( Advanced Search )  


 

 

NEWSLETTER #145
Second Time Around
 Country, Bluegrass & Old Timey, Part 3
 

  

 

COMPACT DISCS
 

CARL SMITH ASV CDAJA 5605 Let's Live A Little ● CD $11.98
29 great sides recorded between 1950 and 1953 by this superb honky tonk singer including 20 top ten hits - five of them reaching number 1. Many of these were previously reissued on B.A.C.M. 055 so if you have that release this is not essential but if not this is the way to go with 5 more tracks and superior packaging.
CARL SMITH: Are You Teasing Me?/ Back Up, Buddy/ Do I Like It?/ Dog-gone It, Baby, Im In Love/ Dont Just Stand There/ Go, Boy, Go/ Guilty Conscience/ Hey, Joe!/ I Betcha My Heart I Love You/ I Overlooked An Orchid While Searching For A Rose/ I Wont Be At Home/ If Teardrops Were Pennies/ Its A Lovely, Lovely World/ Just Wait Til I Get You Alone/ Kisses Dont Lie/ Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way/ Lets Live A Little/ Loose Talk/ Mister Moon/ More Than Anything Else In The World/ My Lonely Hearts Runnin Wild/ No, I Dont Believe I Will/ Our Honeymoon/ Satisfaction Guaranteed/ Thats The Kind Of Love Im Looking For/ Theres Nothing As Sweet As My Baby/ This Orchid Means Goodbye/ Trademark/ Washing My Dreams In Tears

 
HOBART SMITH Rounder 1799 Portraits - Blue Ridge Legacy ● CD $15.98
31 tracks, 70 mins, highly recommended
I've been looking forward to this release in the Lomax series on Rounder as Hobart Smith from Virginia is one of my favorite old time musicians. He was a wonderful singer with an emotion charged style and a virtuoso instrumentalist who was adept on banjo, fiddle, guitar and piano - his playing of old time tunes like Sourwood Mountain and Cindy on the piano is truly remarkable. The material was recorded over a period of more than 20 years - from 1942 through 1963 and encompasses a broad range of traditional music - ballads, blues and a wide range of instrumental pieces. Sound quality on some of the earlier sides is not the greatest but Smith's talent shines through - his 1942 version of The Cuckoo Bird is truly mind boggling with it's powerful vocals and astonishing banjo playing. The enclosed 40 page booklet has extensive notes and some great photos of Hobart in many different setting. (FS)
HOBART SMITH: Arkansas Traveler/ At An Old-timey Dance (interview)/ Banging Breakdown/ Buck Dance/ Chinquipin Pie/ Cindy/ Cindy/ Claude Allen/ Dixie/ Drunken Hiccups/ Ellen Smith/ Going Down The Road Feeling Bad/ Graveyard Blues/ Hangman, Swing Your Rope/ Hawkins County Jail/ Jim Along/ K.c. Blues/ Last Chance/ Old Joe Clark/ Pateroller/ Railroad Bill/ Rocky Mountain/ Sourwood Mountain/ Sourwood Mountain/ The Cuckoo Bird/ The Devil's Dream/ The Thrill Of Dance Music (interview)/ Two Brothers/ Unidentified Electric Guitar Tune/ Wayfaring Stranger/ What Did The Buzzard Say To The Crow?

 
RALPH STANLEY & THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS Rebel 1571 Clinch Mountain Gospel ● CD $15.98
12 tracks, 36 mins, essential
Well there's no shortage of Ralph Stanley reissues these days,, but when they're as good as this, I'm not complaining. This album, originally issued in 1977 features the spellbinding lead vocals of Keith Whitley whose singing epitomizes true "country soul". Ralph provides occasional lead or spine chilling tenor harmonies and we also hear the vocal talents of bassist Jack Cooke on baritone and guest vocalist Chester "Pop" Marshall on bass. Filling out the instrumental sides are Troy Profitt on lead guitar and Curly Ray Cline on fiddle. The performances are magnificent and varied including a wonderful call and response version of Oh Death with Ralph and Keith and an acepalla rendering of Amazing Grace with Ralph "lining out" the lyrics as well as superb renditions of Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem/ There'll Be None On The Other Side/ Jesus Savior Pilot Me/ I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages/ What A Price and others. Bluegrass gospel doesn't get much better than this. (FS)

 
THE STANLEY BROTHERS Bear Family BCD 15564 1949-1952 ● CD $21.98
Important recordings from the Columbia vaults, unavailable on CD until now. This version of The Stanleys is contemporary with Bill Monroe's famous Flatt and Scruggs unit, and though quite different in sound to that group, they also had a profound impact on the shape of bluegrass. More old timey than Monroe's powerful group, these recordings are most noteworthy for the inspired vocal trios featuring the lead of Carter Stanley, tenor of brother Ralph, and unique "high baritone" of Pee Wee Lambert on classics like A Vision Of Mother/ The White Dove/ Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet/ The Angels Are Singing/ Pretty Polly and others. Guitarist Carter Stanley's mournful singing, his ability to write original songs that sounded as old as his Clinch Mountains, the wonderful three-part harmonies, and the decidedly old time approach of banjoist Ralph, plus the other instrumentalists make these very special recordings. 24 in all, including alternate versions of The Fields Have Turned Brown/ Little Glass Of Wine, plus all the Brothers' recorded output for Columbia. Essential. RP)

 
THE STANLEY BROTHERS Bear Family BCD 15681 1953-59 ● CD $41.98
2 CDs, 49 tracks; 2 hrs, 1 min; essential
After years of spotty availability of the most important recordings of this legendary band, we have recently been deluged with great Stanley Brothers reissues. This latest, featuring all their recordings from Mercury, is particularly welcome because it features a large percentage of their classic numbers, including Carter Stanley-composed songs such as This Weary Heart You Stole Away, Our Last Goodbye, Poison Lies, I Long To See The Old Folks, Nobody's Love Is Like Mine, and A Lonesome Night, all now staples of the bluegrass repertoire. The bands here are more in the traditional vein, featuring less guitar than on the later King recordings; 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. This collection also features classic recordings of the gospel number Cry From The Cross, which has become a staple of Ralph Stanley's bands, and a haunting version of the traditional Angel Band, along with a significant number of Bill Monroe compositions, including A Voice From On High, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, I Hear My Savior Calling, and Close By. Also included are two numbers recorded for the Blue Ridge label in 1959, among the Brothers' rarest recordings, the traditional songs Meet Me Tonight and Nobody's Business. Great notes and discography by Gary Reid, good sound. As always, the mournful and intense lead vocals of Carter Stanley, the chilling tenor voice of Ralph, and his ringing banjo stamp these recordings with The Stanley Brothers' inimitable sound.(RP)
 
JODY STECHER & KATE BRISLIN Rounder 0274 Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin ● CD $15.98
Jody and Kate are two of our finest traditional country musicians, and this, their first duet album, is one of the finest traditional recordings to come along in a while. Jody is an outstanding traditional singer, and he also plays fiddle, guitar, and mandolin (often overdubbed), even playing banjo on one cut. His fiddle playing and singing in particular possess that mournful, doomy feeling that is an essential element of really good old time country music. Kate, ex of the Any Old Time and Blue Flame String Bands, is just about my favorite old time country singer, and the unique timbre of her voice is heard here to best advantage. Plus the harmony singing is heavenly. Larry Hanks adds some rumbling bass on 2 cuts, while Heath Curdts sings baritone and plays banjo on Paul & Silas. Other cuts: Alabama Waltz/ Love Farewell/ Hard Times & Will You Miss Me (another vocal gem) (RP)

 
JODY STECHER & KATE BRISLIN Rounder 0304 Our Town ● CD $15.98
13 tracks, 55 min., recommended
Once again, Jody and Kate mine that borderland of traditional old time string band music, bluegrass, and early country, coming up with a handful of gems. Our Town, Iris DeMent's stunning look at small town America, is given their wonderful treatment, as are The Bramble And The Rose, Mark Simos' In Between Dreams, Hazel Dickens' Won't You Come And Sing For Me, and Lyn Davis' Too Late, Too Late. Traditional songs included are Going To The West/ Twilight Is Stealing/ Curtains Of Night, all invested with the haunting vocal duet approach that makes Jody and Kate's music so special. Jody's guitar, mandolin, and fiddle playing is outstanding as always, and he contributes a rare original song, the whimsical Henry And The True Machine. RP)
 
WYNN STEWART Audium 8186 After The Storm - The Playboy Sessions ● CD $11.98
12 tracks, 35 mins, highly recommended
A most welcome reissue of the 1976 recordings made for Playboy by this wonderful West Coast country singer. Wynn was a truly superb honky tonk singer and a great songwriter and these recordings find him in fine form. It includes several remakes of Challenge and Capitol hits like Wishful Thinking/ Big, Big Love/ Playboy and It's Such A Pretty World Today as well as several fine new songs like his 1976 hit After The Storm, the tongue in cheek I'm Gonna Kill You and the powerful Just Now Thought Of You which I think is his finest performance here with a truly spine chilling vocal. There is also a stunning cover of George Jones's Season Of My Heart. Wynn was so good that it is a real shame that more of his material is not available on CD - just one collection on Varese or the mammoth Bear Family box (BCD 15886 - $189.98). (FS)

 
THE STEWART FAMILY B.A.C.M. 138 Come On In And Make Yourself At Home ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 67 mins, highly recommended
The Stewart Family are a little known but very fine family group that recorded for Gilt Edge between 1950. Leader of the group was Virgil "Pappy" Stewart who wrote many of the group's songs including JustOut Of Reach which has become a country standard. "Pappy" played guitar and does some very fine pickin' on a couple of the songs with some nifty chord changes. The rest of the group includes sister Baba (accordion) and daughters Bethyl (violin) and Jeanette (bass). Later on they were joined by Bethyl's husband Buddy Brown on mandolin and piano. The arrangements are varied ranging from one guitar with ensemble singing, old timey mandolin and guitar arrangements and bigger group arrangements with accordion and piano. Quite a few of the leads are taken by Bethyl who was an exceptional singer with an aching yearning quality that brings to mind Wilma Lee Cooper. There are several gospel songs which are among the highlights here including the wonderful Sinner Read The Bible which has long been a favorite of mine. (FS)
THE STEWART FAMILY: 22 Boogie/ Beautiful Garden Of Prayer/ Brown Eyes Or Blue Eyes/ Come On In And Make Yourself At Home/ Don't Go Honky Tonkin'/ Four O'clock In The Morning/ Goin' Steady/ I Ain't Got Time/ I Can't, He Can/ I Don't Have To Tell You That I Love You/ I've Changed My Mind/ Jealous Love/ Journey's End/ Just Out Of Reach/ Lonesome Dollar Bill/ Love Or The Itch/ Mysteries Of Life/ Posted, One Heart/ Shadows/ Sinner Read The Bible/ Sugar Plum Boogie/ The Green Grass Grows All Around/ Thirty Pieces Of Silver/ Wasted Tears/ Whiskey Widder

 
MEL STREET TeeVee 0728 20 Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98
20 tracks, 58 minutes, essential
The late Mel Street never seemed to hit the big time even though he scored a number of top 20 hits. Maybe he didn't fit in with the rhinestone cowboys and countrypolitan crooners in the 70's. If you aren't too familiar with Street let me tell you, the West Virginia boy could really sing! His style is firmly in the honky tonkin' style of George Jones and early Conway Twitty and there are at least a dozen tunes here that stand right up there with the best of 'em. The passion and conviction he brought to songs of cheating and lost love seemed to reflect an inner turmoil that may have led to his early death by suicide on his 45th birthday in 1978. This set includes classic songs like Borrowed Angel/ Lovin' On Back Streets/ I met A Friend Of Yours Today/ Lovin' On Borrowed Time/ Looking Out My Window Through The Pain/ Even If I Have To Steal/ Town Where You Live/ Lust Affair and others including the powerful Forbidden Angel whose subject is not often covered in country songs. There are also great covers of country standards like Am I That Easy To Forget and Don't Be Angry. Mel deserves the deluxe Bear Family treatment but in the meantime this great no frills package delivers the goods. (AE/ FS)

 
MERLE TRAVIS Bear Family BCD 15637 1943-1955 ● CD $129.98
5 CDs, 144 tracks, 6 hrs 28 mins, essential
This monumental box presents most of the early studio recordings of guitarist Merle Travis, whos refinement of the thumb and finger style picking favored by his fellow Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, guitarists Mose Rager and Ike Everly made him world famous and among the most influential country instrumental stylists ever. "Travis style" guitar is universally understood to identify the uniquely syncopated, loping style which influenced everyone from Chet Atkins to Doc Watson. This set brings together recordings from as early as 1943 when he recorded with Grandpa Jones as The Sheppard Brothers, to his many recordings cut for Capitol Records on the West Coast up to the time just prior to Tennessee Ernie Ford's recordings of his classic composition Sixteen Tons, which made both their names household words. As Rich Kienzle demonstrates in the mazing 80 page book accompanying this set, Travis was far more than "just" a universally admired and imitated guitarist. He was great songwriter, uniquely at home with the American vernacular of the day; he wrote many hits for himself and others, including Cincinatti Lou/ Divorce Me C.O.D./ Dark As A Dungeon/ I Am A Pilgrim (adapted from an old religious song)/ Sweet Temptation/ So Round! So Firm! So Fully Packed!/ Fat Gal/ Kentucky Means Paradise/ Kinfolks In Caroline (all included here) and Smoke, Smoke, That Cigarette, written for Tex Williams and included. All of Merle's hits fro Capitol in the 40s are here featuring his engaging singing, great guitar along with the cream of west coast session players - Cliffie Stone, Tex Atchison, Speedy West, Joe Maphis, Joaquin Murphy, and more. They also included a ubiquitous accordion and muted trumpet sound, unique to west coast country recordings, which gave them a hybrid quasi-pop feel. More successful to these ears were the many classic guitar oriented instrumentals here, including such numbers as Blue Smoke/ Cannonball Rag/ The Shiek Of Araby/ Walking The Strings and Black Diamond Blues, along with superb country boogies such as Louisiana Boogie, reminiscent of the sound of Merle's friends The Delmore Brothers, a style at which he excelled. There are many oddities from Merle's career at Capitol here, including a session featuring vocals by Capitol boss and pop songwriting great Johnny Mercer, comedian Jerry Colonna, and others. Also included is Merle's classic rendition of Reinlistment Blues, which he sang in the movie "From Here To Eternity", and a session with the western swing vocal group The Whipporwills. All is all, this set and accompanying book represent a remarkable feat of research by producer Rich Kienzle. The music and packaging here represent a fascinating look at a unique period in recorded country music, seen through the life, times and music of one of its great originators. The book contains many vintage photos of Travis and his contemporaries, a healthy sampling of his drawings (Travis was a talented cartoonist), writings, and remembrances of friends, as well as a helpful discography. (RP)
MERLE TRAVIS: A Fool At The Steering Wheel/ A Little Too Fer/ A Too Fast Past/ A Too Fast Past/ Ain't That A Cryin' Shame/ Alimony Bound/ Any Old Time/ Bayou Baby (A Cajun Lullaby)/ Be On Your Way (& WESLEY TUTTLE)/ Beer Barrel Polka/ Black Diamond Blues/ Blue Bell/ Blue Smoke (remake)/ Blues Stay Away From Me/ Boogie In Minor (& THE WHIPPOORWILLS)/ Boogie Woogie Boy (PORKY FREEMAN TRIO)/ Boogie Woogie Boy (alt.) (PORKY FREEMAN TRIO)/ Bugle Call Rag/ Cane Bottom Chair/ Cannon Ball Rag/ Cincinnati Lou/ Crazy 'Bout You/ Crazy Boogie/ Cuddle Up A Little Closer, Lovey Mine/ Dance Of The Golden Rod/ Dapper Dan/ Dark As A Dungeon/ Deck Of Cards/ Deep South (& THE WHIPPOORWILLS)/ Divorce Me C.O.D./ Dry Bread/Lost John Boogie (& WHIPPOORWILLS)/ El Reno (& GEORGIA BROWN & JUDY HAYDEN)/ Faithful Fool/Love Must Be Ketchin'/ Fat Gal/ Fat Gal (false start)/ Follow Thru/ Gambler's Guitar/ Get Along Blues/ Give Me Your Hand (& WESLEY TUTTLE)/ God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds (& W. TUTTLE)/ Green Cheese/ Guitar Rag/ Guitar Rag/ Hominy Grits/ Honey Bunch/ Honey Bunch (alt)/ Hunky Dory/ I Am A Pilgrim/ I Can't Afford The Coffee/ I Got A Mean Old Woman/ I Like My Chicken Fryin' Size/ I Used To Work In Chicago (& TIN EAR TANNER)/ I Used To Work In Chicago (DUSTY WARD)/ I'll Have Myself A Ball/ I'll See You In My Dreams/ I'm A Natural Born Gamblin' Man/ I'm All Thru Trusting You (DUSTY WARD)/ I'm Knee Deep In Trouble/ I'm Pickin' Up The Pieces Of My Heart/ I'm Picking Up The Pieces Of My Heart/ I'm Sick And Tired Of You, Little Darling/ If You Want It, I've Got It/ Information Please/ It May Be Too Late (& WESLEY TUTTLE)/ John Henry/ Jolie Fille (Pretty Girl)/ Kentucky Means Paradise/ Kinfolks In Carolina/ Kinfolks In Carolina/ Knee Deep In Trouble/ Lawdy, What A Gal/ Lazy River/ Leave My Honey Bee Alone/ Let's Settle Down(&WHIPPOORWILLS)/Done Rovin'/ Little Miss Sherlock Holmes/ Louisiana Boogie/ Memphis Blues/ Merle's Boogie Woogie/ Merle's Boogie Woogie (alt.)/ Merle's Buck Dance (& HANK PENNY)/ Missouri/ Muskrat/ Muskrat/ Nine Pound Hammer/ No Vacancy/ Oh Why, Oh Why Did I Ever...(& JERRY COLONNA)/ On A Bicycle Built For Two (Daisy Belle)/ Out On The Open Range (& W.TUTTLE & S.FISHER)/ Over By Number Nine/ Petticoat Fever/ Philosophy/ Rainin' On The Mountains (& WESLEY TUTTLE)/ Rainy Day Feelin'/ Re-Enlistment Blues/ Ridin' Down To Santa Fe (SHUG FISHER)/ Rockabye Rock/ Saturday Night Shuffle/ Saturday Night Shuffle/ Seminole Drag/ Shut Up And Drink Your Beer/ Sioux City Sue/ Sixteen Tons/ Sixteen Tons (false start)/ Sleepy Time Gal/ So Long, Farewell, Goodbye (& GRANDPA JONES)/ So Round! So Firm! So Fully Packed!/ Spoonin' Moon (& GEORGIA BROWN & JUDY HAYDEN)/ Start Even/ Steel Guitar Rag/ Steel Guitar Rag/ Steel Guitar Rag (alt)/ Steel Guitar Stomp (& HANK PENNY)/ Sunshine's Back In Town/ Sweet Temptation/Don't Hang Me That Old Line/ T For Texas (Blue Yodel #1)/ That's All/ That's All/ The Covered Wagon Rolled...(& JOHNNY MERCER)/ The Devil To Pay/ The Sheik Of Araby/ The Steppin' Out Kind (SHEPPARD BROS)/ The Waltz You Saved For Me/ This World Is Not My Home/ Three Times Seven/ Too Much Sugar For A Dime (& BROWN & HAYDEN)/ Trouble, Trouble (& THE WHIPPOORWILLS)/ Tuck Me To Sleep In My Old `Tucky Home/ Turn My Picture Upside Down/ Two Is A Couple (And Three Is A Crowd)/ Two Time Annie (BOB McCARTHY)/ Wabash Cannon Ball (& KAY STARR)/ Walking The Strings/ Weary Lonesome Me/ What A Shame/ What Will I Do/ When Mussolini Laid His Pistol Down(McCARTHY)/ When My Baby Double Talks To Me/ When Rosie Riccoola Do The...(&JERRY COLONNA)/ Won't Cha Be My Baby/ You Better Try Another Man/ You'll Be Lonesome,Too(SHEPPARD BROS)

 
MERLE TRAVIS Rounder 0451 In Boston 1959 ● CD $15.98
Previously unissued live concert recorded by Mike Seeger featuring one of the greatest and most influential guitar players. Merle is in top form playing solo on an acoustic guitar performing some of his most well known tunes Nine Pound Hammer/ Dark As A Dungeon/ Re-Enlistment Blues/ Sixteen Tons/ Muskrat/ Lost John/ Memphis Blues/ I Am A Pilgrim and others. Also includes some brief spoken interludes where he talks about his work in the film "From Here To Eternity", childrens songs, hollywood and more.

 
UNCLE HENRY'S ORIGINAL KENTUCKY MOUNTAINEERS B.A.C.M. 020 Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers ● CD $13.98
27 tracks from the 40s by this fine and versatile group from Taylor County, Kentucky. Their range of material is varied including old time string band tunes, more modern sounds with steel guitar, gospel songs, duets and some harmonica/ guitar instrumentals.
UNCLE HENRY'S ORIGINAL KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN: Alabama Blues (Instr.)/ Cacklin' Hen (Instr.)/ Fun's All Over Now (Instr.)/ Going To Little Creek (Instr.)/ Grey Eagle (Instr.)/ Hang Your Head In Shame/ I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine/ I'm Going To Cling To The Cross/ I'm Living In A Lonely World/ I'm Never Gonna Miss You/ Ida Red (Instr.)/ Lost John (Instr.)/ Make Room In Your Heart For A Friend/ Misery In My Soul/ Molly Darling/ Not A Word From Home/ Rainin' On The Mountain/ Red Headed Woman/ Sally Gooden (Instr.)/ Skip To My Lou (Instr.)/ Snowflakes/ Teardrops Every Time It Rains/ Two Broken Hearts/ Two Time Loser/ Wayfaring Stranger/ Yodeling Fiddle/ You Should Have Thought Of That Before

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS ASV CDAJA 5361 Hillbilly Blues ● CD $11.98
25 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
Another fine collection featuring white country performers doing songs with a blues flavor from the period 1929 to 1947. Although a number of these tracks are available elsewhere (The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Deep Elm Blues by The Lone Star Cowboys and others) it's worthwhile to have them in this context and there are some great obscurities like Bill Carlisle's outrageous Bell Clappin' Mama, the beautiful fiddle/guitar instrumental Bankhead Blues by The Nations Brothers, Dick Justice's fabulous Brown Skin Blues, Jess Hillard's Doggone Them Blues and others from The Delmore Brothers, The Allen Brothers, The Sons Of The Ozarks, The Shelton Brothers, The Three Tobacco Tags and others. Sound quality is excellent and there are brief but informative notes from the knowledgeable Tony Russell. (FS)
ALLEN BROTHERS: A New Salty Dog/ ASHLEY & FOSTER: Times Ain't Like They Used To Be/ BILL CARLISLE: Bell Clappin' Mama/ CLIFF CARLISLE: Pay Day Fight/ THE CARTER FAMILY: Hello Stranger/ TOM DARBY: Sweet Sarah Blues/ JIMMIE DAVIS: Easy Rider Blues/ THE DELMORE BROTHERS: Peach Tree Street Boogie/ HARTMAN'S HEARTBREAKERS: Give It To Me Daddy/ JESS HILLARD: Doggone Them Blues/ BUDDY JONES: Settle Down Blues/ DICK JUSTICE: Brown Skin Blues/ LONE STAR COWBOYS: Deep Elm Blues/ NATIONS BROTHERS: Bankhead Blues/ ROY NEWMAN: Match Box Blues/ RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS: Dissatisfied/ JIMMIE RODGERS: T.b. Blues/ THE SHELTON BROTHERS: I'm Sitting On Top Of The World/ SONS OF THE OZARKS: Plantation Blues/ THE STRIPLING BROTHERS: Salty Dog Blues/ SWIFT JEWEL COWBOYS: Fan It/ THREE TOBACCO TAGS: V-8 Blues/ VIRGINIA ROUNDERS: Atlanta Blues/ JOHNNY LEE WILLS: Milk Cow Blues/ SMOKY WOOD: Woodchip Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 050 The Okeh Label Classic Old Time Music ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Fine collection of old time country recorded for the Okeh label between 1924 and 1930 - most of it making its first appearance on any kind of reissue. Includes a few relatively familiar names like The Scottdale String Band and Narmour & Smith but most of the artists are pretty obscure like Blind Andy Jenkins, Bill Chitwood's Georgia Mountaineers (the delightful When Married Folks Run Out Of Cash - also known as I'm S-A-V-E-D), Bela Lam's Greene County Singers (some lovely old time gospel singing), Ralph Richardson (the very strange Little Dog Yodel), J.D. McFarland & Daughter, Fiddlin; Bob Larkin's Music Makers (the nonsense song Women Wear No Clothes At All), Phil Pavey (fine bluesy yodeling with banjo and piano accompaniment), Roba Stanley (one of the first women country singers to record with a fine version of All Night Long from 1924). A few tracks are from pretty rough 78s but sound quality is generally fine and there are brief notes. (FS)
BILL CHITWOOD'S GEORGIA MOUNTAINEERS: When Married Folks Are Out Of Cash/ THE FOUR VIRGINIANS: New Coon In Town/ ANDREW JENKINS & CARSON ROBISON: Sidewalks Of New York/ BLIND ANDY JENKINS WITH MARY LEE: Alabama Flood/ BELA LAM'S GREENE COUNTY SINGERS: Little Maud/ Sweet Bye And Bye/ Tell It Again/ The Sweet Story Of Old/ FIDDLIN' BOB LARKIN'S MUSIC MAKERS: Women Wear No Clothes At All/ J.D. MCFARLAND & DAUGHTER: Devil In The Woodpile/ NARMOUR & SMITH: Dry Gin Rag/ Tequila Hop Blues/ Texas Breakdown/ Texas Shuffle/ NORTH CAROLINA COOPER BOYS: Daniel In The Lion‘s Den/ PHIL PAVEY (AKA ROY EVANS): Bronco Bustin‘ Blues/ RALPH RICHARDSON: Little Dog Yodel/ HUGH RODEN & ROY RODGERS: Hogs In The Tater Patch/ SCOTTDALE STRING BAND: Carolina Glide/ Chinese Breakdown/ My Own Iona/ Old Folks Better Go To Bed/ Scottdale Stomp/ ROBA STANLEY & BILL PATTERSON: All Night Long/ GEORGE WALBURN & EMMETT HETHCOX: Lee County Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 110 4 Star Roundup ● CD $13.98
26 tracks, 67 mins, highly recommended
Fine collection of 26 tracks recorded in the 40s and early 50s for Bill McCall's 4 Star label - an important West Coast independent that launched the careers of such well known country artists as Ferlin Husky, Webb Pierce, Patsy Cline others. Most of the artists here are fairly obscure though it does include a 1953 recording of Roy Clark and a fine bluegrass gospel side side by the Wilburn Family Band featuring brothers Teddy & Doyle who later had a career as The Wilburn Brothers. Also includes Texas Bill Strength, Smokey Reason, Long Tom Kiiiah (instrumental country swing with hot electric and steel guitar), Bill Carter, Pete Graves, Big Jim DeNoone (fine electric guitar instrumental), The Stewart Family (superb country gospel - they need a CD of their own), Cactus Pryor (an insane parody of Cry Of The Wild Goose called Cry Of A Dying Duck In A Thunderstorm), Doc Denning, Kenny Hardy & Jimmy Wiseman, Wally Fowler, The Miller Brothers, William Moore, Maddox Brothers & Rose and others. Excellent sound and a booklet with notes by Dave Penny. (FS)
THE ARMSTRONG TWINS (FLOYD & LLOYD): Beetle With The Boogie Beat/ BILL CARTER: A Story Book Affair/ ROY CLARK: Mysteries Of Life/ TINY COLBERT: Pretty Lady/ GENE CRABB: A Little Less/ GAIL DANIELS: Time Marches On/ DOC DENNING: Dusty Trail/ BIG JIM DENOONE: Wild Strings/ WALLY FOWLER & THE OAK RIDGE QUARTET: You Must Have That Pure Religion/ PETE GRAVES: Drowning My Sorrows/ KENNY HARDY & JIMMY WISEMAN: You Blacked My Blue Eyes Once Too Often/ LONG TOM KIZZIAH: Cotton Tail Stomp/ MADDOX BROTHERS & ROSE: Water Baby Blues/ THE MCQUAIG TWINS (GLENELL & JONELL): You Travel Your Way/ THE MILLER BROTHERS: Geronimo/ Tuning The Fiddle/ WILLIAM MOORE (VOCAL- JACK WHITE): I'll Leave All My Troubles This Side Of The Grave/ CACTUS PRYOR: Cry Of The Dying Duck In A Thunder Storm/ SMOKEY REASON: Hoot Owl Melody/ TOMMY SCOTT: Kiss And Run/ THE STEWART FAMILY: Little Community Church/ TEXAS BILL STRENGTH: I'm Doing A Peach Of A Job/ T. TEXAS TYLER: Hot Rod Roy/ THE WILBURN FAMILY: Forever Too Late/ SLIM WILLET: Shibuya/ WOODY WOODWARD: Blow Wind, Blow

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 140 The Vocalion Label - Classic Old Time Music ● CD $13.98
Another fine selection of old time music from B.A.C.M. - this time drawn from the Vocalion label. 23 tracks recorded between 1928 and 1934 including Reaves White County Ramblers, Perry County Music Makers (a delightful group in the vein of The Carter Family but using hammered dulcimer instead of autoharp), Southern Moonlight Entertainers, Alex Hood & His Railroad Boys, Ashley & Foster, Bascom lamar Lunsford (a wonderful and distinctive vocalist and banjo player), Louis Bird, Ridgels Fountain Citians, The Carroll County Revelers, Walkers Corbin Ramblers and others.
ASHLEY & FOSTER: Go ’way And Let Me Sleep/ LOUIS BIRD: Nothing Goes Hard With Me/ THE CARROLL COUNTY REVELERS: Georgia Wobble Blues/ Rome, Georgia Bound/ CAL DAVENPORT & HIS GANG: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues/ Broken Hearted Lover/ FISHER HENDLEY & HIS CAROLINA TAR HEELS: Hook And Line/ ALEX HOOD & HIS RAILROAD BOYS: Corbin Slide/ BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD: Italy/ Lost John Dean/ MILNER & CURTIS MAGNOLIA RAMBLERS: North East Texas Breakdown/ THE MORRIS FAMILY: Blue Eyed Boy/ THE PERRY COUNTY MUSIC MAKERS: By The Cottage Door/ Got A Buddy I Must See/ REAVES WHITE COUNTY RAMBLERS: Arkansas Pullet/ Arkansas Wagner/ RIDGEL’S FOUNTAIN CITIANS: Gittin' Upstairs/ The Bald Headed End Of The Broom/ THE SOUTHERN MOONLIGHT ENTERTAINERS: Buckin' Mule/ Lost John/ My Cabin Home/ FLOYD THOMPSON’S HOMETOWNERS: Mountains Of Virginia/ WALKER’S CORBIN RAMBLERS: My Baby Keep Stealin' On Me

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 148 Another Taste Of King ● CD $13.98
B.A.C.M.'s second collection of material drawn from the extensive repertoire of recordings made for the King label features 24 tracks recorded between 1946 and 1954 - most of it making its first appearanec on CD. It includes sides by Shorty Long, Marvin Montgomery (a hot jazzy banjo instrumental), Cowboy Jack Derrick, Jimmie Widener, Boots Woodall, Preston Ward, Bob Newman, Curly Holiday, Louis Innes (the witty Suicide), Art Kibbee, Red Egner, Wade Mainer, Howdy Kemp, etc.
HERB & KAY ADAMS: Coffee Blues/ COWBOY JACK DERRICK: Triflin' Baby/ AL DEXTER: Diddy Wah Boogie/ RED EGNER: Turn My Picture Upside Down/ FIDDLIN’ RED HERRON: Over The Waves Waltz (instr.)/ CURLY HOLIDAY: I'm The Devil Who Made Her That Way/ LOUIS INNES: Suicide/ HOWDY KEMP: Come To Me/ ART KIBBEE: You're So Good To Me/ BILL LONG: What A Waste Of Good Corn Likker/ SHORTY LONG: No Wars In Heaven/ WADE MAINER: Those Blue Eyes I Love/ MARVIN MONTGOMERY: Raggin' The Banjo/ MOON MULLICAN: What's The Matter With The Mill/ BOB NEWMAN: Around The Corner Behind The Berry Tree/ RED PERKINS: Big Blue Diamonds/ FLOYD ROBINSON: Oh What I'd Give/ ZEB TURNER: All Dressed Up/ JIMMY VERNON: Somewhere/ PRESTON WARD: It's A Shame The Way You Treated Me/ SKEETS WEBB: Was It A Bad Dream/ JOE WHEELER: A Country Boy Goes To Town/ JIMMIE WIDENER: I Can Tell Just As Plain/ BOOTS WOODALL: I Wonder

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 2867 Movin' On ● CD $16.98
Great collection of hillbilly boogie, uptempo country and bluesy country by some fine but obscure artists from the 40s and early 50s including Ford Lewis with Joe Bean & His San Antonians, Enez Blenek & The Texas Tornados, Harmie Smith, Texas Slim Owenby, henry Ford, Tiny Adams & His Western Serenaders, Deon Lay, Ray Smith, Art Gunn & His Arizona Playboys, Wally Fowler, Drifting Johnny Smith with Bill Moses & The Rhythm Rangers, Cousin Wilbur & Blindie Brooks (a great version of the Delmores' Blues Stay Away From Me), Lee & terry Edmond with The Country Folks and more. Excellent sound and informative booklet with notes and photos.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Indigo IGOCD 2520 Drunk & Nutty - Hillbillies Foolin' With The Blues ● CD $17.98
Two CD set set featuring 50 fine sides from the 20s and 30s featuring white country artists doing blues songs. Includes Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers, Al Dexter, Riley Puckett,  Roy Acuff, Sam McGee, Ted Daffan,  Prince Albert Hunt,Gene Autry, etc. Lots of great music with decent sound and informative notes by Neil Slaven. However, most of these tracks are available elsewhere - half of them on the out of print Columbia collection "White Country Blues".
ROY ACUFF: Steel Guitar Blues/ THE ALLEN BROTHERS: Drunk And Nutty Blues/ Jake Walk Blues/ TOM ASHLEY: Haunted Road Blues/ ASHLEY'S MELODY MEN: Bath House Blues/ GENE AUTRY: Dallas County Jail Blues/ Do Right Daddy Blues/ DOCK BOGGS: Country Blues/ HOMER CALLAHAN: Rattle Snake Daddy/ THE CALLAHAN BROTHERS: Somebody's Been Using That Thing/ BILL CARLISLE: Bell Clappin' Mama/ CLIFF CARLISLE: Ash Can Blues/ CARLISLE & BALL: Guitar Blues/ THE CAROLINA TAR HEELS: Farm Land Blues/ THE CARTER FAMILY: Coal Miner's Blues/ BILL COX: Georgia Brown Blues/ COX & HUBBS: Oozlin' Daddy Blues/ DARBY & TARLTON: Sweet Sarah Blues/ THE DELMORE BROTHERS: Lonesome Jailhouse Blues/ AL DEXTER: New Jelly Roll Blues/ THE DIXON BROTHERS: Weave Room Blues/ GWEN FOSTER: Wilkes Country Blues/ THE GEORGIA CRACKERS: Stockade Blues/ LONNIE GLOSSON: Arkansas Hard Luck Blues/ LARRY HENSLEY: Matchbox Blues/ PRINCE ALBERT HUNT: Blues In A Bottle/ FRANK HUTCHINSON: Kc Blues/ Worried Blues/ DICK JUSTICE: Brown Skin Blues/ DAVE MCCARN: Bay Rum Blues/ W. LEE MCDANIEL: Dirty Hangover Blues/ SAM MCGEE: Railroad Blues/ NARMOUR & SMITH: Carroll County Blues/ NELSTONE'S HAWAIIANS: Mobile Blues/ CHARLIE POOLE: If The River Was Whiskey/ Ramblin' Blues/ THE PRAIRIE RAMBLERS: Deep Elem Blues/ Jug Rag/ RILEY PUCKETT: Darkey's Wail/ THE RHYTHM WRECKERS: Never No Mo' Blues/ LEMUEL TURNER: Jake Bottle Blues/ BOB WILLS: Frankie Jean

