Monday, January 02, 2012

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 1/1/2012

Happy New Year!  


The most-played CD at the "BG Cafe"
in 2011 was by the Gibsons.
No big surprise there...
Today's radio show was pretty much devoted to playing music that we received at WHUS during 2011.  While I was able to play many songs today that I've really enjoyed over the past year, I just wasn't able to get to everything.  That became even more evident to me after the show was over and I was putting away CDs in our station library.  Some of those discs I'd intended to play, but just didn't have time today came from folks like Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Blue HighwayMichael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Shannon Slaughter, and others.  Good thing we don't really "retire" CDs that are not brand-spanking-new from our airwaves, that's for sure.


While we're (sort of) talking about some of my favorite CDs of 2011, I'm sure you're aware that there are many, many lists on the Internet of "The Best" BG recordings of 2011.  Most all of these rankings are pretty subjective, when it comes right down to it -- what one person likes may be totally opposite of what another likes.  It is kind of fun to see what others really enjoy, though, and why they like it so much.  I couldn't resist the urge to join in, so I've also made a list of favorites that has been posted on the WHUS website.  In my list, though, there are no rankings.  If you'd care to take a look at the list of CDs I've put together, feel free to visit the WHUS website by clicking here


The harmonies sung by Charlie (R) &
Ira Louvin (L) are considered to be
just about the best in the history of
country music.
On the show today, we also reserved a bit of time for brand new music from Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie ("The Touch Of Time" on Rural Rhythm), and took a few moments to honor and remember some of the BG (and BG-friendly) performers who died in 2011.  Among those:  Charlie Louvin, Wilma Lee Cooper, Hazel Dickens, Johnnie Wright, and banjo picker, Jake Jenkins.  


And though it might seem kind of maudlin to fixate on those who died, it's really difficult (for me, at least) to think of putting together a radio show on a New Year's Day and NOT play at least a little bit of music from the pen of Hank Williams.  It's amazing to me to think of the number of classic songs that were written by a man who never even reached his 30th birthday.  Hank's life of abusing his body with alcohol came to an end on New Year's Day 1953, as he died in the back of a limousine while on his way to play a concert in Canton, Ohio.  Hank Williams has to be one of the most interesting characters in the history of country music.  If you haven't read anything about the man whose impact continues to be felt in all types of music 59 years after his death, perhaps you can add one of these biographies to your reading list in 2012:  Hank Williams:  The Biography by Colin Escott or Lovesick Blues:  The Life Of Hank Williams by Paul Hemphill.  


Best wishes to everyone for lots of health and happiness in 2012!  Be sure to join Jim in next week's BG Cafe for lots more of the best in BG, won't you?


Amy




MOST MUSIC COMES FROM 2011 RELEASES (OR COMPILATIONS) - REQUESTS WERE NOT REALLY TAKEN.  HOWEVER, ONE REQUEST IS RED.  

