EARL TAYLOR Folk Songs From The Blue Grass

Sunday, February 17, 2013

On April 3, 1959 Alan Lomax, newly returned to the U.S. after spending nine years collecting folk songs in Europe, put on a folk concert at New York City's Carnegie Hall. "Folksong '59" brought together a diverse selection of performers such Jimmie Driftwood, Muddy Waters, Pete Seeger and his brother Mike, the Selah Jubilee and Drexel gospel singers, and Memphis Slim. The event even featured a rock and roll group, the Cadillacs, who Lomax encouraged the audience to listen to while "lay(ing) down their prejudices", eliciting some resistance and boos. By all accounts the highlight of the evening was the appearance of a young Baltimore based bluegrass band, Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys.
Earl Taylor was born June 17, 1929 in Rose Hill, Virginia and like so many southern youngsters of his generation fell under the spell of the Monroe Brothers. Taking up several instruments he settled on the mandolin in the mold of his idol Bill Monroe whose post-Monroe Brothers band the Blue Grass Boys formed a pattern of imitation followed by countless southern musicians. From 1946 on he played in various regional groups across many states. In the mid fifties he played for a time in Jimmy Martin's band before settling in Baltimore and forming his own band to work local clubs. It was he and the Stoney Mountain Boys' phenomenal performance representing bluegrass (Bill Monroe was offered the gig and refused!) at "Folksong '59" that really put Earl's group on the map. Years later Taylor recalled to Tom Ewing "When we would end a number, I knew that it would take five minutes before we could go into another one - that was how much rarin' and screamin' and hair-pullin' there was."
Riding high on the success of their Carnegie Hall appearance the group recorded "Folk Songs From The Bluegrass" for United Artists the same year, with notes by Lomax. The record was probably aimed more at the folk revival crowd than at the working class southerners who frequented the Stoney Mountain Boys' Baltimore area bar gigs, but it captured the band in all its rough and rowdy glory. The LP contains seventeen tracks of incredibly hard, edgy bluegrass, the kind that seems to have in the modern day all but disappeared.
At the time of both the Lomax concert and the LP the Stoney Mountain Boys consisted of Taylor on mandolin on lead and tenor vocals, Sam "Porky" Hutchins on guitar and vocals, Walter Hensley on banjo, Vernon "Boatwhistle" McIntyre on bass, and Curtis Cody on fiddle. All, with the exception of Cody, are names that appear throughout the history of bluegrass' first generation and worked with many top bands. Nonetheless, this incarnation of the Stoney Mountain Boys ultimately failed to live up to the promise of its short lived success and by 1965 Taylor had disbanded and rejoined Jimmy Martin, and a year later spent some time with Flatt and Scruggs. He performed and recorded sporadically (sometimes with partner Jim McCall) for the rest of his life, often battling ill health and tragedy (the death of his son) before passing away at the age of 53 on January 28, 1984. While recordings such as this LP and his early Rebel singles are highly regarded by collectors, his subsequent recordings never really matched the quality and intensity of his earlier work and Taylor never achieved the legacy of his contemporaries.
Includes jacket and label scans.

Tracks:

1. Cripple Creek
2. Ruby
3. White Dove
4. Ho, Honey, Ho
5. Foggy Mountain Special
6. In The Pines
7. John Henry
8. Mama Blues
9. Little Maggie
10. Flint Hill Special
11. The Children Are Cryin'
12. Lee Highway Blues
13. The Prisoner's Song
14. Race Between A Locomotive And A Model T
15. Pretty Polly
16. Rabbit On A Log
17. Molly And Ten Brooks

*download here*

HANK WILLIAMS Early Country Live

Saturday, February 16, 2013

This neat bootleg LP on the "Anthology of Country Music" label consists of three early fifties radio segments that feature the legendary Hank Williams and his wife Audrey, as well as Opry veterans Little Jimmy Dickens, Minnie Pearl, Rod Brasfield, Stringbean, and Sam & Kirk McGee.
The real highlight of the LP is William's December 1950 transcription for the 1951 March of Dimes. Recorded at the studios of WSM in Nashville, it features Audrey and the Drifting Cowboys along with Hank who besides singing encourages listeners in his homespun way to support the March of Dimes and help eradicate infantile paralysis ("I never knew much about it except to be scared of it and know it cripples kids".). Many Country stars including Red Foley and Eddy Arnold, as well as pop stars, recorded these transcribed programs as a public service to fight the polio epidemic of the early to mid fifties, and they remain a fascinating glimpse into the zeitgeist of the time.
No less interesting are two portions of actual Opry broadcasts, although the sound quality on these is low; nowhere near the fidelity of the March of Dimes show. The first of these is a ten minute segment from the September 29, 1951 Opry broadcast that also features Audrey (singing a hideous version of "Bonaparte's Retreat") and Sam & Kirk McGee. The second (first in playing order on the LP) is an April 5, 1952 segment of the Opry transcribed to an Armed Forces Radio Service disc. This is a regular Opry network portion with guests Little Jimmy Dickens and String bean, fiddling by Tommy Jackson and comedy by Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield.
Includes front jacket (both sides are identical) & label scans.

Tracks:


1. Grand Ole Opry, AFRS Show 223 (April 5, 1952)
    1. THEME - "Baby We're Really In Love"
   2. ROD BRASFIELD - Comedy
   3. LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS - "It May Be Silly"
   4. SQUARE DANCE - TOMMY JACKSON With Calls By Lew Childre
   5. HANK WILLIAMS & LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS
       - "The Old Country Church"
   6. MINNIE PEARL - Country Comedy
   7. LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS
       - "They Locked God Outside The Iron Curtain"
   8. STRINGBEAN
   9. HANK WILLIAMS - "I Can't Help It"
   10. INSTRUMENTAL CLOSE

 2. March of Dimes Radio Show (December 1950)
   1. THEME
   2. HANK WILLIAMS - "Moanin' The Blues"
   3. TALK - "Hank & Audrey talk about Hank Jr."
   4. HANK & AUDREY - "Help Me Understand"
   5. "When God Dips His Love In My Heart"
   6. THEME

3. Grand Ole Opry (September 29, 1951)
   1. HANK WILLIAMS - "Crazy Heart"
   2. SAM & KIRK McGEE - "I Was Sorta Wonderin"
   3. AUDREY WILLIAMS - "Bonaparts Retreat"
   4. THEME & CLOSING

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TI-BLANC RICHARD Original Recordings

Today at the Scratchy Attic I'm pleased to present some classic and hard to find recordings by yet another great Canadian fiddler, the legendary Adalbert "Ti-Blanc" Richard. Perhaps I should say "Canadien" as Ti-Blanc was born in Martinville, near Sherbrooke, Quebec on August 13th, 1920 and became a Québécois icon while remaining relatively unknown to English speaking Canadians.
Richard was the youngest of eight children and in 1933 the family moved to Sherbrooke where young Adalbert worked as a delivery boy for his father's butcher shop. Legend has it that one of his father's customers offered to pay his bill with a violin and this became the budding violoneux's first instrument (he had previously played the accordion). Within a few years he was playing local dances and events, and participating in radio broadcasts with various groups, all the while supporting himself at a variety of day jobs. He married Germaine ("Mignonne") Bouchard in 1945 who the following year gave birth to a daughter, Michelle. His first 78 was released on RCA Victor Bluebird Series' French Canadian line in 1948 and by the fifties he was touring regularly not only in Quebec, but in francophone communities in New Brunswick and Ontario, as well as northeastern U.S. states such as Maine and Vermont. His career thrived and in 1956 he began a series of fantastically successful television broadcasts from station CHLT, Sherbrooke. Throughout the remainder of the decade he would broadcast from many different cities and stations in the province, but Sherbrooke always remained his home base.
By the sixties however, the rise of Rock and Roll and the decline of traditional music led to a career slump. His daughter Michelle had become, through appearances on her father's shows, a major Quebec pop star, and her career eclipsed that of her father. Ti-Blanc's resentment of his daughter's success, along with other personal and marital problems combined with increasing dependance on alcohol further diminished his popularity. By the end of the decade he was no longer broadcasting regularly, instead relying on club dates and other personal appearances for income.
While Richard's career was languishing, a change was happening in Quebec society that would once again bring his name to prominence. Termed the "Quiet Revolution", a wave of nationalism had swept the province's culture and politics and among other things, revived a great deal of interest in the folk culture unique to its francophone population. New opportunities arose for Ti-Blanc to perform for appreciative audiences, and throughout the seventies he was featured in many festivals and television shows dedicated to Québécois music and culture. Highlights of this period include appearances in films including "Je suis loin de toi Mignonne" (1976) in which he played a fiddler, and a 1977 appearance at the Olympia in Paris as part of a troupe of performers bringing traditional Québécois music and dance to the mother country. Although busy, Richard continued to be plagued by financial and personal problems, and in 1980 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Adalbert "Ti-Blanc" Richard died in hospital in Sherbrooke on February 22, 1981 at 60 years of age.
Ti-Blanc Richard's style was definitely a transitional one. A marked influence of American Country Music is present in his music and he was clearly picking up tunes from Don Messer and other fiddlers playing in the Pan-Canadian style that was incredibly popular among English speaking Canadians at the time. Nonetheless, many of his tunes have distinctly Québécois traits, in particular the odd measures that distinguish French Canadian tunes from the more "square" tunes of Scotland and Ireland from which they partly descend. Richard used fingerboard ornaments comparatively sparingly, and his bowing is clean, employing use of a near constant "jigging" or bounce, breaking up passages into single notes where other (especially non-French Canadian) players might not. While certainly not technical in the manner of a player like Jean Carignan, Ti-Blanc's playing has a liveliness and joyous drive that is infectious and endearing. I fondly recall an older Acadian women I met at a flea market some years ago who had requested I make her a tape of old Ti-Blanc Richard records. She wanted the tape to step dance to, as she complained "them English guys don't play fast enough."
This collection of recordings consists of twelve tunes Richard recorded between 1948 and 1960. The first five were first released as singles on the RCA Victor Bluebird Series label, the next six were first singles on the Meteor label, and the final track is a live recording from a Meteor LP. Details are given below:

Reel de Sherbrooke - RCA Victor Bluebird Series 55-5327 (78 rpm), 1948 - The A-side of Ti-Blanc's first record is named for his home base where he remained throughout his career. The same melody appears on the flip side of Ward Allen's 1956 hit single "Maple Sugar" as "Back Up and Push" (not the American hoedown piece of the same name). I'm not sure where the melody originates. To hear Ward's version of this tune click here.
Reel du mardi-gras - RCA Victor Bluebird Series 55-5334 (78 rpm), 1949 - This melody is commonly known across North America as the "Flop Eared Mule" (Long Eared, Lop Eared, etc.). Don Messer made a very popular 78 rpm recording of the tune in 1944, to hear it click here.
Reel de la maison blanche - RCA Victor Bluebird Series 55-5418 (78 rpm) 57-0172 (45 rpm), 1952 - Here is a really great example of how convoluted tracing the origin of tunes can become. This is a Québécois tune which was originally titled "Le bonhomme et la bonne femme". The low and the high strains are meant to represent the heightening argument between an aged couple, and a French vocal version expressing such a row was recorded by Madame Bolduc in 1930 (click here). The tune may also have been recorded in the early 78 era by Joseph Allard and/or Jos Bouchard. Don Messer recorded a version as "The Old Man and the Old Woman" in 1948 that featured vocalist Charlie Chamberlain reprising Bolduc's chorus (a live version from Don Messer's Jubilee is here) and the piece became a signature of the great Canadian fiddler Ned Landry (click here). How the tune wound up as "Reel de la maison blanche" ("White House Reel") is beyond me. Incidentally, this tune is not to be confused with "The Growling Old Man and Growling Old Woman" which is also of French (probably Acadian) origins and may come from the same common root as the previous tune (Don Messer's 1950 recording of the latter tune can be heard here).
Reel de la Georgie - RCA Victor Bluebird Series 55-5514 (78 rpm) 57-0318 (45 rpm), 1954 - While I cannot say for sure that this tune has a specific American antecedent, it is clearly a result of the influence of Ragtime music from south of the border. The same type of influence resulted in similar sounding Texas tunes such as "I Don't Love Nobody."
Valse des fleurs - RCA Victor Bluebird Series 55-5514 (78 rpm) 57-0318 (45 rpm), 1954 - The flip side of "Reel de la Georgie" is a waltz of unknown provenance. It is played at a much quicker, choppier pace than that favoured by Don Messer and his ilk and shows a strong Gallic influence.
La raspa - Meteor MET 501 (45 rpm), 1956 - Better known to anglophiles as "The Mexican Hat Dance". I'm not exactly sure why, but this tune (it's effectively become a Mexican cultural stereotype) has long had currency with dancers (and therefore dance musicians) in Quebec. "La raspa" is actually the name of one of the two Latin American folk tunes that comprise the melody, the other being "Jarabe Tapatío". To read more on the topic click here.
Le reel du sucre d'érable - Meteor MET 508 (45 rpm), 1957 - This is of course the huge Ward Allen hit "Maple Sugar". Ward's version came out in late 1956 (to hear it click here) and would have been at the height of its popularity when Ti-Blanc waxed the tune for the francophone market. It's interesting how any tune in duple meter seems to qualify as a reel in the French Canadian tradition. Ward considered this tune a Two-Step.
Le reel Bowing The Strings - Meteor MET 515 (45 rpm), 1958 - Once again we have a tune that was recently (at the time) composed by a major Canadian fiddler, in this case Ned Landry. "Bowing The Strings" is one of Ned's most well known compositions, and was the title track from his first LP in1956 (to listen click here).
Le reel du palmarès - Meteor MET 517 (45 rpm), 1958 - This melody is best known as "My Love Is But A Lassie Yet" and is a Scottish tune of antiquity. As "The Fiddler's Companion" notes "The title was fixed on the tune because of two songs composed to it, one by Robert Burns and the other by the "Ettrick Shepherd," James Hogg, although the tune seems to have first appeared in print in Bremner's Scots Reels" of 1757 as "Miss Farqharson's Reel." Richard christened it "Le reel du palmarès" or "The Winner's Reel."
Le reel de Mexico - Meteor MET 518 (45 rpm), 1958 - The first strain of this tune bears some resemblance to "Bill Cheatham", one of the most ubiquitous fiddle tunes of the American South. It's odd measures, however, are distinctly Québécois.
Le reel des quatre coins de St-Malo - Meteor MET 520 (45 rpm), 1958 - Known abroad as "The Four Poster Bed", this tune crosses many traditions and has many variants. "The Fiddler's Companion" notes "This tune's 'B' part dramatizes the four poster bed by giving four taps with the frog‑end of the bow on the each of the four quarters of the belly of the fiddle, interspersed by a right‑hand pizzicato. The melody is popular in the Shetlands, though probably not of Shetland origin." The tune has been recorded by many Québécois musicians as "Le reel des quatre coins de St-Malo." St-Malo is a walled city in Brittany in the northwest of France, it is to be assumed this title references the four corners of the fortress. Ti-Blanc can be seen playing this tune, which stands out to me personally as the highlight of this collection, on a 1959 film clip here. Isidore Soucy recorded the tune in 1959, for an interesting comparison hear his version here.
Raggin' The Fiddle - from the LP "2e Grand concours annuel violoneux championnat province du Québec", Meteor MET-8002, 1960 - Yet another example of a contemporary Canadian tune, this is a cover of King Ganam's composition originally titled "Ridin' The Fiddle" (to hear Ganam's 1954 version click here). Richard first recorded the tune as "Raggin' The Fiddle" for the London label in 1956 (click here). This version comes from a 1960 LP comprised of a live recording of a fiddle contest organized by (and I'm assuming broadcast over) CHLT-TV in Sherbrooke. Ti-Blanc is not a competitor, but rather a featured performer. He plays this piece after the winner of the contest (Tex Fortier) is announced. Interestingly neither the London or Meteor versions of this tune nor the records of the Ward Allen or Ned Landry tunes credit the the original composer. Whether this was an oversight or not is unclear. It may have been a deliberate attempt to avoid paying performance rights, or perhaps Richard heard these tunes on radio or jukeboxes but due to a language barrier assumed they were traditional.