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS JSP JSPCD 7774 Paramount Old Time Recordings ● CD $28.98
Four CDS, 100 tracks, highly recommended
A terrific collection of old time music made for the Paramount record company between 1925 and 1931 including a few Cajun items. Although best known for its blues recordings, Paramount also recorded some superb old time music and thanks to JSP's collaboration with legendary collector Joe Bussard much of this is being made available for the first time since the 78s were first issued. The first disc is devoted to string bands including the fabulous Wilmer watts & The Lonely eagles, The McClung Brothers and Cleve Chaffin, Red Brush Rowdies, Arthur Tanner (brother of Gid Tanner with the great Earl Johnsonon fiddle) and others. The second disc features ballads and blues from Welling & McGhee (including two very powerful labor songs) , Emry Arthur, The Gentry Brothers, Brock Sisters, Rufus K. Stanley and others including slide guitarist Jack Pennewell whose material was not included in the country discography but who does a couple of fine instrumental blues. The third disc is devoted to religious music with contributions from Welling & McGhee, Kentucky Thorobreds, Joe Reed Family, Sid Hardreaker, etc. The final disc is a miscellany including The Kentucky Ramblers, Soileau & Robin, Bertrand & Gonzales, The Blue Ridge Highballers, etc. Considering the technical quality of Paramount 78s the sound quality here is generally remarkably good though a few tracks can be pretty rough going. (FS)
EMRY ARTHUR: George Collins/ Got Drunk And Got Married/ I Tickled Her Under The Chin/ The Bluefield Murder/ The Married Man/ There’s A Treasure Up In Heaven/ BERTRAND & PITRE: Cousinne Lilly/ BERTRAND & GONZALES: La Delaisser/ Le Pond De Nante/ BERTRAND & PITRE: Miserable/ Upstairs/ Valse De Gueydan/ THE BLUE RIDGE HIGHBALLERS: Are You Angry With Me Darling/ Julie Girl/ Red Wing/ THE BROCK SISTERS: Broadway Blues/ CHEZZ CHASE: Log Cabin Blues/ DAVIS & NELSON: Death Is No More Than A Dream/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ THE DIXIE CRACKERS: Bile Them Cabbage Down/ The Old Bell Cow/ FAY & THE JAY WALKERS: Longing For Home/ Those Dark Eyes I Love So Well/ THE FRUIT JAR GUZZLERS: C & O Whistle/ Cackling Hen/ Fox In The Mountains/ Kentucky Bootleggers/ Old Joe Clark/ THE GENTRY BROTHERS: I Was Born 4000 Years Ago/ Sara Jane/ GIBB’S STRING BAND: Chicken Reel/ Double Eagle March/ In The Good Old Summertime/ I’m Going Crazy/ My Little Girl/ Swinging In The Lane/ ROY GONZALES: Anuiant Et Bleu/ Choctaw Beer Blues/ SID HARKREADER: In The Sweet Bye And Bye/ The Land Where We Never Grow Old/ The Old Rugged Cross/ Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown/ THE JOE REED FAMILY: I Will Tell A Wondrous Story/ Jesus Is Getting Us Ready/ Little David Play On Your Harp/ Two Little Children/ REX KELLY: Down By The Railroad Track/ THE KENTUCKY RAMBLERS: A Pretty White Rose/ Give Me That Old Time Religion/ Glory, Glory, Glory, Glory To The Lamb/ Good Cocaine (Mama Don’t Allow It)/ Little Mamie/ Some Mother’s Boy/ The Prisoners Sweetheart/ The Unfortunate Breakman/ THE KENTUCKY THOROBREDS: He Cometh/ Room For Jesus/ This World Is Not My Home/ ‘Til We Meet Again/ THE MCCLUNG BROTHERS & CLEVE CHAFFIN: Alabama Jubilee/ Trail Blazer’s Favourite/ OWEN MILLS (DAVID MILLER): It’s Hard To Be Shut Up In Prison/ JACK PENEWELL: Hen House Blues/ Memphis Blues/ THE RED BRUSH ROWDIES: Harbour Of Home Sweet Home/ Hatfield McCoy Feud/ Midnight Serenade/ Tuck Me In/ SOILEAU & ROBIN: La Valse De La Ru Canal/ Ma Mauvais Fille/ RUFUS K. STANLEY: Down In Arkansas/ Only A Tramp/ Six Feet Of Earth/ When The Whipoorwill Is Whispering Goodnight/ ARTHUR TANNER: Chickens Don’t Roost Too High For Me/ Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane/ Show Me The Way To Go Home/ Soldier’s Joy/ The Knoxville Girl/ When I Was Single My Pockets Did Jingle/ Whoa Mule Whoa/ WILMER WATTS & THE LONELY EAGLES: Banjo Sam/ Been On The Job Too Long/ Cotton Mill Blues/ Knocking Down Casey Jones/ Say Darling Won’t You Love Me/ WELLING & MC GHEE: Are You Washed In The Blood/ WELLING & SHANNON: Brighten The Corner Where You Are/ WELLING & MCGHEE: Busted Bank Blues/ WELLING & SHANNON: I’m A Child Of The King/ WELLING & MC GHEE: My Mother’s Bible/ WELLING & MCGHEE: Picture On The Wall/ The Marion Massacre/ The North CarolinaTextile Strike/ WELLING & MC GHEE: What A Friend We Have In Jesus/ When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder/ GEORGE WASHINGTON WHITE: Gambler’s Blues/ Idaho Joe

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS King 0952 Best Of King & Starday Bluegrass ● CD $44.98
Four CDs, 100 tracks, highly recommended
A terrific collection of bluegrass (and occasional old timey) drawn from the vaults of King and Starday featuring recordings made between 1946 and 1973. It includes recordings by J.E. Mainer and his brother Wade whose music was basically old time but pointed the way to the music that became known as bluegrass. There are recordings by some of the all time legends of traditional bluegrass of the 50s and 60s like Jimmy Martin, The Stanley Brothers, Reno & Smiley, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain, Jim & Jesse, Carl Storey and others as well as fine lesser known artists like Tommy Magness & His Tennessee Buddies (featuring the first recordings of Don Reno & Red Smiley), Shannon Grayson & The Golden Valley Boys, Mac O'Dell, The Green Valley Quartet (aka The Easter Brothers), Bill Duncan, The Wright Brothers and others. Also included are some of the fine artists who emerged in the late 50s and 60s to continue the tradition like Charlie Moore, Vern & Ray, The Country Gentlemen and Larry Sparks and ends up with recordings from the early 70s by groups like 11 Generation and New Grass Revival who were to change the direction of bluegrass (for better or worse). Sound quality is superb and the set includes a few previously unissued cuts including the beautiful <You Could Have Called by Larry Sparks. Set includes 30 page 5 1/2" x 11" full color booklet with informative notes by bluegrass expert Gary Reid, profiles and photos of all the performers and full discographical information. (FS)
RED ALLEN: Trouble Round My Door/ Will The Circle Be Unbroken/ EASTER BROTHERS: Bible On The Table/ John Saw The Kingdom/ Singing With The Angels/ There's Rest Just Ahead/ HYLO BROWN: Hills Of Georgia/ Sad Prison Song/ BUZZ BUSBY: Cold and Windy Night/ Reno Bound/ BILL CLIFTON: Give Me Your Love/ Mid The Green Fields Of Virginia/ CONNIE & JOE: Home Is Where The Heart Is/ Toil, Tears, and Trouble/ THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN: Down Where The Still Waters Flow/ Silence Or Tears/ J.D. CROWE: Leaves That Are Green/ You Can Have Her/ BILL DUNCAN: Country Home/ Daisies Never Tell/ Just Being You/ Slippin' Banjo/ JIM EANES: I Wouldn't Change If I Could/ Orchids of Love/ THE FLATT MOUNTAIN BOYS: Choo Choo/ I Could Love You/ SHANNON GRAYSON: I Like The Old-Time Way/ I'm Gonna Walk On/ Let Me Travel Alone/ Since His Sweet Love Rescued Me/ BILL HARRELL: A Heart Never Knows/ Eatin' Out Of Your Hand/ II GENERATION: Let's/ Miss You Mississippi/ LEON JACKSON: Go Find Another Man/ Love Please Come Home/ So Goes My Heart/ This Heart's Been Broken Before/ JIM AND JESSE: I'll Love Nobody But You/ I'm Changing The Words To My Love Song Of You/ THE KENTUCKY TRAVELERS: Dreaming/ When You're Out Of My Arms/ THE LEWIS FAMILY: He Knew Just What To Do/ Over In Gloryland/ THE LONESOME PINE FIDDLERS: Why Do You Treat Me The Way You Do/ Windy Mountain/ TAMMY MAGNESS: Jesus Will Save Your Soul/ Little Country Preacher/ When I Safely Reach That Other Shore/ Wings Of Faith/ J.E. MAINER: Big Ball's In Town/ Gathering Flowers From The Hillside/ WADE MAINER: Little Birdie/ The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee/ JIMMY MARTIN & BOB OSBORNE: Blue Eyed Darling/ My Lonely Heart/ She's Just A Cute Thing/ You'll Never Be The Same/ CHARLIE MOORE: No Grave's Gonna Keep This Soul Of Mine/ Why Is Mother Buried/ MOORE & NAPIER: Barbara Allen/ Goodbye And So Long To You/ I'm Giving You Your Freedom/ Whitrock/ NEW GRASS REVIVAL: Door Into Summer/ Norwegian Wood/ MAC O'DELL: Be On Time/ Let's Pray/ When The Hand Of God Comes Down/ Wolves In Sheeps' Clothing/ BILL & MARY REID: Down In The Valley/ I Want To Be Wanted/ RENO & HARRELL: Big Train/ Just A Phone Call Will Do/ Welcome Home/ RENO & SMILEY: Bringin' In The Georgia Mail/ Down On The Farm/ Love Please Come Home/ LARRY SPARKS: Goodbye Little Darlin/ You Could Have Called/ RALPH STANLEY: Clinch Mountain Backstep/ Coosey/ Going Up Home To Live In Green Pastures/ How Mountain Girls Can Love/ I Only Exist/ Over The Sunset Hill/ Think Of What You've Done/ Train 45/ THE STANLEY BROTHERS: A Little At A Time/ Highway Of Regret/ THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Talking Fiddle Blues/ That Pal Of Mine/ CARL STORY: Cabin In Glory/ Hiding Place/ VERN & RAY: Cabin On A Mountain/ Carroll County Breakdown/ JIMMIE WILLIAMS: I Saw The Angels In Heaven/ Backslider/ THE WRIGHT BROTHERS: Carolina Mountain Home/ What Can I Do

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Proper BOX 6 Doughboys, Playboys & Cowboys ● CD $24.98
4 CD box set featuring a 99 track historical retrospective of western swing from 1932 to 1947 including tracks by all the major performers along with lots of lesser known artists. Comes with 44 page booklet with detailed notes, photos and full discographical information.
SHELLY LEE ALLEY & HIS ALLEY CATS: Women Women Women/ JESSE ASHLOCK: Betty Ann/ DOUG BINE & HIS DIXIE RAMBLERS: Rambler's Stomp/ BILL BOYD & COWBOY RAMBLERS: Boyd's Blues/ BILL BOYD & HIS COUNTRY RAMBLERS: Barn Dance Rag/ DERWOOD BROWN & HIS MUSICAL BROWNIES: Bring It On Down To My House/ MILTON BROWN & HIS MUSICAL BROWNIES: Brownie's Stomp/ Down By The O-h-i-o/ My Galveston Gal/ Oh You Pretty Woman/ The Eyes Of Texas/ The Yellow Rose Of Texas/ Who's Sorry Now/ BROWN'S MUSICAL BROWNIES: I'm Confessin' (that I Love You)/ CLIFF BRUNER: That's What I Like About The South/ CLIF BRUNER & HIS BOYS: San Antonio Rose/ CLIFF BRUNER & HIS BOYS: Draftboard Blues/ Truck Driver's Blues/ CLIFF BRUNER'S TEXAS WANDERERS: Corrine Corrina/ Kangaroo Blues/ One Sweet Letter From You/ CLAUDE CASEY & HIS PINE STATE PLAYBOYS: Pine State Honky Tonk/ DON CHURCHILL & TEXAS MAVERICKS: One Year Ago Tonight/ ZEKE CLEMENTS & HIS WESTERN SWING GANG: Oklahoma Blues/ SPADE COOLEY & HIS ORCHESTRA: Forgive Me One More Time/ Oklahoma Stomp/ Shame On You/ THE CRYSTAL SPRING RAMBLERS: Fort Worth Stomp/ TED DAFFAN'S TEXANS: Blue Steel Blues/ AL DEXTER & HIS TROOPERS: Pistol Packin' Mama/ THE FORT WORTH DOUGHBOYS: Nancy Jane/ Sunbonnet Sue/ PORKY FREEMAN: Boogie Woogie Boy/ THE HI-FLYERS: Whatcha Gonna Do/ ADOLPH HOFNER & HIS TEXANS: Better Quit It Now/ ADOLPH HOFNER & HIS SAN ANTONIANS: Cotton Eyed Joe/ ADOLPH HOFNER & HIS TEXANS: I'll Keep My Old Guitar/ JERRY IRBY & HIS TEXAS RANCHERS: Nails In My Coffin/ THE JEWEL COWBOYS: My Untrue Cowgirl/ BUDDY JONES: Mean Old Lonesome Blues/ Rockin' Rollin' Mama/ Streamlined Mama/ The Women ('bout To Make A Wreck Out Of Me)/ THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS: Blue Guitars/ Good Gracious Gracie/ Just Once Too Often/ Let's Make Believe We're Sweethearts/ Mean Mean Mama (from Meana)/ Pussy Pussy Pussy/ LOUISE MASSEY & HER WESTERNERS: Billy Boy/ THE MODERN MOUNTAINEERS: Dirty Dog Blues/ Loud Mouth/ Mississippi Sandman/ PATSY MONTANA & PRAIRIE RAMBLERS: I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart/ ROY NEWMAN & HIS BOYS: Sadie Green (the Vamp Of New Orleans)/ THE NITE OWLS: Married Man Blues/ W. LEE O'DANIEL & HIS HILLBILLY BOYS: Dirty Hangover Blues/ Lonesome Road Blues/ There'll Be Some Changes Made/ HANK PENNY: Steel Guitar Stomp/ Wildcat Mama/ Cowboy's Swing/ Mississippi Muddle/ THE PORT ARTHUR JUBILEERS: Jones Stomp/ Pussywillow/ THE RANGE RIDERS: Range Rider Stomp/ JIMMIE REVARD & HIS OKLAHOMA PLAYBOYS: Big Daddy Blues/ Dirty Dog/ Lose Your Blues & Laugh At Life/ THE RICE BROTHERS GANG: King Cotton Stomp/ BOB SKYLES & SKYROCKETS: Hot Tamale Pete/ THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS: Hold That Critter Down/ THE SONS OF THE WEST: Sally'g Got A Wooden Leg/ THE SUNSHINE BOYS: Gonna Get Tight/ What's The Matter With Deep Elem/ HANK THOMPSON: Humpty Dumpty Heart/ THE TUNE WRANGLERS: Buster's Crawdad Song/ Chicken Reel Stomp/ El Rancho Grande/ Red's Tight Like That/ Texas Sand/ JOHNNY TYLER & RIDERS OF THE RIO GRANDE: Oakie Boogie/ THE WASHBOARD WONDERS: Feather Your Nest/ TEX WILLIAMS & HIS WESTERN CARAVAN: I Got Texas In My Soul/ Smoke Smoke Smoke (that Cigarette)/ JOHNNIE LEE WILLS & HIS BOYS: Square Dance Boogie/ BOB WILLS & TEXAS PLAYBOYS: Bob Wills Special/ Lil Liza Jane/ Liza Pull Down The Shades/ Never No More Blues/ New San Antonio Rose/ Osage Stomp/ Stay A Little Longer/ Too Busy/ Who Walks In When I Walk Out/ LUKE WILLS' RHYTHM BUSTERS: Bob Wills Two Step/ SMOKEY WOOD & THE WOOD CHIPS: Keep On Truckin'/ Moonlight In Oklahoma

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rounder 1704 Southern Journey, Vol. 4 - Brethren, We Meet Again ● CD $15.98
23 tracks, 59 min., essential
A powerful dose of salvation from the white Southern sacred traditions, recorded back before TV and the movies homogenized and pasteurized white Southern folk culture for us. This is music that is intended to speak the word of God and share the hope of Heaven, but it is a particular characteristic of the Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins recordings that the performances they captured aren't scared or stiffened up by the presence of "this young man and his little contraptions," as a prayer leader is quoted as describing the mechanisms of the folklorist. Presented here are Sacred Harp, testimony, lined-out hymns, gospel songs, and spirituals; if you know what these are you can expect heartfelt, true and definitive examples of all; and if you don't know what these are, boy, do we have a treasure to share with you! Recordings by the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, Hobart Smith, Almeda Riddle, the Congregation of Thornton Old Regular Baptist Church with preachers George Spangler and Howard Adams, and more. Makes that beautiful shore seem a whole lot closer for awhile. (NSN)
HOWARD ADAMS: Testimony/ Amazing Grace/ ALABAMA SACRED HARP SINGERS: Closing Prayer/ I'm On My Journey Home/ Northport/ Sardinia/ D.N. ASHER & THE CONGREGATION OF THE MT. OLIV: Testimony On Pioneer Religion/ ELDER I.D. BECK & THE CONGREGATION OF THE MT OLIVET: Testimony/ ELDER I.D. BECK & THE CONGREGATION OF THE MT. OLIVE: When Jesus Christ Was Here On Earth/ I.D. BECK & THE CONGREGATION OF THE MT. OLIVE: Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow/ OLLIE GILBERT: Joseph Looney/ The Little Family/ THE MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS: My Lord Keeps A Record/ ALMEDA RIDDLE: I Am A Poor Wayfaring Stranger/ HOBART SMITH: See That My Grave Is Kept Clean/ PRESTON & HOBART SMITH & TEXAS GLADDEN: Jim And Me/ When The Stars Begin To Fall/ PRESTON & HOBART SMITH, TEXAS GLADDEN: Lonely Tombs/ GEORGE SPANGLER: Testimony/ Brethren, We Have Met Again/ Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah/ Why Must I Wear This Shroud/ RUBY VASS: The Old Gospel Ship

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS RPM 283 Double Up & Catch Up ● CD $17.98
25 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
Terrific collection of up-tempo country, some with a rockabilly feel, recorded for Capitol between 1950 and 1958. It includes well known artists like Faron Young, Jean Shepard, Tommy Collins, Ferlin Huskey, The Louvin Brothers and others as well as more obscure performers like Tabby West, Roy Hogsed, Owen Parry, The Milo Twins and others. Music is consistently fine and many of the tracks have been rarely reissued except on comprehensive single artist sets. Sound quality is superb and 12 page fold out booklet has informative notes by Mark Lamarr. (FS)
JIMMY BRYANT: Bryant's Boogie/ LEON CHAPPEL: Double Up And Catch Up/ TOMMY COLLINS: I'll Be Gone/ That's The Way Love Is/ DICK CURLESS: Travellin Man/ COUSIN HERB HENSON: How Come Y'all Come/ ROY HOGSED: Its More Fun That Way/ FERLIN HUSKY: I Feel Better All Over/ I'll Baby Sit With You/ THE LOUVIN BROS: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight/ Plenty Of Everything But You/ SKEETS MCDONALD: Look Who's Crying Now/ Smoke Comes Out My Chimney/ OWEN PERRY: All Dressed Up With No Place To Go/ JERRY REED: Honey Chile/ I'm A Lover Not A Fighter/ DEL REEVES & CHESTER SMITH: Love Love Love/ JEAN SHEPPARD: Sad Singing And Slow Ridin'/ WYN STEWART: That Just Kills Me/ HANK THOMPSON: How Cold Hearted Can You Get/ MERLE TRAVIS: Turn My Picture Upside Down/ MILO TWINS: Pretty Mama Boogie/ TABBY WEST: I Can't Stop Loving You/ FARON YOUNG: Go Back You Fool/ I'm Gonna Live Some

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Smithsonian Folkways 40077 Mountain Music Of Kentucky ● CD $22.98
2 discs, 68 tracks, 130 mins, essential
Beautiful, powerful and moving music recorded in the hills of East Kentucky in 1959 by folklorist and musician John Cohen. Cohen found a vigorous and living tradition of music steeped in the past but part of the regular daily life of the working class people in this area and reflecting the harsh life they lived whether in the fields or the mines. Originally issued as an LP in 1960 the recordings have been supplemented with more than 60 minutes of additional recordings for this double CD. Among the many great performers here are the first recordings of the incredible Roscoe Holcomb - a singer/ banjo player and guitarist who must rate among the greatest traditional musicians to be discovered in that era. His high, intense, vocal style is drenched with emotion - his music was steeped in blues, traditional ballads and the Baptish church and carry an emotional charge that has few parallels - Robert Johnson is one that springs to mind! There are many other superb performers here including singer/ banjo player Bill Cornett who has one of the few topical songs here Old Age Pension Blues, as well as one of the most effective versions I've heard of Pretty Polly. Also included are J.D. Cornett, Marion Sumner, Martha Hall, Mr. & Mrs Sams and others including two very different church groups the unaccompanied Old Baptist Church and the raucous Holiness Church. Beautifully remastered the set comes with a 38 page booklet with new notes by Cohen on the music, the musicians, the social environment and his experienmces in collecting along with a number of atmospheric photos. If you have any interest in American traditional music this is a must - the very antithesis of "easy listening" this music stays with you long after you hear it and gains new significance with each listening. (FS)

 
PORTER WAGONER Jasmine 3507 A Rare Slice Of Country ● CD $11.98
22 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
A fine collection of 22 sides by this fine honky tonk SINGER. The first 10 tracks features some of Porter's very earliest sides, presumably from the early 50s, finding Porter strongly under the influence of Hank Williams and Left Frizzell but also showing his originality on songs like River Of Love and I Betcha My Heart, I Love You. The rest of the tracks are from mid 50s radio shows, usually hosted by Red Foley. There are fine versions of some of his hits like Satisfied Mind/ Eat, Drink, And Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry)/ I Thought I Heard You Call My Name and others as well as fine non hits like Be Glad That You Ain't Me/ Love At First Sight, two versions of If You Don't, Somebody Else Will - one a duet with Foley and a fine gospel song Good Morning Neighbour with a trio vocal. There are several comedy interludes which are more entertaining than usual - lots of jokes at the expense of Porter's slender frame. Excellent sound.

 
BILLY WALKER B.A.C.M. 158 Thank You For Calling ● CD $13.98
Fine collection of early sides by this excellent Texas honky tonk country who was recently killed in a traffic accident at the age of 77. The 24 tracks here cover the period from 1949 through 1955 before he was a regular on the country charts and the only hit here is the title song. Most of the titles are original compositions though there's a some fine cover of Webb Pierce's hit Back Street Affair. Billy is also featured in a duet with Jeanette Hicks on Which One Of Us Is To Blame.
BILLY WALKER: Back Street Affair/ Don't Let Your Pride Break Your Heart/ Fool that I Am I Still Love You/ Go Ahead And Make Me Cry/ Hey/ I Didn't Have The Nerve It Took To Go/ I'm Gonna Take My Heart Away From You/ I'm Looking For Love/ If I should Live That Long/ It Hurts Too Much To Laugh/ Let Me Hear From You/ Little Baggy Britches/ Mexican Joe/ One Heart's Beatin' One Heart's Cheatin'/ Pretend You Just Don't Know Me/ So Far/ Thank You For Calling/ Time Will Tell/ What Makes Me Love You Like I Do/ Which One Of Us Is To Blame/ Whirlpool/ You Didn't Try And Didn't Care/ You're The Only Good Thing That's Happened To Me/ you Have My Heart Now