Special LIVE BG during the "Fiat Flux" - 5/8/2010

On Saturday, May 8th, Jim and I got to host a very special edition of the free-form WHUS radio program known as the "Fiat Flux." This timeslot is reserved every week by our Program Director to showcase live music of all formats, radio dramas, poetry readings -- whatever the host for that week wants to present. When Jim and I found out that there was going to be so much great BG being presented in the area this weekend, we thought it would be fun to see if we could get some of it in the studio at WHUS. So...we issued a couple of invitations, and lo and behold, both the Spinney Brothers AND David Peterson said they'd come on the air with us! Hooray!!

After we aired the final episode of the original WHUS radio drama known as "The City Of Stones" at 9AM, we welcomed the Spinney Brothers to our airwaves around 10AM. This Nova Scotia band features brothers Allan on guitar & Rick on banjo, as well as Gary Dalrymple on mandolin & Wendell Boutilier on bass, and their brand of super-traditional BG and "real" country music has impressed audiences several times at the Joe Val Festival over the past couple of years. In 2010, the band made the decision to become a full-time working band. This week, they're doing a mini-tour of three New England states, and we were delighted that they chose Storrs, CT and WHUS to kick off this short USA visit.

About 11AM, it was time for David Peterson and his guitar. This was Dave's second visit to WHUS (the first was to our old farmhouse studios in November 2006). No matter what style of music Dave is singing, he's able to belt it out with plenty of heart and soul, and Saturday's performance at WHUS certainly didn't disappoint.

Special thanks to Clyde Proch & Scott Farrar for helping out with the logistics of shuttling bands and instruments around. Saturday was also one of UCONN's graduation days, and worrying about close-by parking for the bands would have been a nightmare. Clyde & Scott saved the day, so many thanks to them.

And, of course, extra special thanks to Allan, Rick, Gary, Wendell, and Dave for sharing their talents with us so early in the morning! Be sure to look for all of these performers when/if they play again anywhere nearby wherever you might be.

We hope you were able to listen to Saturday's special broadcast, but if you missed it....well, who knows? You may hear parts of the show in future broadcasts of the "Bluegrass Cafe" on Sundays. Keep on listening...

Amy (& Jim)

SPECIAL "FIAT FLUX" PLAYLIST FOR SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2010:

• Episode 10 of the original WHUS radio drama, "The City Of Stones"
• I'm Gonna Try / Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-Produced
• Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / David Peterson & 1946 / From The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• A Faded Rose, A Broken Heart / Spinney Brothers / If I Were Your Brother / Self-Produced
• Blue Memories / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
• When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Self-Produced
• You Better Wake Up / Spinney Brothers / Going Home / Self-Produced
• LIVE Going Down To Charleston / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE The Blind Man / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE My Friend Clyde / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE Gitup The Banjo Man / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE If I Were Your Brother / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE Going Home / Spinney Brothers
• LIVE Get Down On Your Knees And Pray / Spinney Brothers
• I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• Come Back To Me / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
• LIVE Lamplighting Time In The Valley / David Peterson
• LIVE Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia / David Peterson
• Sparkling Brown Eyes / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• LIVE Family Bible / David Peterson
• LIVE 1946 / David Peterson
• LIVE Mother Prays Loud In Her Sleep / David Peterson
• LIVE My Little Home In Tennessee / David Peterson
• LIVE Rocking Alone In An Old Rocking Chair / David Peterson
• LIVE In The Mountaintops To Roam / David Peterson
• LIVE Crazy Blues / David Peterson
• LIVE I Saw The Light / David Peterson

A special BG broadcast this Saturday, 5/8/2010...

Jim and I will be presenting what we think will be a fabulous couple of hours of LIVE BG in the studio during this Saturday's free-form, ever changing broadcast at WHUS known as "Fiat Flux."

First up, we'll welcome one of the best traditional BG bands in all of Canada, the Spinney Brothers. Allan & Rick Spinney have been winning awards and getting lots of great attention in Canada for the last several years, and appearances at the Joe Val BG Festival have brought them more than a few admirers in the US of A, too. The Spinneys begin a mini-tour of New England this weekend when they play at the Country Corner Coffee House in South Hadley, MA on Saturday night, and then, at Hartford's Firebox on Sunday. Before either of those shows, though, we'll welcome the Spinneys to the WHUS airwaves for some live BG beginning about 10AM.

Having one great live act in the studio is a big whoop, but having two fine acts...well, we're thrilled to also welcome a return guest on Saturday morning -- Massachusetts-native David Peterson. Dave knows how to do his BG in the most traditional style, and recently, he's also been playing a whole lot of real country music, too. Before he heads north of the border to play a series of shows in the Canadian Maritimes, Dave will stop at WHUS for some live music. It should be fun. Listen for Dave around 11AM. And if you're in Connecticut, you need to check out Dave's solo show at the Salem Valley Barn on Friday night, May 7th. Click here for more info on this show.

So, while the BG Cafe isn't changing timeslots, we hope you'll be sure to join us this Saturday, May 8th beginning at 10AM for some great, live BG music. In Southern New England, you can find us at 91.7 on your FM dial or online anywhere at www.whus.org.

Sunday's Guest DJ, Phil Robert -- 5/2/2010

Sunday's Guest DJ was listener Phil Robert, who made a pledge to WHUS during our 2009 Radiothon campaign which allowed him to have an hour's worth of time to program whatever BG tunes he liked. Phil had also served as a Guest DJ in June of 2008, so this was his second trip to the BG Cafe. As before, Phil made a fine playlist filled with everything from the "old-time mountain music" of the Stanley Brothers to the more contemporary BG of the Steeldrivers. Mighty fine!

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 5/2/2010

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, I did an internship at a local country music station. During my time there, the veteran DJ I was "shadowing" would often tell me, "There's never a dull moment in radio." He sort of had his tongue in his cheek while saying this, I'm sure, but the adage seems to work well when describing this past Sunday's BG Cafe.

The show began two hours early - 2PM - as Joe the Student DJ has begun his summer break a bit early. We'll keep on doing the 5-hour BG program until the summer schedule takes effect at WHUS around the middle of May. In addition, the WHUS phone line in our studio just wasn't working as it should on Sunday. While folks could call, and I could hear them, they just couldn't hear me. (Some might say that's not a bad problem at all, I suppose). Anyhow, my apologies to anyone who tried to get through on the phone with a request, but we just couldn't make it work on Sunday.

Beginning in our "bonus hours" on Sunday, we paid special tribute to a duo considered by a whole lot of folks to be the greatest in the history of country music: the Louvin Brothers. Ira Louvin, the mandolin picker, tenor singer, and "wild child" of the two brothers, would have celebrated a birthday on April 21st (born that date in 1924). Ira's been dead for 45 years now -- longer than the 41 years he was actually alive -- but his great vocals and fine songwriting skills are still impacting lots and lots of musicians. We played no fewer than 23 Louvin tunes on the show today -- most of them written by Ira and younger brother, Charlie. Hope you enjoyed them...

And Sunday's show also featured a one-hour set programmed by listener Phil Robert. This was Phil's second Guest DJ stint, as he made a pledge to WHUS during Radiothon in 2009 which earned him one hour of time during the BG Cafe to program whatever songs he liked. It's always great to hear what tunes Phil is going to play, as his tastes are pretty eclectic, from the traditional to the more contemporary styles of BG. Phil's selections are in RED in the playlist below. Great fun!

Please be sure to check out the special BG edition of the Saturday morning WHUS program, "Fiat Flux." This Saturday, May 8th, Jim and I plan on welcoming not just one, but two very special musical guests into our WHUS studio: Nova Scotia's Spinney Brothers as well as Massachusetts native David Peterson. The fun begins with the live music at 10AM -- be sure to join us for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

And don't forget to join Jim during our "regular" BG Cafe broadcast on Sunday -- starting at 2PM.

Have a great week -
Amy

"BONUS HOURS" - 2-4PM:

• Wild Ride / Hot Rize / Untold Stories / Sugar Hill
• We Can't Be Darlings Anymore / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Selected Sides / JSP Records
• I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow / Stanley Brothers / Selected Sides / JSP Records
• Goodbye Old Pal / Bill Monroe / Anthology / MCA
• Lonesome, Sad And Blue / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
• Another Day / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
• Always Be Kind To Your Mother / Reno & Smiley / Early Years, 1951-1959 / Gusto
• Foot Hill Hop / Various / Born Into Bluegrass: The Songs Of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Two Highways / Alison Krauss & Union Station / Two Highways / Rounder
• My Life Just Ain't A Bluegrass Song / Detour / The Road That Lies Ahead / Self-Produced
• It'll Be Me / Delia Bell & Bill Grant / Dreaming / Rounder
• Lady Of Tradition / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• Digging In The Ground / Larry Sparks / Dark As A Dungeon: Songs Of The Mines / Rebel
• Homesick / Jimmy Martin / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
• Forever Yours / Hagar's Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-Produced
• Me And The Jukebox / Parmley & McCoury / Families Of Tradition / BGC Records
• Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar / Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts / JSP Records
• The Get Acquainted Waltz / Louvin Brothers / Classic Album Collection / Golden Stars
• Are You Missing Me / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
• I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby / Louvin Brothers / When I Stop Dreaming: The Best Of The Louvin Brothers / Razor & Tie
• If I Could Only Win Your Love / Emmylou Harris / Profile: The Best Of Emmylou Harris / Warner Bros.
• My Baby's Gone / Jimmy Gaudreau's Bluegrass Unit / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
• My Baby Came Back / Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum / The Oak And The Laurel / Rounder
• Freight Train Boogie / Louvin Brothers / A Tribute To The Delmore Brothers / Gusto
• When I Stop Dreaming / Louvin Brothers / When I Stop Dreaming: The Best Of The Louvin Brothers / Razor & Tie
• I Take The Chance / The Browns / The Essential Jim Ed Brown & the Browns / RCA
• Take My Ring From Your Finger / Bear Bridge Band / Bear Essentials / Open Road
• Come And Knock / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
• Love And Wealth / Grisman, Gill, Pedersen, Buchanan, Gordy / Here Today / Rounder
• Seven Year Blues / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue / Rebel
• Cash On The Barrelhead / Louvin Brothers / When I Stop Dreaming: The Best Of The Louvin Brothers / Razor & Tie
• Are You Wasting My Time / Crowe & McLaughlin / Going Back / Rounder
• I'm Gonna Love You One More Time / Johnnie & Jack / For Old Times Sake / Bear Family
• Sinner You'd Better Get Ready / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder

THE "OFFICIAL" BLUEGRASS CAFE, beginning at 4PM:

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Rambler's Call / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Rebel
• Room At The Top Of The Stairs / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
• I'm Singing Harmony / The Big Dogs with Tony Trischka / Live At The Birchmere / Strictly Country
• Get In Line Buddy / Country Gentlemen / The Award Winning Country Gentlemen / Rebel
• Last Train To Clarksville / The Grascals / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Shoe Goes On The Other Foot Tonight / Rickey Wasson / From The Heart And Soul / Rural Rhythm
• Sugar Tree Stomp / Johnny Warren & Charlie Cushman / A Tribute To Fiddlin' Paul Warren / Self-Produced
• The Bluebirds Are Singing For Me / Larry Stephenson with Dudley Connell / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle
• Sally Jo / Ricky Skaggs / Brand New Strings / Strictly Country
• Cut Your Wheels / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
• Little Maggie / Stanley Brothers / All-Time Greatest Hits / Gusto
• Stobro's Blues / Ferrell Stowe / Stobro Blues / Self-Produced
• Blame It On Vern / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
• Perfume, Powder & Lead / Lonesome River Band / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Banks Of The Ohio / Jimmy Driftwood / Music Of The Ozarks / National Geographic Society
• Rita Mae / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass Records
• The Crime I'm Guilty Of / Blue Moon Rising / On The Rise / Lonesome Day
• Knoxville Girl / Wilma, Betty & Dale Copeland / Music Of The Ozarks / National Geographic Society
• Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
• Cold Shoulder / Ralph Stanley II / This One Is II / Lonesome Day
• Country Blues / Doc Watson / The Essential Doc Watson / Vanguard
• To Be With You Again / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
• Old Kentucky Shore / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Hitchcock Railway / Claire Lynch / Bluegrass Goes To Town / Rounder
• John Henry / Aaron McDaris / Ultimate Banjo / Pinecastle
• Pass Me Not / Dale Ann Bradley with Larry Sparks / Catch Tomorrow / Compass Records
• You'll Find Her Name Written There / Del McCoury / High, Lonesome & Blue / Rounder
• Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey with Dan Tyminski / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
• Put It Off Until Tomorrow / Ricky Skaggs / Sweet Temptation / Sugar Hill
• Have Mercy / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
• In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
• Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
• Lost And Lonesome / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Muddy Sunshine
• You're For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
• The Beans Should Be Blossomed / Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-Produced
• Rainbow In The Valley / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
• In The Jailhouse Now / Soggy Bottom Boys / O Brother, Where Art Thou / Mercury
• Dear Mom / Wayne Taylor / Dear Mom / Self-Produced
• If I Win / Summertown Road / Summertown Road / Rounder
• I'll Go To My Grave Loving You / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers / Cracker Barrel
• There's A Higher Power / Louvin Brothers / Satan Is Real / Capitol
• You'll Be Rewarded Over There / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / One Morning In May / Rounder
• Are You Afraid To Die / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• What Will You Say / Snyder Family Band / Comin' On Strong / Mountain Roads Recordings
• The Gospel Way / Crowe Brothers / The Gospel Way / Pinecastle
• I'm Travelin' On And On / David Peterson & 1946 / David Peterson & 1946 / Self-Produced
• On The Wings Of Angels / Spinney Brothers / Side By Side / Self-Produced
• Make Him A Soldier / Whitstein Brothers / Sweet Harmony / Rounder
• Let Us Travel On / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / I'll Wander Back Someday / Sugar Hill
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/25/2010 - Bill Hall & Wade Mainer

A remembrance and a tribute were the order of the day on Bluegrass Cafe.

First, a remembrance of Bill Hall, the pioneering bluegrass band leader and banjo picker from Rhode Island who passed away April 20th following a mishap at his home. Bill first began playing in the 1950s, and over the years worked with The Lilly Brothers, Joe Val, and several of his own bands including The Bluegrass Travelers and Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass. Bill remained active in bluegrass right up to the time he left us. He was known for his weekly jams and an annual bluegrass Campa-Jamma-Ramma at his home. I played selections from his Northwind album titled "In The Shadow of the Pines" and both sides of a Rebel single of The Bluegrass Travelers. Most of the songs were written or co-written by Bill.

Later we celebrated the 103rd birthday of Wade Mainer, sometimes called "The Grandfather of Bluegrass" because the music he produced with his brother J.E. and many others in the 1930s and 1940s is considered an essential bridge between old time string band music and what became known as bluegrass music. Wade's two-finger banjo style is also a bridge between the old clawhammer style of picking and the now-standard three-finger bluegrass style. I played a series of recordings ranging from Wade's 1950s King sides to live performances from the early 1990s.

The remainder of the show included much new music, perhaps the newest being selections from Cherryholmes IV, and a new single from The Lonesome River Band.

Be sure to tune in next week when Amy will continue the tradition of making the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver
requests in blue

Song Title / Performer / Album Title / Label

• Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
• Ridin' On That Train 45 / Wade Mainer with Steve Ledford / The Golden Age of J. E. Mainer / Cattle
• Up This Hill And Down / The Grascals / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Don't Worry About Me / Delia Bell & Bill Grant / Dreaming / Rounder
• The Day Has Passed / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• Find Me Out On A Mountain Top / Blue Highway / Midnight Storm / Rebel
• The Waves On The Sea / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• One Foot In The Mill / Last Road Bluegrass / Highway 81 / Self-released
• Tall Weeds and Rust / Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac / Take Off / Patuxent
• Where Will This End? / Patuxent Partners / Seven or Eleven / Patuxent
• Goin' To The Dance / Chris Warner / Goin' To The Dance / Patuxent
• When I'm Gone / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Self-titled / Self-released
• Record Time Machine / Lonesome River Band / single / Rural Rhythm
• Leave Me The Way I Am / Sawmill Road / 2 - Fire On The Kettle / SMR Records
• The Harder I Fall / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes IV: Common Threads / Skaggs Family
• Memory Of A Woman / Acoustic Blue / This Is Now / Self-released
• Play The Lonesome Sound / Dewey Brown with Del McCoury / Hard Times for a Fiddler / Dew Bug
• Freight Train Boogie / Blues Grass / Self-titled / Self-released
• Dixie Home / Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass / In The Shadow Of The Pines / Old Homestead (LP)
• When I Miss Her Most of All / Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass / In The Shadow Of The Pines / Old Homestead (LP)
• Dream, Dream, Dream / The Bluegrass Travelers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel
• The Prisoner's Last Wish / Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass / In The Shadow Of The Pines / Old Homestead (LP)
• Heaven / The Bluegrass Travelers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel
• Chariots A-Comin' / Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass / In The Shadow Of The Pines / Old Homestead (LP)
• Flowers On The Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Sing The Statler Brothers / Cracker Barrel
• 1952 Vincent Black Lightning / Del McCoury / By Request / McCoury Music
• She's Walking Through My Memories / The Bluegrass Brothers / As Time Goes By / Self-released
• Merry Go Round / Brand New Strings / No Strings Attached / Rural Rhythm
• Randy Lynn Rag / Dan Menzone / Frostbite / Self-released
• Tribulations / Carolina Native Sons / Rank Ol' Bluegrass / Patuxent
• Cabin In Caroline / Bill Hall and Northwind Bluegrass / In The Shadow Of The Pines / Old Homestead (LP)
• Tennessee / Jimmy Martin / Classic Bluegrass vol. 4 / Time-Life
• Cryin' Heart Blues / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• I Can't Like Myself / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
• Golden West [bed] / Skip Gorman / Monroesque / Old West
• Frog On A Lilypad [bed] / Skip Gorman / Monroesque / Old West
• The Lloyd Loar [bed] / Skip Gorman / Monroesque / Old West
• Up Front, Out Back / Skip Gorman / Monroesque / Old West
• Courtin' In The Rain / Wade Mainer / From The Maple On The Hill / Old Homestead
• Ramshackle Shack / Wade & Julia Mainer / In The Land of Melody / June Appal
• Trickling Water / Wade & Julia Mainer / In The Land of Melody / June Appal
• I Can't Sit Down / Wade & Julia Mainer / In The Land of Melody / June Appal
• Little Birdie / Wade Mainer / I'm Not Looking Backward / Gusto
• I'm Not Looking Backward / Wade Mainer / I'm Not Looking Backward / Gusto
• Man In The Middle / Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners / Songs From My Attic / Mountain Roads
• Heaven's Bright Shore / Snyder Family Band / Comin' On Strong / Mountain Roads
• Jesus Savior Pilot Me / Jesse Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent
• Heavenly Home / Gold Heart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
• They Called It A Church / Billy Boone Smith / Five Flat Rocks / Muddy Sunshine
• Jesus Is My Rock / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• This World Is Not My Home / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
• The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Best of the Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler

RIP, Bill Hall

New England Bluegrass pioneer Bill Hall died Tuesday, April 20th at his home in North Scituate, RI. Known as a banjo picker and band leader of Bill Hall & Northwind for many years, Bill has also been recognized as one of the "Pioneers of Bluegrass" by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY.

You may view his obituary from the Providence Journal by clicking here.

This photo shows Bill in the studio at WHUS in 1993 back when Marcel Huguenin (aka the "Bluegrass Coyote") was hosting the program which was then known as The Magic Of Bluegrass. Obviously, Bill was the banjo player, and was joined by Harry Cook on bass and Earl Oliver on the guitar.

Condolences to the Hall Family from Bluegrass Cafe.

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 4/18/2010

Sunday's BG Cafe featured a flurry of requests early on, and then, sort of slowed down to a more-relaxed pace. As Jim has mentioned in recent weeks, we have received LOTS of great new recordings from various labels and performers lately, and so, we try to squeeze in a good mixture of newer BG along with some of the classics of yesteryear that we always like to hear. Going for that exact balance of new and old can be challenging at times, but we hope you enjoy what we're playing on the ol' airwaves.

By the way, if you're keeping track of some of the newer stuff (released and/or received at WHUS within the past month or two) on this week's playlist, here's a quick snapshot: Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Summertown Road, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Sweet Potato Pie, the Grascals, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and Connecticut musician Nathan Day.

As you may have heard, the Pulitzer Prize Board awarded a posthumous citation last week to the legendary Hank Williams. During his short lifetime, Hank was pretty much recognized as a performer and writer of country music, but his many great songs have lived on to touch and influence so many more genres of music. In awarding the citation, the Pulitzer Board praised Hank Williams for "his craftsmanship as a songwriter who expressed universal feelings with poignant simplicity and played a pivotal role in transforming country music into a major musical and cultural force in American life." Several months ago, we paid tribute to Hank by playing a set of his tunes which have been covered by various BG performers. However, with this new Pulitzer recognition, it seemed appropriate to string together a few more of Hank's many great tunes -- some covers by BG performers and even a couple from Hank himself. Even 57 years after his death, the music of Hank Williams lives on...and will likely continue to do so for many, many years to come.

Jim will join you in the studio for this coming Sunday's BG Cafe. Be sure to tune in, as I'm sure you're going to hear something you'll like a whole lot...

Enjoy the rest of the week -
Amy




REQUESTS ARE RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Bluegrass Blues / Steep Canyon Rangers / Steep Canyon Rangers / Rebel
• Lonesome Pine / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Bluegrass Collection / Gusto
• Just Ain't / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Biggest Hits / Columbia/Legacy
• Turn Up The Bottle / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
• Why Don't You Tell Me So / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Bluegrass : The World's Greatest Show / Sugar Hill
• Waiting For The Real Thing / Front Range / The New Frontier / Sugar Hill
• Humdinger / Chris Warner / Goin' To The Dance / Patuxent Music
• The Old Man From The Mountain / BearTracks / Together 'Til The End / AMT Records
• I Might Take You Back Again / Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album, Volume 4 / Rounder
• A Good Man Like Me / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Who Will Calm The Storm / Strictly Country
• Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
• East Kentucky Home / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
• All I Ever Loved Was You / Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs / Second Generation / Rebel
• Follow The Leader / Jimmy Gaudreau / In Good Company / CMH Records
• You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer / Bill Emerson & Pete Goble / Webco Classics / Pinecastle
• Foggy River / Del McCoury / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Foolish Heart / Alison Krauss / Bluegrass Class Of 1990 / Rounder
• Hard Hearted / Jim & Jesse / In The Tradition / Rounder
• Old Hickory Cane / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Some Of These Days (You're Gonna Be Sad) / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• Country Church / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / The Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
• How Could I Love Her So Much / Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac / Take Off / Patuxent Music
• Cryin' Heart Blues / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Almost Gone / Nathan Day / The Bluegrass Album / Self-Produced
• To Warm And Comfort You / Gail & Gordon Pike / Hard Words / Self-Produced
• Hey Good Lookin' / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
• Why Don't You Love Me? / Whitstein Brothers / Sweet Harmony / Rounder
• Heaven Holds All My Treasures / Bear Bridge Band / Bear Essentials / Open Road
• I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome / The Grascals with Hank Williams, Jr. / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Cold, Cold Heart / Spinney Brothers / Going Home / Self-Produced
• The Singing Waterfall / Warrior River Boys / Sounds Like Home / Rounder
• It's In My Mind To Wander / Michelle Nixon / It's My Turn / Pinecastle
• I Wish You Knew / Nothin' Fancy / Album #7 / Pinecastle
• The Wishing Well / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
• Left-Handed Dreamer / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
• The Silver Bugle / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
• Born To Be With You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Carolina Hurricane / Rural Rhythm
• Do You Know You Are My Sunshine / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers / Cracker Barrel
• I'm Leavin' You / Summertown Road / Summertown Road / Rounder
• Golden Hair / Wayne Taylor / Dear Mom / Self-Produced
• I'm Gonna Sing / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
• It's A Mighty Hard Road To Travel / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Light On My Feet, Ready To Fly / Horizon
• My Mother's Bible / Bear Minimum / Live At The Finnish Hall / Self-Produced
• You Can Feel It In Your Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
• Springtime In Glory / Johnson Mountain Boys / We'll Still Sing On / Rounder
• River Of Jordan / Sweet Potato Pie / Journey Called Life / Mountain Fever Recordings
• Lift Your Voice In Prayer / Special Consensus / The Trail Of Aching Hearts / Pinecastle
• Justified / Billy Boone Smith / Five Flat Rocks / Muddy Sunshine
• I Saw The Light / Tom Adams / Right Hand Man / Rounder
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 4/11/2010

Hi Folks,

This was another fun day of mostly new or newer music. It is interesting that many of the requests lately have been for the newer releases. There is a savvy bunch of listeners out there.

It is also interesting that I haven't had to raid the Heritage Corner archives much lately because many of the heritage tunes have been newly released by labels such as Rural Rhythm and Gusto making them accessible to everyone, and making it easy to find great foundations to put on the air.

Some of the heritage tunes we played came from two new releases from Rural Rhythm: Mac Wiseman - Bluegrass 1971, and Reno & Smiley - Bluegrass 1963. The Wiseman release is mostly a live festival performance that included Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass along with the Shenandoah Valley Cut-Ups. The Reno & Smiley release is a transcription of a television show that included a visit by the Stanley Brothers. While the sound quality is not up to current standards, this is priceless history that has been preserved for us.

• 

More new music came from Wildfire, Audie Blaylock and Redline, The Grascals, The Hagar's Mountain Boys, Nu-Blu, Darrell Webb, Summertown Road, Sawmill Road, Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, The Chapmans, The Cana Ramblers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Sweet Potato Pie, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, and The Isaacs.

There are so many new releases that Amy and I could make a series of shows consisting of traditional bluegrass music never played on Bluegrass Cafe before. That's a great situation for bluegrass lovers everywhere, but because our show is only three hours long, we don't get everything we would like to play on the air each week. That's a good reason to tune in every week!

Amy will be with you next week, so tune in from 4 to 7 pm ET when she will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver


requests in blue

Song Title / Performer / Album Title / Label

• Cotton Eyed Joe / DeWayne Wear / Appalachian Fiddle Breakdown Rural Rhythm
• Banjo Whiz / Bill Harrell & Bill Emerson/ 20 Bluegrass Greats / Gusto
• Love Is A Stranger / Bill Harrell with Don Reno / 20 Bluegrass Greats / Gusto
• It's The Blues / Country Gentlemen / High Lonesome - Complete Starday Recordings / Gusto
• Love, O' Love Please Come Home / Reno & Smiley / Bluegrass 1963 / Rural Rhythm
• She Burnt The Little Roadside Tavern Down / Wildfire / Lonesome Day Records Presents / Lonesome Day
• Warm Kentucky Sunshine / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
• Don't Let Her Get Away / Chris Warner / Goin' To The Dance / Patuxent
• Lilly Green / Thomas Wywrot / Every Time I Walk This Road / Right Good
• Troubles Round My Door / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Satan and Grandma / The Grascals / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder
• Man Of Constant Sorrow / The Soggy Bottom Boys / Soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou / Mercury
• Shot Man Blues / The Hagar's Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-released
• Lonesome Mountain / Nu-Blu / Nights / Self-released
• If I Win / Summertown Road / Summertown Road / Rounder
• Leave Me The Way I Am / Sawmill Road / Fire On The Kettle / Self-released
• Poor Ramblin' Boy / Darrell Webb / [single] / Rural Rhythm
• I Don't Care Anymore / Bill Emerson / Southern / Rural Rhythm
• Duncan & Brady (He's Been On The Job Too Long) / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Blue Diamond / Rounder
• Two Little Boys / Country Gentlemen / High Lonesome - Complete Starday Recordings / Gusto
• Here Today and Gone Tomorrow / Hazel Dickens with The Johnson Mountain Boys / Songs of the Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• Mountains Of Memories / Gail & Gordon Pike and Mainly Grass / Hard Words / Self-released
• The Mary Ellen Carter / Sawmill Road / Fire On The Kettle / Self-released
• Hard Rock Mountain Prison ('Till I Die) / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
• Tall Weeds and Rust / Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac / Take Off / Patuxent
• Wheels / Brand New Strings / No Strings Attached / Rural Rhythm
• The Bluebirds Singing For Me / Larry Stephenson / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle
• 40 Years / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Self-titled / Self-released
• Susan When She Tried / Dailey & Vincent / Sing The Statler Brothers / Cracker Barrel
• Left Handed Dreamer / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
• I Still Miss Someone / Dolly Parton with Alison Krauss / The Grass Is Blue / Sugar Hill
• Why Did You Lie / The Chapmans / Grown Up (A Revisionist History) / Compass
• Blue Ridge Mountains / Junior Sisk, Johnny Williams, Cullen Galyean, Terry Baucom, Billy Hawks, Mickey Galyean / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
• Four Walls Around Me / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass 1971 / Rural Rhythm
• Dark As A Dungeon / Merle Travis / Folk Songs From The Hills / Bear Family
• Daddy Played The Banjo / Steve Martin with Tim O'Brien / The Crow / Rounder
• The Old North Woods / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
• A Couple A Dozen / Carolina Native Sons / Rank Ol' Bluegrass / Patuxent
• Graybar Hotel / The Cana Ramblers / No Expectations / Self-released
• It's A Mighty Hard Road To Travel / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Light On My Feet, Ready To Fly / Horizon
• Light From Heaven / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Mountain Home
• Are You Afraid To Die? / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Songs of the Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• Over In The Gloryland / Reno & Smiley with The Stanley Brothers / Bluegrass 1963 / Rural Rhythm
• Shout Hallelujah / Sweet Potato Pie / Journey Called Life / Mountain Fever
• Then Y'Ain't / Don Rigsby & Midnight Call / The Voice Of God / Rebel
• He Can Be Found / The Isaacs / Naturally / Gaither
• Make Him A Soldier / Whitstein Brothers / Songs of the Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• He Is Near / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm
• Sugarloaf Mountain Special / Jesse Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent