Paramount Old Time Tunes 1920's and 1930's

John Edwards Memorial Foundation JEMF-103

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1974
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Old Time, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Banjo Sam: Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles
A2 Bully of the Town: Sid Harkreader and Grady Moore
A3 The Faded Coat of Blue: Owen Mills
A4 Stack-O-Lee: Fruit Jar Guzzlers
A5 The Strawberry Roan: Rex Kelly
A6 The Brave Engineer: Carver Boys
A7 S.O.S. Vestris: Welling and Schannen
B1 Shady Grove: Kentucky Thorobreds
B2 Rueben Oh Rueben: Emry Arthur
B3 Alabama Square Dance: Chumber, Coker And Rice
B4 Little Old Sod Shanty: Whitey Johns
B5 Cabin Home: Golden Melody Boys
B6 Blue Eyes: North Carolina Ramblers and Roy Harvey
B7 Cotton Mill Blues: Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles
B8 Jesus is Precious to Me: Vaughan Quartet
[Notes]
The John Edwards Memorial Foundation, which operated 1962-1983, was located at the University of Calif. at Los Angeles. The foundation's goal was to promote the study of twentieth-century American folk music. In 1983, the Foundation was dissolved, and a successor organization, the John Edwards Memorial Forum, was established. Correspondence, chiefly 1964-1982, dealing with everyday business of the John Edwards Memorial Forum and its predecessor organization, the John Edwards Memorial Foundation. Letters include subscription, record, reprint, and pamphlet purchase requests, as well as requests for biographical, historical, and discographical information. Files relating to record reissues, reprints, and pamphlets contain written descriptions of much of the material involved. Records of various federal grants are fairly comprehensive, containing proposal drafts, correspondence, and financial figures. There is little material about the "JEMF Quarterly" or the "JEMF Newsletter." The photographic materials depict musicians from a variety of musical traditions circa 1930s-1980s and were originally used to accompany educational materials generated by the JEMF in the 1970s. Miscellaneous items cover a wide range of subjects, from testimonials praising the Foundation to checkbook registries, 1963-1979.

The Original Sound: Flatt & Scruggs

Philips Records Japan M-5040

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: JP
Released: 1963
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 We'll Meet Again Sweetheart (2:40)
A2 Pain In My Heart (2:45)
A3 Baby Blue Eyes (2:56)
A4 Preachin', Prayin', Singin' (2:22)
A5 Back To The Cross (2:53)
A6 Is It Too Late Now (2:34)
A7 God Loves His Children (2:39)
B1 I'll Never Shed Another Tear (2:25)
B2 Will The Roses Bloom (2:30)
B3 I'm Going To Make Heaven My Home (2:35)
B4 Salty Dog Blues (2:30)
B5 I'll Just Pretend (2:30)
B6 Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (2:35)
B7 Farewell Blues (2:26)
[Credits]
Lester Flatt (guitar/vocals) Earl Scruggs (banjo) Mac Wiseman (guitar/vocals) Jim Shumate (fiddle) Cedric Rainwater (bass)
[Notes]
Recorded in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1948
フラット＆スクラッグスのすべて（フィリップス・レコード）

Legendary Jimmie Rodgers

RCA Records RA-5176

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: Unknown
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea (2/14/1928) 2:43
A2 Mother, the Queen of My Heart (8/11/1932) 3:22
A3 Blue Yodel no. 1 (T for Texas) (11/30/1927) 3:20
A4 Sleep, Baby, Sleep (8/4/1927) 2:59
A5 Hobo Bill's Last Ride (11/13/1929) 2:37
A6 Blue yodel no. 9 (Standing on the Corner）(7/16/1930) 2:39
A7 Lullaby Yodel (6/12/1928) 3:12
B1 Mississippi Moon (2/4/1932) 3:23
B2 Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel no. 8) (7/11/1930) 2:58
B3 Any Old Time (2/21/1929) 2:46
B4 The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart) (7/7/1930) 2:36
B5 Never No Mo' Blues (6/12/1928) 2:40
B6 Treasures Untold (2/14/1928) 3:06
B7 Somewhere Down Below the Dixon Line (5/24/1933) 2:57
[Notes]
Manufactured by Victor Company Japan from Master Recordings RCA Corporation

First Bluegrass Festival Fincastle VA. 1965

First bluegrass festival held in Fincastle Va. on Labor Day Weekend September, 1965.

In September of 1965 the first multi-day bluegrass festival was held at Cantrell’s horse barn in Fincastle, Virginia. The now legendary event was the brain child of the longtime manager of Reno and Smiley, Carlton Haney. Some of the entertainment lineup included Mac Wiseman, Jimmy Martin, Clyde Moody, The Osborne Brothers, The Stanley Brothers, Don Reno and Red Smiley (in their own separate bands), and the father of Bluegrass himself, . The festival proved to be one of the most significant events in bluegrass music history. In fact it may have actually saved the music itself. Carlton’s festival started a festival movement that spawned many more festivals throughout the country and eventually the world. These festivals provided the already struggling bluegrass industry with a venue for musicians to play, meet their fans, and most importantly make a living. And for the last 47 years festivals have been life blood for most professional bluegrass bands.

Bill Monroe, Carter and Ralph Stanley at Fincastle VA, 1965.

One of the most memorable things about Carlton’s early festivals was his narration of “the bluegrass story” or as he infamously pronounces it “the bluegrass stow-ree”. “The bluegrass story” was a history lesson on the music’s beginnings and usually featured Bill Monroe and former Bluegrass Boys playing the classic tunes that defined the music. For the 1965 festival, Bill Monroe, Don Reno, Clyde Moody, Benny Martin, and Mac Wiseman were all part of the first “stow-ree”. Luckily, portions of this historic event were captured on video. If you haven’t seen the video of Don Reno, Bill Monroe, Benny Martin, and Mac Wiseman all playing on stage together at the first festival, put down this magazine now and go to Youtube immediately! It can be found on my Youtube page: www.youtube.com/user/renopicker. They play several classic tunes, such as Rawhide, Orange Blossom Special, Can’t You Hear Me Calling, Six More Miles, Molly And Tenbrooks, and Traveling Down This Lonesome Road. You can tell how Don, Benny, and Bill were all feeding off each other in the video. This isn’t the slick, clinically sterilized perfection we hear in today’s bluegrass bands, this is raw real bluegrass played by the first generation masters. Even though the video and the audio isn’t the best quality, you can still feel the energy that these guys produced when watching them perform on stage. This is what made them great and why we still talk about them today. I can only imagine how incredible and exciting it was for those that were lucky enough to see the show live in 1965.

Of course like most of you, the first time I saw this video I was thrilled to see and hear my heroes playing together in their prime but I was mostly fixated on Don, of course. I couldn’t believe the things I was hearing. His breaks were ingenious and his back up was out of this world. The first time I heard his break to Rawhide I literally jumped out of my seat and got goose bumps! But the real stand out for me was his break to Traveling Down this Lonesome Road. Till this day it’s one of the coolest things I have ever heard him do. It’s pure rock and roll on the banjo. How he thought of these things still amazes me. For Traveling, Don implements a lot of Chuck Berry/Bill Monroe type riffs on the banjo that are similar to his kick off on I Know You’re Married. Most of the double stops are done with the thumb. Remember to mute the bridge with your palm to get the right sound when doing all the thumb brush work. They are playing in the key of F in the video but as with much of Don’s playing his break can easily be transposed to any key. One of the greatest things about this break is his ending lick as he walks away from the microphone. Pure genius!! What is also impressive about this break is that Don probably never played it exactly the same way again. He was the king of improvisation. He was never afraid to take chances and neither should you. So once you get the basic break down, use your imagination to add your own ideas to it and see what happens! If you have any questions or comments please contact me through my website: www.renopicker.com Until next time…Keep Pickin’ Reno!

Reno-Style Workshop
by Jason Skinner

Who's Calling You Sweetheart Tonight: Charlie Monroe

RCA Camden CAS-2310(e)

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: United States
Released: 1969
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Rubber Neck Blues (2:17)
A2 It's Only A Phonograph Record (2:30)
A3 I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When (2:46)
A4 Who's Calling You Sweetheart Tonight (2:30)
A5 Without Me Are You Blue (2:15)
B1 So Blue (2:39)
B2 Down In The Willow Garden (2:17)
B3 Good Morning to You (2:26)
B4 Sugar Cane Mama (2:14)
B5 What Became of That Beautiful Picture (2:14)
[Credits]
Charlie Monroe (guitar/vocals)
A&R Coordinator: Mike Lipskin, Remastered by Don Miller
[Notes]
The older brother of Bill Monroe, Charlie joined his younger brother in laying the foundation for bluegrass music. Although they only recorded together for two years, the ripples caused by Charlie and Bill Monroe's collaboration continue to be felt. Raised on a family farm in rural Kentucky, Charlie grew up in a musical home. After learning to sing hymns as children, via the traditional "sacred note" technique, each member of the Monroe family chose a musical instrument. Charlie and his sister Bertha chose guitar, while Birch opted for fiddle and Bill for the mandolin.

The Kentucky Colonels: Live In Stereo

Shikata Records SRCD-1002

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1999
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
01 Intro (0:24)
02 Train 45 (0:40)
03 Green Corn (3:24)
04 Shuckin' the Corn (2:48)
05 Dark Hollow (3:22)
06 Saw Creek (1:31)
07 All the Good Times Are Past and Gone (3:22)
08 Soldier's Joy (2:04)
09 You Won't Be Satisfied (1:35)
10 Alabama Jubilee (2:22)
11 Columbus Stockade (2:59)
12 Mockin' Banjo (3:21)
13 Workin' on a Building (2:39)
14 The Prisoner's Song (2:33)
15 It Ain't Gonna Rain No More (3:58)
16 Johnson's Ole Gray Mule (2:16)
17 Fair and Tender Ladies (2:45)
18 Bluegrass Breakdown (2:39)
19 Long Journey Home (1:58)
20 Howdy Hoss (2:19)
21 Shady Grove (1:34)
[Credits]
Clarence White (guitar/vocals) Roland White (mandolin/vocals) Billy Ray Latham (banjo/vocals) Roger Bush (bass/vocals)
[Notes]
On January 15, 1965 The Kentucky Colonels appeared at the "Ark Club" in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "Double Barrel Records" released parts of that three hour show 1999 as "The Kentucky Colonels: Live In Stereo". This is one of very few stereo recordings of the COLONELS.

The Father of Blue Grass Music: Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys

RCA Records Japan RA-5132

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: JP
Released: 1962
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Six White Horses (3:01)
A2 Dog House Blues (3:04)
A3 Tennessee Blues (2:50)
A4 No Letter In The Mail (2:38)
A5 Blue Yodel No. 7 (Anniversary Blue Yodel) (2:51)
A6 Orange Blossom Special (2:30)
B1 Mule Skinner Blues (2:43)
B2 Katy Hill (2:37)
B3 I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do (2:49)
B4 Honky Tonk Swing (2:29)
B5 In The Pines (3:20)
B6 Back Up And Push (2:47)
[Credits]
Bill Monroe (mandolin/vocals) Clyde Moody (guitar/vocals) Clyde Moody (fiddle) Bill Wesbrooks (bass/vocals)
[Notes]
Recorded: (A1,A2,A3,A4,B1,B2,B3) October 7, 1940 (A5,A6,B4,B5,B6) October 2, 1941
ビル・モンローとブルー・グラス・ボーイズ「ブルー・グラスの父～ビル・モンロー」（日本ビクター）

The SteelDrivers - "Hammer Down" (Full Album Stream)

On YouTube

"The Steeldrivers' brand of bluegrass - intense, dark, poetic, and inescapably human - is a refreshing reminder of the timeless power of string band music, and is captured perfectly on the new 'Hammer Down.' - Music News Nashville

The SteelDrivers

On this, their third release, The Steeldrivers have truly laid the "hammer down," as the aptly titled recording boldly states. Make no mistake about it, The Steeldrivers are back with a vengeance, stronger than ever, with the same unparalleled intensity, vocal strength, peerless harmonies, and instrumental virtuosity that won them fans and almost instantaneous award-winning recognition, both within the bluegrass world and in the Americana music world and beyond. The songs have the same edginess and the same stunning harmonies and gruff soulful lead vocals, thanks to both fiddler and vocalist Tammy Rogers - who is featured even more on the new record and shines all the more for it - and to Gary Nichols whose lead vocals carry on seamlessly, from the group's first two albums. 'Hammer Down' carries on The Steeldrivers' own tradition of bluegrass, without missing a beat!

For more information and tour dates visit: http://www.steeldrivers.com

Mike Seeger & Alice Gerrard Live in Japan 1970

King Records Japan SKK-662

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Japan
Released: 1971
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & Old Time
[Tracklist]
A1 Sunnyside of Life
A2 Victory Rag
A3 One Morning in May
A4 Coo Coo Bird
A5 Fair and Tender Ladies
A6 Buck Dancer's Choice
A7 June Apple
A8 Fishing Blues
B1 Old Black Choo Choo
B2 Coal Miner's Blues
B3 Black Water
B4 Private John Q
B5 Single Girl
B6 Lost Indian
B7 This Land is Your Land
[Credits]
Mike Seeger (mandolin/autoharp/banjo/fiddle/guitar/harmonica/vocals)
Alice Gerrard (guitar/autoharp/banjo/spoon/vocals)
[Notes]
Live in Japan 1970, B7 with Jimmy Tokita and Mountain Playboys
キングレコード「マイク・シーガー・イン・コンサート」トラディショナルフォークの世界

Homemade American Music

Copyright ©1980 by Carrie & Yasha Aginsky

Alice Gerrard and Mike Seeger 

A history of rural southeastern traditional American music, as told and played by Mike Seeger and Alice Gerrard. Mike and Alice recount their own involvment with this music, and briefly trace its history as we meet their mentors: the late Tommy Jarrell, Lily May Ledford, Roscoe Holcomb, Elizabeth Cotton and many other musicians.

Filmed in 1978 and 1979 in the states of Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington and California, the film follows Mike and Alice home, and to folk music festivals where a new generation of musicians are picking up and passing on American traditional music. The filmmaker grew up with this rich and beautiful music and wanted to share it with younger generations who might not be aware of it and its role in American cultural history.

  Full movie on folkstreams.net (40 minutes)

Uncle Dave Macon: The Dixie Dewdrop

Vetco Records LP-101

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1971
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Old Time, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Rise When The Rooster Crows (4/14/26)
A2 Hold On To The Sleigh (9/9/26)
A3 She's Got The Money Too (1/24/38)
A4 On The Dixie Bee Line (4/14/26)
A5 Poor Sinners, Fare You Well (4/16/26)
A6 Country Ham And Red Eye Gravy (1/24/38)
B1 Shout Mona You Should Be Free (9/8/26)
B2 Over The Mountain (1/22/35 New Orleans, La.)
B3 The Bibles True (4/14/26
B4 Hold That Woodpile Down (5/7/27)
B5 Tennessee Red Fox Chase (12/17/30)
B6 From Jerusalem To Jericho (8/3/37)
[Credits]
Uncle Dave Macon (banjo/vocals) Sam McGee (guitar/banjo) Delmore Brothers (guitar/vocals) Kirk McGee (fiddle) Mazy Todd (fiddle) Glen Stagner (guitar)
Liner Notes: Bob Hyland
[Notes]
Uncle Dave Macon, also known as "The Dixie Dewdrop" was an American old-time banjo player, singer, songwriter, and comedian. Known for his chin whiskers, plug hat, gold teeth, and gates-ajar collar, he gained regional fame as a vaudeville performer in the early 1920s before becoming the first star of the Grand Ole Opry in the latter half of the decade.

Blue Grass Music '54 and '56: Jimmy Martin & the Osborne Brothers / Country Pardners

RCA Records (Japan) RA-5505

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Japan
Released: October, 1969
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Save It! Save It! (2:01)
A2 Chalk up another one (2:37)
A3 I Pulled A Boo Boo (2:20)
A4 They Didn't Know The Difference (Bbut I Did) (2:42)
A5 20/20 Vision (2:43)
A6 That's How I Can Count On You (2:48)
B1 Another Old Dog in the Race (2:10)
B2 The Maple on the Hill
B3 Ever-Ready Kisses (2:20)
B4 Have Mercy on You (2:08)
B5 Pleasure kisses
B6 Pretty Polly
[Credits]
(A1-A6) Jimmy Martin & The Osborne Brothers: Jimmy Martin (guitar/vocals) Bob Osborne (mandokin/vocals) Sonny Osborne (banjo/vocals) Red Taylor (fiddle) Cedric Rainwater (bass) Recorded November 16, 1954
(B1-B4) Country Pardners: Bill Price (guitar/vocals) Bobby Simpson (banjo) Carlos Brock (mandolin) Dale Potter (fiddle) Unknown Player (bass) Recorded January 12, 1956
(B5-B6) Country Pardners: Bill Price (guitar/vocals) Bobby Simpson (banjo) Millard Presley (mandolin) Bob Moore (bass) Gordon Terry (fiddle) Recorded August 21, 1956
[Notes]
日本ビクター：ブルーグラス名唱集～ベスト・オブ・ジミー・マーティンとオズボーン・ブラザース／カントリー・パードナーズ

Bill Clifton And His Dixie Mountain Boys: Carter Family Memorial Album

London Records HA-B 8004

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released:1961
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 March Winds
A2 Green Fields Of Virginia
A3 Bring Back My Blue-eyed Boy To Me
A4 My Clinch Mountain Home
A5 Little Joe
A6 No Hiding Place Down Here
B1 Give Me Your Love
B2 Stern Old Bachelor
B3 Are You Lonesome Tonight
B4 Cannonball Blues
B5 I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
B6 Old Cottage Home
[Credits]
Bill Clifton (guitar/vocals) Smiley Hobbs (banjo) Johnny Clark (banjo/vocals) Buddy Spiker and Tommy Jackson (fiddles) Junior Huskey (bass) Mike Seeger (dobro/mandolin/autoharp/vocals)
Liner Notes: Don Pirce (Starday Records) and Bill Clifton