"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 10/24/2010

Hi Folks,

After opening the Cafe' I did a couple of sets of songs from Rounder recordings to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rounder Records. For any entertainment company to be in business forty years is an accomplishment, but it has been especially significant to bluegrass because after its founding, Rounder quickly became the blue chip standard for delivering some of the most important music to the bluegrass community, and most certainly helped the bluegrass genre grow. Rounder's founders were Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy, and Bill Nowlin (pictured right)

Think of the J.D. Crowe and The New South record, still called "Rounder 0044" by many, and Alison Krauss who has become one of the most admired and rewarded artists in our time, and you get an idea of Rounder's influence. (At Bluegrass Cafe', we believe only half tongue-in-cheek that if Rounder had done nothing more than release those Johnson Mountain Boys records it would have been a successful enterprise.)

Rounder was acquired by Concord Music Group, a large California independent, earlier this year, and from my perspective it appears bluegrass may become a minor scene within the bigger Concord picture going forward, but the genre is big enough to have several excellent labels join the bluegrass community in recent years, and much of the credit for the environment that supports the newer folks goes to Rounder.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of labels with even longer histories in bluegrass -- Rebel for one, and Rural Rhythm which was founded around 55 years ago.

The remaining portion of the show was devoted mostly to new or newer releases and new reissues of older releases. Some notables included songs from The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, Ashleigh Caudill, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, Big Country Bluegrass, Rodney Dillard, The Bluegrass Brothers, Volume Five, Grasstowne, Charlie Sizemore, and Peter Rowan.

The Heritage Corner hit on a few oldies, but delighted in a tune from Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys (JD & Paul) on an excellent re-issue of Big Jam Session on Old Homestead.

Thanks for listening!

Jim Beaver

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Foggy Mountain Special / Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
• Comin' On Strong / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / One Morning In May / Rounder
• Duncan & Brady / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Blue Diamond / Rounder
• John Henry / George Pegram / Classic Old-Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways [a surrogate for Rounder 001 which I have but couldn't find in time for the broadcast]
  
• When I Stop Dreaming / Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals / Songs Of The Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• If I Could Only Win Your Love / Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen / At Edwards Barn / Rounder
• Seven Year Blues / Longview / Songs Of The Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• Natural Bridge Blues / Lefty Hall with the Blue Mountain Boys / WPAQ: The Voice Of The Blue Ridge Mountains / Rounder
• Up This Hill And Down / The Grascals / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Guitars, Whiskey, Guns and Knives / The Steeldrivers / Reckless / Rounder
• Head Hung Down / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
• Yesterday I Didn't Know / Big Country Bluegrass / The Boys In Hats & Ties / Rebel
• Poor Ramblin Boy / Darrell Webb Band / Bloodline / Rural Rhythm
• A Couple A Dozen / Carolina Native Sons / Rank Ol' Bluegrass / Patuxent
• Today Marks The Day / Larry Gillis / Swampgrass / Tinman
• Bicycle Wreck / The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band / Poor Leroy's Almanack / Self-released
• Weather's Got To Change / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads
• Plant Some Flowers / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-released
• The Man Who Wrote Home Sweet Home / Lost & Found / Down On Sawmill Road / Rebel
• Rovin' Gambler / Dierks Bentley / Up On The Ridge / EMI
• Fruit of the Vine / Ashleigh Caudill / Fruit Of The Vine / Self-released
• So Long / The Bluegrass Brothers / So Long / Self-released
• Mayberry Moment / Rodney Dillard / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• The Darlin' Boys / Rodney Dilliard & The Dillard Band / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• Never See My Home Again / The Dillards / Live! Almost! / Elektra
• There Is A Time / The Dillards / Live! Almost! / Elektra
• Shady Grove / Paula Dellenback / The Crooked Road / Self-released
• Could It Be Goodbye / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa Out / In The Middle Of Nowhere / Raincoe
• Have Mercy / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
• The Family Demon / Peter Rowan / Legacy / Compass
• No Lawyers In Heaven / Charlie Sizemore / Rounder 2010 IBMA Sampler / Rounder
• Acoustic Toothpick / Phil Leadbetter / Southern Filibuster: A Tribute To Tut Taylor / E1
• Kickin' Up Dust / Grasstowne / Rural Rhythm Class of 2010 / Rural Rhythm
• Silvertone Rag / The Bristol Boys / All Aboard With The Bristol Boys / Self-released
• Love Of The Mountains / Grass Routes / Something New / Self-released
• The Other Side / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
• Washington Lee Fling (bed) / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' and Singin' / Self-released
• Remington Ride (bed) / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' and Singin' / Self-released
• Old Henry Hill / The Boxcars / The Boxcars / Mountain Home
• In The Garden By The Fountain / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• Dog Bite Your Hide / Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys / Big Jam Session / Old Homestead
• Like A Stone / Volume Five / Down In A Cell / Mountain Fever
• Tears On My Tracks / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Muddy Sunshine
• Jealous Hearted Me / The Carter Family / In The Shadow Of Clinch Mountain / Bear Family
• Live Right, Leave Right / Around The Corner / Statement / Mountain Fever
• John In The Jordan / Lou Reid & Carolina / Sounds Like Heaven To Me / Rural Rhythm
• Wait On The Lord / Sweet Potato Pie / Journey Called Life / Mountain Fever
• I'm Gonna Walk The Streets Of Gold / Big Country Bluegrass / The Boys In Hats & Ties / Rebel
• Just Call On Him / The Bartley Brothers / Hit The Road / Rural Rhythm
• The Good Samaritan / Jeff Parker and others / Look To The Light... Songs of Faith From The Pen of Rick Lang / Rural Rhythm
• He Is Near / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Inside The Gate / Ginger Boatwright / Inside The Gate / Self-released
• Let The Light Shine Down / Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice / Heartaches and Dreams / Rebel
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' and Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/17/2010

On Sunday, we devoted a good bit of time talking to a very nice man: New Hampshire songwriter, Rick Lang. Rick's 4-years-in-the-making gospel recording is called, "Look To The Light: Songs Of Faith From The Pen Of Rick Lang," and was released by Rural Rhythm Christian in May of this year. In our chat, Rick explained a bit about how he had intended to record the CD itself, but after he was able to recruit the CD's co-producers and arrangers, Jesse Brock and John Miller, things really started to mushroom: top-notch, award-winning musicians and singers(including Russell Moore, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland, and Ron Stewart, just to name a few) signed on to interpret Rick's songs, the Rural Rhythm Christian label agreed to release the recording, and now, a new "special event" band known as BlueStar has been formed to promote the CD by playing a few select shows. All of these happenings are very exciting, and so, it's very easy to see why Rick is still so very proud of the whole project.

After the interview, thanks to Rural Rhythm Christian, we were able to give away two copies of the "Look To The Light" CD to two very enthusiastic listeners. Thanks to Rick for taking a few minutes from his afternoon (after a nailbiting win for the Patriots) to talk to us.

In addition, we still had time to share some of the new or newer music that has arrived at WHUS over the past couple of weeks, including tunes from Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa, Charlie Sizemore, Big Country Bluegrass, the Boxcars, Rhonda Vincent, the Wilson Family Band, Lou Reid & Carolina, and Balsam Range.

In a not-completely-unrelated note, we shared a bit of music from the great Louvin Brothers. No, the Louvins never claimed to be a BG act (although I've read how Ira was a huge fan of Bill Monroe), but you can't say that many of their great tunes haven't been covered in the BG world for years and years -- and continue to be covered. It was recently announced that a benefit for Charlie Louvin will be held in Bell Buckle, Tennessee on October 30th, as Charlie has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Folks who would like to purchase a benefit ticket, just make a donation to offset some of the medical expenses, or learn more about the event may do so by clicking here. We started and finished yesterday's gospel set with two of the great Louvin gospel tunes, and could easily fill several programs with just the music featuring their can't-be-topped duet harmonies.

Be sure to join Jim for next week's Bluegrass Cafe, as I'm sure it'll be a mighty fine show.

Thanks for listening...

Amy

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• This Morning At Nine / Tony Rice / Tony Rice Plays And Sings Bluegrass / Rounder
• Fox On The Run / Bill Emerson & Cliff Waldron / Rebel Records 35th Anniversary Sampler / Rebel
• Follow The Leader / Jimmy Gaudreau / In Good Company / CMH
• Secret Of The Waterfall / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Out In The Middle Of Nowhere / Self-Produced
• Matterhorn / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin' : Early Classics, 1963-1969 / Rebel
• Amelia Earhart's Last Flight / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin' : Early Classics, 1963-1969 / Rebel
• I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Cuts, 1952-1955 / JSP Records
• Record Time Machine / Lonesome River Band / Still Learning / Rural Rhythm
• Air Mail Special / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
• Back On My Mind / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management Music
• Flat Creek / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
• Your Love Is Dying / Reno & Smiley / Sweethearts In Heaven / Bear Family
• Another Day, Another Dollar / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Rebel
• Will You Be Ready? / Southern Rail / Drive By Night / Turquoise Records [written by Rick Lang]
• Wind In The Valley / Amy Gallatin & Roger Williams / Something 'Bout You / Happy Appy Records [written by Rick Lang]
• Maybe This Time / Front Range / Back To Red River / Sugar Hill [written by Rick Lang]
• Angel At Your Side / Barry Scott / Look To The Light: Songs Of Faith From The Pen Of Rick Lang / Rural Rhythm Christian
• Conversation with Rick Lang
• Momma's Prayer Beads / John Miller / Look To The Light: Songs Of Faith From The Pen Of Rick Lang / Rural Rhythm Christian
• Hurtin' Inside / The Boxcars / The Boxcars / Mountain Home
• He Can't Fill My Shoes / Darrell Webb Band / Bloodline / Rural Rhythm
• Train Without A Track / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Heartaches And Dreams / Rebel
• Born To Be With You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• Leaving You And Mobile, Too / Lost & Found / Down On Sawmill Road / Rebel
• The Wishing Well / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
• Going Down To Charleston / Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-Produced
• When The Lovin's All Over / Earl Brothers / The Earl Brothers / Self-Produced
• No Lawyers In Heaven / Charlie Sizemore / Rounder Records 2010 IBMA Sampler / Rounder
• Black Mountain Special / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Foggy Old London / Big Country Bluegrass / The Boys In Hats And Ties / Rebel
• I'll Live With God (To Die No More) / Louvin Brothers / The Family Who Prays / Country Stars
• God's Front Porch / Lou Reid & Carolina / Sounds Like Heaven To Me / Rural Rhythm Christian
• Wait For The Light To Shine / Wilson Family Band / Chasing Faith / Self-Produced
• He Is Near / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Call His Name / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• That Home Far Away / Stanley Brothers / All Gospel / Federal
• Gonna Be Movin' / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
• Make Him A Soldier / Louvin Brothers / The Family Who Prays
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

A special guest on Sunday, 10/17...

Over the last several months, you've heard Jim & I play many tunes from a great 2010 gospel release from the Rural Rhythm Christian label called, "Look To The Light: Songs Of Faith From The Pen Of Rick Lang." This CD is a bit unusual as Rick Lang does not sing one word or play one note on the recording, but it's his words and music that can be heard throughout the whole project. The talented vocalists interpreting Rick's songs include 2010 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Russell Moore; 3-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley; and Grammy nominee, Barry Scott; as well as Jeff Parker, Dale Perry, Junior Sisk, and John Miller. And the instrumental performers aren't too shabby, either, including 2009 IBMA Mandolin Performer of the Year, Jesse Brock; 8-time IBMA Fiddle Perfomer of the Year, Michael Cleveland; multi-instrumentalist Ron Stewart; dobro player Roger Williams; guitar picker Wyatt Rice; and a few others. Top notch material -- all of it!

Rick Lang is a New Hampshire native, and no stranger to anyone in the New England Bluegrass world. His songs have previously been recorded by the likes of Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band, Front Range, Southern Rail, and the Lonesome River Band. On Sunday, Rick will join us on the air via telephone and tell us how he wrote the songs which make up "Look To The Light," how the project came to be, and about the new all-star band called BlueStar who came into existence just to play some of the tunes on the recording. We'll start our conversation with Rick around 5PM.

As a bonus, we'll have at least one copy of the CD to give away to a lucky listener. Be sure to tune in to the BG Cafe beginning at 4PM on Sunday...

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 10/10/10

Hi Folks,

This version of Bluegrass Cafe was heavily biased towards new music since we have so many new CDs arriving these days, but we also took time to celebrate Mayberry Days that had just occurred in Mt. Airy, NC, September 23-26. Marti and I had visited Mayberry Days this year which also coincided with the 50th anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS), so we played songs from artists either associated with TAGS or associated with the celebration in Mt. Airy. This included Doug Dillard, Rodney Dillard, Ginger Boatwright, and Leroy (Mack) McNees. Since Mt. Airy is in Surry County, we also played songs from Surry County musicians Cullen Galyean, Rich In Tradition, The Easter Brothers, and newcomer Paula Dellenback.

We also included a follow-up segment on beloved local guitarist Fred Etheridge which included an interview recorded shortly before his death.

New music included songs from Rhonda Vincent, The SteelDrivers, Rodney Dillard, The Boxcars, Balsam Range, Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, The Bartley Brothers, and Larry Gillis.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Liberty / The Dillards / Live! Almost! / Elektra (Rhino)
• Ragin' Live For You Tonight / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• The Family Demon / Peter Rowan / Legacy / Compass
• I Could Change My Mind / The Boxcars / The Boxcars / Mountain Home
• There Goes The Neighborhood / Rodney Dillard / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• If You're Ever Gonna Love Me / LeRoy Mack / Leroy Mack & Friends / Rebel
• Angelina Baker / Ginger Boatwright / Sipsey / Self-released
• Parenting / Rodney Dillard / I Wish Life Was Like Mayberry / Rural Rhythm
• Buckin' Mule / The Dillards / Live! Almost! / Elektra (Rhino)
• Gonna Be Movin' / Balsam Range / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home
• Red And Green Signal Lights / Rich In Tradition / Black Mountain Special / Mountain Roads
• So Good / Peter Rowan / Legacy / Compass
• Any Ole Time / Lonesome River Band / Still Learning / Rural Rhythm
• Girl At Crossroads Bar / Blackstone Valley Bluegrass / Debut / Appleland
• Driftin' Apart / Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen / Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen / Self-released
• Can't You Hear Me Callin' / Bill Monroe with Ralph Stanley / And Stars OF The Bluegrass Hall Of Fame / Raven
• Pretty Woman / Larry Gillis / Swampgrass / Tinman
• John Henry / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Reflections Vol. 1 / Planet Bluegrass
• From The Gutter To The Grave / Patuxent Partners / Seven Or Eleven / Patuxent
• I Don't Care Anymore / Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie / Southern / Rural Rhythm
• Love Reunited / Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie / Southern / Rural Rhythm
• Midnight On The Mountain / The Steeldrivers / Reckless / Rounder
• Sophronie / Jimmy Martin / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
• Shut Up In The Mines At Coal Creek / The Blinky Moon Boys / Moonlight Theatre / Hay Holler
• Cold Dark Ground / The Bartley Brothers / Hit The Road / Rural Rhythm
• Bluegrass Time / Cullen Galyean and others / Born Into Bluegrass / Mountain Roads
• Foot Hill Hop / The Foot Hill Boys / Bluegrass In The Carolina Mountains / County
• You Broke Your Promise / Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice / Heartaches and Dreams / Rebel
• Gitup The Banjo Man / The Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Mastertone
• We'll Burn That Bridge / Josh Williams / Down Home / Pinecastle
• Going Up Home / Chris Hillman - Herb Pedersen / At Edwards Barn / Rounder
• Dusk 'Til Dawn / Special Consensus / 35 / Compass
• The Crooked Road / Paula Dellenback / The Crooked Road / Self-released
• Three Forks Of Sandy / The John Hartford String Band / Memories Of John / Compass
• Give This Message To Your Heart / Larry Stephenson feat. Dailey & Vincent / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle
• Washington Lee Fling (bed) / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• Walking In A Dream (bed) / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• It's Never Too Late / Fred Etheridge with Nick Anderson / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released
• Fred Etheridge Discusses His Musical History / Fred Etheridge Interview 9/6/2010
• Southern Rail Road Line / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Out In The Middle Of Nowhere / Self-released
• River Of Love / Nu-Blu / Nights / Self-released
• Amanda Lynn / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
• Willow Creek Dam / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute (Vol. II) / Self-released
• You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• I Pleaded Guilty And He Gave Me Life / The Easter Brothers / It's About Time / Life Line
• Who'll Sing For Me / Crowe-Lawson-Wiliams / Old Friends Get Together / Mountain Home
• Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
• When I Wake Up To Sleep No More / Nick Anderson & The Gospel Friends / Self-titled / Self-released
• Sailing On / Russell Moore, Dale Ann Bradley, et al. / Look To The Light - Songs of Faith From the Pen of Rick Lang / Rural Rhythm
• Almost Persuaded / Ginger Boatwright / Inside The Gate / Self-released
• Turn Your Radio On / Doug Dillard / Heaven / Self-re-released
• What A Time In Heaven / Mountain Heart / The Journey / Doobie Shea
• Carry On / The Lewis Family / Born Of The Spirit / Starday
• Yellow Roses / Fred Etheridge / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Rules" #3 & #4 with James & Cathy

James and Cathy Ward continue to brighten up the afternoon musical landscape with their bluegrass show. Next Monday afternoon, October 18, they will be playing the first part of the 2010 IBMA Awards Show, so don't miss it.

Here are the playlists for their past two shows:

Show #3, Monday, October 4, 2010

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Just Another Setting Sun / Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford / Dogwood Winter / Rural Rhythm
• Hide Me The Rock Of Ages / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
• Southern Filibuster / Various Artists / A Tribute to Tut Taylor / E1 Entertainment
• Warm Kentucky Sunshine / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
• Long Journey Home / Charlie Lawson & Oak Hill / Memories Of You / Self-released
• John Henry / Aaron McDaris / Ultimate Banjo / Pinecastle
• Rusty Old Halo / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
• The Harder I Fall / Cherryholmes / Common Threads / Skaggs Family
• I Want To Be Wanted / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
• Madison Tennessee / The John Hartford String Band / Memories Of John / Red Clay-Compass
• The Love She Left Behind / Chris Jones & The Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM
• Single Girl / Bearfoot / Doors And Windows / Compass
• When The Bloom Is Off The Rose / Rhonda Vincent / Taken / Upper Management
• Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
• Great Day In The Mornin' / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
• Travel, Travel On / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Memories That Bless And Burn / Rounder

Show #4, Monday, October 11, 2010

Song / Artist / Album / Label

• Banks of the Ohio / Tony Rice / Tony Rice / Rounder
• Coat Of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / Live In London / Dolly Records
• Heartbreak Express / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
• Orphan Child / Don Rigsby / The Voice Of God / Rebel
• Loving Her Was Easier
• (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) / The Country Gentlemen / Sugar Hill Collection / Rebel
• I Wish I Had A Friend Today / Barry & Holly Tashian / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
• Little Man / Ray Legere and Roger Williams / River Of No Return / Strictly Country
• Always On A Mountain / The Big Dogs / Live At The Birchmere / Strictly Country
• Carolina Memories / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / 30th Anniversary / Rounder
• My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan's Land / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin', Praisin and Singin' / Rural Rhythm
• Shuckin' The Corn / Marty Stuart / Live At The Ryman / Universal South
• Guess Things Happen That Way / Emmylou Harris and The Nash Ramblers / Live At The Ryman / Warner Bros
• I'll Be Lifted Up / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
• Drinkin' Dark Whiskey / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
• Angeline The Baker / Sammy Shelor & Linda Lay / Taking The Crooked Road Home / Virginia Folklife
• For Me, It's You / Jerry Salley / New Songs, Old Friends / Mountain Home