Bluegrass Cafe

Sunday, June 10, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 6/10/2012 - Doc

Hi Folks.

Doc Watson died two days after my last day on the air, and since I consider Doc & Merle Watson to be my greatest musical influence, this version of the Bluegrass Cafe included a copious amount of music from Doc & Merle throughout. I was fortunate to attend a Doc & Merle concert in October of 1985, just 12 days before Merle's death, and the impression that left on me has never been equaled. As a sidebar, the opener that night was a bluegrass band that had mandolin master Butch Baldassari.

Heritage Corner music, besides the Doc Watson material, came from Jim Eanes, The Dillards, and Ralph Stanley.

Newer music included numbers from Larry Stephenson, Lonesome River Band, Ralph Stanley II, Bob Amos, Steep Canyon Rangers, Monroeville, The Grascals, Jim Hurst, Marty Raybon, Sweet Potato Pie, and The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band.

Amy will be hosting "Bluegrass Cafe" next week, so be sure to tune in.

Jim Beaver

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Old Joseph / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
The Train That Carried My Girl From Town / Doc Watson / Good Deal! Doc Watson in Nashville / Vanguard
Wiggle Worm Wiggle / Jim Eanes and the Shenandoah Valley Boys / Self-titled / Bear Family
I'm Leaving Detroit / Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
Little Maggie / Doc & Merle Watson / Home Sweet Home / Sugar Hill
I'm On My Way Back To The Old Home / Tony Rice / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
Keep On Walkin' / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
Whiplash / The Steeldrivers / Live 11/8/2006 / Self-released
Footprints In The Snow / Doc Watson, Clint Howard, Fred Price / Old Timey Concert / Vanguard
Pay No Attention To Alice / Charlie Sizemore / Heartache Looking For A Home / Rounder
Whoa Mule / Clint Howard - Doc Watson / Favorites of... / Old Homestead
Bear Tracks / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass
Ramshackle Shack / Doc Watson / Riding The Midnight Train / Sugar Hill
Struttin' To Ferrum / Lonesome River Band / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
Down By The River / Larry Gillis and the Hard Driving Bluegrass Band / Swampgrass / Tinman
Sweet Heaven When I Die / Doc Watson / Riding The Midnight Train / Sugar Hill
I Think I Hear A Train / Ralph Stanley II / Born To Be A Drifter / Stanley Generation
Close The Door Lightly When You Go / Lonesome River Band / Chronology Volume One / Rural Rhythm
Tom Dooley / Doc Watson / Self-titled / Vanguard
Crazy Legs / Bob Amos / Borrowed Time / Bristlecone
The Quaker's Cow / Doc & Merle Watson / Doc Watson On Stage / Vanguard
Salt River/Bill Cheatham / Doc & Merle Watson / Doc Watson On Stage / Vanguard
Long Shot / Steep Canyon Rangers / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
Rambler's Song / Monroeville / Self-titled / Monroeville
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms / Doc & Merle Watson / Ballads From Deep Gap / Vanguard
Watermelon On The Vine / The Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
Live And Let Live / The Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
Lonesome Truck Driver's Blues / The Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
George Gudger's Overalls / Doc Watson / Portrait / Sugar Hill
You Can Run / Ashlee Blankenship & Blades of Blue / Self-titled / Mountain Fever
Walkin' West To Memphis / The Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass
Don't Wake Me Up / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
Black-Eyed Susan / The Dillards / Live!!! Almost!!! / Elecktra
Life Finds A Way / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
Bright Sunny South / Doc & Merle Watson / Down South / Sugar Hill
Long Black Train / Jim Hurst (bed) / Intrepid / Self-released
Through The Garden / Jim Hurst / Intrepid / Self-released
Dirt Road Heartache / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
Sweet Blue Eyed Darling / Sweet Potato Pie / Brand New Day / Mountain Fever
Right Here / The Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-released
Wild Bill Jones / Doc & Merle Watson / Songs From Home / Capitol
Today I Turned Your Picture To The Wall / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / The Touch Of Time / Rural Rhythm
Sunshine Special / The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Spring Fed
What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul / Bill Monroe and Doc Watson / Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways
On Praying Ground / Doc Watson / On Praying Ground / Sugar Hill
If God Isn't Real / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Self-titled / Steeltown
I'll Not Be A Stranger / Kathy Kallick / Count Your Blessings / Live Oak
What Would You Do / Fred Etheridge w.Nick Anderson & Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin / Self-released
Somebody Touched Me / Larry Sparks / Almost Home / Rounder
Your Lone Journey / Doc Watson / My Dear Old Southern Home / Sugar Hill
Talking To Casey / Doc & Merle Watson / The Guitar Album / Flying Fish

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Almost the end of the fill-in shows -- 6/8/2012

When I tell you I've liked the Statlers
forever, I'm really not kidding...

Since the middle of May, I've been doing an extra two-hour show on Friday mornings from 8-10AM. In a way, this Friday show is kind of fun, as, unless you listen to Internet radio or subscribe to Sirius, you probably don't hear a whole lot of classic country music on the radio. Doing this second show gives me a bit more room to "stretch out" beyond the boundaries of what I might normally play on a fairly traditional BG show. However, the show being on Friday mornings just don't work so well for a variety of reasons, so, beginning June 22nd, Steve Herzog will be taking over the timeslot, and I'm sure he'll play some interesting singer/songwriter/folkish music. Ah, the variety you can find on college radio...

While I didn't really focus on any particular theme for this fill-in, I decided to start the show with some fog-related songs, as the trip to Storrs on Friday morning was definitely a foggy one. I also managed to put together a couple of songs from my all-time favorites, the Statler Brothers. Ostensibly, the reason for Statler tunes was to celebrate the 67th birthday of lead singer, Don Reid, but really, do I need an excuse to play the Statlers? Nope.

One of the Statlers' attempts to follow up on the success of "Flowers On The Wall" in October 1965 was a not-too-wonderful composition by a young Don Reid called, "Makin' Rounds" (recorded April 1966). That song came from a 45 single record, which I don't normally play on the air. The host of the early Friday morning program on WHUS, Mustapha, has been telling me that he sometimes tries to play ALL 45s during his 2-hour program, and in the day and age of CDs and programmed iPods, playing all vinyl on the air is a real rarity. However, I was a bit inspired by Mustapha, so I dug out 5 45s. That's not enough to make a full two-hour program, but it was enough for me! Besides the Statlers, there was music from 45s by Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Dick Curless, and a Porter/Dolly duet. Playing all vinyl recordings would be a tremendous challenge, but maybe that will happen for me again someday...

There was also a bit of time on Friday for new music from Travers Chandler & Avery County -- Jim debuted the Mountain Fever Records release called "Pardon Me..." a few weeks ago; as well as a new CD on Pinecastle from Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show called "Take Me Back." The fun thing about the Shiflett record is that it includes a new band member for Big Country Show -- eastern CT's own Dany Bureau on scrub board. Way to go, Dany! Doubtless, you'll be hearing more from both of these projects, plus the new Rounder tribute to Earl Scruggs on "BG Cafe" in future weeks.

There'll be one more fill-in for me next Friday (8-10AM), so I hope you can join me. Be sure to listen to Jim on Sunday afternoon (4-7PM) with the "BG Cafe," too, won't you?

Amy

Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Craig Smith / Foggy Mountain Special: A Bluegrass Tribute To Earl Scruggs / Rounder
The Foggy Foggy Dew / Tim O'Brien / Cornbread Nation / Sugar Hill
Foggy Mountain Special / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
Carolina Moonshine Man / Lou Reid & Carolina / Callin' Me Back Home / KMA Records
The Wishing Well / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Wilson County Line / Shannon Slaughter / The Sideman Steps Out / Self-Produced
Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass Records
Little Green Valley / Del McCoury, Doc Watson & Mac Wiseman / Mac, Doc & Del / Sugar Hill
Makin' Rounds / Statler Brothers / single / Columbia
The Class Of '57 / Statler Brothers / The Legendary Statler Brothers / Reader's Digest
Silver Medals And Sweet Memories / Statler Brothers / The Legendary Statler Brothers / Reader's Digest
White Lightning / George Jones / The Essential George Jones / Epic
Don't Knock It / Hargus "Pig" Robbins / A Bit Of Country Piano / Time Records
Man In Black / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
A Week In A County Jail / Tom T. Hall / The Essential Tom T. Hall: The Story Songs / Mercury
Coat Of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / single / RCA
The Farmer's Daughter / Merle Haggard / single / Capitol
A Tombstone Every Mile / Dick Curless / single / Allagash Records
The Right Combination / Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton / single / RCA
Curtain In The Window / Ray Price / In A Honky Tonk Mood / Jasmine
Hey Good Lookin' / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life Records
Honeymoon On A Rocketship / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
Go Back You Fool / Faron Young / The Complete Capitol Hits Of Faron Young / Collectors' Choice Music
It's Been So Long / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA
Blue Monday Morning / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever Records
Blue, Blue Day / Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show / Take Me Back / Pinecastle
I Could Change My Mind / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever Records
Makes No Difference Now / Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show / Take Me Back / Pinecastle
Talk To Me Lonesome Heart / Larry Stephenson with Connie Smith & Marty Stuart / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle
Makin' A Killin' / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
Rough Edges / BearTracks / Rough Edges / AMT Records
You're Running Wild / Louvin Brothers / The Essential Louvin Brothers / Raven Records
Chicken Pickin' / Don Rich & the Buckaroos / Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology / Sundazed

Monday, June 04, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 6/3/2012

Kind of a rainy Saturday at Strawberry Park,
but Lou Reid & Carolina still sounded mighty fine...

What a terrific weekend! Even though a good portion of Saturday was a washout at the 35th annual Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, there was still a terrific amount of talent to be heard over the four days of the festival. We started Sunday's show with a bit of music from some Strawberry Park performers, including Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass, Monroeville, Lou Reid & Carolina, and Dailey & Vincent, as well as music later on from the Gibson Brothers, Larry Stephenson, and the Boxcars.

On May 29, 2012, Arthel Lane Watson died in a North Carolina hospital at the age of 89. Doc Watson was an amazingly talented guitar picker who possessed a warm and wonderful baritone voice, and there's no doubt that he's going to be missed by a whole lot of folks. On the day Doc's funeral was held in North Carolina, we celebrated a bit of his musical life by playing several of his recordings, but could have included so many more. Doc's version of Jimmy Driftwood's "Tennessee Stud" was on my list of "must-plays" of Doc music on Sunday, but somehow or other, it was overlooked. The clip below will work just fine, though. I'm sure that Jim will share a bit more music from the Doc Watson catalog on the WHUS airwaves next Sunday, so if you weren't able to hear one of your Doc favorites this week, you may just be able to next Sunday in the Bluegrass Cafe.

The only brand new recording we included this week is from a father and son -- Roger and J.D. Williams. Both of these Williams boys are very talented, as resophonic guitarist Roger has been a fixture in the New England Bluegrass scene for years, and J.D. is both a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and a fine mandolin player. Their new recording project is aptly titled, "Williams Squared." Both Roger and J.D. have been -- and still are -- members of CT band Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters, and this CD is an instrumental project which features father, son, and some mighty fine musician friends on several original compositions. Roger and J.D. were to perform live at WHUS shortly after BG Cafe went off the air on Sunday, as Susan Forbes Hansen was featuring them in-studio in the "Sunday Night Folk Festival."

Our friend, Clyde models a vintage
"Magic of Bluegrass" shirt. MoB
was the predecessor of BG Cafe.

Hope you were able to enjoy something during Sunday's show. Be sure to join Jim this coming Sunday on the ol' radio, and if you're one who enjoys the sounds of classic country music combined with the BG, I'll have two more weeks of Friday fill-ins from 8-10AM on June 8th and June 15th.

Amy

REQUESTS ARE RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
Cardboard Mansion / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine
Rambler's Song / Monroeville / Monroeville / Self-Produced
Blew Monday / Lou Reid & Carolina / Callin' Me Back Home / KMA Records
By The Mark / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
Glastonbury Watershed / Roger & J.D. Williams / Williams Squared / Happy Appy Records
The River / Lynn Morris / You'll Never Be The Sun / Rounder
East Virginia Blues / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
Open Up Your Heart / Terry Baucom with the Gibson Brothers / In A Groove / John Boy & Billy, Inc.
Old Blue / The Dillards / A Long Time Ago / Varese Sarabande
The Blues Don't Care Who's Got 'Em / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass Records
Wave Goodbye / Bluegrass Patriots / Springtime In The Rockies / Copper Creek
Sunny Side Of Life / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage
Loneliness And Desperation / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
If I Fall / Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-Produced
Are You Missing Me / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
Remembrance Is A Golden Chain / Heather Berry & Tony Mabe / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Mountain Fever Records
The Waves On The Sea / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
Black Mountain Rag / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Doc Watson / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
My Dear Old Southern Home / Doc Watson / My Dear Old Southern Home / Sugar Hill
Watson's Blues / Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / Live Duet Recordings, 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways
Christmas Lullaby / Doc Watson / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
Walk On Boy / Doc & Richard Watson / Third Generation Blues / Sugar Hill
Whiskey Before Breakfast / Doc Watson with Bryan Sutton / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
Thunder Road/Sugarfoot Rag / Doc Watson / Docabilly / Sugar Hill
Your Lone Journey / Doc Watson / My Dear Old Southern Home / Sugar Hill
Rock Bottom Blues / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
One Day Late And A Dollar Short / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
The Lucky One / Alison Krauss & Union Station / New Favorite / Rounder
You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer / Bill Emerson & Pete Goble / Webco Classics / Webco
Listen To Me Mother / Chris Brashear / single / Self-Produced
We're In The Love Together / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / So Much In Between / Mountain Home
Helen / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
I'm Over You / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
Choking The Strings / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
I'm Walkin' / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
I'll Take A Page From Your Book / Straight Drive / I'll Take A Page From Your Book / Cabinwood Music
Cold Chill Of Gone / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Steeltown Records
Face The Music / Too Blue / Trouble With The Grey / Self-Produced
The Greatest Curator / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
Love Lifted Me / Mountain Faith / Save Me / Mountain Home
Where The Soul Never Dies / Josh Williams & Don Rigsby / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
Get Down On Your Knees And Pray / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
I Am A Pilgrim / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings / Rebel
The Fourth Man In The Fire / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
Get In Line Brother / Audie Blaylock & Redline with Russell Moore & Carrie Hassler / The All-Star Jam / Rural Rhythm
Let Him Lead You / Jim Eanes / Let Him Lead You / Rebel
When The Angels Carry Me Home / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Father's Table Grace / MME
You Must Come In At The Door / Doc Watson / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Sunday, May 27, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 5/27/2012 - Memorial Day


Doc Watson (Lauren Carroll- Winston-Salem Journal)

Hi Folks.

While we had great weather this day to support holiday weekend activities, we honored the reason for the Memorial Day holiday by playing songs throughout this show about the sons and daughters who did not return from wars.

As this show was about to begin, we became aware of the dire status of American guitar legend, Doc Watson, and opened the show with one of his classic tunes. (Doc passed away two days later on May 29th.)

New music included songs from Larry Stephenson, MA group Acoustic Blue, CT/NY group Too Blue, The Boxcars, The Steep Canyon Rangers, The Grascals, Randy Jones, Bob Amos, Travers Chandler & Avery County, Heather Berry & Tony Mabe, The Spinney Brothers, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

L-R Donna, Patsy, Roni Stoneman

For her birthday, we had Patsy Stoneman perform a song from The Stonemans, Patsy, Donna, Roni, disc released on Patuxent a couple years ago.

Be sure to tune in Tuesday afternoons from 3 til 5 when James & Kathy Ward bring two hours of drive-time bluegrass to WHUS, and next Sunday 4-7pm when Amy Orlomoski will serve up the bluegrass on Bluegrass Cafe.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

Song / Artist / Album / Label

Black Mountain Rag / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Self-titled / Rounder
A Hero In Harlan / Tom T. Hall / Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T. / Blue Circle
Me And John And Paul / The Grascals / Self-titled / Rounder
Ungrateful One / Steep Canyon Ranger / Nobody Knows You / Rounder
Tarred And Feathered / Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen / Self-titled / Self-released
I'd Rather Love A Memory / The Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-released
Rebel Soldier / Charlie Moore / Civil War Memories (Compilation) / Wango
Bein' Country / Acoustic Blue / Bein' Country / Self-released
Blue Monday Morning / Travers Chandler & Avery County / Pardon Me... / Mountain Fever
Bright Sunny South / Alison Krauss / New Favorite / Rounder
Two Little Boys / Eddie & Martha Adcock / Many A Mile / Patuxent
Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass
Seen It All / Bob Amos / Borrowed Time / Bristlecone
I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome / Randy Jones / When Old Lonesome Comes Around / Southfork
With Love From Normandy / Mark "Brink" Brinkman / On The Brink Of A Dream / Brinksongs
Liberty / The Dillards / Live Almost / Elektra
Goodbye To The Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Life Goes On (Compilation) / Rural Rhythm
Johnny Gray - Rye Straw / Peter Feldmann & The Pea Patch Quintet / Grey Cat on the Tennessee Farm / Hen Cackle
Someone Play Dixie For Me / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Tried & True / Rounder
John Hardy / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
Don't Fall In Love With A Girl Like That / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
Honky Tonk Lullaby / The Grascals / Life Finds A Way / Mountain Home
Welcome Home / Dailey & Vincent / The Gospel Side Of Dailey & Vincent / Cracker Barrel
Arkansas / The Heather Berry & Tony Mabe Show / Self-titled / Mountain Fever
When Johnny Comes Marching Home / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent
I've Never Been So Lonesome / Ted Lundy and the Southern Mountain Boys / Self-titled / Old Blue
And The Band Played "Waltzing Matilda" / Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein / 2:10 Train / Rebel
When You're Holding Me / Rhonda Vincent / Single / Upper Management
Memories / The Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever
It's You Baby You / The Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Plastic Heart / Open Road
Til They Came Home / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
Long Journey Home (bed) / Josh Williams / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
I'll Stay Around (bed) / Tim Stafford / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
Banks Of The Ohio (bed) / Brad Davis / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM
A Purple Heart / Curly Seckler / Bluegrass, Don't You Know / Copper Creek
What Really Matters / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass
Trouble With The Grey / Too Blue / Trouble With The Grey / Self-released
Must Be The Wind / Nu-Blu / The Blu-Disc / Pinecastle
A Hero's Death / Mac Wiseman / Plum Pitiful / Time Life
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
Soldier's Grave / Wade Mainer / I'm Not Looking Backward / Gusto
Hold Fast To The Right / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks
Casualty Of War / Larry Sparks / The Last Suit You Wear / McCoury
Little Star / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
Shouting Time In Heaven / Kenny & Amanda Smith / Life Goes On (Compilation) / Rural Rhythm
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms / Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Lee Marcus / Grandpa's Pond / Self-released
Prayers And Pinto Beans / The Stonemans / Patsy, Donna, Roni / Patuxent
Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge w. Nick Anderson, Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Yet another Friday fill-in -- 5/25/2012

Happy Birthday to both Tom T. (5/25) & Miss Dixie (5/26)!

Friday's fill-in this week was actually supposed to be 4 hours long, but a UCONN Baseball rainout on Thursday night in Florida moved the team's NCAA tourney game to Friday morning, instead. Hence, the sports preemption began at 11AM. Still, a 3-hour program allowed enough time to adequately play birthday celebration sets from two important gentlemen in the history of country music: "The Voice With A Heart", Mac Wiseman (born May 23, 1925) and "The Storyteller," Tom T. Hall (born May 25, 1936).

Bluegrass Hall of Famer, Mac Wiseman turned 88 on 5/25.

An extended set of Memorial Day music was a definite necessity, too. As you might expect, the common theme in most of the songs played in that set is about the soldier who went to war, but didn't make it back home. It seems that too often these days, lots of people get caught up in all of the Memorial Day hype such as big sales at retail stores or what's going to be served at the big barbecue, and the hope is that these songs make you remember that those things are nice, but they aren't the real reason for the holiday. Songs in this set came from all kinds of performers, including classic performers like the Louvin Brothers, Hank Williams, and Elton Britt to more modern acts like the Spinney Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, and Chris Jones.

Next Friday morning, my plan is to NOT be on the radio, as I hope to be at the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in nearby Preston, CT. I'm not sure how much longer this country and BG fill-in show will be on the WHUS schedule, but we'll keep you posted, for sure.

Hope you've got plans to join Jim in this Sunday's BG Cafe -- he'll be with you for 3 hours beginning at 4PM on Sunday afternoon....

Enjoy the weekend!

Amy

SONG / ARTIST / ALBUM / LABEL

In The Summertime / Roger Miller / 20th Century Masters / Mercury
Summer When You First Loved Me / Lonesome River Bnad / Head On Into Heartache / Mountain Home
Skies In Summer Rain / Edgar Loudermilk / Roads Travelled / Mountain Fever Records
Green Grass / Statler Brothers / Flowers On The Wall: The Essential Statler Brothers, 1964-1969 / Columbia
Foggy Mountain Top / Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / Off The Record, 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways
Whiskey Before Breakfast / Doc Watson & Bryan Sutton / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
Black Mountain Rag / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Doc Watson / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Grand Ole Opry Song / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Jimmy Martin / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Mama's Opry / Chris Brashear / sngle / no label
Wreck On The Highway / Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys / The Golden Age / Capitol
Filipino Baby / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
Second Fiddle To An Old Guitar / Jean Shepard / Opry Country Classics, Volume 2 / Opry Music
Why Don't You Love Me / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
You Ain't Woman Enough / Loretta Lynn / Opry Country Classics, Volume 2 / Opry Music
Devil Woman / Marty Robbins / Legends Of The Grand Ole Opry / Time Life
The Rhumba Boogie / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
Green, Green Grass Of Home / Porter Wagoner / Opry Country Classics, Volume 1 / Opry Music
I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / Mac Wiseman / High Lonesome / CMH
Jimmy Brown, The Newsboy / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass, 1971 / Rural Rhythm
The Letter Edged In Black / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass Hits And Heartsongs / Rebel
Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / Mac Wiseman with Lester Flatt / Bluegrass, 1971 / Rural Rhythm
I Was Left On The Street / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
Stoney Lonesome / Tony Rice [Bluegrass Album Band] / The Bill Monroe Collection / Rounder
Age / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album, Volume 4 / Rounder
Another Day / McCoury Brothers / The McCoury Brothers / Rounder
Billy Christian / Statler Brothers / Flowers On The Wall / Sony
Margie's At The Lincoln Park Inn / Bobby Bare / The Essential Bobby Bare / BMG
Ballad Of Forty Dollars / Tom T. Hall / The Essential Tom T. Hall: The Story Songs / Mercury
The Year That Clayton Delaney Died / Charlie Sizemore / The Story Is...The Songs Of Tom T. Hall / Rebel
Harper Valley PTA / Michelle Nixon & Drive / A Place I Belong / Mountain Fever Records
Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine / Tom T. Hall / The Essential Tom T. Hall: The Story Songs / Mercury
The Boys In Hats And Ties / Big Country Bluegrass / The Boys In Hats And Ties / Rebel
Holding On When You've Let Go / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
Bouquet In Heaven / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Sides, 1958-1950 / JSP Records
Robe Of White / Louvin Brothers / The Family Who Prays: 26 Classic Tracks / Country Stars
A Hero In Harlan / Chris Jones / Lost Souls & Free Spirits / Rebel
Sally's Waltz / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
A Purple Heart / Curly Seckler / Bluegrass, Don't You Know / Copper Creek
Searching For A Soldier's Grave / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Elton Britt / Ridin' With Elton / Soundies
Don't Fall In Love With A Girl Like That / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
Slowly But Surely / Amy Gallatin & Roger Williams / Something 'Bout You / Happy Appy Records
Ragged Man / Gibson Brothers / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
I'm Layin' It On The Line / Don Rich & the Buckaroos / Country Pickin' : The Don Rich Anthology / Sundazed
Three Ways Of Knowing / Allerton & Alton / Black, White & Bluegrass / Bear Family
Do I Like It? / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era

Sunday, May 20, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 5/20/2012

How many discovered BG through the music of
the Darlin boys on "Andy Griffith?"

As has become a common theme in the BG Cafe in recent weeks, we spent time on Sunday's show paying tribute to another BG legend who has passed. There can be no doubt that Douglas Flint Dillard, who died on May 16th at the age of 75, brought Bluegrass (or, Ozark Mountain Music) to the masses through several appearances as a member of the Darlin' boys on "The Andy Griffith Show," and he was able to do it pretty much without ever saying a single word. With the Dillards, Doug's infectious music was able to speak for itself loud and clear. Later on, Doug Dillard was a pioneer in the country rock sound, but we mostly stuck to a Dillard diet in our celebration of Doug Dillard today.

New music was a big part of the show today, too. There was brand new music from forthcoming projects by Larry Stephenson and a live, all-gospel project from Rhonda Vincent. We also included a couple of tunes from a relatively new, Cincinnati-based band called Nightflyer, as well as one from an Earl Scruggs banjo tribute project on Rounder Records to be released in June. It's called, "Foggy Mountain Special: A Bluegrass Tribute To Earl Scruggs" and features music from twelve top-notch banjo pickers. Other recently-released music came from projects by Freeman & Williams, Feller & Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos, Blue & Lonesome, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, the Spinney Brothers, Sweet Potato Pie, Marty Raybon, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

Jim will return to the BG Cafe next Sunday afternoon, so please be sure to join him. If you're so inclined, perhaps you can join me for a Friday fill-in from 8-10AM, too...

Have a good week!

Amy

SONG / PERFORMER / ALBUM / LABEL

Requests are RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day! / Self-Produced
Where The City Ends / Chris Brashear & Peter McLaughlin / So Long Arizona / Dog Boy Records
Timber I'm Falling / White Mountain Bluegrass / January Weekend / Self-Produced
God Bless Her 'Cause She Is My Mother / Gibson Brothers / Long Forgotten Dream / Hay Holler
Never See My Home Again / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Silence Or Tears / John Duffey [Country Gentlemen] / The Rebel Years: 1962-1977 / Rebel
Bluegrass Breakdown / Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition / Rural Rhythm Records Salutes Bill Monroe / Rural Rhythm
Wrong Road Again / Freeman & Williams / Freeman & Williams / Mountain Roads Recordings
Can't Live Life / Edgar Loudermilk with Rhonda Vincent / Roads Traveled / Mountain Fever Records
Heavy Traffic Ahead / Del McCoury Band / Old Memories / McCoury Music
Take My Ring From Your Finger / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
Johnny [sic] & Jack Medley / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings / Rebel
Little Cabin Home On The Hill / Johnnie & Jack / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
Philadelphia Lawyer / Larry Stephenson with Sam Bush / What Really Matters / Compass Records
Flint Hill Special / David Talbot / Rounder Records 2010 IBMA Sampler / Rounder
Together Again / Feller & Hill & the Bluegrass Buckaroos / single / Self-Produced
My Heart Is On The Mend / Larry Stephenson / What Really Matters / Compass Records
The Hangman's Daughter / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records
Field Of Flowers / Blue & Lonesome / Live From Harrietville, Australia / Self-Produced
Hell Amongst The Yearlings / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
Muddy Waters / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / New Bluegrass & Old Heartaches / Rural Rhythm
These Old Blues / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records
Two Chairs For Ray And Alice / Pine Hill Ramblers / Two Chairs For Ray And Alice / Self-Produced
The Blind Man / Spinney Brothers / Live at WHUS, 5/8/2010 / no label
Hickory Hollow / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
The Old Home Place / The Dillard / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Hamilton County Breakdown / Doug Dillard Band / Jackrabbit! / Flying Fish
Hard Travelin' / Arlo Guthrie & the Dillards / Thirty Two Cents/Postage Due / Rising Son Records
Doug's Tune / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
There Is A Time / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Reuben's Train / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
Stafford's Stomp / Jim Hurst / Second Son / Pinecastle
I'll Get Along Somehow / Allerton & Alton / Black, White & Bluegrass / Bear Family
Walking The Floor / Sweet Potato Pie / Brand New Day / Mountain Fever Records
He Was A Friend Of Mine / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run / Special Consensus / Scratch Gravel Road / Compass Records
At The End Of A Long, Lonely Day / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Life Goes On / Rural Rhythm
Jesse James / Bill Emerson with Marshall Wilborn & Lynn Morris / Eclipse / Rural Rhythm
Sugar Coated Love / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
Where We'll Never Say Farewell / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Sunday Mornin' Singin' Live! / Upper Management Music
Silent Partner / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Sunday Mornin' Singin' Live! / Upper Management Music
That Home Far Away / Stanley Brothers / All Gospel, All Bluegrass / Federal
Get Up In Jesus Name / Marty Raybon / Southern Roots & Branches / Rural Rhythm
Old Roman Soldier / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
Going On Home / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sing Me A Song About Jesus / Mountain Home
Let Me Rest / Johnson Mountain Boys / We'll Still Sing On / Rounder
Oh What A Day / Barry Scott & Second Wind / In God's Time / Rebel
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Friday, May 18, 2012

Another Friday fill-in - 5/18/2012

It looks like I'll be doing a summer fill-in from 8-10AM on Fridays for a little bit longer, although I'm told there's someone who might be stepping in to fill the timeslot later on in June. We shall see. In the meantime, once again, I fully enjoyed my two-hour show this morning, and I was able to play the very fun combo (for me, anyway) of classic country and BG tunes.

One of the greatest fiddlers ever, Paul Warren.

On Friday, we spent a bit of time remembering the musical partners, Johnnie Wright (born May 13, 1914) and Jack Anglin (born May 13, 1916) with some of their great songs, as well as a couple of tunes they wrote for Johnnie's wife, Kitty Wells. We also celebrated the lives of two Bluegrass greats who were both born on May 17th -- Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley in 1925 and in 1918, the wonderful, oh-so-fun-to-watch fiddler, Paul Warren.

In addition, we featured a number of songs from banjo great, Doug Dillard, who died this past Wednesday (May 16th) at the age of 75. One of the original members of the Dillards, Doug was with the band as they brought BG to mainstream America through their appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show." He later went on to be one of the pioneers in the world of country rock, and we explored a bit of that on Friday's program. During the BG Cafe this coming Sunday, there'll be lots more music -- concentrating more on the Bluegrass, I'm thinking -- from Doug Dillard and the Dillards, so do join me, if you can...

Amy

Beware Of It / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
No One Dear But You / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
One By One / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / Makin' Believe / Country Stars
Sugar In The Gourd / Tommy Jackson / The Kitty Wells Show / Decca
You Left Your Mark On Me / Kitty Wells / The Kitty Wells Show / Decca
You And Me / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / Makin' Believe / Country Stars
The Singing Waterfall / Kitty Wells / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
Moanin' The Blues / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
Nobody's Lonesome For Me / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Fiddle 'n Banjo / Doug Dillard / You Don't Need A Reason To Sing / 20th Century Records
Don't Come Rollin' / Doug Dillard, John Hartford, Rodney Dillard / Dillard-Hartford-Dillard / Flying Fish
Cross The Border Line / Doug Dillard, John Hartford, Rodney Dillard / Dillard-Hartford-Dillard / Flying Fish
Music City U.S.A. / Doug Dillard / You Don't Need A Reason To Sing / 20th Century Records
Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / Bluegrass Breakdown / Vanguard
Shuckin' The Corn / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
My Rambling Heart / Jim Reeves / Four Walls--The Legend Begins / RCA
Talk To Your Heart / Ray Price / The Essential Ray Price / Columbia
It Don't Show On Me / Buck Owens / Sweethearts In Heaven / Starday
He'll Have To Go / Jim Reeves / RCA Country Legends / RCA
In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
What A Wonderful Life / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
Old Kentucky Farmers / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Prime Tyme / Rural Rhythm
Let's Live For Tonight / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
I Know You're Married / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
Durham's Reel / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt &Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Columbia
Let The Church Roll On / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
Get Up Susan / Paul Warren / Johnnie & Jack with Kitty Wells at KWKH / Bear Family
Drifting With The Tide / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
Less Of Me / Statler Brothers / The Essential Statler Brothers / Columbia
Not A Word From Home / Louvin Brothers / The Louvin Brothers Sing The Great Roy Acuff Songs / Gusto
Wabash Cannonball / Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Screams From The Holler / Self-Produced
I Couldn't Believe It Was True / Roy Acuff / The Prodigal Son / Country Stars
We're Gonna Hold On / George Jones & Tammy Wynette / Duets / Cracker Barrel
Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
Peacock Rag / Don Reno / The Golden Guitar Of Don Reno / King

Sunday, May 13, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 5/13/2012 - Everett Lilly and Kenny Roberts

Hi Folks,

It has been a very tough year with the loss of so many great pioneering musicians, and today was another day of tributes, this time to Kenny Roberts (October 14, 1926 - April 29, 2012) and Everett Lilly (July 1, 1924 - May 8, 2012).

Kenny Roberts

Though Kenny Roberts was not known as a bluegrass musician, he was a respected country singer with an amazingly clear voice who was perhaps the best yodeler I've ever heard. In fact, he was called "King of the Yodelers" for his yodeling talent (he won the World Yodeling Championship in Madison Square Garden in 1964), and "The Jumpin' Cowboy" because of his antics while performing on his pioneering kids television program in Ohio in the 1950s. Kenny and his music were loved by many bluegrass fans, and he was a New England local, having moved back to the hometown of his youth, Athol, Massachusetts, in 1975. You can read my personal remembrance of Kenny Roberts on our old Red Rooster Party blog at this link. Our musical tribute on this show included a sampling of Kenny Roberts' songs and excerpts from a 2006 interview that my wife Marti and I conducted with Kenny.

Everett Lilly (photo: Matt Withrow)

Everett Lilly was an important member of The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover -- all West Virginians who, along with Tex Logan, brought bluegrass music to New England, Boston in particular, around 1952. Dick Bowden has written a great remembrance of Everett on Bluegrass Today. You can read it here.

Some of the earliest studio recordings of
The Lilly Brothers were made by Al Hawkes 1956-57

Early Lilly Brothers in their
Confederate Mountaineer period

New music on this program included a single from Ray Edwards and a host of great singers and musicians remembering Jimmy Martin, and new tunes from Bobby Osborne, The Boxcars, NewTown, Bill Emerson, Freeman & Williams, John Bowman, and Doyle Lawson.

Be sure to tune in next week when Amy Orlomoski will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue