Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Helping one of my BG heroes...



It's no secret that I am now and have always been a huge admirer of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Growing up in eastern CT, I recall seeing them perform many times, especially every February at the Chestnut Lodge in Colchester in shows sponsored by the now-defunct Connecticut Friends of Bluegrass. I fully believe that my exposure to this band and their music and showmanship paved the way for my introduction to Bluegrass and later, Bluegrass radio. Without getting overly sentimental here, this band and all of its members mean an awful lot to me, and I believe that there are still lots and lots of folks in CT and New England who are big fans of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Even though the band has been broken up for more than a decade, I still try to play at least one tune from JMB on the air every week, and I'm pretty comfortable in saying that Jim shares my high opinion of these guys.


(By the way, the photo at the top of this page was taken at one of those JMB shows at the Chestnut Lodge, circa 1984. From left to right, it's David McLaughlin, Richard Underwood, Dudley Connell, Larry Robbins, and Eddie Stubbs. Longtime BGers from New England will notice #1 Bluegrass Fan Alice Waters right on the front row, too -- naturally).



Just yesterday, I read a post on the very fine Bluegrass Blog about the JMB mandolin player, David McLaughlin. In addition to JMB, David has performed with Josh Crowe in the duo known as Crowe & McLaughlin, as one of the first members of the Lynn Morris Band, and with Linda & David Lay in Springfield Exit (among other groups). In 2006, David experienced almost total hearing loss, but was able to restore a good portion of his hearing by using some powerful hearing aids. I recall seeing David perform with Lynn Morris at the 2007 Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival, and he was using the hearing aids then. According to the BG Blog post, recently, David has found a device called the Oticon Dual which (when paired with an Oticon Streamer) has allowed him to hear nearly as well as he did before 2006. This device is currently "on loan," but can be purchased by David for $7,000. To help raise funds for David to purchase this device, his good friend and fellow musician, Claire Lynch, has established a benefit fund, and folks are encouraged to contribute whatever they can. So far, they've raised just over $2,000, but every penny helps. If you'd like to contribute, please note that donations can be made via PayPal using the email address McLaughlinFund@gmail.com, or send a check payable to David McLaughlin Benefit Fund to:


Jennifer Hardiman
805 East College Street
Pulaski, TN 38478


Please consider making a contribution, if you're able.

To read the full post on the Bluegrass Blog, click here.
Thanks!
Amy

Addendum as of 1/1/2010: Jennifer Hardiman says that the total amount of donations to the McLaughlin Fund as of 12/31/2009 was $3,555.95. That's more than half of the needed $7,000, but there's still a ways to go. Please consider making a donation soon, won't you?

Two December fill-ins for Amy...

As it's the Christmas/Holiday/Winter Break at UCONN, there are lots of opportunities for us community members to pick up extra radio shifts to help out vacationing students. I've been able to do a couple of Tuesday afternoon (1-3PM) fill-ins so far this month, and in them, I've played a good bit of country music with a bit of the Bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The country music I've played has mostly been in the "classic" category, although I have been able to play newer music from performers such as Roseanne Cash and Kathy Mattea. Playing this music is very enjoyable for me, and I'm always glad to hear from WHUS listeners who may not necessarily be listeners of the BG Cafe, but who keep their radios tuned to WHUS during work hours, and enjoy the sounds we've been playing on those Tuesday afternoons.

My December 22nd playlist included -- as you might expect -- a good number of Christmas selections, but on December 29th, I put more of a spotlight on the immortal Hank Williams (who died January 1, 1953). You've really got to wonder what country music would have been like had Hank not made such a contribution in his short 29 years on this Earth. His music has certainly touched many, many different genres, and I'm sure will still be heard long after any of us are still alive.

Incidentally, if you're interested in learning more about Hank Williams and his brief life, here's a recommendation for a couple of very good Williams biographies: Hank Williams: The Biography by Colin Escott and Lovesick Blues: The Life Of Hank Williams by Paul Hemphill. Both books were well-written and provide a lot of insight into the brief life of a true country music legend. Copies of these books can likely be borrowed at your local library -- I might suggest that you call the library in your hometown to see if they might be able to find copies of one or both of these books.



I'll do at least one more Tuesday afternoon fill-in before the semester break ends -- Tuesday, January 12th from 1-3PM. I hope you'll consider joining me. Of course, too, we strongly suggest you join Jim & Marti this coming Sunday, January 3rd for the BG Cafe -- including the "bonus" hours from 2-4PM. That means there will be FIVE big hours of the BG: 2-7PM. Join them!

And, of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Amy





12/22/2009 PLAYLIST:

  • Goodbye Old Pal / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
  • Wabash Cannonball / Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys / The Golden Age / Columbia
  • Wildwood Flower / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Maybelle Carter / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
  • Soldier's Joy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
  • Blue Christmas / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
  • Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / Gene Autry / The Time-Life Treasury Of Christmas / Time-Life
  • Bluegrass, White Snow / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
  • Here Comes Santa Claus / Riders In The Sky / Merry Christmas From Harmony Ranch / Columbia
  • To Heck With Ole Santa Claus / Loretta Lynn / The Best Of Loretta Lynn : The Christmas Collection / MCA
  • Smooth Sailin' / Tommy Collins / Words And Music Country Style / Capitol
  • Mama Tried / Merle Haggard / Vintage Collections / Capitol
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
  • Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked A Lot Like Him) / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
  • I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried / Rodney Crowell / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia
  • Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow / Roseanne Cash / The List / Manhattan Records
  • Tennessee Flat-Top Box / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
  • A Hundred Years From Now / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems /
  • I'm Feeling For You (But I Can't Reach You) / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin' Town / Rounder
  • Call Collect On Christmas / Del McCoury / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time-Life
  • Teach Your Children / Bill Emerson with Charlie Waller / Reunion / Webco
  • A Memory Of You / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
  • My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
  • Late For School / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
  • I Never Spend A Christmas That I Don't Think Of You / Statler Brothers / Christmas Card / Mercury
  • An Old Christmas Card / Jim Reeves / Twelve Songs Of Christmas / RCA
  • Shut In At Christmas/Shut-In Prayer / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder
  • It's Been So Long / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA
  • Settin' The Woods On Fire / Hank Williams / 24 Greatest Hits / Mercury
  • Steppin' Stones / Jimmy Martin / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
  • As Long As I Live / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / 20th Century Masters / MCA
  • It's A Lovely, Lovely World / Carl Smith / Satisfaction Guaranteed / Living Era
  • Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / Snow On Christmas / Bear Family

12/29/2009 PLAYLIST:

  • Little Log Cabin By The Sea / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
  • Blue Grass Stomp / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Columbia
  • Maybelle's Guitar And Monroe's Mandolin / Robin & Linda Williams / Buena Vista / Red House Records
  • Coal Tattoo / Kathy Mattea / Coal / Captain Potato Records
  • No Mother Or Dad / BearTracks / From The Hollow / AMT Records
  • I Got You / Waylon Jennings & Anita Carter / Best Of Country Duets / RCA
  • Night Train To Memphis / Roy Acuff / The Essential Roy Acuff / Sony
  • I Never See Maggie Alone / Kenny Roberts / Indian Love Call / Starday
  • The Fields Have Turned Brown / Jerry Garcia / Bluegrass Reunion / Acoustic Disc
  • Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
  • Nobody's Lonesome For Me / Hank Williams / Long Gone Lonesome Blues / Country Stars
  • I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
  • Why Don't You Love Me / Hank Williams / Long Gone Lonesome Blues / Country Stars
  • Cold Cold Heart / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
  • Last Driftin' Cowboy / Hank Williams, Jr. / 127 Rose Avenue / Curb
  • Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
  • Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
  • I Can't Like Myself / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
  • Hello City Limits / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / The Last Log Drive / Revonah
  • When You Go Walking After Midnight / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
  • Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose / Dwight Yoakam / Last Chance For A Thousand Years / Reprise
  • Above And Beyond / Rodney Crowell / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia
  • You're For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
  • A-11 / Buck Owens / Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat / Capitol
  • Take These Chains From My Heart / Ray Price / In A Honky Tonk Mood / Jasmine
  • Goin' Steady / Faron Young / The Complete Capitol Hits Of Faron Young / Collectors' Choice Music
  • Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy / Webb Pierce / Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy / Proper
  • There's Nothing As Sweet As My Baby / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era
  • The Singing Waterfall / Kitty Wells / Johnnie & Jack With Kitty Wells At KWKH / Bear Family
  • Daddy Sang Bass / Johnny Cash / At San Quentin / Sony Legacy

Sunday, December 27, 2009

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/27/2009

For our last BG Cafe of 2009, our goal was to play a whole lot of the great BG music that was released in 2009. Approximately 110 new BG CDs were received and added to our collection at WHUS over the past year. Time constraints (even with 5 broadcast hours for the show) didn't allow us to play a song from each new CD, but we did manage to make more than half of the tunes we played new releases from 2009. It has been a mighty fine year for BG music, and we're happy to have been able to bring you so much great music each week.

While the focus was on the 2009 releases, we still put two more classic country singers in the spotlight, and played a combination of them singing their own songs along with several BG remakes of tunes from their respective song catalogs. This time around, we featured two gentlemen who first found great success on the country charts in the 1950s, who are both members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and who both were married to June Carter at one point in their lives. The singers: Carl Smith and Johnny Cash. For me, it's always enjoyable to combine the original country singers with BG covers of some of their tunes -- hope you liked it, too.

Jim & Marti will be with you to welcome in 2010 on the BG Cafe next Sunday. Start your year off right with some great BG music.

Happy New Year!!

Amy





Selections in BOLD BLUE are from 2009 releases.
  • Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
  • My Brown Eyed Darling / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
  • The Old Home Place / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
  • Pain In My Heart / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
  • We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Curly Seckler with Mac Wiseman / 60 Years Of Bluegrass With My Friends / Copper Creek
  • Stop The World (And Let Me Off) / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
  • New Camptown Races / Frank Wakefield / Ownself Blues / Patuxent Music
  • Best Of Her (Cooper's Song) / Acoustic Blue / This Is Now / Self-Produced
  • Let's Live A Little / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
  • Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way / Barry Berrier / First Time With Feeling / Pinecastle
  • Are You Teasin' Me? / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era
  • I Overlooked An Orchid / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine
  • Loose Talk / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
  • (When You Feel Like You're In Love) Don't Just Stand There / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
  • Look For Me / Angelica Grim / Look For Me / Patuxent Music
  • Flat Creek / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
  • Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
  • Detour / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
  • Mama Tried / Herman McGee / Family And Friends / WMB Records
  • Try To Be / NewFound Road / Same Old Place / Rounder
  • Tears On My Tracks / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Self-Produced
  • My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
  • Cry, Cry, Cry / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
  • Hey Porter / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
  • Big River / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
  • Get Rhythm / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
  • I Still Miss Someone / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Biggest Hits / Columbia
  • There You Go / Jimmy Gaudreau / Classic J.A.G. / Webco
  • Papa Played The Dobro / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
  • Ring Of Fire / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
  • The Crow / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
  • Why Don't You Tell Me So / Richard Bennett / Flatpicking Bluegrass / GSM Records
  • Turn Up The Bottle / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
  • Comin' On Strong / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
  • Farm Of Yesterday / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
  • Calloway / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
  • Does My Ring Burn Your Finger? / Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
  • Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
  • In Despair / Spring Creek / Way Up On The Mountain / Rebel
  • I've Been All Around This World / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Two Dimes & A Nickel / Rebel
  • In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
  • Foggy River / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
  • Jerusalem Ridge / Bill Monroe & Kenny Baker / High Lonesome / CMH Records
  • Gotta Travel On / Don Reno & Bill Harrell / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
  • Roll On Buddy / Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
  • To Warm And Comfort You / Gail & Gordon Pike & Mainly Grass / Hard Words / Self-Produced
  • Downhearted / High Country / Perfect Companions / Squirty Records
  • Cold And Lowdown Lonesome Blues / Blue Highway / Some Day : The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection / Rounder
  • To Warm And Comfort You / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / To Warm And Comfort You / Rebel
  • Julie's Train / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Home
  • Prisoner Of The Highway / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Self-Produced
  • Riverhead Polka / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
  • Bramble And The Rose / Patty Loveless / Mountain Soul II / Saguaro Records
  • Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey with Dan Tyminski / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
  • Winter's Come And Gone / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
  • Wreckin' The Train / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
  • Roll On Buddy, Roll On / Sam Bush with Del McCoury / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
  • The Memory Of Your Smile / Dede Wyland / Keep The Light On / Patuxent Music
  • Goin' To The Dance / Chris Warner / Goin' To The Dance / Patuxent Music
  • I Want To Be Wanted / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
  • Mountain Girl / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Self-Produced
  • I Never See Maggie Alone / Sky Blue Boys / Music In The Air / Self-Produced
  • Lonely Street / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely River / Rounder
  • I'm Leaving Town / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Rural Rhythm
  • Ride Of Your Life / GoldHeart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
  • Picture Me There / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
  • She's More To Be Pitied / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
  • Signs / Special Consensus / Signs / Pinecastle
  • Down The Road / Phil Rosenthal / A Treasury Of Bluegrass & Country Songs / American Melody
  • When The Time Had Fully Come / Northern Lights / Can't Buy Your Way / Flying Fish
  • Heaven / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass Records
  • Oh What A Day / Barry Scott & Second Wind / In God's Time / Rebel
  • Automobile Of Life / Bear Minimum / / Self-Produced
  • Meet Me Over On The Other Side / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute, v.2 / MasterShield Records
  • Little White Frame Church / Larry Sparks / I Just Want To Thank You Lord / Rural Rhythm
  • Who'll Sing For Me? / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
  • Some Day / Blue Highway / Some Day : The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection / Rounder
  • Auld Lang Syne / Bill Keith / O Christmas Tree / Rounder


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 12/20/2009 Christmas Show

Hi Folks,

We split the extended four hours we had for this show into two distinct parts -- the first two hours were programmed by longtime Bluegrass Cafe listeners and occasional DJs James Ward and Cathy Ward; the last two hours were my Christmas program for 2009.

We were saddened at the recent news of the passing of Phyllis Boyens, one of the most soulful bluegrass and folk singers we've ever heard. Many bluegrass fans are familiar with the electrifying "Last Old Shovel" that has appeared on several Rounder Records compilations, so we played a set of four Phyllis Boyens songs in tribute, ending with that song.

The real time response to the Christmas Show was very positive. I know many folks could have been using their time to shovel out from the big snow dump we had the night before Bluegrass Cafe, so we are especially grateful for everyone who listened.

Amy will be back next Sunday for the last Bluegrass Cafe of 2009. Be sure to tune in to hear the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

James & Cathy Ward selections in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

  • Christmas Time's A Coming / Rhonda Vincent / O Christmas Tree (Collection) / Rounder
  • Long List Of Heartaches / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
  • The Room Over Mine / Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
  • I Like The Old Time Way / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Why Don't You Give Jesus A Try / Blue Circle
  • God Bless Mommy / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
  • Sledd Ride / Seth Taylor / Movin' On / Self-released
  • Don't Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
  • Does My Ring Burn Your Finger / The Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
  • Skippin' In The Mississippi Dew / John Hartford / Good'le Days / Rounder
  • My Old Kentucky & You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / A Stop In Southport Towne / Blue Circle
  • Traveling The Highway Home / Various Artists / The Stanley Gospel Tradition / Doobie Shea
  • Rain And Snow / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Long Journey / Rounder
  • Here Today, We're Gone Tomorrow / Rhonda Vincent & The Sally Mountain Show / Bound For Gloryland / Rebel
  • Come Early Morning / The Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
  • Proud To Be A Daughter Of Bluegrass / The Daughters of Bluegrass (Various Artists) / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
  • I Can Go Back Anytime / Carrie Hassler / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
  • I Wouldn't Change You If I Could / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
  • Keep On Walkin' / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
  • Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
  • Heart Wrenching Lovesick Memories / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
  • Rusty Old Halo / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
  • Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
  • My Blue Eyed Darling / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Rural Rhythm
  • Always Thinkin' You / Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina / Carolina Blue / Webco
  • Where His Wheels Left The Road / Alecia Nugent / A Little Girl, A Big Four Lane / Rounder
  • Move On In And Stay / Mickey Harris / Dog House Blues / MJH
  • Purple Robe / Ralph Stanley and Joe Isaacs / A Gospel Gathering / Freeland
  • Apple Jack / Pam Gadd with Dolly Parton / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
  • Meadow On The Mountain / David Parmley & Continental Divide / Three Silver Dollars / Pinecastle
  • Hard Times / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Live At Last / Rounder
  • Black Eyed Susie / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
  • Jesus Is Coming Soon / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
  • Old Fashioned Christmas / Jimmy Martin / Christmas Jamboree / Hollywood
  • New Born King / Doc & Merle Watson / Lonesome Road & Look Away! / EMI
  • Red Checkered Shirt / Mike Jackson / When We Goin' Back / Red Oak
  • Winter On The Great Divide / Anne & Pete Sibley / Winter On The Great Divide / Self-released
  • I'm Going Home, It's Christmas Time / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley / Freeland
  • Christmas Time's A-Coming / Bill Monroe / 1950-1958 / Bear Family
  • Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe / 1950-1958 / Bear Family
  • Christmas Time On Rocky Top / The Osborne Brothers / Christmas On The Mountain / Universal South
  • Train Songs / Ralph Stanley II / This One Is II / Lonesome Day
  • Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / John Starling / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
  • The Carpenter Shop / The Bluegrass Cardinals / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
  • Christmas Doll / Reno And Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
  • Making Plans / Tim O'Brien / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
  • We Wish You A Merry Christmas / Raymond Fairchild / Smoky Mountain Christmas / Rural Rhythm
  • The Mountain's Gonna Sing / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
  • This Christmas Morning / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / The Christmas Album / Rising Tide
  • The Christmas Guest / Andy Griffith / The Christmas Guest / Sparrow
  • Dream Of a Miner's Child / Phyllis Boyens & Hazel Dickens / O Sister 2 / Rounder
  • Don't Sell Daddy Any More Whiskey / Phyllis Boyens / I Really Care / Rounder (LP)
  • Hewed Out of the Mountain / Phyllis Boyens / I Really Care / Rounder (LP)
  • Last Old Shovel / Phyllis Boyens with Hazel Dickens / O Sister / Rounder
  • Christmas In Carolina / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
  • Favorite Christmas Memories / The Grass Cats / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
  • Jesus On The Mainline / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Live at Newburyport Fire House / Rounder
  • The King As A Babe Comes Down / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes III - Don't Believe / Skaggs Family
  • O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Anne & Pete Sibley / Winter On The Great Divide / Self-released
  • There's A Light / Emmylou Harris / Light of the Stable / WB-Rhino
  • Standing In The Need Of Prayer / The Stanley Brothers / Little Country Church / Wango
  • Angels We Have Heard On High / Emory Lester / Christmas Carols / Quiet Fire
  • I Can Hear The Angels Singing / Reno & Smiley / Christmas Jamboree / Hollywood
  • Just A Moment Now To Pray / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley / Freeland
  • Silent Night / Raymond Fairchild / Smoky Mountain Christmas / Rural Rhythm
  • The Coventry Carol / Emory Lester / Christmas Carols / Quiet Fire

Sunday, December 13, 2009

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/13/2009

Things are winding down for the semester for UCONN students, so that generally means slight modifications to the WHUS air schedule for a few weeks. In the case of BG Cafe, we'd like to think that things have gotten better, as we can now offer you FIVE hours of BG programming every Sunday (basketball preemptions notwithstanding, of course). Until sometime in the middle of January, we'll begin broadcasting BG Cafe at 2PM on Sunday afternoons. Join us!

Today's show was my last BG Cafe before Christmas, so I played a good bit of Christmas music. During the "bonus hours" from 2-4PM, I didn't feel quite as "obligated" to play strictly BG tunes, although I pretty much did today. It's no secret that I am a great admirer of many of the classic country singers of the 1950s and 1960s: Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Johnnie & Jack, just to name a few. We know that many a BG performer has recorded tunes originally made famous by at least one of these performers through the years, so I thought it might be fun to put a bit of the spotlight on the performers themselves, as well as some of the BG remakes of their song catalogs. Today, I focused on The Singing Ranger, Hank Snow, by playing 4 of his original tunes (including the fabulous "Reindeer Boogie"), as well as 7 BG remakes of Snow tunes. Next time, we'll shine our "spotlight" on someone else...

If you like banjo music, today was a banner day, as well. Patuxent Music has recently shipped us 2 great new recordings featuring a whole lot of banjo: "Yessir!" by 18-year-old Jessie Baker (currently working with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper), as well as former Sunny Mountain Boy, Chris Warner, whose new CD is called "Goin' To The Dance." Both CDs are mighty fine, and you can bet you'll be hearing plenty more from them in future weeks.

As I mentioned on the show today, legendary BG performer Curly Seckler will celebrate his 90th birthday on Christmas Day. Curly's manager, Penny Parsons, is encouraging everyone to send Curly a birthday greeting to help him celebrate a BG career that began in 1935. If you'd like to drop Curly a note, please do so in one of these two ways -- via an email sent to curly@curlyseckler.net, or through the U.S. mail: Curly Seckler, c/o Penny Parsons Co., PO Box 51605, Durham NC 27717. Please take a few moments and send Curly a card or note, won't you?

Be sure to join Jim & Marti (and maybe even James & Cathy Ward) next Sunday for at least four big hours of BG. I believe there MAY be a basketball game on the WHUS schedule for next Sunday, but we'll let you know later in the week...

Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

Amy


REQUESTS ARE RED.
  • Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
  • Sold Down The River / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin’ Town / Rounder
  • I Believed In You Darling / Peter Rowan / The First Whippoorwill / Sugar Hill
  • Bitter Green / Tony Rice / Bluegrass Class Of 1990 / Rounder
  • Come Back Darling / Lester Flatt / Lester Raymond Flatt / Flying Fish
  • That’s Christmas Time To Me / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
  • A Daisy A Day / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
  • Reno Bound / Bill Harrell / Drive-Time Bluegrass / Rebel
  • Eating Out Of Your Hand / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
  • Through The Window Of A Train / Blue Highway / Through The Window Of A Train / Rounder
  • Country Side Of Heaven (Where The Bluegrass Music Flows) / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
  • Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine / Osborne Brothers / Once More, Volumes I & II / Sugar Hill
  • Living In These Troubled Times / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
  • Big Train From Memphis / Seldom Scene / 15th Anniversary Celebration / Sugar Hill
  • Forever Yours / Hagar's Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-Produced
  • Chicken Reel / Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys / In The Tradition / Rounder
  • Here We Go A-Goin’ / Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset / Good Home Grown Sampler, 2009 / Blue Circle
  • I’m Movin’ On / Hank Snow / The Essential Hank Snow / RCA
  • (Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I / ASH & W / ASH & W / Rebel
  • The Goldrush Is Over / Warrior River Boys / Sounds Like Home / Rounder
  • Honeymoon On A Rocketship / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
  • Miller’s Cave / Michael Cleveland with Audie Blaylock / Let ‘Er Go, Boys! / Rounder
  • The Golden Rocket / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
  • Would You Mind / Hank Snow / The Essential Hank Snow / RCA
  • One More Ride / Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
  • Down The Trail Of Aching Hearts / Special Consensus / The Trail Of Aching Hearts / Pinecastle
  • Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
  • Hank Snow Medley / Country Gentlemen / Live In Japan / Rebel
  • John Hardy / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
  • Don’t Give Your Heart To A Rambler / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
  • I’ve Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / 30th Anniversary / Rounder
  • Devil On A Plow / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
  • Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
  • Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
  • Jingle Bells / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
  • My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Ro / under
  • Christmas At The Old Homeplace / David Parmley & Continental Divide / A Pinecastle Christmas Gatherin’ / Pinecastle
  • Christmas Is Near / Stanley Brothers / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
  • Christmas Lullaby / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House / SSK
  • I Feel The Blues Moving In / Del McCoury / By Request / McCoury Music
  • Sharecropper’s Son / Ernie Thacker / The Stanley Tradition / Doobie Shea
  • Willy Roy The Cripple Boy / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / WMB Records
  • Bad Moon Rising / Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill
  • Big, Big Heartaches / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
  • Foot Hill Hop / Derek Easter et al. / Born Into Bluegrass : The Songs Of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads Recordings
  • Walk The Way The Wind Blows / Hot Rize / So Long Of A Journey / Sugar Hill
  • That White Christmas Song / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
  • Dear Old Dixie / Red Smiley & the Tennessee Cut-Ups / The Best Of Red Smiley / Rural Rhythm
  • Salt Creek / Clay Jones / Mountain Tradition / Rural Rhythm
  • The Letter Edged In Black / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass Hits And Heartsongs / Rebel
  • I’m Not Living Life (It’s Living Me) / Bo Isaac / I’m Not Living Life (It’s Living Me) / GoodTyme Records
  • The Last Old Shovel / Phyllis Boyens / Hand-Picked : 25 Years Of Bluegrass On Rounder Records / Rounder
  • We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage
  • I Don’t Care Anymore / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / Class Of 2009 Sampler / Rural Rhythm
  • An Old Christmas Card / Carolina Sonshine / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
  • Follow The Leader / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
  • Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
  • Yessir! / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
  • Saturday Night Company / The Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
  • Say You Lied / Neon Valley Boys / Bluegrass / Sudden Comfort Records
  • Lickity Split / Chris Warner / Goin’ To The Dance / Patuxent Music
  • Almost Hear The Blues / James Reams & the Barnstormers / / Self-Produced
  • Goin’ To The Dance / Chris Warner / Goin’ To The Dance / Patuxent Music
  • Christmas Medley / Southern Rail / / Self-Produced
  • Christmas In Carolina / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
  • All That’s Left (For You To Do Is Leave) / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business /
    Mountain Roads Recordings
  • China Grove, My Hometown / Curly Seckler / Cabin In Caroline / Copper Creek
  • Your Love Is Like A Flower / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
  • We’ll Stay Here / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
  • Christmas Time Back Home / Country Gentlemen / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
  • Don’t Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
  • Pitkin County Turnaround / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
  • Christmas Story / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Tinsel Tunes / Sugar Hill
  • This World Is Not My Home / Ricky Skaggs / Ricky Skaggs Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
  • The Friendly Beasts / Johnson Mountain Boys / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
  • Country Church / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
  • The First Noel / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
  • Bubbling In My Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
  • Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Jamie Dailey & Darren Vincent / Christmas Grass / Koch
  • I Feel The Christmas Spirit / The Isaacs / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
  • Joy To The World / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto

Sunday, December 06, 2009

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 12/6/2009

Hi Folks,

This version of Bluegrass Cafe had plenty of specials, including a birthday set, a train set, a Hylo Brown tribute, and a tribute and remembrance of Jack Cooke who passed away December 1st.

I recall a conversation I had with Jack Cooke during his last appearance in East Hartford July 6, 2007, where he was very interested in how I liked his first and only solo album: "Sittin' On Top Of the World." Jack confided that he had thought about his inevitable mortality and it had occurred to him that he should leave something to represent his legacy. The solo album was the result. We played several tracks from that album including the two bonus tracks recorded in 1963. It is clear that Jack was much more than Ralph's bass player.

Our birthday set included songs from Jim Eanes (12/6/1923), the Gillis Brothers (John Gillis, 12/6/1966), and ironically, Jack Cooke (12/6/1936).

A caller on a previous show requested something from Hylo Brown, so I created a whole set to pay tribute to Hylo including tracks from his Starday, Rural Rhythm, and Jessup periods. I also played Jimmy Martin's version of "Grand Ole Opry Song" that Hylo wrote.

Other new music included tracks from Missy Werner, Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, Sam Bush, Adam Steffey, and the hot 16-year-old North Carolina banjo and guitar picker Seth Taylor who currently holds down the banjo position with Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad.

I mined the Heritage Corner vaults for classic tracks from Joe Val, Jimmy Martin, and a hair curling song from Buzz Busby.

The upcoming exam and holiday season at UCONN will be opening up the 2-4pm slot, so Amy and I will be happily stepping in to provide up to five hours of Sunday afternoon bluegrass music beginning next Sunday, December 13th. So don't forget to tune in early at 2pm EST to get a really good dose of the best in bluegrass.

We'll see you out and about...

Jim Beaver

requests in blue, Jack Cooke tribute in red

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

  • Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
  • Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die / Jim Eanes / All American Bluegrass / Sun
  • Ice Cold Stone / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
  • I'm Walking The Dog / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
  • Choo Choo / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
  • I Could Love You / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
  • I've Always Been A Rambler / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
  • Over In The Glory Land / The Stanley Brothers with Jack Cooke / On The Air With Ray Davis Volume Two / Wango (Cassette)
  • Sittin' On Top Of The World / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop / DCN
  • Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
  • Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All-American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
  • John Henry / Hylo Brown / All American Bluegrass / Sun
  • Hills Of Georgia / Hylo Brown / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
  • Sad Prison Song / Hylo Brown / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
  • Lost To A Stranger / Hylo Brown / Bluegrass In The Smokies / Rural Rhythm
  • Grand Ole Opry Song / Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys / 1954-1974 / Bear Family
  • Love You Don't Know Cannot Hurt You / Darren Beachley & the Legend of the Potomac / [CD single] / Patuxent
  • A Broken Heart Keeps Beatin' / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
  • The Ballad Of Stringbean And Estelle / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
  • All She Wrote / Jim Lauderdale / Could We Get Any Closer? / Sky Crunch
  • Crazy Love / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
  • I Won't Back Down / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
  • Sylvie / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
  • The Ballad Of Charlie Dill / Ernie Thacker / The Hangman / Pinecastle
  • Down In Caroline / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Roads
  • Gypsy, Joe and Me / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-released
  • I Wouldn't Change You If I Could / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
  • Midnight Train / Warrior River Boys / Freight Train Special Volume One / Wango
  • Baggage Coach Ahead / Bill Harrell / Freight Train Special Volume Two / Wango
  • Bye Bye Black Smoke Choo Choo / Dick Unteed / 25 Classic Train Songs / Rural Rhythm
  • The Wreck Of The Old 97 / Connie & Babe and the Backwoods Boys / Bluegrass Express / Rounder
  • My Blue Eyed Darling / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
  • Don't Leave Me Alone / J. Sisk, G. Jones, B. Hawks, J. Boulding, B. Hiatt / Born Into Bluegrass / Mountain Roads
  • Dime Store Rings / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
  • My Angeline / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
  • I Got A Letter / Valerie Smith & Becky Buller / Here's A Little Song… / Bell Buckle
  • Heart Of Caroline / U.S. Navy Country Current / Navy Blue Bluegrass / RWB
  • Don't Be Waitin' / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Self-titled / Self-released
  • Studebaker / Seth Taylor / Movin' On / Self-released
  • 1950 Studebaker / Prairie Siding / North To Ontario 2009 / Independent-release
  • Arkansas Traveler / Roger Williams / A Resophonic Retrospective / Happy Appy
  • Try To Be / Newfound Road / Same Old Place / Rounder
  • Done Gone / Don Stover / Things In Life / Rounder
  • Call Me Up And I'll Come Callin' / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely Street / Rounder
  • Where Will This End / Buzz Busby / Going Home / King
  • Tennessee Hound Dog / Pam Gadd / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
  • Who Will Sing For Me / James King & Danny Paisley / Little Old Country Church / Wango
  • You'll Be Rewarded Over There / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / One Morning In May / Rounder
  • River Of Jordan / Tommy Webb / Heartland / Rural Rhythm
  • I'm On The Last Mile / The Easter Brothers / Favorites / Life Line
  • When I Safely Reach That Other Shore / Tommy Magness / The Best Of King Bluegrass / King
  • Voice Of My Savior / Tommy Brown & The County Line Grass / Mountain Bluegrass / Hay Holler
  • I'll Wear The Banner / Jim & Jesse / Heaven Bound / Time-Life
  • Shoutin' On The Hills Of Glory / Darren Beachley / Sad Songs & Sunday Mornings / MasterShield
  • Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Ralph Stanley with the Clinch Mountain Boys / Heaven Bound / Time-Life
  • The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Best Of The Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler