BCD-16808 CHARLIE MONROE "I'm Old Kentucky Bound" A boxed set with 4 CDs and a 60-page booklet. There have been smatterings of Charlie Monroe's music since the days of LPs (including one very nice LP on the Camden label that was edited by the late Bill Vernon, who was a good friend to Charlie in his last years), but at last it's a wonderful treat to have this collection of over 100 songs, presented beautifully in the usual high standards of the German Bear Family label. Here you have all 18 of the Bluebird recordings that Charlie made shortly after the split with brother Bill: these include some great cuts like TAKE ME BACK TO THE VALLEY, FROM SHORE TO SHORE (Wabash Cannonball), JUST ONE YEAR, BLACK SHEEP, IS SHE PRAYING THERE, JOY BELLS IN MY SOUL and his nice version of GREAT SPECKLED BIRD. Then there are all 44 of his RCA Victor sides (with alternate takes of 7) that featured some wonderful bands that included musicians like Curly Seckler, Paul Prince, Tex Isley, Red Rector and Ira Louvin. There are great versions of DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN, ROSA LEE McFALL, NO DEPRESSION IN HEAVEN, BRINGIN' IN THE GEORGIA MAIL, RED ROCKING CHAIR, A VALLEY OF PEACE, DOWN IN CAROLINE and END OF MEMORY LANE. Added to all of this are the 8 songs that Charlie recorded for Decca (in 1952 and 1956), and a full disc of shows recorded by Mike Seeger at New River Ranch in the mid 1950s. The fine booklet has excellent notes by Dick Spottswood that present a variety of anecdotes and information not generally known, plus a lot of great quality large photos of Monroe's various bands over the years. This is a marvelous set for anyone who appreciates the contributions of this great singer & Entertainer. (Charlie's work as part of the Monroe Brothers is documented very nicely in an earlier Bill Monroe box (BCD-16399, 6-CD set)
CD 1:
1 Once I Had A Darling Mother
2 No Home, No Place To Pillow My Head
3 Farther Along
4 When The World's on Fire (Part 2)
5 Take Me Back To The Valley
6 Happy Spirit
7 The Great Speckled Bird
8 Tell Him To Come Back Sweet Fern
9 Every Time I Feel
10 You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
11 Oh Death
12 Guided By Love
13 If You See My Saviour
14 From Shore To Shore
15 Is She Praying There?
16 Joy Bells In My Soul
17 Just One Year
18 Black Sheep
19 Who's Calling You Sweetheart Tonight
20 Rubber Neck Blues
21 There's No Depression In Heaven
22 Mother's Not Dead, She's Only Sleeping
CD 2:
1 I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When
2 It's Only A Phonograph Record
3 Down In The Willow Garden
4 Bringin' In The Georgia Mail
5 When The Angels Carry Me Home
6 If We Ever Meet Again
7 Campin' In Canaan's Land
8 Don't Forget To Pray
9 The Grave At The Foot Of The Mountain
10 I See A Bright Light Shining
11 End Of Memory Lane
12 Shenandoah Waltz
13 Sweetheart I Love You Best
14 I Know You'll Understand
15 What Became Of That Beautiful Picture
16 Walking With You In My Dreams
17 They Didn't Believe It Was True
18 Time Clock Of Life
19 Red Rocking Chair
20 Without Me Are You Blue
21 Our Mansion Is Ready
22 A Valley Of Peace
23 Rosa Lee McFall
24 My Saviour's Train
CD 3:
1 Gonna Shake Hands With Mother Over There
2 Gonna Shake Hands With Mother Over There
3 Springtime In Glory
4 So Blue
5 Sugar Cane Mama
6 Down In Caroline
7 I Know He's Been Dealing With Me
8 I Know He's Been Dealing With Me
9 You'd Better Be Somewhere Praying
10 You'll Find Me There
11 'Neath A Cold Gray Tomb Of Stone
12 'Neath A Cold Gray Tomb Of Stone
13 Good Morning To You
14 I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing
15 I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing
16 Gold Star Mother
17 Jesus Is Calling
18 Jesus Is Calling
19 My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race
20 My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race
21 That Wild Black Engine
22 You'll Find Her Name Written There
23 You'll Find Her Name Written There
24 An Angel In Disguise
25 Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Leave 'Em Alone
26 I'm Old Kentucky Bound
27 These Triflin' Woman
28 Why Did You Say Good-Bye?
29 I'm Weary Of Heartaches
30 That's What I Like About You
31 Weep And Cry
CD 4:
1 Old Joe Clark
2 Opening Remarks From Charlie Monroe
3 Penitentiary Blues
4 Patter And Story From Charlie Monroe
5 Why Did You Ever Say Goodbye?
6 Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Leave 'Em Alone
7 When The Woman Get In Power
8 I'm Old Kentucky Bound
9 Down In Caroline
10 Down In The Willow Garden
11 Bill Cheatham
12 I Know You'll Understand
13 Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
14 I'm Old Kentucky Bound
15 Bile 'Em Cabbage Down
16 Good Morning To You
17 Hop Along Peter
18 Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
19 Orange Blossom Special
20 I'll Thank The Friends Who Prayed For Me
21 Penitentiary Blues
22 Lonely Little Robin
23 Shine On Me
24 John Henry
25 Paul And Silas Bound In Jail
26 Rocky Road Blues (Instrumental)
27 Bile Dem Cabbage Down
28 Who's Calling You Sweetheart Tonight?
29 It's Only A Phonograph Record
30 Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
31 (I'm Gonna) Sing, Sing, Sing
32 Fiddle Outro
