"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/28/2013 - George Jones

Hi Folks.

Another great musical presence left us April 26.  George Jones, 81, died leaving us to consider the legacy he left behind.  To many he was considered to be the greatest country music vocalist of all time.

We devoted a good portion of the show to the music of George Jones, and warmed up with some of his songs recorded by bluegrass artists Russell Moore & Sonya Isaacs, The Stanley Brothers, and Bob & Danny Paisley.  The Grascals introduced George himself with the recitation from "Don't Tell Mama" from their second album.  George represented himself for the remaining songs in his tribute.

George Jones funeral was a two-and-a-half hour affair at the Grand Ole Opry House open to the public on Thursday, May 2, and was a fitting tribute to this giant of a singer whose body of work could be considered the definition of real country music.

For a reading recommendation besides George Jones' autobiography released in 1996, there is a very enjoyable book released in 2011 about the making of the greatest country record of all time, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," written by Jack Isenhour.  It is one of the few books that focuses more on the music than the personalities, although there is a good dose of each in the process of telling the story.

Elsewhere in the show we introduced a few tracks from the excellent new CD from Mickey Galyean and Cullen's Bridge, and other new songs from The Gibson Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Feller & Hill, The Boxcars, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Marty Raybon, Dale Pyatt, The Daughters of Bluegrass, Scott Brannon, Emily Kirsch, and Mountain Faith.

We also had local Nashville transplant Monty McClanahan in the studio providing information about an upcoming performance of The Kropp Dusters, a group made up of past members of Northern Lights as well as Monty.  Of course we played some of Monty's songs (with the late Randy Howard on fiddle) and a Northern Lights song to get in the mood.

Thanks for listening.  Be sure to tune in next Sunday when Amy will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

George Jones tribute in bold green.

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
• Bell Of The Ball / Cullen's Bridge / Rollin' With Tradition / Self-released
• I Saw Your Face In The Moon / Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass / Road Into Town / Patuxent
• The Mountains My Baby And Me / The Grass Cats / The Mountains My Baby And Me / New Time
• Buy A Ring, Find A Preacher / The Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass
• Big Blue Roses / Feller & Hill and the Bluegrass Buckaroos / self-titled / Blue Circle
• You Took All The Ramblin' Out Of Me / The Boxcars / It's Just A Road / Mountain Home
• It's Hard To Be Forgotten / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Roads Well Traveled / Mountain Home
• Back To Jackson County / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers Of The Highway / Rounder
• Golden Ring / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out w.Sonya Isaacs / Bluegrassed / Cracker Barrel
• The Window Up Above / The Stanley Brothers / The Early Starday King Years 1958-1961 / King
• Color Of The Blues / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Color Of The Blues / Strictly Country
• Don't Tell Mama / The Grascals feat. George Jones / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
• Why Baby Why (1955) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• White Lightning (1959) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• She Thinks I Still Care (1962) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• The Race Is On (1964) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds (1965) / George Jones and Melba Montgomery / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• Take Me (1971) / George Jones and Tammy Wynette / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• The Grand Tour (1974) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• We're Gonna Hold On / George Jones and Tammy Wynette / Duets / Opry Music
• Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes (1985) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• He Stopped Loving Her Today (1980) / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Day / Raincoe
• Carolina / Monty McClanahan / The Road Less Traveled / Self-released
• King Of California / Northern Lights / One Day / Fifty Fifty
• Walk Away / Monty McClanahan / The Road Less Traveled / Self-released
• That Janie Baker / Marty Raybon & Full Circle / The Back Forty / Rural Rhythm
• Lonely River / Cullen's Bridge / Rollin' With Tradition / Self-released
• Tennessee Stud / Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Music To My Ears / Skaggs Family
• When You Get To Asheville / Steve Martin, Edie Brickell / Love Has Come For You / Rounder
• Run Secretariat Run / Dale Pyatt / Dale Pyatt / Self-released
• The Darker The Night, The Better I See / The Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass
• Fare Thee Well / Kathy Kallick Band / Time / Live Oak
• Never Can Forgive 'Til I Forget / The Daughters of Bluegrass (Michelle Nixon) / Pickin' Like A Girl / Blue Circle
• Amazing Grace / George Jones / 50 Years Of Hits / Bandit
• Row By Row / Balsam Range / Papertown / Mountain Home
• I'll Fly Away / Darlene & Reflections Of Bluegrass / If It Ain't Love / Self-released
• Wings Of Angels / The Stanley Brothers / A Clinch Mountain Sunday / Harmony
• Drinking From The Fountain / Mickey Galyean & Cullen's Bridge / Rollin' With Tradition / Self-released
• Mountain Church / Scott Brannon / Your Old Standby / Patuxent
• Living Water / Mountain Faith / Battlefield / Pisgah Ridge
• I'm Gonna Have A Little Talk / Emily Kirsch / Just Another Memory / Rabbits Foot
• See God's Ark A Movin' / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Blue Diamond / Rounder
• When Heaven Comes Down / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks
• Walking In A Dream / Fred Etheridge, Nick Anderson, Mark Doyle / Pickin' And Singin' / Self-released

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/21/2013 RADIOTHON WEEK #2

The gang's all in for Radiothon 2013...

Well, it's over for another year.  Hooray!  What makes the fact that Radiothon for Bluegrass Cafe is complete for 2013 even better is that once again, our listeners have proved to be THE BEST listeners of WHUS, hands down.  With your help, not only were we able to reach our two-week station-appointed goal of $2,000, but thanks to calls of support from 45 listeners, Bluegrass Cafe raised an additional $356 for WHUS.  We always say you folks are wonderful, but really, it can't be said enough.  Thanks so much to each of you!!!  

As is our "standard" (of sorts) during Radiothon, we mostly played music featured on recordings that were available as Radiothon premiums this year.  The record labels were very kind to us to supply so much wonderful music this year -- thanks again to Compass Records, Crossroads (Mountain Home/Pisgah Ridge), Mountain Fever Records, Patuxent Music, and Rebel Records.  Your generous support makes pledging so much more enticing for our listeners.  

A few quiet moments for our dedicated phone operators:
Scott, Clyde, Eleanor, Cathy Ward in back.

Thanks, too, to our faithful phone answerers:  my mother, Eleanor Orlomoski, as well as great BG supporters, Clyde Proch and Scott Farrar.  James Ward, and his mom, Cathy Ward, were also present for both weeks of fundraising.  Be sure to join the Wards every Thursday evening for their "Bluegrass Rules" program at WHUS -- it's on the air from 7-8PM -- so we hope you'll check it out.  Kudos, too, to our own Jim Beaver, as he had one doozy of a cold today, but he toughed it out, and hung around for the full three hours of Radiothon today.  Amazing.

The Case Brothers played a
reunion show at Hartford's Firebox
in July 2011.  

Radiothon wasn't all about fundraising today, though, as we paused for several moments to remember and pay tribute to a wonderful Bluegrass musician from New York who died on Saturday.  Bob Mavian was a tremendous mandolin picker who shared the stage with several BG greats over the years, but he was also a well-regarded veterinarian who played music with a few different bands, including Big Apple'achia.  Perhaps best noted, with his musical partner, Dick Bowden, Bob delighted audiences for several years as "Gibson Case," the mandolin-playing, slightly-dimwitted younger brother in the Case Brothers.  These two played many, many BG festivals and shows in the 1990s, and made at least one really fine recording:  "Radio 
Album" (1995).  Bob will be greatly missed by his many friends -- sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.  The festival season won't be quite the same without you, Bob...

Next Sunday, expect to hear Jim playing LOTS of terrific music during his 3-hour session of Bluegrass Cafe, and once again, THANK YOU for your wonderful support of Bluegrass music on the airwaves at WHUS!!

Amy

• Panhandle Country / Frank Wakefield / A Tribute To Bill Monroe / Patuxent Music
• I'm Over You / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• I Am Weary, Let Me Rest / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray & Friends / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• See The Big Man Cry / Volume Five / Run / Mountain Fever Records
• The Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Banana Boat Song / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Yesterday / Country Gentlemen / The Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Dusty Old World / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• I'll Work It Out / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• That's Just Me Loving You / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Live At Red, White & Bluegrass / Mountain Home
• You'll Get No More Of Me / Flatt Lonesome / Flatt Lonesome / Pisgah Ridge
• It's Hard To Be Forgotten / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Roads Well Traveled / Mountain Home
• By The Waters Of The Clinch / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Roads Well Traveled / Mountain Home
• That Star Belongs To Me / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• Nobody's Child / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• (Dear) Sweet Evalina / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• One Is Taken, One Is Left / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• It's Good Bye And So Long To You / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• Walking In Good Company / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Story Of The Day That I Died / Rebel
• Drinking At The Water Hole / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Story Of The Day That I Died / Rebel
• Another Song / Cumberland Gap Connection / Another Song / Mountain Fever Records
• Heartaches / Akira Otsuka / First Tear / Patuxent Music
• Bringing In The Georgia Mail / Case Brothers / Radio Album / Self-Produced
• Gonna Paint The Town / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Your Worries And Troubles Are Mine / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Rank Stranger / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Julie / Volume Five / Run / Mountain Fever Records
• Helen / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray & Friends / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music

Coming Sunday...one more week of Radiothon!

Photo courtesy:  www.facebook.com/whusradio

Coming up this Sunday afternoon, we've got one more afternoon of Radiothon at the Bluegrass Cafe.  Sure hope you'll consider joining all of us - me, Jim, James Ward, and our operators, Eleanor O. (a/k/a my mother), Clyde Proch, Scott Farrar, and James's mother, Cathy Ward -- and maybe even think about making a pledge of support for BG programming at WHUS.  We won't threaten you and say that Bluegrass music might disappear from WHUS without your pledge, but boy!  Your show of financial support sure does help us to prove to the WHUS "Powers That Be" that BG folks are, indeed, still interested in listening to Bluegrass music on the airwaves at WHUS.  For more than 30 of the station's 91 years in existence, Bluegrass has been part of the broadcast mix at the University of Connecticut.  Show your support this Sunday, if you will, between 4 and 7PM.  We'll be waiting to hear from you at 1-800-599-9487.  Thanks!!

Scott tallies up the pledges, while Clyde & Eleanor
work the phones.

Of course, we've still got quite a few wonderful ways to thank you for your pledge of support, too.  If you'd like to make your entire pledge 100% tax deductible, you don't have to pick up a WHUS premium (or, thank you gift) at all, but if you'd like some great WHUS clothing, we've got it -- see the photos here.  If you'd prefer to pick up some music, we've still got lots of that, too.  For a $35 pledge, you can choose one of the following CDs, but for an additional $5 pledge (total of $40), you'll get one CD of your choosing, plus another one that we'll pick.  Nice!  

Big thanks to the wonderful record labels who've been so kind to us in providing this fine music:  Compass Records, Crossroads Music (Mountain Home/Pisgah Ridge), Mountain Fever Records, Patuxent Music, and Rebel Records.  

Here's the list of CDs from which you can choose:  

Easily, this was our most popular premium during Week #1.
Will the popularity continue in Week #2?

• Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray & Friends - "Many A Mile" (Patuxent Music)
• Darin & Brooke Aldridge - "Live At Red, White & Bluegrass" (Mountain Home)
• The Boxcars - "All In" (Mountain Home)
• Cumberland Gap Connection - "Another Song" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Flatt Lonesome - "Flatt Lonesome" (Pisgah Ridge)
• Gibson Brothers - "They Called It Music" (Compass Records)
• Chris Jones & the Night Drivers - "Lost Souls & Free Spirits" (Rebel)
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver - "Roads Well Traveled" (Mountain Home)
• Mountain Faith - "Battlefield" (Mountain Home)
• Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers - "They're Playing My Song" (Rebel)
• Akira Otsuka - "First Tear" (Patuxent Music)
• Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice - "The Story Of The Day That I Died" (Rebel)
• Ralph Stanley - "Man Of Constant Sorrow" (Rebel Records)
• Volume Five - "Run" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Frank Wakefield - "A Tribute To Bill Monroe" (Patuxent Music)

There are some other fine selections, too, but maybe you can tune in on Sunday to learn what they are!  Plus, don't forget that we're planning to have our Bonus Book Bonanza at the end of Sunday's session of Radiothon.  The winner will be drawn from the names of folks who've given us a pledge during the two weeks of Radiothon, and what will they win?  Why, copies of two wonderful photo books:  Honky Tonk:  Portraits Of Country Music, 1972-1981 by Harry Horenstein and Phil Zimmerman's Bluegrass Time:  A Musician's Photographs Of The Early Days Of Bluegrass Festivals.  There is no minimum pledge for your name to be entered in our end-of-Radiothon drawing -- you just need to make a pledge sometime between 4 and 7PM on Sunday.  

Special thanks to the 27 folks who pledged to the show last week!  We'll hope to hear from several more of you this Sunday, too...

See you then!

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/14/2013 RADIOTHON WEEK #1

It's another year and another fundraising campaign for us at WHUS.  Radiothon started off on Saturday, April 13th and so, Sunday was the second full day of fundraising.  This morning, perennial WHUSer Dan Grieder was able to raise nearly $1,000 during his three hours of "Off The Beaten Track," and we think that's pretty awesome.  At Bluegrass Cafe, we're always cautiously optimistic, as we know the economy still stinks, but once again, during three hours on Sunday afternoon, our fabulous listeners have stepped up to support Bluegrass music programming at WHUS, as we heard from 27 listeners who pledged more than $1,200.  BIG THANKS to each of them!  

If you've ever listened to a Radiothon edition of the show, you know we don't play nearly as much music as we do during the remainder of the year.  Today, we mostly limited the songs we played to selections from some of the fabulous recordings we have available as thank you gifts.  To that end, we'd like to again thank the wonderful music labels who've supported our Radiothon efforts once again this year:  Compass Records; Crossroads Music (Pisgah Ridge/Mountain Home); Mountain Fever Records; Patuxent Music; and Rebel Records.  

We'd also like to thank our terrific phone operators who always volunteer to help out for Radiothon:  my mother, Eleanor Orlomoski; and good CT Bluegrass supporters and friends, Clyde Proch and Scott Farrar.  Also on hand to help out today were James Ward, and his mom, Cathy Ward, who bring you "Bluegrass Rules" at WHUS on Thursday evenings, 7-8PM.  Be sure to support them this week during Radiothon, too, won't you?

If you weren't able to listen to the show today and/or make a pledge, you'll have another chance next Sunday, April 21st.  Remember, too, that any pledge of any dollar amount to Bluegrass Cafe will get you a chance to win our Bonus Book Drawing this year.  The big prize this year includes two wonderful photo books:  Harry Horenstein's Honky Tonk:  Portraits Of Country Music, 1972-1981 and Bluegrass Time:  A Musician's Photographs Of The Early Days Of Bluegrass Festivals by Phil Zimmerman.  We'll conduct our drawing at the conclusion of Radiothon next Sunday afternoon, so there's still time for you to make a pledge and have a chance to win these great books.  

We say it often, but only because it's true:  your support of WHUS -- and especially of Bluegrass Cafe -- is very much appreciated!  We'll keep on bringing you great Bluegrass music as long as we're allowed to do so at WHUS.  Thanks!!!

See you next week - 
Amy (& Jim)

• Old Horse And Buggy / Jerry Correll / Close King / Mountain Roads Recordings
• If I Lose / Scott Brannon / Your Old Standby / Patuxent Music
• I'm Blue / Flatt Lonesome / Flatt Lonesome / Pisgah Ridge
• I Am Weary, Let Me Rest / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• Matterhorn / Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray / Many A Mile / Patuxent Music
• They Called It Music / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• The Darker The Night, The Better I See / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Margie / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Road Into Town / Patuxent Music
• Dixie Road / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Roads Well Traveled / Mountain Home
• Bluegrass Breakdown / Frank Wakefield / A Tribute To Bill Monroe / Patuxent Music
• Rawhide / Frank Wakefield / A Tribute To Bill Monroe / Patuxent Music
• Osborne Brothers Medley / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / They're Playing My Song / Rebel
• Final Farewell / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Lost Souls & Free Spirits / Rebel
• The Story Of The Day That I Died / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Story Of The Day That I Died / Rebel
• Memories / Spinney Brothers / Memories / Mountain Fever Records
• Grandpa's Way Of Life / Spinney Brothers / No Borders / Mountain Fever Records
• Louisville Woman / Spinney Brothers / No Borders / Mountain Fever Records
• Long Black Jacket / Akira Otsuka / First Tear / Patuxent Music
• Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp / Volume Five / Run / Mountain Fever Records
• Lonely Ends Where Love Begins / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Live At Red, White & Bluegrass / Mountain Home
• Rambler's Blues / Cumberland Gap Connection / Another Song / Mountain Fever Records
• Don't Fall In Love With A Girl Like That / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• Amandalyn / Merl Johnson / Better Man / Patuxent Music
• Give Me The Roses / Traver Hollow / Angels Rejoice / Strictly Country
• Living Water / Mountain Faith / Battlefield / Mountain Fever Records
• Home On The River / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records

Coming soon...Radiothon!

Our annual fundraising campaign at WHUS -- also known as Radiothon -- officially begins this Saturday, April 13th, and will run through Sunday, April 21st.  That means that the next two Sundays of our Bluegrass Cafe programming will be mostly devoted to us asking (nicely, of course) for your support of our Bluegrass programming at WHUS.  A lot of the particulars about pledge levels and different WHUS premium items available for your donations can be found here.  In addition, I can share with you the titles of the wonderful recordings we'll have to say THANKS to folks who support either our Bluegrass Cafe or James & Cathy Ward's Bluegrass Rules (which airs on Thursday nights from 7-8PM)!  


We're grateful to the wonderful record labels who've supported our Radiothon campaign this year:  Compass Records, Crossroads Music (Mountain Home/Pisgah Ridge), Mountain Fever Records, Patuxent Music, and Rebel Records.  Take a look at our terrific list of musical offerings -- with this many great selections, there's bound to be something you'll really like:

• Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray & Friends - "Many A Mile" (Patuxent Music)
• Darin & Brooke Aldridge - "Live At Red, White & Bluegrass" (Mountain Home)
• The Boxcars - "All In" (Mountain Home)
• Cumberland Gap Connection - "Another Song" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Flatt Lonesome - "Flatt Lonesome" (Pisgah Ridge)
• Front Porch String Band (with Claire Lynch) - "Hills Of Alabam" (Rebel)
• Gibson Brothers - "They Called It Music" (Compass Records)
• Chris Jones & the Night Drivers - "Lost Souls & Free Spirits" (Rebel)
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver - "Roads Well Traveled" (Mountain Home)
• Mountain Faith - "Battlefield" (Pisgah Ridge)
• Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers - "They're Playing My Song" (Rebel)
• Akira Otsuka - "First Tear" (Patuxent Music)
• Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass - "Road Into Town" (Patuxent Music)
• Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice - "The Story Of The Day That I Died" (Rebel)
• Spinney Brothers - "Memories" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Spinney Brothers - "No Borders" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys - "Man Of Constant Sorrow" (Rebel)
• Volume Five - "Run" (Mountain Fever Records)
• Frank Wakefield - "A Tribute To Bill Monroe" (Patuxent Music)

If you made a pledge to WHUS during Radiothon in 2012 or before, you've probably received a letter from the station in the mail this week asking for your continued support.  Now, if you'd prefer to make a donation this way, please go right ahead.  We figure, though, that since we have so much great music to offer you for your pledge, it would behoove you to call during the actual program time this coming Sunday (4/14) or next Sunday (4/21).  Operators will be standing by to talk with you.  In addition to these wonderful recordings, we'll have a few surprises to share on the ol' radio.  Join us!  This is the one time during the year that Jim and I are actually in the studio at the same time, and we'll be looking for you to join us, too!  Thanks!!  

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/7/2013

Ah, the best laid plans...

Sunday's show started with so much promise.  It even began ten minutes before 4PM, as the UCONN Baseball game ended earlier than expected.  Then, I happened to look at the flashing, non-operational telephone system at WHUS, and it became pretty clear that there likely wasn't going to be a 5:30PM phone visit with Eric Gibson.  Alas.  Broadcasting can be totally unpredictable, for sure -- my apologies to anyone who tuned in expressly to hear Eric talk about the Gibson Brothers' newly-released -- and very successful -- "They Called It Music."  We'll find another week to talk to Eric sometime in the not-too-distant future, but for today, the best we could do is play four songs from the new project (and a couple of older ones, too, for good measure).  Be sure to make plans to see the Gibsons when they play a show on April 27th at the Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT.  It'll be a great show, no doubt.

It's no secret that Merle Haggard -- "The Poet Of The Common Man" -- is a big favorite of a whole lot of Bluegrass singers.  Haggard tunes have been covered numerous times over the years; Merle Haggard even made his own "Bluegrass" record a couple of years ago called, "The Bluegrass Sessions."  [The YouTube clip below shows the Hag recording his own song, "Holding Things Together," with some BG instrumentation, and pretty top-notch "sidemen"].  On April 6th, Merle Haggard celebrated his 76th birthday, and it seemed very appropriate to take just a couple of his songs and play them on the ol' radio.  We even included a decidedly NOT-Bluegrass recording of one of the Hag's most "in-your-face" tunes, "The Fightin' Side Of Me."  Even though we could have played lots of different performers doing covers, we limited ourselves today to Haggard songs performed by the Spinney Brothers, the Lonesome River Band, and the Gibson Brothers.  





In addition to newer music from the Gibson Brothers, we heard from a few more recordings that have either been recently released (within the past year), or will soon be released within the next month or so.  This music came to us from Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, the Steel Drivers, the Kathy Kallick Band, Loafers' Glory, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Shannon & Heather Slaughter & County Clare, Hammertowne, the Spinney Brothers, the Expedition Show, the Boxcars, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, and Nu-Blu.  There were a few selections from New England (and New York) performers, too, including songs from Smokey Greene, the Pike Family & the Pine Hill Ranchers, Dawn Kenney, and the Bear Bridge Band.

If you tuned in to the show, you probably heard me mention more than once that our fundraising campaign known as Radiothon begins at WHUS on Saturday, April 13th.  That means that for the next two Sundays, you'll hear Jim and I -- along with James Ward and his mom, Cathy Ward -- talking about why you might consider making a donation to WHUS in support of Bluegrass programming.  As always, we'll have a bunch of dandy CD offerings as "thank you gifts."  We'll print a more extensive list of these titles later on in the week, but suffice it to say, there's A LOT of good music to be had!  Big thanks to Compass Records, Mountain Fever Records, Mountain Home, Patuxent Music, and Rebel Records for allowing us to offer such wonderful choices to folks who decide to make a pledge!  

Thanks again for listening to today's mixed-up show, and we hope you'll join us in the BG Cafe next Sunday starting at 4PM...

Have a great week - 
Amy


Highlighted recordings will be available as premiums during Radiothon -- April 13th & April 20th.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Home Run Man / Parmley & McCoury / Families Of Tradition / BGC Records
• Taxes / Smokey Green / The Friendly Voice Of Smokey Greene / Pinecastle
• I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow / Stanley Brothers / The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothes / Columbia
• My Little Georgia Rose / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1950-1958 / JSP Records
• Chilly Winds / Johnny Williams / Close Kin / Mountain Roads Recordings
• The Story Of The Day That I Died / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / The Story Of The Day  That I Died / Rebel
• Eatin' Out Of Your Hand / Bill Harrell / 20 Bluegrass Greats / Gusto
• Polka On A Banjo / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Greatest Hits / Columbia
• Love Reunited / Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen / At Edwards Barn / Sugar Hill
• Just To Ease My Worried Mind / Loafers' Glory / Loafers' Glory / Arhoolie
• Blue Grass Chopper / The Hillmen / The Hillmen / Sugar Hill
• The Fightin' Side Of Me / Merle Haggard / The Original Outlaw / Time Life
• Silver Wings / Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-Produced
• Red Bandana / Lonesome River Band / Still Learning / Rural Rhythm
• Kentucky Gambler / Gibson Brothers / Spread Your Wings / Hay Holler
• I'll Work It Out / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Holdin' On When You've Let Go / Crowe Brothers / Brothers 'n Harmony / Rural Rhythm
• Wrong Road Again / Lonesome River Band / Still Learning / Rural Rhythm
• Uphill Climb / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Lost Souls & Free Spirits / Rebel
• They Called It Music / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Shallow Grave / The Steel Drivers / Hammer Down / Rounder
• Thinkin' Of Home / Kathy Kallick Band / Time / Live Oak Records
• Montana Cowboy / Hot Rize / Traditional Ties / Sugar Hill
• How Many Times / Vern & Ray with Herb Pedersen / San Francisco, 1968 / Arhoolie
• Something Comin' To Me / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Singing As We Rise / Gibson Brothers with Ricky Skaggs / Help My Brother / Compass Records
• Slowly (I'm Falling) / Marty Raybon & Full Circle / The Back Forty / Rural Rhythm
• When Scruggs Made Me A Star / Shannon & Heather Slaughter & County Clare / One More Road / Self-Produced
• Cherokee Maiden / Hammertowne / Hammertowne / Mountain Fever Records
• Grandpa's Way Of Life / Spinney Brothers / No Borders / Mountain Fever Records
• To Warm And Comfort You / Pike Family & the Pine Hill Ranchers / To Warm And Comfort You / Rebel
• White Freight Liner Blues / Nightflyer / Nightflyer / Kang Records
• Stormy Horizons / The Expedition Show / forthcoming CD / Mountain Fever Records
• One Step Ahead Of The Rain / Dawn Kenney / Sing Me Home / Self-Produced
• Jeffrey's Hell / The Boxcars / All In / Mountain Home
• I'm Blue / Flatt Lonesome / Flatt Lonesome / Pisgah Ridge
• I Been Walkin' / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / Road Into Town / Patuxent Music
• Home On The River / Gibson Brothers / They Called It Music / Compass Records
• Martha And Mary / Nu-Blu / Nail By Nail / Pinecastle
• I'm A Stranger / Johnson Mountain Boys / We'll Still Sing On / Rounder
• Lord Have Mercy (On My Soul) / Lou Reid & Carolina / Sounds Like Heaven To Me / Rural Rhythm
• Get Behind Me Satan / Bear Bridge Band / A Bluegrass Sampler / Open Road
• It's Just Like Heaven / Country Gentlemen / The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning / Hot Rize / Traditional Ties / Sugar Hill
• Lord, Lift Me Up / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Visiting with the entertaining Eric Gibson this Sunday, April 7th!

Not the sweetest gaze to give your brother, but definitely
entertaining for the audience (Lexington, MA - 1/10/2013)

Around this time every year, I start to think about getting in touch with Eric Gibson so that we can schedule an on-air visit sometime before the Gibson Brothers make their annual appearance at the nearby Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in late May.  Eric beat me to the punch this year, though, as earlier this week, he asked me if we might like to schedule a time for him to come on the Bluegrass Cafe this month to chat a bit about the Gibsons' recently released eleventh record, "They Called It Music."  After considering the idea for about two seconds, I said, "Of course!"  It's always a fun time visiting with Eric, and really, how crazy would it be to pass up any opportunity to talk to a reigning International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year?  The plan is to get Eric on the telephone 'round about 5:30PM on Sunday afternoon.  Sure hope you can tune in to the ol' radio show!

Released by Compass Records on 3/27/2013,
"They Called It Music" is already hitting the charts

In case you're wondering, this new record from Eric and brother, Leigh Gibson is a dandy, and has been receiving some really excellent reviews in resources like No Depression and Bluegrass Today, among others.  It's the Gibsons' first record that they've made since winning the coveted Entertainer of the Year award last September, and some will tell you it's their best recording ever.  While I'm not quite willing to make a proclamation that "They Called It Music" is the best ever record by the Gibson Brothers, I would wholeheartedly agree that this CD offers a fabulous combination of thought-provoking original lyrics, wonderful harmonies, and terrific musicianship from Eric and Leigh, as well as from the Gibsons' longtime bass player Mike Barber, fiddler Clayton Campbell, and Joe Walsh on the mandolin.  We've been playing a bit of music from this fine Compass Records recording on the air for the last few weeks, and there's no doubt that you'll be hearing a whole lot more from it for the foreseeable future, too.  If you don't yet have your own copy of "They Called It Music," we're happy to tell you that this recording will be one of the many fantastic "thank you gifts" we'll offer for your pledge of support to WHUS during our upcoming Radiothon campaign.  More information on Radiothon -- which begins on April 13th! -- is coming very soon.

While the Gibson Brothers make some wonderful records, to really appreciate them, you need to see them in concert.  Fortunately, you'll have several opportunities to do that here in Connecticut over the next few months.  In eastern Connecticut, the Gibsons will play at the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in Preston, CT on May 31st, and in Salem, CT on September 22nd.  Toward the end of this month of April (specifically, on April 27th), the brothers will make their first appearance in the northwestern corner of Connecticut when they play a show at the Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, CT.  Be sure to get out there and see them, won't you?  (If you don't happen to live in Connecticut, but still want to see the Gibsons, you can find their performance schedule by clicking here.)

In anticipation of some of these Connecticut shows, take a look and listen at the title track of "They Called It Music:"  

Sure hope you'll be able to join us for the entire three hours of the Bluegrass Cafe this Sunday beginning at 4PM (following a UCONN Baseball broadcast from 1-4PM).  It'll be a big time!

Amy