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