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 (Click here for Newsletter 302 in PDF format) |
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The OLD-TIME music community lost a wonderful
friend when RAY ALDEN passed away Sunday, Sept. 20
of cancer. He was 67. Ray did a lot to
encourage and look out for some of our important
old-time musicians in their later years. He did
field recordings of many artists, especially in
the Round Peak area of North Carolina and the
Virginia border. He started and ran the FIELD
RECORDER’S COLLECTIVE, which made available a wide
array of rural mountain music to serious
collectors (see the write up on page 1 of our
MARCH-APRIL 2009 Newsletter (# 298)hl
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BCR-017-CD VARIOUS ARTISTS 'Bluegrass Bouquet The Daughters Of Bluegrass' There’s an awful lot going on in this wonderful 17 song collection that features no less than 50 ladies who have made names for themselves in the world of Bluegrass. All of the 17 songs were written by Tom T. Hall and/or Dixie Hall, who seem to be the driving forces behind this album, which deservedly won an IBMA award for Outstanding Recorded Event of the Year. There’s a lot more than we can list or mention here, but among the highlights are some fine vocals by Janette Williams, Dale Ann Bradley, Linda Lay and Valerie Smith, solid banjo work by Kristin Scott Benson, Donica Christensen and Gena Britt, and all sorts of lovely harmony vocals by Sonya Isaacs, Heather Berry, Sally Jones, Alecia Nugent and others. All those connected with this project have a lot to be proud of. KEEP ON WALKING, CAROLINA STATE OF MIND, WILL YOU EVER BE SATISFIED, DESMORANDA, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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MRR-1007-CD VARIOUS ARTISTS 'Born Into Bluegrass-The Songs Of Cullen Galyean' It was only a matter of a few years after Earl Scruggs debuted on the Grand Ole Opry as a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys that quality banjo pickers started to appear around the country. Still, by the mid 1950s they were a pretty rare breed. Cullen Galyean of Low Gap, N.C. was one of a select few who really stood out—even in a small area of Virginia and North Carolina that also produced Ted Lundy, Larry Richardson and L.W. Lambert. In his prime (the late 50s and 1960s) Galyean could hold his own with anybody on the 5-string, and he played in a number of bands, including the Foot Hill Boys, and the Border Mountain Boys, and even did a short stint with Ralph Stanley playing mandolin. He wrote some good songs and that is what this CD is all about, as an impressive group of pickers tackle 15 songs and tunes written by Cullen including BLUEGRASS TIME, THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, DAYS OF GREY & BLACK and DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE. Although his health no longer allows him to play, his son Mickey carries on the tradition and is here backed by Junior Sisk, Rick Allred, Greg Jones, Johnny Williams, Terry Baucom, Billy Hawks and others, who help make this a welcome and fitting tribute to a real pioneer. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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GT-0549-CD BLUE SKY BOYS 'Are You From Dixie? This budget album contains both of the records (LPs) that the Blue Sky Boys cut for the Starday label when they came out of retirement briefly in 1963. (They were preceded by a Starday re-issue of some radio show transcriptions that served to introduce this brother duo to a new audience). When the two LPs were cut—one secular and one sacred—a simple fiddle & bass accompaniment was used on the gospel LP (entitled PRECIOUS MOMENTS); it was definitely more in keeping with the brothers’ old sound and proved to be better received by the public. The secular LP included some drums and steel guitar by Pete Drake—not really that intrusive, but totally unnecessary. The songs on both sessions were all good ones, and the 28 pieces include 4 songs never previously issued: WORRIED MIND, DON’T LET YOUR SWEET LOVE DIE, BEHIND THESE PRISON WALLS OF LOVE and I WISH I HAD NEVER SEEN SUNSHINE (more...) $11.00 Buy Now
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ROU-0614-CD RALPH STANLEY 'Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling' A good, solid and typical Stanley album that was recorded in 1981 on a Rivertracks label cassette, then re-issued on a Copper Creek CD in 1995. The Stanley band at the time included Charlie Sizemore on guitar and lead vocals, Junior Blankenship on lead guitar, and journeymen Curly Ray Cline (fiddle) and Jack Cooke (bass). The well-traveled album includes songs likeWON’T YOU BE MINE, THAT HAPPY NIGHT, LITTLE WILLIE, SIXTEEN YEARS, IN DESPAIDR and THIS WEARY HEART YOU STOLE AWAY (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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DTM-019-CD KRUGER BROTHERS 'Between The Notes' Jens and Uwe Kruger—a duo from Switzerland now living in North Carolina—are known for their good instrumental abilities, Jens on 5-string banjo and Uwe on guitar. Unlike their previous records, where they have always included some traditional standard tunes & songs, on this new disc their sound is more of a “new age” sound. The 11 tunes and songs are all Jens Kruger originals, and they are performed in a gentle manner that is much closer to New Acoustic music than to Bluegrass or Old-Time. DEENA, NIGHT SKY, BEAUTIFUL NOTHING, LIKE A SPARK, JASON, WINTER STORMS, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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REB-9004-DVD PAUL WILLIAMS 'The Alpha Video' This is not a new item, but has been repackaged after being out of print for some time. Since the DVD’s original issue several years ago Paul Williams’ popularity has increased significantly after a series of wonderful Bluegrass gospel CDs. This fine DVD shows the band in action at a Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee, and the 16 songs include many of Paul’s favorites including SUPPERTIME, GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN, WHISPERING HOPE, SURELY I WILL LORD, BE LOOKING FOR ME, STAY BY THE BROOK, SEEK YE OUT THE OLD PATHS and THERE’S BEEN A FEW TIME. Wonderful, soulful gospel music. (more...) $15.00 Buy Now
