Early Rural String Bands

RCA Victor LPV-552

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Ragtime Annie: Eck Robertson 7/1/22 (3:23)
A2 Leather Breeches: W.A. Hinton 1/31/31 (2:37)
A3 Black-Eyed Susie: J.P. Nester 8/1/27 (2:52)
A4 Alabama Jubilee-Breakdown: Bill Helms & His Upson County Band 2/23/28 (3:04)
A5 Charley, He's A Good Old Man: Kelly Harrell & The Virginia String Band 8/11/27 (2:35)
A6 Bring Me A Leaf From The Sea: The Carolina Tar Heels 2/19/27 (2:55)
A7 Big Bend Gal: The Shelor Family 8/2/27 (2:43)
A8 Jaw Bone: Pope's Arkansas Mountaineers 2/6/28 (2:58)
B1 Le Valse De Gueydan: Leo Soileau & His Three Aces 1/18/35 (3:00)
B2 Medley Of Reels: Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra 1/18/26 (2:54)
B3 A New Salty Dog: The Allen Brothers 11/22/30 (2:35)
B4 Mitchell Blues: Wade Mainer & The Sons Of The Mountaineers 1/27/38 (2:45)
B5 Tanner's Hornpipe: Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers 3/30/34 (2:47)
B6 How Many Biscuits Can I Eat?: Gwen Foster 2/5/39 (2:47)
B7 Up Jumped The Devil: Byron Parker & His Mountaineers 2/9/40 (2:38)
B8 Red Rocking Chair: Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Pardners 2/1/49 (2:23)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Norm Cohen, Reissue Producer: Mike Lipskin, Remastered: Don Miller
[Notes]
Sure, the ugly album cover looks like an old greeting card that got stuck to a bathroom wallpaper sample. There is a strong possibility, however, that the cover of this album might not get much use, since the record itself is barely likely to leave the turntable. There isn't a bum cut on this collection of various types of American string band music, much of it recorded in the '20s and '30s, although there are a few later tracks tossed in near the end, perhaps to indicate that there is still hope. Recordings by early old-time music groups such as Bill Helms & His Upson County Band and Kelly Harrell & the Virginia String Band are simply phenomenal, the vintage recordings doing nothing to cover the hypnotic intensity of the music. Doc Walsh's performance of "Bring Me a Leaf From the Sea" is gorgeous, troubling, and unforgettable, a fine banjo performance with some lovely harmonica and vocal backing from Gwen Foster. The Appalachian tradition doesn't take over completely by any means. Awaiting the eager listener on the flip side is a Cajun number from the historic Leo Solieau, followed by an amazing "Medley of Reels" by the bizarre Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra, which features hammered dulcimer, tuba, and cimbalom. The Allen Brothers provide authentic jug band style with "A New Salty Dog." Then it is back to the mountains for a climactic set of numbers that includes the awesome Gid Tanner & the Skillet Lickers and the more up to date -- 1949, mind you -- sounds of Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Pardners, a cool combination including both steel guitar and mandolin. "Up Jumped the Devil" with Snuffy Jenkins on banjo and Homer Sherill on violin is absolutely killer, the tempo beyond manic. This is a compilation that was put together perfectly, and somebody really "done good" with the choice of tracks. --AllMusic Review by Eugene Chadbourne

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.

Festival Of American Folklife Vol.1 Stereo

Smithsonian Institution SI-100

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: United States
Released: 1971 (?)
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, & World
[Tracklist]
A1 The Old Man and The Old Woman: The Riendeau Family (1:35)
A2 Old Rattler: Grandpa Jones (1:36)
A3 Fisher's Hornpipe, Rickett's Hornpipe, Chicken Reel: Chet Parker (1:30)
A4 Tambor De Yuca: The Rodriguez Brothers (7:06)
A5 Long Distance Call: The Muddy Waters Blues Band (7:06)
A6 Sjaj Mjesece: Aliquippa Tamburitzans (3:15)
A7 What Is The Color of the Soul of Man: Jimmy Driftwood (4:12)
B1 Carmela Reno Con Chinto: Antonio Mosquera (2:42)
B2 Bosco Stomp: Cajun Bands, Elton, Basile, Eunice And Mamou, La. (3:35)
B3 'T Ain't But Me One: Bernice Reagon (2:10)
B4 Jim and John: Ed, G. D. and Lonnie Young (3:26)
B5 I Know My Lord's Gonna Lead Me Out: The Monroe Brothers (1:25)
B6 Uncle Pen: Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys (2:22)
B7 Cherry Ball Blues: Skip James (2:43)
B8 Cadirimin Ustune (The Top of My Tent): Turkish Cabaret Ensemble (3:12)
B9 Hindustan: Billie & Dede Pierce and Preservation Hall Band (2:42)
[Notes]
Recorded in Washington, D.C, 1967-69. The Festival of American Folklife, now the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, was initiated in 1967 and occurs annually over the July 4th weekend on the Mall, Washington, D.C. The 1968 festival was cosponsored by the Institute of Texan Cultures and highlighted Texas culture, including arts, crafts, agriculture, music and foods.

Early Blue Grass Music by The Monroe Brothers

Victor RA-5281

Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono
Country: Japan
Released: 1963
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 The Saints Go Marching In
A2 Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy
A3 On The Banks Of Ohio
A4 Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
A5 Goodbye Maggie
A6 On That Old Gospel Ship
A7 A Beautiful Life
B1 Have A Feast Here Tonight
B2 The Great Speckled Bird
B3 No Home No Place To Pillow My Head
B4 Darling Corey
B5 I Am Thinking Tonight Of The Old Folks
B6 Will The Circle Be Unbroken
B7 New River Train
[Credits]
Charlie Monroe (guitar/lead vocals) Bill Monroe (mandolin/harmony vocals)
[Notes]
The Monroe Brothers began as a trio of Birch, Charlie, and Bill Monroe on fiddle, guitar and mandolin respectively, performing square dance songs as well as traditional and gospel numbers. In 1932, Bill and Charlie began touring professionally with the WLS touring company as dancers, appearing with the Hoosier Hot Shots and Red Foley among others, and in 1934 secured the sponsorship of the Texas Crystals Company, a manufacturer of laxatives. The association provided the Monroes with a steady stream of radio work for over a year until competing laxative maker Crazy Water Crystals took over sponsorship of the duo while they continued working on many of the same stations. The radio appearances made the Monroe Brothers a popular live act, which prompted the interest of RCA to recording the two. In mid-February the Monroe Brothers made their first recordings for RCA's Bluebird imprint, and went on to wax 60 sides in the following two years. Their music at this point was firmly within the brother duo tradition and exhibited only hints of the style Bill Monroe would later pioneer as the Father of Bluegrass. They were set apart from other harmony duos by Bill's piercing harmonies and mandolin leads, as well as the energy and often fast tempos of their performances. The very use of the mandolin as a lead instrument would revolutionize its application in country music, as would Bill's unique fiddle-influenced style. It would be silly to label them the "rock & roll of the '30s," but certainly there was an excitement and an edge to their music that put them on the frontier of hillbilly innovation in their day. In early 1938, Bill and Charlie parted ways due to personality conflicts and business disagreements, and each formed his own band shortly thereafter. Charlie formed a group called the Kentucky Pardners, and by 1941 (after a short stint with a band called the Kentuckians and an abortive attempt at recreating the Monroe Brothers sound with partner Cleo Davis) Bill Monroe was recording again for RCA with a band he named the Blue Grass Boys. In this new group, Monroe built upon his earlier innovations and developed the distinctive and enduring style that came to be known as bluegrass. -- Biography by Greg Adams

Early Blue Grass - RCA Victor Vintage Series

RCA Victor – LPV-569

Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono, Compilation
Country: Unated States
Released: 1969
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Salty Dog Blues (11/14/45) Morris Brothers (2:37)
A2 All The Good Times Are Passed And Gone (8/3/37) Monroe Brothers (2:40)
A3 Little Bessie (1/25/38) Blue Sky Boys (3:06)
A4 Going To Georgia (2/14/38) Zeke Morris And Wade Mainer (2:48)
A5 Can You Forgive? (10/9/40) Roy Hall And His Blue Ridge Entertainers (3:00)
A6 End Of Memory Lane (11/7/47) Charlie Monroe And His Blue Ridge Pardners (BMI 2:45)
A7 Cryin' Holy Unto My Lord (10/7/40) Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys (P.D. 2:26)
B1 The Windy Mountain (9/26/54) Lonesome Pine Fiddlers (BMI 2:32)
B2 The Chalk Up Another One (11/16/54) Jimmy Martin And Osborne Brothers (2:37)
B3 The 20/20 Vision (11/16/54) Jimmy Martin And Osborne Brothers (2:40)
B4 The No Curb Service (9/26/54) Lonesome Pine Fiddlers (BMI 2:03)
B5 Pretty Polly (8/21/56) Country Pardners (P.D. 2:15)
B6 The Save It! Save It! (11/16/54) Jimmy Martin And Osborne Brothers (1:58)
B7 Shake My Mothers Hand For Me (10/2/41) Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys (P.D. 3:03)