody Guthrie's Philadelphia Lawyer, Merle Travis's Dark As A Dungeon or the ferocious Hangover Blues. Still, the remastering wiped out all the highs, toning down the stinging lead guitar and Rose's sharp voice. More offensive is the fact I Want To Live And Love is repeated twice, once mistitled as Muleskinner Blues on Track 12 and on Track 27, under its own name. (RK)
THE MADDOX BROTHERS & ROSE: Alimony, (Pay Me)/ Brown Eyes/ Careless Driver/ Dark As The Dungeon/ Faded Love/ George's Playhouse Boogie/ Hangover Blues/ Honky Tonkin'/ I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again/ Mean And Wicked Boogie/ Meanest Man In Town/ Midnight Train/ Milk Cow Blues/ Move It On Over/ Mule Train/ New Mule Skinner Blues/ New Step It Up And Go/ Oklahoma Sweetheart Sally Ann/ Philadelphia Lawyer/ Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down/ Shimmy Shakin' Daddy/ Time Nor Tide/ Water Baby Boogie/ When I Lay My Burden Down/ Whoa Sailor/ Your Love Light Never Shone

 
J.E. MAINER'S MOUNTAINEERS B.A.C.M. 122 1935-1939 ● CD $13.98
23 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Wonderful collection of energetic old time mountain music by this North Carolina string band led by singer & fiddler J.E. Mainer who had a lengthy career from the late 20s to the late 60s. The group's instrumental techniques and line up using fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar and string bass were an important precursor to the bluegrass style and some of the songs J.E. and his group popularized have become bluegrass staples. The personnell of the group changed over the years with the earliest recordings here featuring J.E.'s brother Wade on banjo and harmony vocal as well as taking vocal lead on a couple of later number. The material is a mix of original songs, traditional songs, sacred songs, old time favorites and more and includes Seven And A Half/ The Longest Train/ Going Back West In The Fall/ Fatal Wreck Of The Bus/ Satisfied (a particularly fine version of this religious song with great harmonies)/ Johnson's Old Grey Mule/ Going Down To The River Of Jordan/ Don't Go Out/ Country Blues and others. Sound quality is fine and there are brief notes by Brian Golbey. (FS)
J.E. MAINER'S MOUNTAINEERS: City On The Hill/ Concord Rag (Instr)/ Country Blues (instr.)/ Don’t Get Trouble In Your Mind/ Don’t Go Out/ Drunkard’s Hiccups/ Fatal Wreck Of The Bus/ Going Back West In The Fall/ Going Down To The River Of Jordan/ John Henry Was A Little Boy/ Johnson’s Old Grey Mule/ Let Her Go God Bless Her/ Lights In The Valley/ New Lost Train Blues/ Number 111/ On A Cold Winter’s Night/ Satisfied/ Seven And A Half/ The Longest Train/ Watermelon On The Vine/ Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls/ Won’t Be Worried Long/ Write A Letter To Mother

 
JOE MAPHIS Bear Family BCD 16103 Flying Fingers ● CD $19.98
22 tracks, essential
At last! For the first time, Joe's brilliant 1955-1960 Columbia instrumentals, the ones that influenced so many rockabillies and surf guitarists are available in their entirety, excluding (thank God), the far less interesting vocals he recorded with wife Rose Lee Maphis. For good measure, his 1960 single for Gene Autry's Republic label is included. Everything on his 1957 Columbia LP "Fire on the Strings" is issued here for the first time on CD including the song that became Joe's trademark tune, Fire on the Strings can be heard along with Guitar Rock and Roll, Flying Fingers, Town Hall Shuffle, Twin Banjo Special (the weakest song on the record) and the Carter Family's Sweet Fern, appropriate since Joe was a Maybelle Carter disciple. The previously reissued 1957 Maphis-Larry Collins EP is here as well, along with seven instrumentals Joe recorded on spec for Columbia in 1959 and 1960. Check out the terrific color snaps inside showing Joe in his best Western duds. Great notes by Rich Kienzle, who'd interviewed Maphis in in the early 1980s. (AK)

 
JIMMY MARTIN Music Mill 70053 This World Is Not My Home ● CD $11.98
12 tracks, 32 tracks, essential
Reissue of Decca 73460 from 1963 featuring bluegrass gospel at it's very best. Jimmy (who recently passed away) was one of the greatest of all bluegrass singer with his beautiful and expressive high tenor voice. Like most of his Decca recordings he is accompanied by superb musicians like Paul Williams/ mandolin, Bill Emerson or Paul Craft/ banjo, Joe Zinkan, Junior Huskey or Lightnin' Chance/ bass and others who also provide tight vocal harmonies. Although most of the composer credits are to Martin & Williams, many of the songs are traditional or old favorites. Among the highlights are a spellbinding version of one of my favorite songs Lord, I'm Coming Home, the exquisite voice Of My Savior and the always topical God Guide Our Leader's Hand but there's not a track here that's less than superb. (FS)
 
FRANKIE MARVIN Cattle CCD 239 The Golden Age Of Frankie Marvin ● CD $18.98
Although singer/ guitarist Frankie Marvin is not a well known name he spent many years working with his brother Johnny accompanying gene Autry and wrote several songs that Autry recorded.17 of the songs here are from the late 20s and early 30s with Marvin accompanying himself on regular guitar or steel guitar with occasional other accompaniments. Material often shows the influence of the always popular Jimmie Rodgers. There are 8 songs from the mid 40s in a more Western flavored vein with small western groups.

 
LOUISE MASSEY & THE WESTERNERS Bronco Buster 9026 Swing West ● CD $18.98
Western swing flavored group from the 40s.
LOUISE MASSEY & THE WESTERNERS: Billie Boy/ Ciribiribin (Inst.)/ Dude Cowboy/ Gals Don't Mean a Thing (in My Young Life)/ Honeysuckle Schottische (Inst.)/ I Only Want a Buddy Not a Sweetheart/ I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes/ Listen to the Mocking Bird/ Little Brown Jug (Inst.)/ Mistakes/ My Adobe Hacienda/ Rancho Grande/ Rock and Rye Polka (Inst.)/ Starlight Schottische (Inst.)/ Tears on My Pillow/ The Honey Song (Honey I'm in Love with You)/ The Little Wooden Whistle Wouldn't Whistle/ There'll Come a Day/ Varsovienna (Inst.)/ Ye Old Rye Waltz (Inst.)

 
THE MASTERS FAMILY Cattle 327 Back In The Good Ole Days, 1948-1954 ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 63 mins, essential
A fabulous collection of old time country gospel plus a couple of secular songs by Johnnie & Lucille Masters and their son Owen recorded between 1948 and 1954. Most of the tracks feature them accompanied by guitar and mandolin with various other additional instruments including some wonderful piano, Dobro and on some of the later tracks steel guitar by Don Helms. Most of the songs here were written by Johnnie Masters and include That Little Old Country Church/ Gloryland March and Cry From The Cross which have become country gospel standards. If you liked the recent release by James Roberts and Martha Carson you're sure to love this too. (FS)
THE MASTERS FAMILY: Back In The Good Old Days/ From Forty To Sixty-five/ Glory Land March/ Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet/ Happiness Comes On Spiritual Wings/ I Have Changed/ I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone/ It's All Coming True/ Just A Sinner Saved By Grace/ Marching On To Glory/ My Heart's Like A Beggar/ New World To Come/ Noah And The Mighty Ark/ Singing In The Promised Land/ Southbound Passenger Train/ Swing Wide Ye Golden Gates/ That Little Old Country Church/ The Cry From The Cross/ The Man Of Galilee/ They've Made A New Bible/ When He Heard My Plea/ When The Wagon Was New/ While The Ages Roll On/ You Gotta Pray

 
LEON MCAULIFFE Cattle 295 A Musical Souvenir ● CD $18.98
24 tracks recorded by this great steel guitarist in the late 40s to mid 50s after leaving Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. Includes instrumentals as well as tracks with vocals by McAuliffe himself, Jimmy Hall, Duane Bass and others.
LEON MCAULIFFE: Birmingham Bounce/ Bitter Tears/ Blacksmith Blues/ Blue Guitar Stomp/ Careless Hands/ Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy/ Eating Right Out Of Your Hand/ Hear Me Now/ Heart Attacks/ I Didn't Know How Much I Loved You/ I'm Going Back To Birmingham/ No One For Me/ Panhandle Waltz/ Redskin Rag/ Somebody Else Is A-beatin' My Time/ Stolen Love/ Sugar And Salt/ Take It Away, Leon/ The Three Bears/ There's A Right Way, A Wrong Way/ This Side Of Town/ Twin Fiddle Rag/ What, Where And When/ Who Took My Ring From Your Finger

 
HARRY MCCLINTOCK B.A.C.M. 082 The Great American Bum ● CD $13.98
22 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
22 tracks recorded between 1928 and 1931 by this fascinating performer whose classic recording of In The Big Rock Candy Mountain from 1928 (featured here) was included in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". McClintock was a world traveler who settled in San Francisco in the 1917 where he landed a radio spot on KFRC in 1925. McClintock, who was involved in the labor movement, performed a mix of hobo, vaudeville and cowboy songs including another song that has become a standard Hallelujah, I'm A Bum. Half the songs feature just Mac and his guitar - most of the rest feature a small group ("The Haywire Orchestra") and one song features fiddler Virgil Ward. Includes Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister/ Get Along Little Dogies/ The Man On The Flying Trapeze/ Trail To Mexico/ The TRusty Lariat/ Roamin'/ My Last Old Dollar/ The Bum Song/ Bald Top Mountain/ Jerry Go 'Ile That Car/ Circus Days and more. (FS)
HARRY MCCLINTOCK: Bald Top Mountain/ Billy Venero/ Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister/ Circus Days/ Fifty Years From Now/ Fireman Save My Child/ Get Along Little Dogies/ Hallelujah I’m A Bum/ Hobo Spring Song/ Homespun Gal/ If I Had My Druthers/ In The Big Rock Candy Mountains/ Jerry Go ‘ile That Car/ My Dad’s Dinner Pail/ My Last Old Dollar/ Old Chisholm Trail/ Roamin’/ The Bum Song/ The Bum Song #2/ The Man On The Flying Trapeze/ The Trusty Lariat/ Trail To Mexico

 
BUDDY MILLER Hightone HCD 8063 Your Love And Other Lies ● CD $16.98
13 tracks, 41 mins, essential
Hightone does it again. This is the best debut country album I've heard in a long time. He's an outstanding singer with a hard edged honky tonk style, he had a hand in writing most of the songs here (some with his wife Julie), plays lead guitar and produced the album! The songs are starightforward tales of love lost and found with none of the cuteness that affects so much contemporary country writing. Buddy is accompanied by a solid band of musicians with vocal harmonies being provided by Julie Miller, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Dan Penn and others. The covers are outstanding versions of Tom T. Hall's That's How I Got To Memphis and The Louvin Brothers You're Running Wild. At times you'll hear echoes of Dwight Yoakam, George Jones and Buddy Holly but it all ends up being pure Buddy Miller. A remarkable talent to keep your eye on. (FS) Like Hightone's other great discovery, Heather Myles, Buddy first appeared on the "Points West" collection (Hightone 8021 - cassette $9.50/ CD $12.98) some years ago. His solo album was a long time a comin' but it's worth the wait.
 
BILL MONROE JSP JSPCD 7712 All The Classic Releases, 1937-1949 ● CD $28.98
This is essentially a condensed version of Bear Family 16399 leaving out the alternate takes and the stupendous book and much cheaper. The first two CDs feature all 60 duets recorded for Bluebird between 1936 and 1938 by Bill and his brother Charlie. The other two CDs feature all 16 of his seminal recordings from 1940 and '41 with his first band called The Bluegrass boys plus all his classic Columbia sessions from 1945-49 with sidemen like Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise and other great musicians.

 
BILL NEELY Arhoolie 496 Texas Law & Justice ● CD $12.98
20 songs, 59 min., highly recommended
The only album by this Texas country singer-songwriter-guitarist, whose most powerful influences include Jimmie Rodgers (whom he met) and Mance Lipscomb (whom he knew). A rambler during the Great Depression and a soldier in WWII and Korea, Neely saw a lot of life and packed much of it into these songs. The title track, written in 1939 by a relative of his, is as actual death-row plea from Ira McKee who died in the electric chair in Texas...and was later proven innocent. Other titles include Satan's Burning Hell, On A Blackland Farm, Skid Row, No Pockets In A Shoud, and Rock & Roll Baby (written in 1949, before the phrase was popular), a trio of fine instrumentals, and much more. (JC)

 
JIMMIE OSBORNE B.A.C.M. 128 Vol. 2 ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
Second Collection of sides by this superb but little known honky tonk singer whose career ended with his suicide in 1958. Jimmie had a fine twangy vocal style and was accompanied by excellent musicians with fine fiddle and steel guitar and occasional mandolin. These sides were recorded between 1947 and 1954 and include a number of interesting topical songs - a number of which were hits. Among the topical items his the grim My Saddest Mistake about a man who lets his young child play with a loaded gun with disasterous consequences. (FS)
JIMMIE OSBORNE: A Million People Have Died/ A Tennessee Ocean/ An Empty Old Cottage/ Blue Days & Lonely Nights/ Don‘t Slam The Door/ Forever Far Apart/ God Please Protect America/ I Did & I Does & I Do/ I Just Received Word Mom Is Dying Tonight/ It Just Tears Me All To Pieces/ It‘s Just A Habit With You/ It‘s Me Who Has To Suffer/ It‘s So Hard To Smile/ Love Me Or Leave Me/ Missing In Action/ My Saddest Mistake/ My Tissue Paper Heart/ Not Unloved Nor Unclaimed/ Old Family Bible/ Son Please Meet Me In Heaven/ Tell Me Daddy If You Know/ You All Come/ Your Lies Have Broken My Heart/ Your Lovin‘ & Huggin‘/ You‘re The Only Angel

 
BUCK OWENS Sundazed 6042 Country Ballads By One Of America's Top Singers ● CD $12.98
14 tracks, 33 mins, essential
These are not Buck Owens' first recordings; he previously recorded for the Pep and Chesterfield labels . However, these pre- Buckaroo tracks from the late '50s, Owens' first Capitol's release, are among his very best. Actually several of the future Buckaroos are here as well, including Don Rich on lead guitar and Ralph Mooney on pedal steel. Many of the finest examples of the Bakersfield sound are here: Second Fiddle/ Above and Beyond/ Under Your Spell Again, and I'll Take a Chance on Loving You, to name a few. Buck delivers some of his greatest vocals anywhere and the instrumental backup is always driving, right on target, and pure country! Bonus tracks include High as the Mountains and Nobody's Fool But Yours from a early single and anthology. For owners of Rhino's Buck Owens anthology of a few years ago, there are 4 duplications with this release. It's just not possible to find so much great early Buck Owens material on one disc anywhere else! The CD booklet includes the original liner notes, complete personnel listings, and an essay on Owens by Rich Kienzle. (DP)

 
THE PICKARD FAMILY B.A.C.M. 084 Walking In The Parlour - Old Time Playing And Singing ● CD $13.98
Delightful collection of 21 tracks by this family who are little known today but were among the first stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Led by multi instrumentalist Obed Pickard who played fiddle, guitar, banjo, harmonica and Jews harp he was usually joined by his wife Leila May on piano, daughter Ruth on accordion and sons Bubb & Charlie on guitars. A varied collection recorded between 1927 and 1930 it includes traditional and vaudeville songs performed with skill and enthusiasm including Behind The Parlour Door/ Get Away From That Window/ Kitty Wells (the song that inspired Muriel Deason to change her name to Kitty Wells)/ The Old Grey Horse (a solo Jews harp piece)/ On The Dummy Line/ She Never Came Back/ She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain/ Buffalo Gals/ The Blind Boys Lament, etc.
THE PICKARD FAMILY: Behind The Parlour Door/ Birmingham Jail/ Buffalo Gals/ Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie/ Down In Arkansas/ Get Away From That Window/ Goodbye My Honey/ I’ll Meet Her When The Sun Goes Down/ Kitty Wells/ Life’s Railroad To Heaven/ My Old Boarding House/ On The Dummy Line/ Rabbit In The Pea Patch/ She Never Came Back/ She’ll Be Comin’ Round The Mountain/ The Blind Boy’s Lament/ The Little Red Caboose Behind The Train/ The Old Gray Goose Is Dead/ The Old Grey Horse/ The Picture On The Wall/ Walking In The Parlour

 
FIDDLING JACK PIERCE & THE OKLAHOMA COWBOYS B.A.C.M. 132 Also Featuring The Smyth County Ramblers & Tenneva Ramb