Tracks:

1. Reel de Sherbrooke
2. Reel du mardi-gras
3. Reel de la maison blanche
4. Reel de la Georgie
5. Valse des fleurs
6. La raspa
7. Le reel du sucre d'érable
8. Le reel Bowing The Strings
9. Le reel du palmarès
10. Le reel de Mexico
11. Le reel des quatre coins de St-Malo
12. Raggin' The Fiddle

*download here*

BAILES BROTHERS Rare Recordings

Friday, January 4, 2013

The music of the Bailes Brothers has endured since it was first recorded and has been treasured by collectors and fans of early country. It therefore pleases me greatly to share some rare gems from my collection with all of you good folks out in the blogosphere.
The first four tracks in this collection are the two 78s the Bailes recorded for King in 1946 (King 752 and 753, released in 1947). I believe the group consisted of Walter and Johnny at this time. The remaining eight tracks are from an interesting little 33⅓ rpm EP on the "Loyal" label, with the address "Box 586, Birmingham, Alabama." The label credits brothers Walter and Kyle and this makes sense as Walter was in Birmingham in 1960's where he was an evangelist and singer on radio. Although the EP is probably from those years, everything about it would have been archaic at the the time, including the performing style, the fidelity and the pressing quality. Despite the lo-fi nature of the recordings I find them as enjoyable as any vintage Bailes Brothers material and they should be a welcome addition to anyone's collection.

If you are unfamiliar with the Bailes Brothers' story click here for a biography.

Tracks:

1. Broken Marriage Vows
2. Everybody Knew The Truth But Me
3. Something Got Hold Of Me
4. Down The Valley Of The Shadow
5. Ashamed To Own The Blessed Saviour
6. I Have Dusted Off The Bible
7. The Light In The Sky
8. There's A Hand Writing On The Wall
9. We're Living In The Last Days Now
10. I've Got My One Way Ticket To The Sky
11. The Drunkard's Grave
12. All The Way

*download here*

TEXAS FAREWELL Texas Fiddlers 1922-1930

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mining more of the fantastic County 500 series catalog, I came up with a transfer of this superb 1969 collection of rare old Texas Fiddle 78s from the twenties era. Since transferring this album the Lewis Brothers' "Bull at the Wagon" has stuck in my head day and night, but there's never a bad tune on a collection such as this. There's not much for me to add to the album's liner notes (by Charles Faurot), scans of which are included in the download. Enjoy!

The transcript from a telephone interview with Denmon Lewis, made by Charles Faurot on November 18, 1969 to obtain information for the liner notes of this album is here.

Tracks:

1. Red Headed Fiddlers-Texas Quick-Step
2. The Lewis Brothers-Bull At The Wagon
3. Solomon & Hughes-Sally Johnson
4. Eck Robertson & H. Gillilland-Arkansas Traveler
5. The Lewis Brothers-Sally Johnson
6. Fiddlin' Jim Pate-Texas Farewell
7. Eck Robertson & J.B. Cranfill-Great Big Taters
8. Oscar & Doc Harper-Dallas Bound
9. Red Headed Fiddlers-The Fatal Wedding
10. East Texas Serenaders-Babe
11. Smith's Garage Fiddle Band-Beaumont Rag
12. East Texas Serenaders-Three-In-One Two-Step

*download here*

LEAKE COUNTY REVELERS 1927-1930

Monday, December 10, 2012

I haven't posted any Old Timey Southern music here at the Attic in some time and felt that another great title from County's old 500 series was due. County 532 features twelve great 1927-1930 recordings by a legendary Mississippi string band, "The Leake County Revelers". The Revelers' sound was somewhat more subdued that of many of their contemporaries, but is very enjoyable nonetheless. Their legacy seems to have lasted beyond the heyday of such bands; their recording of "Wednesday Night Waltz" remained in print throughout the 78rpm era, Ned Landry re-popularized the "Saturday Night Breakdown" in the fifties, and a later edition of the band appeared in a 1976 movie adaptation of the song "Ode To Billie Joe".
Unfortunately the jacket of this LP (scans of which along with the labels are included in the download folder) contains no notes, but an excellent biographical account of the group's members is on the Mississippi Country Music Trail's website and can be read here.

Tracks:

1. Saturday Night Breakdown
2. Lonesome Blues
3. The Old Hat
4. Georgia Camp Meeting
5. Sweet Rose Of Heaven
6. Monkey In The Dog Cart
7. Dry Town Blues
8. Leather Breeches
9. Wednesday Night Waltz
10. Good Fellow
11. I'm Gwine Back To Dixie
12. Mississippi Breakdown

*download here*

HAWKSHAW HAWKINS Original King LPs

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

For a long time now followers of the Scratchy Attic have been requesting that I post some King albums by "The Hawk of the West Virginia Hills", Hawkshaw Hawkins. Hawkshaw was born on the 22nd of December, 1921 in Huntington, WV and famously perished in the same plane crash that claimed the lives of Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline on the 5th of March, 1963.
Hawkins recorded for different labels throughout his career, but his finest recordings were made during his first stint at King from 1946 to 1953. It is those recordings which are featured on these two LP compilations first released in 1958 (the covers shown here are the second editions from 1963). Hawk went from King to RCA Victor in 1953, then to Columbia in 1959. In my opinion, his output for the latter two labels never really matched the quality of his earlier material. He returned to King in 1962 and achieved the only number one chart hit of his career, "Lonesome 7-7203"; ironically it only hit number one a short time after his death.

Click here to see an informative tribute page to Hawkshaw Hawkins.

Hawkshaw Hawkins
"Volume 1" King 587

Tracks:

1. Slow Poke
2. Sunny Side Of The Mountain
3. I'm Kissing Your Picture Counting Tears
4. If I Ever Get Rich Mom
5. Rattlesnakin' Daddy
6. I Am Slowly Dying Of A Broken Heart
7. I Suppose
8. I Can't Tell My Broken Heart A Lie
9. Picking Sweethearts
10. Barbara Allen
11. I Love The Way You Say Goodnight
12. Got You On My Mind
13. Would You Like To Have A Broken Heart
14. Teardrops From My Eyes
15. Somebody Lied
16. I Hope You're Cryin' Too

*download here*

Hawkshaw Hawkins
"Sings Grand Ole Opry Favorites Volume 2" King 592

Tracks:

1. The Life Story Of Hank Williams
2. Blue Skies In Your Eyes
3. Two Roads
4. I'm Waiting Just For You
5. Unwanted
6. Tangled Heart
7. Pardon Me For Loving You
8. You Don't Belong To Me
9. A Heartache To Recall
10. Life Lost Its Color
11. I Hate Myself
12. Loaded With Love
13. All Because Of My Jealous Heart
14. I Wasted A Nickel
15. Handcuffed To Love
16. That's All She Wrote

*download here*

GRAHAM TOWNSEND House Party

Friday, October 26, 2012

Almost a year ago I posted all of Graham Townsend's 1960s LPs on Rodeo Records' Banff label and those transfers proved themselves exceptionally popular. Although Graham recorded for many labels over the course of his astounding career, he remained associated with Rodeo Records his entire life. In fact, both his very first (Fiddling To Fortune, 1958) and last (Still Going Strong, 1997) studio albums were released by the company.
One of my personal favourites of all of Townsend's albums is this 1987 collection of tunes, "Graham Townsend's House Party" (Rodeo RLP 8015). Although the liner notes claim "In this recording you are blessed with an actual taping of a real live ‘house party’ (no studio, no canned sound effects)", the back cover also states that the recording was made at "NRS Productions, Rd #2, Waterbury, Vt.", so I believe this session was done in a studio, albeit a relaxed and informal one. Accompanying Graham are many of the same crew from he and Eleanor's 1981 "Live at Barre, Vermont" album; both seem to have been produced during the Townsend's appearances on behalf of Vermont's Northeast Fiddler's Association. However the recording came to be, it's a blessing that it did, as here are preserved sixteen great tunes played exquisitely by Graham with as good a backup band as he ever had, in excellent sound quality to boot! To me, this album epitomizes what good fiddle music is all about, where technical mastery meets incredible feel and melodic inventiveness.  Enjoy!

Graham guests on a 1993 episode of "Jubilee Years" here. Graham's first appearance on Don Messer's Jubilee is shown and he discusses the Messer show and his career.

Tracks:

1. Snowflake Breakdown
2. Lamplighter's Hornpipe
3. Parkdale Jig
4. Georgiana Moon
5. Lonesome Indian
6. Portland Fancy
7. Diamond Lil
8. Black & White Rag
9. Away Back
10. Billy In The Low Ground
11. Skipper's Fancy
12. Lisa Lynn
13. Argonaut Two-Step
14. St. Lawrence Jig
15. Kitchen Reel
16. Blackberry Blossom

*download here*

16 Great CANADIAN COUNTRY SONGS x2!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

I'm pleased to report that of all my posts here at the Attic, some of the best response has been garnered by my own transfers of vintage Canadian Country. This pleases me because so little of this material has circulated otherwise, especially in the digital era. I feel that by transferring and encoding clean versions of these rare recordings I am hopefully perpetrating them for posterity. It is in the aforementioned spirit that I present two great collections of such material from the great Rodeo/Banff catalogue.

Two different albums titled "16 Great Country Songs by 16 Great Canadian Country Artists" were released on the Banff label in 1963 (RBS 1125) and 1964 (RBS 1190). Banff had an ongoing "16 Great" series with titles representing the various genres in which the label specialized such as fiddle, folk songs, country, etc. The collections were presumably meant to promote the label's artists to buyers who would perhaps pick up on a new favourite and purchase more of their recordings. Today the collections make great samplers by which collectors can familiarize themselves with artists whose original LPs and singles are scarce and out of circulation.

The present transfers are sourced from a pair of rare cassettes issued in the early 1980's on a series of tapes called "Canadian Cavalcade". Rodeo used the "Canadian Cavalcade" label on and off from the late 60's right through to the company's eventual demise. The tapes provide great fidelity on these rare, classic tracks.

Below are some brief notes on the artists/tracks:

RBS 1125

Luke Simmons & The Blue Mountain Boys, "Wabash Cannonball" - A performance of one of the most ubiquitous Country songs by Vancouver born Luke Simmons, who for a time had a significant career in New Zealand. The track was first featured on the late 50's Rodeo LP "Canadians Make Good Abroad" (RLP 53).

Donn Reynolds, "No One Will Ever Know" - This song, first popularized by Roy Acuff in the 40's, was a 1962 chart hit in Canada for champion yodeller Donn Reynolds. It was released as a single and also included on the Winnipegger's Banff LP "The Wild One".

Bob King, "The Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me" - An old novelty song popularized by Wilf Carter is rendered here by the Ottawa Valley legend, Bob King. The track is taken from his album "Just Me & My Old Guitar, Bob King Sings Songs That Tell A Story" (Banff RBS 1103). The album can be downloaded here.

Joyce Smith, "Jambalaya" - Joyce Smith was born in Lethbridge, Alberta. She toured with the Rodgers Brothers band for many years, and in the early 60's was the first to record "Leavin' On Your Mind", a song associated with the late Patsy Cline.

Stu Phillips, "Streets Of Laredo" - Calgary's Stu Phillips was a broadcasting and recording personality in Western Canada before becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1967. He performs in a gentle folk style reminiscent of the late Jim Reeves as is evidenced by his rendition of this western classic.

Angus Walker, "If Teardrops Were Pennies" - Angus Walker was a Nova Scotia artist who was an early Canadian practitioner of the emerging Bluegrass style. Here he turns in a performance of a tune made famous by Carl Smith.

Ron McMunn, "Wedding Bells" - The late Ron McMunn was a legendary exponent of Old-Time Country Music in the Ottawa Valley, performing over CJET, Smith's Falls and making many recordings for Rodeo in his prime.

Gerry Myers, "The French Song" - First recorded in 1945 by Annette and Carmen Richer as "Bonjour mon soleil", the tune was adapted by Moncton, New Brunswick broadcasting legends Gerry Myers and The Bunkhouse Boys whose late 50's recording was a regional favourite. In 1964 Lucille Starr had an international pop hit based on Myers' version.

Joe Kozak, "Tennessee Central No. 9" - Edmonton's Joe Kozak with a track from the LP "Canada Salutes Nashville, Tennessee" on which he was accompanied by the Rodgers Brothers Band (Banff RBS 1102).

Marg Osburne, "Sweet Betsy From Pike" - Don Messer's legendary vocalist Marg Osburne with a track taken from the 1959 LP "Marg Osburne Celebrates Rodeo's 100th Anniversary Album with a Century of Folk Songs" (Rodeo RLP 100). The LP was reissued in the later sixties as "The Golden Era of Marg Osburne" (Banff SBS 5329).

Russ Wheeler, "Tragic Romance" - This 1945 hit for Cowboy Copas was the title track from Wheeler's 1964 debut album on Banff. For a fantastic bio of Russ Wheeler, click here.

Gerry Hatton, "Mansion On The Hill" - A track from Hatton's (his first name is usually spelled "Jerry") first LP "The Texas Beat with Jerry Hatton" (Banff RBS 1122). Check out Jerry & Debbie Hatton's website here.

Hank Smith, "Hey, Good Lookin'" - German born Hank Smith (1934-2002) moved to Canada in 1957 to pursue a career as a Country singer. Here he sings a Hank Williams favourite.

Terry Parker, "He Taught Me To Yodel" - "Miss" Terry Parker began recording for Rodeo/Banff in 1961 and this track was on her debut album as well as being issued as her first single. Miss Parker was apparently a fixture on the nightclub circuit in Ontario and Quebec, and is featured on a rare soundtrack recording from an early 60's episode of CJSS-TV Cornwall's "OK Jamboree" previously posted here.

Billy Whelan, "Bouquet Of Roses" - Nova Scotian Bill Whelan was a veteran of Maritime radio, having performed on stations such as CJCH Halifax, CKBW Bridgewater, and CKCW Moncton, some of his broadcasts being picked up for national transmission via the CBC network. He can be viewed singing "From A Jack To A King" on a 1963 episode of "Don Messer's Jubilee" here at 5:03.

Hank LaRiviere, "Maple Sugar Sweetheart" - The original and definitive recording of LaRiviere's vocal adaptation of Ward Allen's 1956 hit fiddle solo "Maple Sugar". Ward plays fiddle on the present recording. Henri "Hank" LaRiviere performed later in his career as Hank Rivers. A bit of his amazing story can be read here.

RBS 1199

Ron McMunn, "Salty Dog" - Ottawa Valley legend Ron McMunn performs this Bluegrass standard.

Carl Ellis, "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" - A fine rendition of a Country classic from the pen of Johnny Bond. Carl Ellis had an LP on the Banff label titled "The Country Sound of Carl Ellis". I have been unable to uncover any additional information about Ellis, so if anyone has anything to add, please comment.

George Beck, "Foolish Questions" - Maritime country legend George Beck performs a Country novelty tune. Beck and his Maritime Playboys had a popular TV Show on CHAU-TV in Chaleur Bay, Quebec when he recorded this tune for his Rodeo LP "George Beck's Jamboree" in the late 50's. He also made a classic album around the same time with a young Fred McKenna. McKenna later recorded this tune himself for Arc.

The Boutilier Bros, "My Walkin' Shoes Don't Fit Me Anymore" - A pioneering Canadian Bluegrass act, Nova Scotia's Boutilier Brothers made several albums for Banff in the early 60's. Here they perform a Jimmy Martin classic.

Hank Smith, "Tired Of Livin'" - A track from the LP "Hank Smith And The Fabulous Rodgers Brothers" (Banff RBS 1161).

Hank LaRiviere, "I'm A Convict With Old Glory In My Heart" - This track is from Hank's 1964 LP "A Salute to Gallant Men" (Banff RBS 1143).

Linda Longard, "Sweet Lies" - A Marty Robbins classic performed by Linda Longard. I assume Linda was either the wife or sister of George Longard (see below).

George Longard, "My Everlasting Love" - A veteran of the Halifax country scene, Longard is still performing. His website can be viewed here.

Jerry Hatton, "The Wild Side Of Life" - From Jerry's second album, "Sittin' and Thinkin'" (Banff RBS 1187).

Shirley Field, "Shattered" - This 1963 recording was the lead track on Field's 1963 LP "Two Sides of Shirley Field" (Banff RBS 1186) and was released as a single as well (Rodeo 3177). Shirley Field is an accomplished yodeller and is still an active performer today. Her website is here.

Carl Lofstrom, "Tell Me Why My Daddy Don't Come Home" - Carl (sometimes spelled "Karl") Lofstrom of Fredericton, New Brunswick had a style reminiscent of both of Canada's first true country stars, Hank Snow and Wilf Carter. A short bio of Lofstrom, "The Yodelling Night Herder", can be read here.

Billy Whelan, "Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin' Chair" - Whelan performs a classic "mother" song that was composed by Bob Miller in the early 30's.

Mac Beattie, "The Log Drivers' Song" - "The Log Driver's Song" was Mac Beattie and the Ottawa Valley Melodiers' first recording in the 1950's and it launched the group on an extraordinary recording career on the London, Rodeo, and Banff labels. Most of the groups original LPs have been featured at the Attic (click here) and the great Steve Fruitman of CIUT has a great Mac Beattie tribute page here.

Bob and Marie King, "The French Song" - Yet another version of this enduring standard, performed by Bob King and his wife, Marie. Marie's French singing on her English speaking husband's shows attracted so much attention that he made her the centre of their act. Rodeo started the Caprise label to release her and other francophone artist's recorings.

Brent & Harry, "Foolin' Round" - Nova Scotian neighbours Brent Williams and Harry Cromwell were pioneers in many ways. The were among the first Canadians of African descent to perform country music commercially, and also some of the first to perform Bluegrass. Here they're on the country side, singing a Buck Owens classic. Brent Williams is still a very active performer, check out his website here.

Angus Walker, "Poor Little Bullfrog" - Another Bluegrass number by Angus Walker, composed and first recorded by Jimmy Martin.

16 Great Country Songs by 16 Great Canadian Country Artists

(Banff RBS 1125)

Tracks:

1. Luke Simmons & The Blue Mountain Boys-Wabash Cannonball

2. Donn Reynolds-No One Will Ever Know

3. Bob King-The Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me

4. Joyce Smith-Jambalaya

5. Stu Phillips-Streets Of Laredo

6. Angus Walker-If Teardrops Were Pennies

7. Ron McMunn-Wedding Bells

8. Gerry Myers-The French Song

9. Joe Kozak-Tennessee Central No. 9

10. Marg Osburne-Sweet Betsy From Pike

11. Russ Wheeler-Tragic Romance

12. Gerry Hatton-Mansion On The Hill

13. Hank Smith-Hey, Good Lookin'

14. Terry Parker-He Taught Me To Yodel

15. Billy Whelan-Bouquet Of Roses

16. Hank LaRiviere-Maple Sugar Sweetheart

*download here*

16 Great Country Songs by 16 Great Canadian Country Artists

(Banff RBS 1199)

Tracks:

1. Ron McMunn-Salty Dog

2. Carl Ellis-I Wonder Where You Are Tonight

3. George Beck-Foolish Questions

4. The Boutilier Bros-My Walkin' Shoes Don't Fit Me Anymore

5. Hank Smith-Tired Of Livin'

6. Hank LaRiviere-I'm A Convict With Old Glory In My Heart

7. Linda Longard-Sweet Lies

8. George Longard-My Everlasting Love

9. Jerry Hatton-The Wild Side Of Life

10. Shirley Field-Shattered

11. Carl Lofstrom-Tell Me Why My Daddy Don't Come Home

12. Billy Whelan-Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin' Chair

13. Mac Beattie-The Log Drivers' Song

14. Bob and Marie King-The French Song

15. Brent & Harry-Foolin' Round

16. Angus Walker-Poor Little Bullfrog

*download here*

HOMER & JETHRO at the Country Club

Sunday, August 19, 2012

This wonderful album by my perennial favourites, Homer & Jethro, was recorded in November 1959 at the Hillwood Country Club in Nashville on the occasion of the 8th Annual Disc Jockey Convention. Released in January of the next year, it was the duo's first live album. It was also the first to include banter, which was as big a part of their act as music, zany or legit.

This recording is a truly fascinating document of a Nashville long gone, when musicians, producers, deejays, and "industry types" from all over North America (and I suspect the world) pow-wowed in Music City for one wild weekend a year. The backup band is a group of "ringers" headed by legendary saxophonist Boots Randolph. Grandpa Jones, Jim Reeves and Jerry Byrd are in the audience. Oh, to be a fly on the wall!

Includes scans of the excellent jacket, and labels. Each side is a presented as a complete mp3 file.

Tracks:

Side 1 - Introduction, Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs, Let Me Go, Blubber, Fascination, Sixteen Tons, Lullaby of Bird Dog, C-Jam Blues, The Billboard Song

Side 2 - Yaller Rose of Texas, You-All, San Antonio Rose, Battle of Kookamonga, (How Much Is) That Hound Dog in the Window, Skater's Waltz, Hart Brake Motel

*download here*

ROY ACUFF Great Speckled Bird

Thursday, July 26, 2012

During my youth, the late, great Roy Acuff reigned as the "King of Country Music" and really was the music's figurehead. Acuff was the first national star to emerge from the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1930s, and though his recording career generally trailed off in the postwar years, he became for the remainder of his life a visual symbol of Country Music's heritage. Indeed, he was probably the most authentically "mountain" styled performer to have an international reputation in commercial Country Music. In his later years he was practically the dean of the Grand Ole Opry, and was featured prominently on Opry programs and many specials airing on mainstream network television. He kept his band of "Smoky Mountain Boys", featuring his legendary sidekick "Bashful Brother Oswald" together and performed on the Opry nearly until his death in 1992.

It is hard for me to believe that November 23 of this year will mark the 20th anniversary of Mr. Acuff's passing. It is also hard for me to believe the degree to which his legacy has faded in those years. His vacancy from the Opry stage and mainstream media allowed other performers to become similar figureheads, such as Bill Monroe and Johnny Cash, both gone now as well. It could be said that Little Jimmy Dickens, still performing on the Opry at over 90 years of age, is the current equivalent to this trend in a genre that despite it's commercial excesses, seems to still manage to at least sometimes honour it's veterans.

Presented here are two albums of Acuff's original Columbia recordings, released on the label's Harmony line in 1958 and 1961, respectively. The first features many of his best selling titles, while second focuses on sacred material, a large and important part of his repertoire. As I transferred these old LPs, I found I can truly say I still enjoy Roy's music as much now as I did during my boyhood when Acuff represented a dignified and enduring genre of music.

Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys

"Great Speckle Bird"

Tracks:

1. Great Speckle Bird

2. Wreck On The Highway

3. Fire Ball Mail

4. The Precious Jewel

5. Pins And Needles

6. Tennessee Waltz

7. Wabash Cannon Ball

8. Freight Train Blues

9. Wait For The Light To Shine

10. Low And Lonely

*download here*

Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys

"That Glory Bound Train"

Tracks:

1. Great Speckle Bird No. 2

2. That Glory Bound Train

3. This World Can't Stand Long

4. I Saw The Light

5. Tell Mother I'll Be There

6. The Pale Horse And His Rider

7. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord

8. I'll Reap My Harvest In Heaven

9. Thank God

10. The Great Shining Light

*download here*