Saturday, July 26, 2014

Playlist - 7/26/2014 - The Bristol Sessions

Hi Folks.

Except for the usual opener by The Golden Gate Quartet, this entire show was a tribute to Ralph Peer's first recording session in Bristol, TN, for the Victor record company.  The recordings, made in a studio assembled in a hat warehouse on State Street on the Tennessee side of the Virginia-Tennessee line, were made between July 25th and August 5th, 1927.

The first few days of recording were dominated by the extended family of Ernest V. Stoneman -- one of the artists Peer knew before the sessions and had invited to attend prior to the sessions.  Concerned that he might not have enough musicians to fill out his planned two-week stay in Bristol, Peer invited the press to attend a session and the publicity from the resultant newspaper articles caused rural musicians to travel to Bristol in hopes of recording for Victor.  This included the great discoveries The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.

Nineteen performers recorded seventy-six songs at the Sessions of which sixty-nine were released.

The artistic and commercial success of the Bristol sessions has led some musicologists and historians to call the event the "Big Bang of Country Music."

On this show we played songs from all artists who recorded at the 1927 Bristol sessions (except for two artists whose recordings did not survive.)  If you want to own recordings of the complete Bristol sessions, we highly recommend the comprehensive box set from Bear Family titled "The Bristol Sessions."

We hope you enjoyed this slice of music history.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Disk / Label / Year

  • Golden Gate Quartet / Didn't It Rain / Complete Recorded Works / Document / 1941
  • Ernest V. Stoneman - E. Kahle Brewer - Walter Mooney / Dying Girl's Farewell / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Ernest V. Stoneman - E. Kahle Brewer - Walter Mooney / Tell Mother I Will Meet Her / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Ernest V. Stoneman & His Dixie Mountaineers / Sweeping Through The Gate / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Ernest Phipps & His Holiness Quartet / Happy In Prison / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Ernest Phipps & His Holiness Quartet / Don't Grieve After Me / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Uncle Eck Dunford - Hattie Stoneman / What Will I Do, For My Money's All Gone / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Uncle Eck Dunford / The Whip-poor-will's Song / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Uncle Eck Dunford / Skip To Ma Lou, My Darling / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Uncle Eck Dunford - Ernest Stoneman / Barney McCoy / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Blue Ridge Corn Shuckers / Old Time Corn Shuckin', Part 1 / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Johnson Brothers / The Jealous Sweetheart (Take 1) / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Johnson Brothers / Just A Message From Carolina / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Blind Alfred Reed / The Wreck Of The Virginian (Take 2) / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Johnson Brothers with Tennessee Wildcats / The Soldier's Poor Little Boy / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • El Watson / Pot Licker Blues / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • B. F. Shelton / Pretty Polly / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Alfred G. Karnes / Where We'll Never Grow Old / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • J. P. Nester / Train On The Island / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Bull Mountain Moonshiners / Johnny Goodwin / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • The Carter Family / Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • The Carter Family / Single Girl, Married Girl / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Alcoa Quartet / Remember Me, O Mighty One / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Henry Whitter / Rain Crow Bill / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • The Shelor Family / Billy Grimes, The Rover / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Baker / The Newmarket Wreck / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Jimmie Rodgers / The Soldier's Sweetheart / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • Tenneva Ramblers / Sweet Heaven When I Die / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927
  • West Virginia Coon Hunters / Greasy String / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 
  • Tennessee Mountaineers / Standing On The Promises / The Bristol Sessions / Bear Family / 1927

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Playlist - 7/19/2014

Hi Folks.

Marti has been creating most of the playlists this year, and this show was no exception.  She programmed the first 90 minutes and Jim did the last 30.

The Dillards as The Darlings
with Andy Griffith and Denver Pyle
A highlight of the show was a tribute to the music of Mayberry -- music heard on The Andy Griffith Show.

We also got a little more bluesy than usual with songs from Robert Johnson and Leadbelly.

Both of us are fans of novelty songs, and Marti found a bunch that appeared on this show.

Bettyanne & Kenny Roberts
When we interviewed Kenny Roberts back in 2006 he told us his wife Bettyanne first heard of him when she visited a record store to buy a Vaughn Monroe record and ended up buying Kenny's first Vogue picture disc instead.  We celebrated that story by playing a Vaughn Monroe recording along with a couple songs from Kenny Roberts.

We hope you enjoyed the fun.  If you have requests for this kind of early American recorded music, let us know what you would like to hear in the comments.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

  • Golden Gate Quartet / This World Is In A Bad Condition / Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 2 / Document / 1939
  • Hank Williams / Lost Highway / Ramblers, Gamblers, Vagabonds and Revelers / Proper / 1949
  • Robert Johnson / Ramblin' On My Mind / Ramblers, Gamblers, Vagabonds and Revelers / Proper / 1937
  • Prarie Ramblers / Shady Grove My Darling / Ramblers, Gamblers, Vagabonds and Revelers / Proper / 1934
  • Wade Mainer & Sons of the Mountaineers / Ramblin' Boy / Ramblers, Gamblers, Vagabonds and Revelers / Proper / 1942
  • Andy Griffith and Earle Hagan / The Fishin' Hole / Musical Memories of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1960
  • The Dillards as The Darlings with Maggie Peterson and Denver Pyle / Salty Dog / Musical Memories Of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1986
  • The Dillards as The Darlings / Dooley / Musical Memories of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1963
  • Howard Morris as Ernest T. Bass and Maggie Peterson as Charlene / I Don't Chew My Cabbage Twice / Musical Memories Of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1964
  • The Dillards as The Darlings / Doug's Tune / Musical Memories Of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1964
  • The Dillards as The Darlings / Ebo Walker / Musical Memories Of Mayberry Volume One / no label / 1965
  • Gene Autry / The Old Trail / A Cowboy's Life is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine / 1938
  • Elton Britt / Rogue River Valley / A Cowboy's Life is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine / 1946
  • Smoky Dawson & His Rocky Canyon Boys / Texas Lil / A Cowboy's Life is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine / c.1950s
  • Chet Atkins w. Johnny Gimble / Fiddlin' Around / World's Greatest Country Novelty Records / Echo / 1973
  • Jerry Reed and Friends / The Bird / World's Greatest Country Novelty Records / Echo / 1982
  • Ray Stevens / Shriner's Convention / World's Greatest Country Novelty Records / Echo / 1980
  • Archie Campbell / That’s Good... That’s Bad / World's Greatest Country Novelty Records / Echo / 1969
  • Phil Harris / That's What I Like About The South / World's Greatest Country Novelty Records / Echo / 1947
  • Vaughn Monroe / Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend) / Songs Of The Golden West / Dynamic / 1949
  • Roy Rogers / Hi-Yo Silver / Songs Of The Golden West / Dynamic / 1938
  • John "Dusty" King / Deep In The Heart Of Texas / Songs Of The Golden West / Dynamic / 1942
  • The Prarie Ramblers / Lucy Long / Songs Of The Golden West / Dynamic / 1938
  • Kenny Roberts / Cannonball Yodel (with Elton Britt) / Then And Now / Longhorn / 1962
  • Kenny Roberts / Slide Them Jugs Down The Mountain / Then and Now / Longhorn / 1950
  • Michael Martin Murphey / The Streets of Laredo / Cowboy Songs / Rhino-Warner Bros. / 1990
  • Micheal Martin Murphey / Goodbye Old Paint / Cowboy Songs / Rhino / Warner Bros. / 1990
  • Leadbelly / Tight Like That / The Definitive / Snapper Music / 
  • Leadbelly / Thirty Days In the Work House / The Definitive / Snapper Music / 
  • Leadbelly / Corn Bread Rough / The Definitive / Snapper Music / 
  • Doc & Chickie Williams / Hannah Open The Door / Early Recordings Volume Four (1952 to 1972) / Wheeling / c.1952-72
  • Jimmy Dean / Big Blue Diamonds / Find 'em Fool 'em Leave 'em Alone / B.A.C.M / 1952
  • Stuart Hamblen / Poor Boy / Stuart Hamblen Vol. 2 Prettiest Girl In Town / B.A.C.M / 1935
  • Johnnie & Jack / Humming Bird / Johnnie & Jack and The Tennessee Mountain Boys / B.A.C.M / 1951
  • Uncle Dave Macon / Johnny Grey / Travelin' Down The Road / County / 1938
  • Uncle Dave Macon / The Bum Hotel / Travelin' Down The Road / County / 1937

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Playlist - 7/12/2014

 Hi Folks,

Ernest V. Stoneman
We, Marti and Jim, returned after a three week absence from the WHUS airways during which we had been doing a good bit of traveling.  It was good to get reacquainted with sharing good music.

We featured a set of music from Ernest V. Stoneman, heard some radio transcriptions from Doc & Chickie Williams, and ended the show with music about possums from The Possum Tapes.
Doc & Chickie Williams

We hope you enjoyed what you heard.

Jim & Marti








Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

  • Aunt Hattie Dalton  / Old Red Rooster Party Introduction  / Interview by Jim & Marti  / Private  / 1994
  • Golden Gate Quartet / Sampson / Golden Gate Quartet Vol. 2 (1938-1939) / Document / 1938
  • Uncle Dave Macon / Travelin' Down The Road / Travelin' Down The Road / County / 1937
  • Delmore Brothers / Freight Train Boogie / Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame 2001 / King / 1946
  • Jimmie Rodgers / Blue Yodel No. 12 / 1933 Last Sessions / Rounder / 1933
  • The Carter Family / Meet Me By The Moonlight Alone / Anchored In Love / Rounder / 1928
  • Doc & Chickie Williams / My Little Ole Home In West Virginia / Early Recordings Volume Four (1952 to 1972) / Wheeling / 
  • Doc & Chickie Williams / The First Whippoorwill Song / Early Recordings Volume Four (1952 to 1972) / Wheeling / 
  • Al Dexter / Pistol Packin' Mama / Pistol Packin' Mama / Allegro / 1942
  • Jenks "Tex" Carman / Another Good Dream Gone Wrong / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family / 1951
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Concord Rag / Classic Old-Time Music  / Smithsonian Folkways / 1961
  • George Pegram / John Henry / Classic Old-Time Music  / Smithsonian Folkways / 1970
  • The Quebe Sisters / It's A Sin To Tell A Lie / Every Which-A-Way / FiddleTone / 2014
  • Sweet Violet Boys / Jim's Windy Mule / Jim's Windy Mule / B.A.C.M / 1935
  • Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Let Your Shack Burn Down / Self-Titled / B.A.C.M / 1925
  • Grandpa Jones / TV Blues / You're Never Too Old For Love / B.A.C.M / 1952
  • Yodelin' Slim Clark / Big Rock Candy Mountain / Self-titled / Old Homestead / 1999
  • Fred Kirby / I Got A Red Hot Mama / That Good Old Utah Trail / B.A.C.M / 1936
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / The Burial Of Wild Bill / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String / 1929
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / The Wreck Of The Old '97 / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String / 1927
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / The Fate Of Talmadge Osborne / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String / 1927
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / The New River Train / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String / 1928
  • Ralph Emery & Reba McEntire / Ralph Emery's National Radio Hall of Fame Induction: Part One / Live From The Archives of 650 AM WSM Vol 1 / Red River Entertainment / 2010
  • The Grascals / Last Train to Clarksville / Live From The Archives of 650 AM WSM Vol. 1 / Red River Entertainment / 2010
  • Hank Williams / You Win Again / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Jimmie Rodgers / Any Old Time / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Ernest Tubb / Tomorrow Never Comes / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Patsy Cline / "A Church, A Courtroom And Then Goodbye / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Slim Whitman / Down In The Valley / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Bill Monroe / Muleskinner Blues / Bound For Glory / Black Cat / 
  • Randall Hylton / Momma's Not Dead, She's Just Playin' Possum / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993
  • Jesse McReynolds / Possum Hollow Road / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993 
  • Wayne Taylor / God Made the Possum / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993