Saturday, December 28, 2013

Fill-in Show Playlist 12/28/2013

Hi Folks,

We brought Red Rooster Party out of winter hibernation to do a five-hour fill-in for vacationing DJs on a Saturday evening.  We had a blast, and it was the fastest five-hours we can recall.

We covered a lot of territory from string bands, to old-time, to early country, to classic country, to Western, to early bluegrass, to comedy, and more!

If you had a chance to catch any of the show, we hope you enjoyed it!

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994)-Breaking Up Christmas (1971) / Aunt Hattie Dalton-Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / 1994 Interview-Tommy & Fred / Private-County
  • Golden Gate Gospel Train (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • Trickling Waters (1991) / Wade & Julia Mainer / In The Land Of Melody / Appalshop
  • If I Lose Let Me Lose (1963) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Run Mountain / Arhoolie
  • Walking In My Sleep (1976) / Wade Mainer / From The Maple On The Hill / Old Homestead
  • Run Mountain (1946) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / 20 Original King Recordings / Gusto
  • Johnson's Old Grey Mule (1936) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / 1935-1939 / B.A.C.M
  • Maple On The Hill (1935) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / 1935-1936 / JSP
  • Electricity (1978) / Jimmy Murphy / Electricity / Sugar Hill
  • I Get A Longing To Hear Hank Sing The Blues (1978) / Jimmy Murphy / Electricity / Sugar Hill
  • When The Work's All Done This Fall (1925) / Carl T. Sprague / Cattle Call / Rounder
  • Carry Me Back To The Lone Prarie (c.1930s) / Carson Robison's Buckaroos / Cattle Call / Rounder
  • Tie A Knot In The Devil's Tail (1930) / Powder River Jack And Kitty Lee / Cattle Call / Rounder
  • Way Out There (1934) / The Sons Of The Pioneers / Cattle Call / Rounder
  • Shine, Shave, Shower (1950) / Lefty Frizell / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • My Million Dollar Smile (1939) / Patsy Montana / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Sioux City Sue (1946) / Gene Autry / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • I'll Go Chasin' Women (1958) / Hardrock Gunter / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (1926) / Gid Tanner And His Skillet Lickers with Riley Puckett / Complete Recorded Works v.1 / Document
  • Bile Them Cabbage Down (1927) / Gid Tanner And His Skillet Lickers with Riley Puckett and Clayton McMichen / Complete Recorded Works v.2 / Document
  • Wish I Had Stayed In The Wagon Yard (1929) / Lowe Stokes / Volume 1 / Document
  • Lye Soap (1930) / John Dilleshaw (Dilly & His Dill Pickles) / Complete Recorded Works / Document
  • Lovesick Blues (1949) / Hank Williams / Live At The Grand Ole Opry / Mercury
  • Move It On Over (1947) / Hank Williams / 40 Greatest Hits / Polydor
  • Ramblin' Man (1951) / Hank Williams / 40 Greatest Hits / Polydor
  • Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine (1951) / Hank Williams (Luke The Drifter) / The Gospel According To Luke / Sugo
  • Lola Lee (1950) / Little Jimmy Dickens / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Slow Down Brother (1955) / Ferlin Husky / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Great Speckled Bird (1936) / Roy Acuff / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • On The Banks Of The Beautiful Nile (1951) / Johnny Horton / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • The Night I Stole Ol' Sammy Morgan's Gin (1947) / Hank Snow / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Crazy Boogie (1947) / Merle Travis / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Sunrise Serenade (1954) / Chet Atkins / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Somebody's Stolen My Honey (1951) / Ernest Tubb / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Let Me Remember (1954) / Jim Reeves / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Possum Blues (1993) / Jim & Jessie McReynolds / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog
  • Boil Them Possums (1993) / Jimmy Martin / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog
  • Mama's Not Dead, She's Just Playing Possum (1993) / Randall Hylton / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog
  • God Made The Possum (1993) / Wayne Taylor / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog
  • Freight Train Blues (c.1994) / Warrior River Boys / Freight Train Special / Wango
  • Ridin' On The Midnight Train (1971) / Reno & Moore / Freight Train Special / Wango
  • Wreck Of The Old 97 (c.1995) / Mac Wiseman / Freight Train Special / Wango
  • Train 45 (1993) / Gillis Brothers / Freight Train Special / Wango
  • In The Pines (1963) / The Stanley Brothers / Freight Train Special / Wango
  • Mean Mama Blues (1955) / Marty Robbins / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • That's All Right, Mama (1954) / Marty Robbins / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • I've Got Five Dollars And It's Saturday Night (1965) / George Jones & Gene Pitney / self titled / Bear Family
  • That'll Learn Ya Durn Ya (1950) / Maddox Brothers & Rose / That'll Learn Ya Durn Ya / Proper
  • You've Got My Troubles Now (1951) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • The Price For Loving You (1953) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Leave Her Alone (1953) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • I Made A Mistake And I'm Sorry (1951) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • The Last Letter (1953) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Documents
  • Cowpoke (1951) / Rex Allen / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Rogue [Rouge?] River Valley (1946) / Elton Britt / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Square Dance Polka (1949) / Rosalie Allen & The Black River Riders / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • A Four Legged Friend (1952) / Roy Rogers / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Old Mountain Dew (1949) / Bascom Lamar Lunsford / Ballads, Banjo Tunes, And Sacred Songs of Western NC / Smithsonian Folkways
  • John Henry (1963) / George Pegram / Classic Old-Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways
  • The Bum Hotel (1937) / Uncle Dave Macon / Classic Sides 1926-1937 / JSP
  • Weave Room Blues (1936) / The Dixon Brothers / Complete Recorded Works v.1 / Document
  • I Hang My Head And Cry (1968) / Jimmy Wakely / Cowboy Country / Jasmine
  • Yodelin' Crazy (1948) / Rex Allen / Cowboy Country / Jasmine
  • Pecos Bill (1947) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Cowboy Country / Jasmine
  • Yodel Mountain Song (1951) / Carolina Cotton / Cowboy Country / Jasmine
  • Freeborn Man (1968) / Keith Allison / Freeborn Man / Columbia
  • Freeborn Man (1992) / Jimmy Martin / Songs Of A Freeborn Man / CMH
  • Cooking With Raiford (2000) / Jeff Pillars, John Boy & Billy / Nerve-Wracking Christmas Part 2 / John Boy & Billy
  • Moose Turd Pie (1973) / Utah Phillips / Good Though! / Philo
  • In The Jailhouse Now (1928) / Jimmie Rodgers / First Sessions / Rounder
  • Blue Yodel No. 4 (1928) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Early Years / Rounder
  • Methodist Pie (1930) / Bradley Kincaid / Man And His Guitar / JSP
  • Blue Tailed Fly (1946) / Bradley Kincaid / A Man And His Guitar / JSP
  • Better Leave That Liar Alone (1946) / The Fairfield Four / Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around / Acrobat
  • Row Us Over The Tide (1947) / Blue Sky Boys / On Radio - Volume One / Copper Creek
  • How Many Biscuits Can You Eat (c.1938) / Coon Creek Girls / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead
  • What'll I Do With The Baby-O (c.1938) / Coon Creek Girls / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead
  • Just Let Me Fall (1953) / Larry Richardson and Happy Smith / Bluegrass Historic Cuts / JSP
  • Highway 220 (1953) / Dee Stone And His Virginia Mountain Boys / Bluegrass Historic Cuts / JSP
  • Crazy Banjo Medley (1953) / Hack Johnson And His Tennesseeans / Bluegrass Historic Cuts / JSP
  • Sing, Sing, Sing (c.1953) / The Virginia Trio (Jim & Jesse) / Bluegrass Historic Cuts / JSP
  • The Fishing Hole (1960) / Earl Hagen / Musical Memories of Mayberry / independent
  • Dooley (1963) / The Dillards with Andy Griffith / Musical Memories of Mayberry / independent
  • Shady Grove (1964) / The Dillards with Charlene / Musical Memories of Mayberry / independent
  • There Is A Time (1965) / Andy Griffith-The Dillards with Charlene / Musical Memories of Mayberry / independent
  • Casey Jones (2002) / Riders In The Sky / Ridin' The Tweetsie Railroad / Tweetsie Railroad
  • Coyotes(1993) / Don Edwards / The Best Of Don Edwards / Warner Bros

Monday, September 2, 2013

Red Rooster Party on Hiatus Until Further Notice

Hi Folks.

Red Rooster Party hit the airwaves at WHUS as an early morning (3-6am) replacement show for the fall semester in 2005.  By the spring of 2006 the show began a three-year run on Sunday afternoons 2-4pm, just in front of the Bluegrass Cafe which Jim also hosted on alternate weeks.  At the three-year point Red Rooster Party was taking too much time to prepare along with Jim's duties on Bluegrass Cafe, so we ended it with the expectation to bring it back some time in the future if conditions were right.

The summer of 2013 brought about the right conditions which included the enthusiastic desire of both Jim & Marti to do the show, and Jim dropping out of Bluegrass Cafe for the summer to focus on Red Rooster Party.  The stars aligned, and that has been the status for the summer -- Red Rooster Party occupying the same time slot as it had for its three-year run.

Our original intention was to make Red Rooster Party just a summer event with Jim returning to the rotation on Bluegrass Cafe in the fall, but a funny thing happened during the summer.  Marti found a renewed joy in producing Red Rooster Party and stated her desire to continue the show in the fall.  Jim's only condition would be that Marti do most of the production work since split duties were too much to handle if Jim was doing two shows (we both have real jobs in addition to our volunteer work with WHUS.)   Marti agreed to the condition, and we submitted our applications for Red Rooster Party as well as the alternating spot on Bluegrass Cafe.

The new WHUS fall schedule was announced to staff members this evening, 9/2, and the plan didn't work out exactly as expected.  There were 110 applications for show spots at WHUS for the fall semester, and all who applied got shows.  This created two new shows between noon and 2pm on Sunday and moved DJ Tom's folk show into the 2-4pm slot formerly occupied by Red Rooster Party.  The result was a shared time slot 4-7pm for Bluegrass Cafe and Red Rooster Party.

Anyone who has been around during the 30+ year history of bluegrass music on WHUS knows such a division would not be viable.  Bluegrass Cafe is one of the important bluegrass outlets in New England, and reports to the two major industry charting organizations.  The show is important to the industry and should not be diluted.

Therefore, Marti and Jim have decided to put Red Rooster Party on hiatus again with the possibility of bringing it back in a future semester, and maintaining Bluegrass Cafe full-strength at its usual time slot of 4-7pm Sundays.

We hope to have you listening when Red Rooster Party returns the next time, but until then Jim will be alternating Sundays with Amy on Bluegrass Cafe, and Marti might make an occasional appearance.  We hope you tune in.

Marti & Jim

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Playlist 9/1/2013 - Rockabilly, Jenks "Tex" Carman, Homer & Jethro

Hi Folks.

This show was shortened to 51 minutes by the UCONN sports department, but we won't dwell on that here.

Zora Layman
We will dwell on some great old music that included four tunes from the MGM label, a couple of tunes of a rockabilly flavor from the 4-Star label, and some great but less-remembered classics from Carson Robison, Rex Cole's Mountaineers (NY-based parody songsters), and Zora Layman.  In 1937, Layman recorded a seeming lullaby of a song with the amazing title "When The Curtains Of The Night Are Pinned Back By The Stars."  The equally poetic lyrics to this song were "borrowed" and reworked by A.P. Carter for a new song called "Curtains of Night" recorded by the "comback" Carter Family for the Acme sessions in 1956 (The group was A.P., Sara, and their kids Janette and Joe for those recordings made for Sears Roebuck.)  It was that version of the song that made its way to bluegrass by way of Ralph Stanley in 1971 as "I'll Remember You Love In My Prayers."  Adding more intrigue to this web is that a song by the latter title was recorded in 1929 by an artist named Walter Smith who had Posey Rorer, the great fiddle player who had played with Charlie Poole, accompanying him on the recording.  These connections are the eureka moments of Red Rooster Party.  Perhaps we can bring all these recordings together at some point in the future.

Henry D. "Homer" Haynes (R) &
Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns (L)
Homer & Jethro performed a couple songs on the show demonstrating hilarious lyrics and song parodies with incredible instrumental work backing themselves.

Jenks "Tex" Carman
Marti's soft spot for marginally-talented Jenks "Tex" Carman brought about a repeat appearance on this show after his first appearance last week.  I've made a deal with Marti that she can play Jenks if I can play Lester "Roadhog" Moran and his Cadillac Cowboys.  We'll see.

We finished and led in to the Bluegrass Cafe that followed with a banjo-fiddle duet from Richard Bailey and Tammy Rogers -- two members of The Steeldrivers who had performed the previous evening in Berlin, CT for the Podunk folks.  It appears the Podunk Bluegrass Festival will be back in 2014 at the Hebron Fairgrounds.

The WHUS schedule will change this coming week, and we do not know if we will be back in the fall or not, but in the event we are selected, join us again next week 2-4 pm ET (barring sports preemptions) for another glimpse of America's musical past.

Jim
for Marti & Jim

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton backed by Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham / Interview
  • Let That Liar Alone (1938) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.2 / Document
  • Goin' To The Barn Dance Tonight (1932) / Carson Robison & His Pioneers / Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
  • She's Too Good For Me (1929) / Rex Cole's Mountaineers / Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
  • When The Curtains of The Night Are Pinned Back By The Stars (1937) / Zora Layman & The Hometowners / Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
  • The Wabash Cannonball (1936) / Roy Acuff & His Crazy Tennesseeans / Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
  • Cotton (1957) / Hank Hornsby / Country Music On MGM / B.A.C.M
  • Call Of the Faraway Hills (1953) / Ken Curtis (from the movie "Shane") / Country Music On MGM / B.A.C.M
  • Midnight Line (1957) / Bob Riley / Country Music On MGM / B.A.C.M
  • You'll Come To Regret It (1956) / Billy Jack Wills / Country Music On MGM / B.A.C.M
  • Play Boy (1958) / Wayland Chandler / That'll Flat... Git It! / Bear Family
  • New Step It Up And Go (1951) / Maddox Brothers and Rose / That'll Flat... Git It! / Bear Family
  • Crazy Mixed Up Song (1954) / Homer & Jethro / Homer & Jethro Volume 3 / B.A.C.M
  • Where Is That Doggone Gal of Mine (1956) / Homer & Jethro / Homer & Jethro Volume 3 / B.A.C.M
  • Gosh I Miss You All The Time (1952) / Jenks Tex Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
  • Ten Thousand Miles (Away From Home) (1951) / Jenks Tex Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
  • Little Rabbit (2013) / Richard Bailey & Tammy Rogers / Banjo & Fiddle / Self-released

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Playlist 8/25/2013 - Black String Bands and a Pedal Steel Primer

Hi Folks,

Ebony Hillbillies
This version of Red Rooster Party began by fulfilling some requests from previous weeks.  We played a set of music from black string bands which included the deans of the genre, Joe and Odell Thompson, as well as modern versions from The Ebony Hillbillies and Carolina Chocolate Drops.


We followed with a brief primer on the pedal steel guitar from Bud Isaacs, the great early pedal steel picker who made pedal steel an essential part of classic country music with his work on Webb Pierce's "Slowly," and then a couple of his solo instrumental pieces.  We slipped a request for Hazel Dickens in there, too.

The remainder of the show was programed by Marti who brought us some gems from the vast vintage 78 collector Joe Bussard, some cat-themed songs from Johnnie & Jack, comedy from Minnie Pearl, Leroy Troy, and Andy Griffith, the nearly-forgotten Jenks "Tex" Carman, and a relatively new set of Western Music on Marti's Bunkhouse that featured Skip Gorman, Jim Hendricks, The Bar-J Wranglers, and Riders In The Sky.

We finished with some selections from 1950 radio broadcasts of The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins.

We had a ball and hope you did, too.

Tune us in next week on The Red Rooster Party for more fun from our musical past.

Marti and Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue
Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton backed by Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham
  • Dip Your Fingers In The Water (1942) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.4 / Document
  • Old Joe Clark (c.1989) / Joe and Odell Thompson / Ain't Gonna Rain No More: Blues and Pre-Blues from Piedmont NC / Rounder
  • Oh Susanna (2004) / The Ebony Hillbillies / Sabrina's Holiday / EH Music
  • Don't Get Trouble In Your Mind (2007) / Carolina Chocolate Drops / Heritage / Music Maker
  • Slowly (1954) / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA Nashville
  • Bud's Steel Guitar Stomp (1954) / Bud Isaacs / Bud's Bounce / Bear Family
  • The Waltz You Saved For Me (1954) / Bud Isaacs / Bud's Bounce / Bear Family
  • Beyond The River Bend (1983) / Hazel Dickens / By The Sweat Of My Brow / Rounder
  • The School House Fire (1937) / Dixon Brothers / Down In The Basement-Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s / Old Hat
  • Uncle Dave's Beloved Solo (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Down In The Basement-Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s / Old Hat
  • Handsome Molly (1927) / Grayson & Whitter / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
  • Going Around The World (1928) / Emry Arthur / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
  • Chittlin' Cookin' Time In Cheatham County (1936) / Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
  • Tom Cat's Kitten (1956) / Johnnie & Jack with The Tenn. Mtn Boys / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
  • Sing Tom Kitty (1947) / Johnnie & Jack with The Tenn. Mtn Boys / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
  • Hawaii With Elvis (1970) / Minnie Pearl / Lookin' Fer A Feller! / Gusto
  • Ghost Chickens In The Sky (2010) / Leroy Troy / Suppertime Serenade / Bos Records
  • What It Was Was Football (Parts 1 & 2) (1953) / Andy Griffith / The Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith / EMI Capitol
  • Hillbilly Hula (1953) / Jenks "Tex" Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
  • Dixie Cannonball (1954) / Jenks "Tex" Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
  • The Yodeling Cowboy's Last Song (2012) / Skip Gorman / A Herder's Call / Old West
  • A Cowboy's Prayer (2013) / Jim Hendricks / A Cowboy's Prayer / Green Hill
  • Cool Water (2013) / Jim Hendricks / A Cowboy's Prayer / Green Hill
  • Silver Spurs (1996) / Bar-J Wranglers / Wyoming Wind / Self-Produced
  • The Biscuit Blues (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • Wah-Hoo (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • Rawhide (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • You're Wearing Out Your Welcome Matt (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • You Made Toothpicks Of The Timber Of My Heart (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • When I'm Gone (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Guitar Solo (Deep River Blues) (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Jam Session (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Playlist 8/18/2013 - Grand Ole Opry 1948 and More...

Lulu Belle & Scotty (Wiseman)
Hi Folks,

Marti put another great playlist together for this show, but I was wondering if she had some hidden messages seeing that she played "Wish I Was A Single Girl Again" by Lulu Belle & Scotty and "Drop Dead" by Tex Williams.  She assured me that there was no nefarious meaning to those selections, but also said she would be writing a song parody called "Old Jim" about living with me. Boy am I lucky!

Walter Brennan
Marti's picks included a set of early women country singers, brother duos, and some great story songs from the likes of Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall (perhaps the king of story song writers), and Walter Brennan.

I picked out a Grand Ole Opry broadcast from
Don Edwards
December 12, 1948 of which we played about half.  The show included host Red Foley, The Blue Sky Boys, Minnie Pearl, and The Old Hickory Singers.

Marti's Bunkhouse featured Andy Parker and the Plainsmen, a couple of Australian cowboy singers, Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) from Canada, a couple of great live tracks from super cowboy singer Don Edwards with Waddie Mitchell, and Riders In The Sky to close the show.

Tune in next Sunday for more fun from our recorded past.

Jim, writing for Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue.


Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Personal Interview / 
  • Pure Religion (1938) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.1 / Document
  • Wish I Was A Single Girl Again (1939) / Lulu Belle & Scotty / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • Round-up Time In Texas (1933) / Girls Of The Golden West / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • My Poncho Pony (1939) / Patsy Montana / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • How'm I Doin'? (1932) / The Aaron Sisters With The Song-O-Pators / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • Turn Your Radio On (1940) / The Blue Sky Boys / O Brothers! / Living Era
  • Maple On The Hill (1935) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / O Brothers! / Living Era
  • The Weary Lonesome Blues (1937) / The Delmore Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
  • Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (1936) / The Monroe Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
  • The Fields Have Turned Brown (1949) / The Stanley Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
  • Sick, Sober, And Sorry (1951) / Johnny Bond / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • Indian Summer (1951) / Spade Cooley / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • Moanin' The Blues (1950) / Hank Williams / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • Mr. And Mississippi (1950) / Tennessee Ernie Ford / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • Drop Dead (1948) / Tex Williams / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • Gonna Paint The Town Red (1949) / Tommy Scott / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
  • The Battle Of New Orleans (1959) / Johnny Horton / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
  • Don't Take Your Guns To Town (1959) / Johnny Cash / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
  • A Week In A Country Jail (1969) / Tom T. Hall / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
  • Old Rivers (1962) / Walter Brennan / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
  • Grand Ole Opry Broadcast (1948) / Various / Transcription 12 Dec 1948 / na
  • The West Is As Wild As Ever (1946) / Andy Parker & The Plainsmen / Vol. 2 Coast Records / B.A.C.M
  • In The Hills Of Old Wyoming (1946) / Andy Parker & The Plainsmen / Vol. 2 Coast Records / B.A.C.M
  • Happy Cowboy (1948) / Tim McNamara / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Texas Lil / Smoky Dawson with His Rocky Canyon Boys / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Square Dance Polka (1949) / Rosalie Allen & The Black River Riders / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • West Of Rainbow Trail (1941) / Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Ballad Of The Alamo (1960) / Marty Robbins / My Rifle, My Pony And Me / Bear Family
  • Wagons West (1950) / Sons Of The Pioneers / My Rifle, My Pony And Me / Bear Family
  • Coyotes (1994) / Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards / The Bard and the Balladeer / Warner Western
  • Cattle Call (1994) / Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards / The Bard and the Balladeer / Warner Western
  • Home On The Range (2012) / Riders In The Sky / America's Favorite Cowboy Songs / Cracker Barrel

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Playlist 8/11/2013 - Music From All Over

Hi Folks,

This was another show in which Marti did most of the programming, and she really covered a wide spectrum in her selections.

Marti, Fred Kirby, Marti's brother Bob
Marti started with a group of songs on country radio in 1951, then had Fred Kirby do his original "Atomic Power" that he wrote 68 years ago this week after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

We heard a set of songs from female cast members of a west coast TV show called Ranch Party from 1957-1960 that was unique with a hint of early rock & roll with the country.

Marti's Bunkhouse was as good as ever with songs from Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette (who also did comedy), and more recent selections from Michael Martin Murphey, and Riders in the Sky.  There was even an Australian cowboy singer in the mix -- Smokey Dawson.

Rex Allen
Following Marti's Bunkhouse we heard a couple of tunes from Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham to salute the big 78th annual Galax Fiddler's Convention that just ended this weekend, one of the tunes being the theme of our show ("Breaking Up Christmas".)

Smiley Burnette
The show was capped by a gospel number from Jerry Lee Lewis recorded in 1970 during the period he had eschewed secular music.

There was no vintage radio show within this show because Jim forgot to bring one, but we'll try again next week.

We hope you enjoyed something you heard, and will tune in next week for another great show of American country and western roots music.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label
  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Personal Interview / 
  • Massa's In The Cold, Cold Ground (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • The Shot Gun Boogie (1951) / Tennessee Ernie (Ford) / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
  • I Want To Play House With You (1951) / Eddy Arnold / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
  • Mockin' Bird Hill (1951) / The Pinetoppers / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
  • Chew Tobacco Rag (1951) / Zeb Turner / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
  • Uncle Pen (1951) / Bill Monroe / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
  • Empty Arms And A Heart Full Of Sorrow (1947) / Wally Fowler / with the Georgia Clodhoppers Early Days / Cow Girl Boy Records (LP)
  • Atomic Power (1945) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
  • Jukebox Jackson From Jacksonville (1948) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
  • Oh Ma! Can't You Make Hiim Behave! (c.1959) / Lorrie Collins / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
  • Old Fiddler Joe (c.1959) / Rose Lee Maphis / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
  • Dirty Dishes (c.1959) / Jeannie Mack / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
  • I Ain't Gonna Wash My Face (c.1960) / Dorothy Wright / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
  • What's The Matter With The Mill (1936) / Bob Wills / Country Western / Documents
  • All The Good Times (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Country Western / Documents
  • It Makes No Difference Now (1938) / Cliff Bruner / Country Western / Documents
  • Walkin' The Floor Over You (1941) / Ernest Tubb / Country Western / Documents
  • I've Been Drafted (1941) / Bill Mounce / Country Western / Documents
  • Cowpoke (1951) / Rex Allen / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • I Wish I Had Never met Sunshine (1946) / Gene Autry / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • Cowboy's Roundup Song / Smokey Dawson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • I'm Gonna Gallop, Gallop to Gallup New Mexico (1948) / Roy Rogers / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • Comedy (1962) / Smiley Burnette / Is Frog Milhouse / King
  • Swiss Boy (1962) / Smiley Burnette / Is Frog Milhouse / King
  • Purt Near! (1953) / Peggy Godfrey / Cowboy Poetry Classics / Smithsonian Folkways
  • Leanin' On The Old Top Rail (2001) / Bar-J Wranglers / Leanin' On The Old Top Rail / Self-produced
  • The Streets Of Laredo (2002) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II / Real West
  • Sidekick Heaven (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • Salting Of The Slug (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
  • Susanna Gal (1972) / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / Tommy & Fred / County
  • Breaking Up Christmas (1971) / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / Tommy & Fred / County
  • Sugar Pie (c.1950) / Maddox Brothers & Rose / That'll Learan Ya Durn Ya / Proper
  • I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone (1970) / Jerry Lee Lewis / Old Time Religion / Bear Family

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Playlist 8/4/2013 - Marti's Show and Roy Rogers

Hi Folks.

This show was unique in a couple of ways.  One way is that most of the music was selected by Marti -- not just Marti's Bunkhouse, but the whole show.  Another way is that we played a half-hour Roy Rogers Show radio program from 1953 -- a first for Red Rooster Party.
Hardrock Gunter

A good portion of the first hour consisted of mostly obscure classic country recordings from well-known artists like Johnny Horton, Hardrock Gunter, Ray Price, and Hank Snow, with a few well-known chestnuts thrown in for fun.  We did catch a few old recordings from Kentucky old time musicians, and some comedy from Jerry Clower and Andy Griffith.
Pat Brady, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans

The second hour, typically the time for Marti's Bunkhouse, began with The Roy Rogers Show from new years day 1953, and transitioned to a couple of great sets of Western music.  We closed with some radio transcriptions from The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle and Chet Atkins, and a real poignant song about cowboys from the awe-inspiring cowboy singer Don Edwards.

We hope you enjoyed what your heard.  If Marti continues programming Red Rooster Party shows, we may ask WHUS to keep it on through the fall.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Interview (1994) / 
  • Daniel Saw The Stone (1941) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Words v.4 / Document
  • I Believe Mountain Music Is Here To Stay (1951) / Hardrock Gunter / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Coal Smoke, Valve Oil and Steel (1951) / Johnny Horton / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Old Nevada Moon (1939) / Patsy Montana / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Breeze (1947) / Cowboy Copas / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • You've Got My Troubles Now (1951) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Nine Pound Hammer (1946) / Merle Travis / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Music Makin' Mama From Memphis (1951) / Hank Snow / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • Miss Molly (1947) / Tex Williams / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
  • He's Only A Miner Killed In The Ground (1928) / Ted Chesnut / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo
  • She Is A Flower From The Fields of Alabama (1928) / Rutherford, Moore & Burnett / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo
  • Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (1952) / Hank Williams / The Final Sessions / Proper
  • Tears In The Eye Of A Potato (1965) / Jimmy Murphy / Southern Roots: The Starday Sessions / Ace
  • The Ship That Never Returned (1966) / Sara and Maybelle Carter / self-titled / Bear Family
  • A New Bull (1974) / Jerry Clower / Country Ham / MCA
  • Be Yourself (1974) / Jerry Clower / Country Ham / MCA
  • The Fishin' Hole (1961) / Andy Griffith / American Originals / Capitol
  • North Carolina, My Home State (1959) / Andy Griffith / American Originals / Capitol
  • The Roy Rogers Show 1-1-1953 / Roy Rogers, Dale Evans / Old Time Radio Shows - Westerns / Island View
  • The Lantern On The Wagon (1997) / Red Steagall and the Boys In The Bunkhouse / Dear Mama, I'm A Cowboy / Warner Western
  • My Old Waddy Pal (1996) / Skip Gorman / Lonesome Prairie Love / Rounder
  • Cannonball Yodel (2004) / Bar-J Wranglers / Roamin' Wyoming / Self-produced
  • Night Riding Song (1997) / Ranger Doug (Douglas B. Green) / Songs Of The Sage / Warner Western
  • Opening Theme, I Wish I Had A Nickel (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Ain'tcha Tired Of Making Me Blue (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Don't Wait (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Guitar Solo (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • The Cowboy's Song (1992) / Don Edwards / The Best of Don Edwards / Warner

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Playlist 7/28/2013 - Old Radio and Classic Parody

Roy Hall (top center) and his Blue Ridge Entertainers
Hi Folks.

This show had a goodly amount of old radio transcriptions from the likes of Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers (1939), The Blue Sky Boys (1949), and The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle and Chet Atkins (1949).

Additionally, we played the first set (from the original vinyl) of the classic Statler Brothers parody of a generic amateur country band by the name of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and his Cadillac Cowboys.  This was Marti's first time hearing this hilarious record, and she thought it was terrible, which of course it would have been had it been intended as a serious effort -- "I could make a record like that!" she said. Marti thought we might have driven off all five of our listeners.  I hope everyone got the joke.

Marti's Bunkhouse was a spendid cross section of Western music, as usual, with a special set of "Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys" -- a description that captures all the stereotypes.  Marti also gave away a Riders In The Sky CD to a lucky caller.

We'll be back next Sunday, so tune us in to join in the fun.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label
  • Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton 1974 / Interview
  • Behold The Bridegroom Cometh (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • Hold The Woodpile Down (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Go Long Mule / County
  • Answer To Blue Eyes (1938) / Morris Brothers / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
  • The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee (1925) / Charlie Poole / With The North Carolina Ramblers / JSP
  • Gathering Flowers From The Hillside (1966) / Lee Moore / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
  • Old Spinning Wheel (1966) / Lee Moore / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
  • The Weary Traveler (1968) / Lee Moore & The Bluegrass Cut-ups / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
  • Radio Show, WBJD Radio, Roanoke, Virginia 1939 / Roy Hall & His Blue Ridge Entertainers / Early Country Radio / JSP
Introduction and Dr. Pepper Commercial
Fisher's Hornpipe
Don't Cause Mother's Hair To Turn Grey
Roy Hall Song Book Commercial
Remember Me
Doctor Pepper Commerccial
South Of The Border
Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
Take Me Back To The Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Lonesome Road Blues (1949) / Blue Sky Boys / Farm & Fun Time Favorites V.2 / Copper Creek
  • Whispering Hope (1949) / Blue Sky Boys / Farm & Fun Time Favorites V.2 / Copper Creek
  • Alive At The Johnny Mack Brown High School (1974) / Lester"Roadhog" Moran and his Cadillac Cowboys / Alive At The Johnny Mack Brown High School / Mercury (LP)
Little Liza Jane
Hey Joe
Filipino Baby
SixteenTons
Rubber Dolly
Wildwood Flower
Keep On The Sunny Side
Waterloo
  • You Don't Love Me But I'll Always Care (1941) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • My Love Went Without Water (Three Days) (1941) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • Killer Diller / Bar-J Wranglers / Fiddles, Funnies n' Food For Thought / Self-produced
  • The Shopping Trip / Bar-J Wranglers / Fiddles, Funnies n' Food For Thought / Self-produced
  • Over And Over Again (1946) / Gene Autry / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
  • Just A-Pickin' and A-Singin' (1948) / Curley Williams / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
  • The Daughter of Jole Blon (1948) / Johnny Bond / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
  • Catch Me Cheatin' (1951) / Smokey Rogers / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
  • Detour (1946) / Foy Willing / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
  • Song Of The Rover / Sons Of The San Joaquin / A Retrospective / Western Jubilee
  • Song Of The Trail (2011) / Riders In The Sky / Land Beyond The Sun / Riders Radio Records
  • Cowboy Camp Meeting (2011) / Riders In The Sky / Land Beyond The Sun / Riders Radio Records
  • Belle Star (1993) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Songs III / Warner Western
  • The Bald Head Of A Broom (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
  • Beer, Bait and Ammo (2006) / George Jones / All Gone Fishing / Bandit

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Playlist 7/21/2013 - Before Bluegrass

Hi Folks.
The first Mainer recording group 1935
J.E. & Wade Mainer, Zeke Morris, John Love
Announcer Fisher Hendley

Charlie & Bill Monroe c.1936
Everyone knows that Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys created bluegrass music in December 1945 when Bill and his band with new banjo picker Earl Scruggs stepped on the stage of the widely broadcast Grand Ole Opry program at the Ryman Auditorium.

That's what everyone knows.



Today's show was intended to show that Bill had a lot of help getting there.  We started with J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers who were picking string band music at high speed with the two-finger banjo style of Wade Mainer a decade earlier, then Charlie and Bill Monroe's recordings from that same early period.
Charlie Monroe (c), Zeke Morris (l)
Bill Calhoun (r)
First recorded version of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys
Bill Wesbrooks, Tommy Magness, Bill Monroe, Clyde Moody
We followed with Charlie Monroe's post-Monroe Brothers recordings, Bill Monroe's post-Monroe Brothers recordings, and then Byron Parker & His Mountaineers -- a 1940 evolution of J.E. Mainer's band -- with Snuffy Jenkins picking banjo three-finger style.  Of all this music, the only thing we heard that could be identified as bluegrass as we know it today was the music of the Byron Parker configuration, and this was a full five years or more before Bill Monroe hit the stage with Earl Scruggs.

We hope this was mind-opening.

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith
Marti had a super day programming Marti's Bunkhouse with some great Western music that is too-little-known.  The rarer material came from Texas Jim Robertson, Goebel Reeves, and New Zealand cowboy singer Cole Wilson (1922-1993).  We also heard a couple of songs from a tribute album Riders In The Sky did for the North Carolina train attraction Tweetsie Railroad.  Tweetsie has been giving train rides on real former working steam engine locomotive driven trains for well over half-century and continues to do so today.

We finished with some comedy from Spike Jones, Homer & Jethro, and Louis Grizzard, and then a couple of songs from Carolinas musical stalwart Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, including his first recording of "Guitar Boogie" which became his namesake.

We hope you heard something you enjoyed.

Join us next Sunday and we'll have another interesting listen to our musical past.

Jim & Marti

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton / 1994 Interview
  • Way Down In Egypt Land (1939) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.3 / Document
  • Take Me In The Lifeboat (1935) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
  • Seven And A Half (1935) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
  • Number 111 (1936) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
  • My Long Journey Home (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Have A Feast Here Tonight (1938) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Tell Him To Come Back Sweet Fern (1938) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
  • You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone (1938) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
  • Oh Death (1939) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
  • We Shall Rise (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
  • Carroll County Blues (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
  • Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
  • Mule Skinner Blues (1940) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Dog House Blues (1941) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Tennessee Blues (1941) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Ride Tenderfoot Ride (1938) / Gene Autry / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • I'm Gonna Throw My Lasso (1939) / Texas Jim Robertson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • The Outlaw / Cole Wilson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • Cowboy's Dream (1930) / The Yodelling Rustler (Goebel Reeves) / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • Red River Valley (1947) / Sons Of The Pioneers / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
  • Tweetsie Railroad Line (2002) / Riders In The Sky / Ridin' The Tweetsie Railroad / Tweetsie Railroad
  • I've Been Working On The Railroad (2002) / Riders In The Sky / Ridin' The Tweetsie Railroad / Tweetsie Railroad
  • Yippee-Yi Your Troubles Away (1993) / Sons Of The San Joaquin / Songs Of The Silver Screen / Warner Bros Western
  • Old Cowboys (1984) / Everett Brisendine / The Cowboy Tour / Rounder
  • Banks Of The Ponchatrain (1984) / Brownie Ford / The Cowboy Tour / Rounder
  • Wild Bill Hiccup (1949) / Spike Jones / The Spike Jones Anthology / Rhino
  • Your Clobbered Heart (1953) / Homer & Jethro / Volume 3 / B.A.C.M
  • Guitar Boogie (1944) / Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith / The Golden Age of Arthur Smith / Cattle
  • Foolish Questions (1948) / Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith / The Golden Age of Arthur Smith / Cattle
  • Valley Of Peace (2010) / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Playlist 7/14/2013 - Possum & Biscuits, Cotton Mills, Salty Dogs, and Chickens

The DeZurik Sisters
a.k.a. "Cackle Sisters"
Hi Folks.

No, the title for this playlist is not the menu for today, although during a certain period of time it could have been.  We played songs from that period, including Uncle Dave Macon, The Coon Creek Girls, David McCarn, The Carolina Ramblers String Band, G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, Charlie Parker and Mac Woolbright, J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers, Jerry & Sky, and the amazing DeZurik Sisters -- also known as The Cackle Sisters.


Relative to cotton mills, of significant note was the inclusion of all three of the "Cotton Mill Colic" songs and a couple more created by Gastonia NC textile mill hand David McCarn.  Gastonia is near where we were born and raised, and textile factories -- an industry that moved South from New England over a century ago -- were a significant employer in the Carolinas. The major mill in our hometowns (Cannon > Fieldcrest-Cannon > Pillowtex) ran for about a century before closing its doors in 2003.

Marti's Bunkhouse featured a yodeling set -- something we've been wanting to do for a while -- plus a great Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers set plus some great songs from Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Bob Wills, and Eddy Arnold.  Our own Carolinas singing cowboy, Fred Kirby, sang a song for us, and we ran to the finish with some 1950s, 60s, and 70s classic country.

We hope you enjoyed something you heard on this show.  If you have requests, just leave them in the comments, or send an e-mail to redroosterparty "at" gmail "dot"com.

Jim & Marti

Marti's Bunkhouse in burgundy.


Title / Artist / Album / Label
  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton
  • Preacher And The Bear (1937) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • Carve That Possum (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Go Long Mule / County
  • How Many Biscuits Can You Eat (c.1941) / The Coon Creek Girls / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead
  • Let Me Be Your Salty Dog (1938) / Morris Brothers / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
  • Orange Blossom Special (1947) / Jerry & Sky / The Appalachian Tradition / Great American
  • Radio Show (San Antonio 1941) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Early Country Radio / JSP

My Old Pal Of Yesterday
Indian River Hoedown
Letter Edged In Black
Goodbye Maggie
  • Cotton Mill Colic (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
  • Everyday Dirt (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
  • Take Them For A Ride (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
  • Poor Man, Rich Man (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
  • Serves 'em Fine (1931) / Dave (McCarn) & Howard (Long) / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
  • Will, The Weaver (1927) / Charlie Parker & Mac Woolbright / The Appalachian Tradition / Great American
  • Cluck Old Hen (1928) / Grayson & Whitter / Cluck Old Hen / Old Hat
  • Barnyard Frolic (1932) / Carolina Ramblers String Band / Cluck Old Hen / Old Hat
  • The Checker Time Radio Hour excerpt (c.1941) / The DeZurik Sisters (The Cackle Sisters) / Radio transcription / na
  • Cowboy Rhythm (1938) / Patsy Montana / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
  • That's How The Yodel Was Born (1953) / Elton Britt / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
  • Yodelin' Boogie (1949) / Rosalie Allen / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
  • Hobo Bill's Last Ride (1930) / Gene Autry / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
  • My Saddle Pals And I (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • Heavenly Airplane (1940) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • Blue Juniata (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • Billy The Kid (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
  • Git Along, Little Dogies (1932) / Tex Ritter / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
  • Cherokee Maiden (1941) / Bob Wills / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
  • Cattle Call (1955 version) / Eddy Arnold / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
  • South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) / Gene Autry / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
  • Jukebox Jackson From Jacksonville (1948) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
  • Tears In The Eyes Of A Potato (1965) / Jimmy Murphy / Southern Roots / Ace
  • No Charge (1974) / Melba Montgomery / Queens Of Country / Time Life
  • Alabam (1960) / Cowboy Copas / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
  • Blue Blue Day (1957) / Don Gibson / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
  • Little Sadie (1960-2) / Clarence Ashley / Classic Old Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Playlist 7/7/2013 - Charlie Louvin, Delmore Brothers, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Slim Whitman

Hi Folks,

We laughed a lot on this show, mostly  because Marti is just naturally funny, but we were having a great time.  We hope you enjoyed it as well.

Being Independence Day weekend, we followed our Golden Gate Quartet opener with the Georgia Tech Glee Club singing a verse of "To Anacreon In Heaven," the old English drinking song that became the melody of "The Star Spangled Banner."  Marti followed up in Marti's Bunkhouse with more patriotic-themed Western music which we will get to below.

Charlie Louvin died in 2011, but he would have had a birthday on this day, so we celebrated the man and his music, including that of the Louvin Brothers, with a big set covering the span of his entire career.

Alton & Rabon Delmore
Because the Louvins did an album of music in tribute to the Delmore Brothers from which we played, we also did a set of Delmore Brothers music.  That led to a Doc Watson tune that he got from the Delmore Brothers, and that led to the first meeting of Doc Watson and Merle Travis, and that led to the Merle Travis song that Doc praised during their first meeting.  Whew!  Everything seems to be connected, as Red Rooster Party often demonstrates.

We played a short daily radio program from Eddy Arnold and The Checkerboard Fun Fest that included the incomparable DeZurik Sisters who were known on the Fun Fest as "The Cackle Sisters."

Marti's Bunkhouse included some Gene Autry music including a couple of patriotic pieces from the 1940s, plus a recording from Gene's radio show of his actual enlistment into the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942.  Marti followed that with a couple of early female-led Western numbers by Girls of the Golden West and Patsy Montana, a couple of songs from early cowboy singer Jules Verne Allen and Jimmy Wakely, and then on the day after the 15th anniversary of his passing, a set of great songs from Roy Rogers.

Slim Whitman
We finished with a couple of tunes from the late Slim Whitman who just died June 19, 2013, and closed with a hilarious tune, "Jim's Windy Mule," from the Prairie Ramblers that was originally issued under the band name Sweet Violet Boys so as not to sully their good name.  You can imagine why the mule was "windy."

Join the fun again next Sunday with Marti and Jim on Red Rooster Party!

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton
  • Swing Down, Chariot (1946) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.5 / Document
  • Anacreontic Song (To Anacreon In Heaven) (2011) / Georgia Tech Glee Club / Engineers Are People, Too! / Self-produced
  • Hoping That You're Hoping (1956) / Louvin Brothers / 20 All-Time Greatest Hits / King
  • The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea (1958) / Louvin Brothers / 20 Greatest Gospel Hits / King
  • Cash On The Barrelhead (2009) / Charlie Louvin / Hickory Wind: Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull Waycross GA / Tompkins Square
  • Worried Man Blues (2007) / Charlie Louvin / Self-titled / Tompkins Square
  • Weary Lonesome Blues (1960) / Louvin Brothers / A Tribute To The Delmore Brothers / Gusto
  • Brown's Ferry Blues (1933) / Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts 1933-41 / JSP
  • Blue Railroad Train (1933) / Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts 1933-41 / JSP
  • Put Me On The Trail To Carolina (1936) / Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts 1933-41 / JSP
  • The Last Old Shovel (1945) / Delmore Brothers / The Later Years 1933-1952 / JSP
  • Nashville Blues (1964) / Doc Watson / Self-titled / Vanguard
  • First Meeting (Dialog) (1971) / Doc Watson & Merle Travis / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / EMI
  • The Courtship Of Second Cousin Claude (1963) / Merle Travis / Back Home-Songs Of The Coalmines / Bear Family
  • Eddy Arnold & The Checkerboard Fun Fest (1945) / Eddy Arnold, Dezurik Sisters, Louis Buck, Shelby Jean Davis, Speedy McNett / Radio Transcription / na
  • America The Beautiful (1949) / Gene Autry / The Cowboy is a Patriot / Varese Sarabande
  • Ridin’ Down the Canyon (1935) / Gene Autry / The Last Round Up / Synergy
  • Gene Autry Is Sworn Into The USAAF by Col. Edward F. Shaffer (1942) / Gene Autry / The Cowboy Is A Patriot / Varese Sarabande
  • Private Buckaroo (1942) / Sgt. Gene Autry / The Cowboy Is A Patriot / Varese Sarabande
  • Round-up Time in Texas (1933) / Girls of the Golden West / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • My Poncho Pony (1939) / Patsy Montana / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
  • Little Joe The Wrangler (1928) / Jules Vern Allen / Singing In The Saddle / Rounder
  • Lonely is the Hunter (1958) / Jimmy Wakely / The Singing Cowboy / Varese Sarabande
  • (There’ll Never Be Another) Pecos Bill (1948) / Roy Rogers, Foy Willing & Riders of the Purple Sage / The Roy Rogers Collection / Rhino
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1953) / Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers / The Roy Rogers Collection / Rhino
  • Hoppy, Gene and Me (1974) / Roy Rogers / The Roy Rogers Collection / Rhino
  • Happy Trails (1952) / Roy Rogers, Dale Evans / The Roy Rogers Collection / Rhino
  • Indian Love Call (1951) / Slim Whitman / Vintage Collections / Capitol
  • There's A Rainbow In Every Teardrop (1953) / Slim Whitman / Vintage Collections / Capitol
  • Jim's Windy Mule (1935) / Sweet Violet Boys aka Prairie Ramblers / Jim's Windy Mule / B.A.C.M

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Playlist 6/30/2013 - Marti's Back, Let's Have Fun!

Hi Folks.

Marti was back on the air today after being away two weeks with students in Costa Rica, so we put her to work with a big Marti's Bunkhouse western set.

Additionally, we heard some early fiddle rags from Georgia and North Carolina, a Georgia songster's songs about Fords and Chevrolets, and John Dilleshaw (Seven Foot Dilly) conduct a rough and rowdy square dance on Ball Top Mountain.

We had a good number of requests which included Roscoe Holcomb, Charlie Poole, Lee Moore, and a version of I'll Fly Away with Don Reno and Benny Martin.

Join us next Sunday 2-4pm ET for Red Rooster Party!

Jim & Marti

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue


Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton
  • Jonah In The Whale (1939) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.3 / Document
  • G Rag (1927) / Georgia Yellow Hammers / String Bands 1926-1929 / Document
  • Concord Rag (c.1961) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Classic Old-Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways
  • John Henry (c.1961) / George Pegram / Classic Old-Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways
  • Henry Ford's Model A (1929) / Oscar Ford / Georgia Songsters / Document
  • Riding In A Chevrolet 6 (1930) / Oscar Ford / Georgia Songsters / Document
  • Race Between A Ford And Chevrolet (1930) / Oscar Ford / Georgia Songsters / Document
  • I'll Fly Away (1967) / Don Reno & Benny Martin / True Bluegrass Gospel / Rebel
  • Pass Around The Bottle And We'll All Take A Drink (1926) / Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers with Riley Puckett / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • The Square Dance Fight On Ball Top Mountain - Part 1 (1930) / Seven Foot Dilly, Pink Lindsey, Shorty Lindsey, Bill Kiker / John Dilleshaw Complete Recorded Works / Document
  • The Square Dance Fight On Ball Top Mountain - Part 2 (1930) / Seven Foot Dilly, Pink Lindsey, Shorty Lindsey, Bill Kiker / John Dilleshaw Complete Recorded Works / Document
  • Sales Tax On The Women (1936) / Dixon Brothers / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • I Got A Red Hot Mama (1936) / Fred Kirby / That Good Old Utah Trail / B.A.C.M
  • Tom Cat's Kitten (1956) / Johnnie & Jack and The Tennessee Mountain Boys / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
  • There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea (1948) / Lonzo & Oscar / There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea / B.A.C.M
  • You Make My Heart Go Boom (1938) / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
  • Blue Yodel No. 8 (1930) / Jimmie Rodgers / 1930-1931 / Rounder
  • A Cowboy Has To Sing (2006) / Riders In The Sky / Live From The Golden Age of Riders Radio Theater / RRR
  • Happy Cowboy (1987) / Sons Of The San Joaquin / 15 Years - A Retrospective / Dualtone
  • On The Owl Hoot Trail (1939) / The Shelton Brothers / Country Western / Documents
  • The Dying Cowboy (1939) / Jules Verne Allen / Country Western / Documents
  • I'll Go Ridin' Down (1936) / Gene Autry / Country Western / Documents
  • Cowboy Night Herd Song (1937) / Roy Rogers / Country Western / Documents
  • Jingle Jangle Jingle (1943) / Tex Ritter / Country Western / Documents
  • Oklahoma Hills (1945) / Jack Guthrie / Country Western / Documents
  • South Of The Border (1951) / Gene Autry / Country Western / Documents
  • My Love Is A Rider (Bucking Bronco) (1934) / The Girls Of The Golden West / Singing In The Saddle / Rounder
  • Way Out There (1934) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Singing In The Saddle / Rounder
  • The Cat Came Back / Lee Moore / Country Roots / Rural Rhythm
  • Trouble In Mind (1961) / Roscoe Holcomb / Classic Old Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways
  • How Many Biscuits Can You Eat (c.1939) / Coon Creek Girls / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead
  • Rabbit In The Pea Patch (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Go Long Mule / County
  • I'm The Man Who Rode The Mule Around The World (1925) / Charlie Poole / The Essential Charlie Poole / Proper
  • Johnny Don't Get Drunk (2013) / Adam Steffey / New Primitive / Organic

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Playlist 6/23/2013 - Gordon Pike & Darlene Champagne and Early New England Bluegrass and Country Music

The first hour of the show was mostly classic country music from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

We learned much about early New England bluegrass and country music from Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne during the second half of the show.
Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne today
Gordon is the son of Earl Pike -- one of the Pike Brothers, Earl and Fred, whose band the Pine Hill Ranchers included many of the Pike family members including Gordon on drums, and Gordon's sister Earlene on vocals.  Earlene died in 1971 at 19 from cancer bringing the end of the family band.  Fred went on to Maine to create the Kennebec Valley Boys with Sam Tidwell.

Earl, Earlene, and Fred Pike on the front row.
Sam Tidwell, Gordon Pike, Dave Papuga back row.
Darlene was a family friend of the Pikes and grew up with the Pikes.  She was a friend of Earlene and performed and recorded with the Pikes.  She now lives in South Carolina and has a band called Darlene and Reflections of Bluegrass with great SC banjo picker Johnny Fenlayson.

Earl Pike, Darlene Champagne, Connie Smith, Fred Pike.
Gordon and Darlene described the circumstances of this photo on the show.
L-R:  Bill Thibodeau, Gail Pike, Darlene Champagne, Gordon Pike
performance at Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, May 31, 2013

We will probably replay this interview in the fall on Bluegrass Cafe.

Thanks for listening.  Marti will be back next Sunday.

Jim

Title / Artist / Album / Label
  • Rock My Soul / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 2 / Document
  • You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey (When You Grow Old) / Hank Penny & His California Cowhands / The Penny Opus #1 / Jasmine
  • I'm My Own Grandpa (1948) / Lonzo and Oscar with the Winston County Pea Pickers / Crazy Country Hits / Time Life
  • Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) (1947) / Tex Williams and his Western Caravan / Crazy Country Hits / Time Life
  • Jealous Lies (1950) / Ray Price / The Essential Ray Price / Columbia
  • I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know / The Davis Sisters / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
  • Hangman's Boogie (1949) / Cowboy Copas / Tragic Tales of Love & Life / Gusto
  • Drivin' Nails In My Coffin (1957) / Hank Thompson / Vintage Collection / Capitol
  • So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed (1946) / Merle Travis / The Best of Merle Travis / Rhino
  • Lonesome 7-7203 (1962) / Hawkshaw Hawkins / Best Of The Best / Federal
  • Once A Day (1964) / Connie Smith / Queens Of Country / Time Life
  • Catfish, Take A Look At That Worm / Smiley Burnette / ...is Frog Millhouse / King
  • I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) / Roy Rogers / Country Music Hall Of Fame Series / MCA
  • Cross The Brazos At Waco (1964) / Billy Walker / Great Story Songs / Time Life
  • Rainbow At Midnight (1946) / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA

  • Pickin' On Asheville Pike (1970) / The Pike Brothers and the Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
Interview with Gordon Pike and Darlene Champagne, including the following songs:

  • Dream Dream Dream (1969) / The Bluegrass Travelers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
  • To Warm And Comfort You (1970) / The Pike Family and The Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
  • Washington and Lee Fling (1970) / The Pike Brothers and the Pine Hill Ranchers / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
  • Image Of A Living Doll (1970) / The Pike Brothers and Earlene / 45 RPM Single / Rebel (45)
  • You Left Your Mark On Me / Darlene Marie / 45 RPM Single / Zap (45)
  • Wild Side Of Life / Darlene Marie / 45 RPM Single / Zap (45)
  • Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends (2013) / Gorden Pike and the Dixie Darlins / Self-titled / Self-produced