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VAM-07-CD BILL AND MAGGIE ANDERSON 'High On A Mountain' The latest album by this duo who now make their home in Virginia. Maggie plays dobro and Bill the guitar on a nice bunch of songs with a country flavor such as THE LAST TIME, WON’T YOU COME & SING FOR ME, SILVER BELLS, REMEMBER ME, BELLS OF SAINT MARYS, OVER THE WATERFALL, COLD JORDAN, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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SRR-128591-CD MARTY RAYBON & FULL CIRCLE 'This That & The Other' Raybon, who is better known as a country artist, demonstrates his Bluegrass beginnings on this excellent, generally nicely produced record. The songs are well chosen from a variety of sources, and Raybon is a strong singer with an authoritative, soulful voice, and for a Bluegrass audience this is his strongest recording yet. He is backed nicely by a variety of musicians, of which Booie Beach, Scott Napier, Phil Leadbetter and Daniel Grindstaff will be the most recognizable names to the Bluegrass audience. The only thing not to our liking here is the presence of very heavy drums on 4 or 5 tracks. One track—YOU GET ME—also has a bit of piano and steel guitar, but it is still a successful track, even with the superfluous percussion. Nice versions of BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAIN and EVERYBODY’S REACHING OUT. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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TIPPETT-2009-CD JOEY TIPPETT AND THE CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS 'Yard Sale' Generally solid and enjoyable straight traditional Bluegrass with 5-piece. Some of the lead singing is a little shaky, but the choice of songs is good and the spirit is there. DON’T YOU CALL MY NAME, CLOSE BY, NOBODY’S LOVE LIKE MINE, HIGHWAY OF SORROW, WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME SO, UNWANTED LOVE, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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HRC-028-CD KYLE CREED 'Liberty' An important and very welcome old-time record here, reissued by the Heritage label from a mid-1970s LP that Creed had issued somewhat reluctantly on his own Mountain label. Though Creed is one of the legendary old-time banjoists that many players learned from, his recordings were few (some of the most influential appeared on the early and classic “Clawhammer Banjo” LP –the first album that appeared on the County label, back in 1965). While Kyle was always more than happy to share his music and techniques with others, for a long time he didn’t really think his playing was worthy of a record. This disc, which also includes some singing by Emily Spencer and guitar backing by Emily & Thornton Spencer. It’s a wonderful 15 piece collection that will be greeted with pleasure by clawhammer banjo pickers and old time music enthusiasts in general. Tunes include ROUT-A-BOUT, SINFUL TO FLIRT, KATY KLINE, LOST INDIAN, CLUCK OLE HEN, SHADY GROVE, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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AR-2009-CD HERSCHEL SIZEMORE 'B-Natural' A fine all instrumental mandolin album from Sizemore, who is known for his work with various good Bluegrass bands like the SHENANDOAH CUTUPS, DIXIE GENTLEMEN, and DEL McCOURY. Here he is beautifully backed by a group of great musicians: Terry Baucom (banjo), Alan Bibey (lead guitar and 2nd mandolin), Ron Stewart (fiddle), Mike Bub (bass) and Jimmy Haley (guitar). All 12 tunes here were written by Sizemore, who had a fine previous LP out on the County label years ago. CROOKED ROAD, AUGUSTA HERITAGE, WHITE OAK, MONROE’S DREAM, etc. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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TMS-1326-CD LIZZY LONG & LITTLE ROY LEWIS 'Breaking Like Dawn' Fiddler Lizzie Long and the indomitable Little Roy combine forces on this 11-track disc. They are joined by Clay Hess (guitar), Phil Ledbetter (dobro), Ben Isaacs (bass) and a few others on this 11-track collection. Little Roy also plays some autoharp. Purists beware: there is percussion and some piano on some cuts. BORN AGAIN, BELLS OF ST. MARYS, WALKING THE STREETS OF GOLD, PREACHING UP A STORM, etc (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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RHY-1046-CD BRANDON RICKMAN 'Young Man, Old Soul' This is a first rate album of contemporary Bluegrass by an excellent young singer who is best known for his work with the Lonesome River Band. Rickman has a fine Bluegrass voice and he gets solid instrumental support from Aaron McDearis (banjo). Kim Gardner (dobro), and Andy Ball (mandolin), plus the nice vocal harmonies of Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle and others. What makes this record special—besides Rickman’s vocals—is an outstanding group of songs. No less than 10 of the dozen songs are numbers that Rickman has either written or co-written with song writers like Craig Market and Jerry Salley. WHAT I KNOW NOW and ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS WILL are real gems, and the cute and clever I BOUGHT HER A DOG will get a lot of attention now and in the future. Other good cuts include SO LONG and DIME STORE RINGS. Rickman adds a couple of well done classic Bluegrass standards (LET ME WALK LORD BY YOUR SIDE and RAIN & SNOW, plus Joe Mullins’ REST FOR HIS WORKERS)—these make an excellent change of pace from the newer numbers. This is a superb record from an important & talented artist. (more...) $13.50 Buy Now
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