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