Virginia Traditions: Native Virginia Ballads and Songs

BRI Records – BRI 004

Series: Virginia Traditions
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Country, & Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
A1 Claude Allen: Hobart Smith (3:33)
A2 Sidney Allen: Spence Moore (1:59)
A3 Poor Goins: James Taylor Adams and Finley Adams (3:59)
A4 The Vance Song: Branch W. Higgins (2:16)
A5 The Fate of Dewey Lee: Spence Moore (2:59)
A6 The Fate of Talmadge Osborne: Ernest V. Stoneman (3:06)
A7 The Wreck of the 1256: Vernon Dalhart (4:16)
A8 The Wreck of the Old 97: Kelly Harrell and Henry Whitter (3:49)
B1 The Life and Death of Charlie Poole: Ted Prillaman (2:25)
B2 The Story of Freeda Bolt: Floyd County Ramblers (3:41)
B3 The Ballad of Caty Sage: J.C. Pierce (3:43)
B4 The Cyclone of Rye Cove: The Carter Family (2:04)
B5 The Story of the Flood: The Stanley Brothers (3:12)
B6 The Pinnacle Mountain Silver Mine: Helen Cockram (2:08)
B7 New River Song: Jim and Artie Marshall (2:59)
B8 Highway 52: Little "Doc" Raymond and The Coleman Pardners (2:54)
B9 The Ballad of Fancy Gap: Jim and Artie Marshall (4:51)
[Credits]
Liner Notes: Doug DeNatale, Editor: Linda Linnartz, Recorders: Alan Lomax, Herbert Halpert, Elizabeth Lomax and Bobby Patterson, Engineers: Doug DeNatale and Glen Hinson
[Notes]
Few states in this country can boast of more diverse folkways than Virginia. Many of the material objects—such as barns, tools, and furniture—reflect the traditions that shaped the lives of its earliest settlers and the generations of Virginians who followed. The Commonwealth’s performance traditions of songs, tunes, and tales also tell of a shared heritage involving all classes of people in every facet of life. Because traditions naturally change over time, the documentation of Virginia folk culture is an ongoing process essential to our understanding of the past, present, and future. By recording the folkways of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College and its BRI Record label strive to foster a greater appreciation of our folk roots through an array of interpretive programs. From murders to train wrecks to natural disasters, the ballads on this recording concern events and people of Appalachian Virginia. Performance styles range from traditional unaccompanied singing to sophisticated modern bluegrass.

Protobilly: The Minstrel & Tin Pan Alley DNA of Country Music 1892-2017

JSP Records JSP5202

Format: 3xCD, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo, Mono
Country: UK
Released: October 25, 2019
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Old Time, Country, Bluegrass
[Tracklist]
Disc One
101 Casey Jones: Billy Murray
102 Casey Jones: Fiddlin' John Carson
103 Southern Casey Jones: Jesse James
104 Steamboat Bill: Arthur Collins
105 Casey and Bill: Earl McDonald's Original Louisville Jug Band
106 Steamboat Bill Boogie: Delmore Bros.
107 Red Wing: Frank C Stanley & Henry Burr
108 Red Wing: Doc Williams & the Border Riders
109 Just Break the News to Mother: George J Gaskin
110 Take the News to Mother: Louvin Bros.
111 In the Shadow of the Pines: Royal Fish & Vernon Archibald
112 In the Shadow of the Pine: Kelly Harrell
113 Are You From Dixie?: Billy Murray & Irving Kaufman
114 Are You From Dixie: Grandpa Jones
115 Home, Sweet Home: Eleanora de Cisneros
116 Home, Sweet Home: Don Reno
117 The Party That Wrote Home Sweet Home, Never Was a Married Man: Ed Morton
118 The Man Who Wrote Home Sweet Home, Never Was a Married Man: Mack Woolbridge & Charlie Parker
119 I'm Alabama Bound: Prince's Orchestra
120 Alabama Bound: Papa Charlie Jackson
121 Unter dem Doppleadler: Olbrig's Zither Trio
122 Under the Double Eagle: Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers
123 Blue Bell: Harry Macdonough
124 Blue Bell: Merle Travis
125 Virginia Bluebell: Eddie Adcock
126 The Foolish Frog: May Irwin
127 The Foolish Frog: Frank Corso
Disc Two
201 Haul The Woodpile Down: Charles A Asbury
202 Hold That Wood-Pile Down: Uncle Dave Macon
203 Darling Nellie Gray: The American Quartet
204 Darling Nellie Gray: Roland Cauly & Lake Howard
205 Darling Nellie Gray: Louis Armstrong & the Mills Brothers
206 I Got Mine: Arthur Collins & Joseph Natus
207 I Got Mine: Frank Stokes
208 Go Easy Mabel: Edward Meeker
209 Go Easy Mabel: Delmore Bros
210 Smoke Goes Up the Chimney: Dan W Quinn
211 Smoke Goes Up the Chimney: Fiddlin' John Carson
212 When the Bees Are In the Hive: Peerless Quartet
213 When the Bees Are In the Hive: Bill Monroe
214 Don't You Leave Me Here: Charles Johnson's Original Paradise Ten
215 I'm Alabamy Bound: Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
216 Don't Go Down In the Mine, Dad: Stanley Kirkby
217 Dream Of a Miner's Child: Keith Whitley
218 I Loved You Better Than You: Byron G Harlan & Frank C Stanley
219 I Loved You Better Than You: The Carter Family
220 I Loved You Better Than You: Johnnie and Jack
221 By The Watermelon Vine: Edison Male Quartet
222 Lindy: Proximity String Quartet
223 Who Broke The Lock: Cousins and DeMoss
224 Who Stole De Lock: The Georgia Browns
225 Who Stole The Lock: Jack Bland & his Rhythmmakers
226 Lovesick Blues: Emmett Miller
227 Lovesick Blues: Hank Williams
228 I'm the Father of a Little Black Coon: Charles A Asbury
Disc Three
301 May Irwin's Bully Song: May Irwin
302 Bully Of the Town: Gid Tanner & the Skillet Lickers
303 Fille de la Fille: Vin Bruce
304 Turkey in the Straw: Billy Golden
305 Turkey Buzzard Blues: Peg Leg Howell & Eddie Anthony
306 Old Dan Tucker: Harry C Browne
307 Old Dan Tucker: Gid Tanner & the Skillet Lickers
308 The Arkansas Traveler: Len Spencer
309 The Arkansaw Traveler: Jilson Setters (J.W Day)
310 Arkansas Traveler: Clayton McMichen & his Georgia Wildcats
311 The Girl I Loved in Sunny Tennessee: S.H Dudley & Harry Macdonough
312 Sunny Tennessee: Floyd County Ramblers
313 Nigger Blues: George O'Connor
314 The Blues Ain't Nothing But: Georgia White
315 I'se Gwine Back to Dixie: Brilliant Quartet
316 I'se Gwine Back to Dixie: Uncle Dave Macon
317 Baby Mine: Elizabeth Spencer
318 Going Around This World: Leslie Keith
319 All Night Long: Anna Chandler
320 All Night Long: Roy Acuff & his Crazy Tennesseeans
321 Laughing Rag: Sam Moore & Horace Davis
322 Mexican Rag: Darby & Tarlton
323 I Don't Care If I Never Wake Up: Silas Leachman
324 My Money Never Gives Out: Arthur Collins
325 My Money Never Runs Out: Banjo Joe (Gus Cannon)
326 My Money Never Gives Out: Dom Flemons & Guy Davis
[Notes]
This 3 CD reissue anthology is the first to track 20th century American vernacular music of old time country, bluegrass, jazz and blues by tracing their beginnings in 19th century blackface minstrelsy and Tin Pan Alley. The set includes a 76 page booklet with song annotations, sheet music covers, photographs and period graphics, biographies and discographies Driven by songwriting and publishing songs are refashioned again and again showcasing stylistic as well as lyrical changes over the past 100 years The foundation of the American popular songbook traces its beginnings to the Vaudeville, Circus, Minstrel, Music Hall and Theatre stages of the mid-late 1800s The songs spread throughout the country and world creating a new musical tapestry that included both black and white performers of all backgrounds By aligning performances from the earliest cylinder recordings with later 78 rpm, LP and CD versions, PROTOBILLY brings to life 81 historic recordings more than half never before reissued all brilliantly remastered to vividly demonstrate the checkered and enormously powerful elasticity of American music.

Virginia Traditions: Ballads from British Tradition

BRI Records BRI-002

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Bluegrass, Old Time
[Tracklist]
A01 Old Ireland (William Hall): Polly Johnson (2:38)
A02 The Three Maids (The Cruel Brother): Polly Johnson (3:41)
A03 The Farmer's Curst Wife: Joe Hubbard (0:53)
A04 As I Walked Over London's Bridge (Geordie): S.F. Russel (3:55)
A05 Little Massie Grove: Ruby Bowman Plemmons (4:31)
A06 Wild Hog in the Woods (Bangum and the Boar): Eunice Yeatts McAlexander (2:30)
A07 Barbara Allen: Dan Tate (2:52)
A08 Wind and Rain (The Two Sisters): Dan Tate (1:58)
A09 Devil's Nine Questions: Texas Gladden (2:32)
A10 The Bad Girl: Texas Gladden (3:23)
B01 The Turkish Rebelee (The Golden Vanity): Horton Barker (3:45)
B02 House Carpenter: Dorothy Rorick (2:38)
B03 Oh Death: Dock Boggs (3:20)
B04 The Three Babes (The Wife of Usher's Well): Spence Moore (2:57)
B05 Queen Sally: Kate Peters Sturgill (2:33)
B06 Froggie Went a'Courtin': Robert Russel (1:41)
B07 Raging Sea, How It Roars (The Mermaid): Ernest V. Stoneman (3:21)
B08 The Jealous Lover: The Stanley Brothers (2:17)
B09 The Butcher's Boy: Kelly Harrell (3:19)
[Credits]
Producer, Engineer and Liner Notes: Blanton Owen, Producers: Roddy Moore, Lornell and Ferrum College, Photographer: Alfreda Peel, Engineer: Charles Ellerton, Recorders: Herbert Halpert, Emory Hamilton, Mike Seeger, Sidney Robertson Cowell, Alan Lomax and Elizabeth Lomax
[Notes]
Few states in this country can boast of more diverse folkways than Virginia. Many of the material objects—such as barns, tools, and furniture—reflect the traditions that shaped the lives of its earliest settlers and the generations of Virginians who followed. The Commonwealth’s performance traditions of songs, tunes, and tales also tell of a shared heritage involving all classes of people in every facet of life. Because traditions naturally change over time, the documentation of Virginia folk culture is an ongoing process essential to our understanding of the past, present, and future. By recording the folkways of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College and its BRI Record label strive to foster a greater appreciation of our folk roots through an array of interpretive programs. The songs on this recording are ballads in the traditional sense, i.e., they tell a story. The singers are all from southwestern Virginia and present in a variety of styles, ranging from strictly traditional to relatively modern with stringband accompaniment.

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

A Collection of Mountain Songs

County Records COUNTY–504

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: United States
Released: 1968
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Old Time, & Country
[Tracklist]
A1 Sandy River Belle: Dad Blackard's Moonshiners
A2 Careless Love: Byrd Moore & His Hot Shots
A3 Groundhog: Jack Reedy & His Walker Mountain String Band
A4 I'll Rise When The Rooster Crows: Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers
A5 All Night Long Blues: R.D. Burnett & Leonard Rutherford
A6 George Washingon: Pope's Arkansas Mountaineers
B1 Your Low Down Dirty Ways: Carolina Tar Heels
B2 Milwaukee Blues: North Carolina Ramblers
B3 Big Ball In Memphis: Georgia Yellow Hammers
B4 In The Shadow Of The Pine: Kelly Harrell, The Virginia String Band
B5 Wish I Had Stayed In The Wagon Yard: Lowe Stokes & His North Georgians
B6 The Preacher Got Drunk And Laid His Bible Down: Tennessee Ramblers
[Notes]
No release date on cover or label.