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

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Playlist 6/16/2013 - Fathers on Father's Day

Hi Folks,

Since Marti is out of the country with students, we decided to replay a show that first aired on Father's Day on June 17, 2007.  The show included interviews with Marti's father where he described life as a kid in rural North Carolina in the 1920s and 1930s, and the music they had.
Marti's father, Robert Lee Harmon - Grand Canyon North Rim, 1981
(photo by Marti)
We recorded interviews with Marti's father in 1994, and the first airing of this show was the first time Marti had heard those interviews since we recorded them.  Marti's father passed away in 1998

We also had a recording of Jim’s dad from the same year, but because of technical difficulties with the recording, we were not able to air that interview segment.  We will play Jim's dad on a future show.
Jim and his Dad - 2010
(photo by Marti)
When we produced Red Rooster Party on its first three-year run, we incorporated at various times a Mayberry Corner Trivia question, and sometimes a Mayberry recipe.  This 2007 show had both of those features.

We appreciate all the calls from listeners.  You all are great!


Interview segments in blue.  Songs not aired on the original 2007 show in red.

Marti & Jim 

Title / Artist / Album / Label

  • Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
  • One of These Mornings / The Oak Ridge Boys / 22 Country Gospel Greats / Country Stars
  • Early Radio / Robert Lee Harmon Sr / 1994 Interview
  • John Henry (1928) / DeFord Bailey / Harp Blowers  1925-1936 / Document
  • Uncle Dave's Travels p.1 (1929) / Uncle Dave Macon / The Country Music Hall of Fame / MCA
  • My Dixie Darling / The Carter Family / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Maple on the Hill (1935) / J.E. Mainer / The Golden Age of JE Mountaineers / Cattle
  • The WBT Briarhoppers / Robert Lee Harmon Sr / 1994 Interview
  • Theme - Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie / The Briarhoppers / Hit's Briarhopper Time / Lamon (LP)
  • The Old Grey Mare Is Back Where She Used To Be / The Briarhoppers / Whitey and Hogan with the Briarhoppers / Old Homestead (LP)
  • Cool Water / Sons of the Pioneers / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / MCA
  • Back in the Saddle Again / Gene Autry / The Essential / Columbia
  • There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder (1943) / Tex Ritter / High Noon / Living Era
  • Possum Huntin' / Robert Lee Harmon Sr / 1994 Interview
  • Peaches and Possums / Jerry Clower / Peaches and Possums / MCA
  • Idiotic Lawsuits / Jerry Clower / Peaches and Possums / MCA
  • Dill Pickle Rag / Chet Atkins & Doc Watson / Reflections / Sugar Hill
  • Divorce Me C.O.D. / Merle Travis / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • What'll I Do With The Baby-O / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / 78 RPM record / King
Mayberry Corner Trivia question:  Who was Ernest T's "Mother Figure"  Answer:  Helen Crump
  • A Good Man is Hard to Find / Andy Griffith / What It Is, Is Andy Griffith / EMI
Mayberry Recipe:  Rodney's Gooey Butter (from "Aunt Bee’s Delightful Desserts" by Ken Beck and Jim Clark, contributed by Beverly & Rodney Dillard)
  • Wabash Cannonball (1936) / Roy Acuff / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • The Cattle Call / Eddy Arnold / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Walking the Floor Over You / Ernest Tubb / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Long Gone Lonesome Blues / Hank Williams / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Playing in the Woods / Robert Lee Harmon Sr / 1994 Interview
  • In the Jailhouse Now / Jimmie Rodgers / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • I Want to Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart / Patsy Montana / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Jealous Heart / Tex Ritter / Country Roots / K-TEL
  • Ridin' Down the Canyon / Gene Autry / Songs of the West / Rhino
  • That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine / Gene Autry & Jimmy Long / Songs of the West / Rhino
  • Jingle, Jangle, Jingle / Tex Ritter & His Texans / Songs of the West / Rhino
  • Don't Fence Me In / Roy Rogers / Famous Country Music Makers / Pulse
  • Watermelon Hangin' On A Vine / Snuffy Jenkins & The Hired Hands / Carolina Bluegrass / Folk Lyric (LP)
  • Step It Up And Go / Snuffy Jenkins & The Hired Hands / Carolina Bluegrass / Folk Lyric (LP)
  • Possum Up A Gum Stump / Snuffy Jenkins & The Hired Hands / Carolina Bluegrass / Folk Lyric (LP)
  • Long Journey Home / Snuffy Jenkins & The Hired Hands / Carolina Bluegrass / Folk Lyric (LP)

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Playlist 6/9/2013 - Horses, Radio Transcriptions, and Marti's Bunkhouse

Hi Folks!

Marti and I were back after suffering sports preemptions for the past two weeks.  It appears we will have about two months before that possibility returns.

Today's show featured several topics, the first being horses.  We put together about a half-hour of songs about horses, horse racing, horses as scenery for other events, and even finished with a mule.  Later on Marti continued the horse theme for most of her western segment, "Marti's Bunkhouse."

We played a 1944 radio transcription of Charlie Monroe & The Kentucky Pardners from Winston Salem, North Carolina.  They packed a lot of music into those 15-20 minute shows along with the requisite advertisements.  In Charlie's case, the sponser was Man-O-Ree, a type of patent laxative.  "Man-O-Ree is compounded of only the best roots, herbs, and other ingredients by a registered pharmacist."

We also played a set of children's songs from way back, inspired by my acquisition of most of the recorded works of the Georgia Yellow Hammers -- string band contemporaries of The Skillet Lickers.  Not only did they record one of the first versions of Johnson's Old Grey Mule which appears to have been the source for the definitive version by J.E. Mainer, but they also recorded a great children's song about doodle bugs (ant lion larvae) that inspired the set.

We played a set of country hits from the year 1951 from a volume of a series of year-by-year hits from the folks at Bear Family.

Other notable artists on this show included:
Texas Ruby

  • Cliff Carlisle - a contemporary of Jimmie Rodgers who had a very prolific song writing and recording career.  Cliff wrote "Goodbye Old Pal" which was purchased by Bill Monroe who made it even more famous
  • Jimmie Driftwood (James Morris) - an Arkansas schoolteacher-turned-folk-musician who wrote "Tennessee Stud" and many other story songs like "Battle of New Orleans" 
  • Earl Johnson - wild man of the Georgia string band musicians and a fiery fiddler
  • Pappy "Gube" Beaver - no relation to Jim, but a Knoxville musician who recorded eight sides for Capitol in the 1940s.  Pappy is in his 90s and still preaches in Ohio.  Check out his website here
  • Texas Ruby (Ruby Owens Fox) - pioneering female country artist, sister to Tex Owens (writer of "Cattle Call"), and wife of Curly Fox.  She died in a house fire in Nashville in 1963 while her husband was performing on the Opry
  • Homer Briarhopper - character from the cast of The Briarhoppers - the house band of early WBT radio in Charlotte NC.  The Briarhoppers still exist today.  Check out their blog here
  • Jimmy Murphy - talented guitarist (played in open E) and strong vocalist who never hit big, but made some great music if you can find it.  His hit song was "Electricity" which we played here

We hope you are enjoying the return of Red Rooster Party.  If there is some old music you would like to hear, please let us know.  You can either respond in the comments of this blog, or send an e-mail to redroosterparty (at) gmail.com

You can also "friend" us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/redroosterparty

We hope you can join us next Sunday 2-4pm ET.

Jim & Marti

* requests
Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Song / Artist / Album / Label
  • Introduction (1994) / Hattie Dalton              
  • Didn't It Rain (1941) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.4/Document
  • Molly And Tenbrooks (1947) / Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Goodbye Old Pal (1934) / Cliff Carlisle / A Country Legacy 1930-1939 / JSP
  • My Old Saddle Horse Is Missing (1936) / Fred Kirby, Don White, Cliff Carlisle / Classic Country Sides 19330-1936 / JSP
  • Tennessee Stud (1957) / Jimmie Driftwood / Americana / Bear Family
  • Six White Horses (1940) / Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon of Kentucky / Bear Family
  • Old Grey Mare Kicking Out Of The Wilderness (1927) / Earl Johnson / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
  • Johnson's Old Grey Mule (1927) / Georgia Yellow Hammers  /Johnson's Old Grey Mule / B.A.C.M
  • Charlie Monroe & The Kentucky Pardners Radio Transcription, 1944, Winston Salem, NC/Early Country Radio/JSP

Opening Theme and Introduction 

Watermelon On The Vine
Daisy Mae
Happy Day
Man-O-Ree Commercial                    
Going Around The World
White House Blues
Gone And Left Me Blues
Chicken Reel
Valley Of Peace
Heading For Gloryland
Closing Theme

  • Automobile Of Life (1946) / Pappy "Gube" Beaver / The Golden Age of Country Music / Cattle
  • Have I Waited Too Long To Regret (1947) / Texas Ruby (Ruby Owens Fox) / The Golden Age of Country Music / Cattle
  • Bronco Bustin' Blues (1929) / Phil Pavey / 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
  • Trail Rider's Moon (1949) / Slim Clark / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Over The Trail (1940) / Elton Britt / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
  • Back In The Saddle Again (1939) / Gene Autry / Boots, Buckles, & Spurs / Sony BMG
  • Strawberry Roan (1960) / Marty Robbins / Boots, Buckles, & Spurs / Sony BMG
  • Tennessee Walking Horse (c.1950) / Cass County Boys / Cowboy Country / Jasmine
  • *Big Iron (1960) / Marty Robbins / Songs Of The West / Rhino
  • Get Along Old Paint (1936) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
  • Skyball Paint (1935) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Classic Cowboy Songs (radio transcription) / Varese Sarabande
  • *I'll Fly Away (2000) / Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch / O Brother, Where Art Thou? / Mercury
  • Song Of The Doodle Bug (1928) / Georgia Yellow Hammers / Johnson's Old Grey Mule / B.A.C.M
  • I Am Just What I Am (1938) / Homer Briarhopper (Homer Lee Drye) / The Story That The Crow Told Me / Yazoo
  • Liza Up In The Simmon Tree (1929) / Bradley Kincaid / The Story That The Crow Told Me / Yazoo
  • The Shot Gun Boogie (1951) / Tennessee Ernie / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke / Bear Family
  • The Golden Rocket (1951) / Hank Snow / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke / Bear Family
  • Electricity (1951) / Jimmy Murphy / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke / Bear Family
  • Will You Meet Me Over Yonder (1946) / Blue Sky Boys / On Radio - Volume One / Copper Creek