  • Auld Lang Syne / Kentucky Colonels with Bill Keith / Long Journey Home / Vanguard
  • Watermelon On The Vine / Del McCoury Band / Old Memories:  The Songs Of Bill Monroe / McCoury Music
  • Live And Let Live / Del McCoury Band / Old Memories:  The Songs Of Bill Monroe / McCoury Music
  • I Was Left On The Street / Audie Blaylock & Redline / I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky / Rural Rhythm
  • Pike County Breakdown / Frank Wakefield / A Tribute To Bill Monroe / Patuxent Music
  • Six Feet Under The Ground / Acoustic Blue / Timeless / Self-Produced
  • Walls Of Time / Johnson Mountain Boys / Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration:  A Classic Bluegrass Tribute / Rounder
  • Rare Bird Alert / Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers / Rare Bird Alert / Rounder
  • I Knew It Wasn't You (The Telephone Song) / Crowe Brothers / Bridging The Gap / Rural Rhythm
  • Leaving The Lonely Behind / Ashlee Blankenship & Blades Of Blue / Ashlee Blankenship & Blades Of Blue / Mountain Fever Records
  • Redwood Hill / Russ Nixon with Brandon Rickman & Jeff Parker / Last Chance / Patuxent Music
  • One Mile East Of Hazel Green / Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen / One Mile East Of Hazel Green / Lendel Records
  • Dooley / The Grascals / Dance 'Til Your Stockings Are Hot And Ravelin' / BluGrascal Records
  • My Time / Lee Marcus / Grandpa's Pond / Self-Produced
  • Gettin' Outta Here Alive / Steve Spurgin / Past Perfect / Self-Produced
  • I'll Take Love / Dale Ann Bradley with Alison Krauss & Steve Gulley / I'll Take Love:  From The Pen Of Louisa Branscomb / Compass Records
  • Cold Virginia Night / Rick Pardue & Timmy Massey / The Ghost Of Noah Hayes / Lizard Records
  • Trolley Days / Thomas Porter & Copper River Band / Trolley Days / Self-Produced
  • Gone At Last / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Drive Time / Mountain Home
  • What Do You Say? / Sierra Hull / Daybreak / Rounder
  • Wishing Well Blues / Russell Johnson with Emily Kirsch / Anytime Anyplace But Only You / New Time Records
  • Be Proud Of The Gray In Your Hair / Scott Anderson / Tales From The Swamp / Self-Produced
  • My Baby Thinks He's A Train / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / The Touch Of Time / Rural Rhythm
  • I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Just For The Record / Rounder
  • Love Gone Cold / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / The Touch Of Time / Rural Rhythm
  • Don't Laugh / Louvin Brothers / The Essential Louvin Brothers:  My Baby's Gone, 1955-1964 / Raven Records
  • You Tried To Ruin My Name / Wilma Lee Cooper / O Sister! / Rounder
  • Jakebrakes / Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show / In Full Color / Rebel
  • Here Today And Gone Tomorrow / Hazel Dickens with the Johnson Mountain Boys / Songs Of The Louvin Brothers / Rounder
  • Cryin' Heart Blues / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
  • Frozen In Time / Gibson Brothers / Help My Brother / Compass Records
  • I've Got Nothin' / Donna Ulisse / An Easy Climb / Hadley Music Group
  • Baby We're Really In Love / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
  • Cold Cold Heart / Spinney Brothers / Going Home / Self-Produced
  • There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight / Jim Mills with Alan O'Bryant / Bound To Ride / Sugar Hill
  • You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers/Hot Rize / Flying Fish
  • Walking The Floor Over Me / Charlie Sizemore / Heartache Looking For A Home / Rounder
  • Carolina Dreams / Edgar Loudermilk / Roads Travelled / Mountain Fever Records
  • A Far Cry From Lester And Earl / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Heart Of A Song / Rebel
  • Mash Your Finger / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day! / Self-Produced
  • Mandolin Tango / Travers Chandler & Avery County / State Of Depression / Patuxent Music
  • I Saw The Light / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
  • Lord Protect My Soul / Kathy Kallick Band / Count Your Blessings:  A Bluegrass Gospel Collection / Live Oak Records
  • You Better Wake Up / Volume Five / Children Of The Mountain / Mountain Fever Records
  • My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan's Land / Terry Baucom with Doyle Lawson, Jimmy Haley, & Lou Reid / In A Groove / John Boy & Billy, Inc.
  • Lord Lift Me Up / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / So Much In Between / Mountain Home
  • Journey To My Savior's Side / Missy Werner Band / Three Kinds Of Lonesome / Self-Produced
  • Give Me Just A Little More Time / Paul Williams & the Victory Trio / Satisfied / Rebel
  • On The Jericho Road / Tom Mindte & Jeremy Stephens / Radio Favorites & Sacred Songs / Patuxent Music
  • Wheel Hoss / Bluegrass Album Band / Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration:  A Classic Bluegrass Tribute / Rounder

No comments: