"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 5/26/2013 (plus, 30 minutes of "Red Rooster Party")

This Memorial Day weekend program included not only a whole bunch of songs with the common theme of American-soldier-who-goes-to-war-but-never-returns, but also birthday tributes to the most prolific songwriting couple in Bluegrass, as well as to a true Bluegrass legend.  It was 3 1/2 hours chock-full of music -- hope you were able to enjoy at least a small portion of it!

(Why was there an extra half-hour of music today?  As the UCONN Baseball team was playing -- and winning -- the Big East tournament this afternoon, Jim and Marti's Red Rooster Party was shortened to just 30 minutes.  Instead of them making the trip to WHUS for just a half-hour of airtime, I got to fill up that 30 minutes with a few songs.)

While Memorial Day has sort of morphed into a remembrance holiday in which folks honor and remember all of their deceased relatives, regardless of their military service, the fact remains that the tradition of "Decoration Day" began shortly after the end of the American Civil War in 1865, when relatives of dead soldiers would honor the memory of their loved ones by decorating their graves.  Many of the songs we played in honor of Memorial Day were somber stories of soldiers who didn't return home after fighting in various wars.  Thanks to all servicemen and servicewomen who have served, and who continue to serve in the Armed Forces, and who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The show wasn't all somber, solemn remembrance, though, as we had a few important birthdays to celebrate, including those of the extremely prolific songwriting couple, Tom T. and Miss Dixie Hall.  Tom T. was already an established Hall of Fame songwriter when he retired from his country music career, and put his energies toward writing Bluegrass music.  Miss Dixie has written several hundred songs in a short amount of time, and it's really challenging to pick up a new Bluegrass recording these days and NOT find at least one song written by either Tom T. or Miss Dixie.  We spent a bit of time on Sunday playing songs written by one or both of them, and we even included Tom T.'s 1972 recording of a song that's his best (if you ask me, that is):  "Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine."  

We also remembered Mac Wiseman, as he celebrated his 88th birthday this past week (born May 23, 1925).  

At the end of the day, there was still time for a good bit of newer music, too, from several performers, including the Spinney Brothers, Michelle Nixon (with the Daughters Of Bluegrass), the Boxcars, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ronnie Bowman (from the "God Didn't Choose Sides" recording), Hammertowne, the Roys, the Gibson Brothers, Don Rigsby, and a song from a soon-to-be-released solo CD by Edgar Loudermilk.  Also included was a song from Gordon Pike & the Dixie Darlins -- a new group with some Connecticut ties, as Gordon is the son of Earl Pike, as well as the nephew of the well-remembered guitar and banjo picker, Fred Pike.  

Hope everyone has a delightful Memorial Day, and be sure to join us once again next Sunday for another edition of Bluegrass Cafe.

Amy

• The Brakeman's Blues (Yodelling The Blues) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Essential Jimmie Rodgers / RCA
• Blue Yodel No. 4 (California Blues) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Essential Jimmie Rodgers / RCA
• Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Essential Jimmie Rodgers / RCA
• Blue Yodel No. 1 (T For Texas) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Essential Jimmie Rodgers / RCA
• The Train Carryin' Jimmie Rodgers Home / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Idle Time / Rounder [Jimmie Rodgers died 5/26/1933]
• Old Ten Broeck / Laurie Lewis / Skippin' And Flyin' / Spruce & Maple Music
• Hemlocks And Primroses / Longview / Longview / Rounder
• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Air Mail Special On The Fly / Jim & Jesse / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Old, Old House / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
• They Sleep Together, Now At Rest / Stanley Brothers / Shadows Of The Past / Copper Creek
• Hit Parade Of Love / Jimmy Martin / Bean Blossom / MCA
• Durham's Reel / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs feat. Paul Warren / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Koch Records
• Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bean Blossom / MCA
• One Of Those Days (When I Miss Lester Flatt) / Tom T. Hall / Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie And Tom T. / Blue Circle Records
• The Year That Clayton Delaney Died / Charlie Sizemore / The Story Is...The Songs Of Bill Monroe / Rebel
• Pickin' Like A Girl / Daughters Of Bluegrass / Pickin' Like A Girl / Blue Circle Records
• I Wish That I Could Have Met Carter / Stanley Brothers / No Borders / Mountain Fever Records
• Never Can Forgive 'Til I Forget / Daughters Of Bluegrass feat. Michelle Nixon / Pickin' Like A Girl / Blue Circle Records
• Clinch Mountain Mystery / Larry Stephenson / Clinch Mountain Mystery / Pinecastle
• Don't Forget The Coffee, Billy Joe / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
• Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine / Tom T. Hall / Greatest Hits, Volume 2 / Mercury
• It's Just A Road / The Boxcars / It's Just A Road / Mountain Home
• Fiddlin' Will / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Roads Well Traveled / Mountain Home
• The Lady In Gray / Ronnie Bowman / God Didn't Choose Sides / Rural Rhythm
• Shady Green / Edgar Loudermilk / forthcoming CD / Mountain Fever Records
• Sourwood Mountain / Hammertowne / Hammertowne / Mountain Fever Records
• You Can Count On My Love / The Roys / Gypsy Runaway Train / Rural Rhythm
• The Legend Of The Rebel Soldier / Country Gentlemen / The Award Winning Country Gentlemen / Rebel
• Purple Heart / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue / Rebel
• Lost Soldier Son / Chris Brashear / Wanderlust / Copper Creek
• Soldier's Last Letter / Osborne Brothers / The Ernest Tubb Song Folio, Volume I / Pinecastle
• From Mother's Arms To Korea / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Plastic Heart / Open Road
• Forgotten Men / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
• More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• Robe Of White / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder
• There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen / Songs Of The American Spirit / Pinecastle
• Dixie Darlin' / Gordon Pike & the Dixie Darlins / Gordon Pike & the Dixie Darlins / Self-Produced
• They Called It Music / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Grandpa's Way Of Life / Spinney Brothers / No Borders / Mountain Fever Records
• Walking Up This Hill On Decoration Day / Don Rigsby / Doctor's Orders / Rebel
• I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / Mac Wiseman / High Lonesome / CMH
• Blue Birds Are Singing For Me / Mac Wiseman with Lester Flatt / Bluegrass, 1971 / Rural Rhythm
• Bouquet In Heaven / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Sides, 1948-1950 / JSP Records
• Country Church / Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / The Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
• Is There Room For Me / Loafers' Glory / Loafers' Glory / Arhoolie
• Walking In Good Company / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Story Of The Day That I Died / Rebel
• So Happy I'll Be / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Ragin' Live / Rounder
• Reveille Time In Heaven / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass Hits And Heartsongs / Rebel
• I'm Making My Way / Traditional Grass / Songs Of Love And Life / Rebel
• Voice Of My Savior / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / High Lonesome / CMH
• Goodbye / Crowe/Lawson/Williams / Old Friends Get Together / Mountain Home
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder