Red Rooster Party

Hard Times - 1/11/2009

2009-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago a listener, probably digesting the daily news, requested we do a show about "hard times." We didn't want to make such a show the last of the year or the first of the year, so this second show of the year seemed to be a good time to do it. Of course hard times tend to bring out many songwriting talents, and the many economic trials of the early-to-mid 20th century -- in particular the great depression of the 1930s -- coincided with the blossoming of recording technology to leave quite a musical legacy.

We had many songs to choose from, but picked the following tracks to illustrate hard times as depicted by early recorded songsters.

Thanks for listening.

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Job (1937) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document
Blue Harvest (1928) / Mississippi John Hurt / 1928 Sessions / Yazoo
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live (1929) / Blind Alfred Reed / Complete Recorded Works / Document
How Can A Broke Man Be Happy (1937) / Dixon Brothers / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 / Document
All I Got's Gone (1934) / Ernest Stoneman / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String
The Tramp (1927) / Sam & Kirk McGee / Uncle Dave Macon - 1928 - 1936 / JSP
The Railroad Tramp (1926) / Walter Morris / Complete Recorded Works / Document
The Georgia Hobo (1927) / Cofer Brothers / Georgia String Bands / Document
Waiting For A Train (1928) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Early Years, 1928-1929 / Rounder
Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister (1925) / Charlie Poole with the North Carolina Ramblers / Charlie Poole with the North Carolina Ramblers / JSP
Remember The Poor Tramp Has To Live (1928) / Ernest V. Stoneman / Edison Recordings - 1928 / County
What Will I Do When My Money Is All Gone (1927) / Uncle Eck Dunford / Serenade In The Mountains / JSP
The Farm Relief Song (1929) / Vernon Dalhart / Volume II On The Lighter Side / Old Homestead
One Old Shirt (1938) / Roy Acuff / His Earliest Recordings / Recall Records
Work In 1930 (1933) / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / B.A.C.M
Bread And Gravy (1953) / Grandpa Jones / You're Never Too Old For Love / B.A.C.M

Mayberry Corner Trivia: How was Barney related to Andy in the early episodes of The Andy Griffith Show? Answer: Barney was Andy’s cousin

Prosperity And Politics - Part 1 & Part 2 (1934) / Gid Tanner and The Skillet-Lickers / Complete Recorded Works Volume 6 / Document
Bread Line Blues (1931) / Slim Smith / Mountain Blues / JSP
N. R. A. Blues (1933) / Bill Cox / Mountain Blues / JSP
Bad Time Blues (1928) / Barbecue Bob / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.2 / Yazoo
One Dime Blues (1927) / Blind Lemon Jefferson / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.1 / Yazoo
Times Is Tight Like That (c.1928-31) / Bo Carter & Walter Vinson / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.2 / Yazoo
No Dough Blues (c.1928) / Blind Blake / Complete Recorded Works / Document
Eleven Cent Cotton (1928 or 29) / Vernon Dalhart / Volume II On The Lighter Side / Old Homestead
Price Of Cotton Blues (1930) / Allen Brothers / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.2 / Yazoo
Cotton Mill Colic (1930) / Dave McCarn / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.2 / Yazoo
Serves 'Em Fine (1931) / Dave McCarn / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.1 / Yazoo
The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore (1975) / June Carter Cash / Keep On The Sunny Side: Her Life In Music / Columbia
Things Are Getting Rough All Over (1952) / Hank Penny & His California Cowhands / The Penny Opus #1 / Jasmine
Poor Boy Blues (1974) / Doc & Merle Watson / Then And Now/Two Days In November / Sugar Hill
Hard Times Come Again No More (c.1932) / Graham Brothers / Hard Times Come Again No More Vol.1 / Yazoo
Waitin' For The Hard Times To Go (1993) / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Waitin' For The Hard Times / Sugar Hill

Fiddlers - 1/4/2009

2009-01-11T15:37:00.001-08:00

For the first show of the new year we focused on the great fiddlers of early recorded music. I learned recently that old-time fiddling was quite the fad in the 1920s primarily because Henry Ford promoted the style as preserving something uniquely American. The early bands were very fiddle-centric as a result, and many of these early fiddlers were recorded in the 1920s into the 1930s. We also heard a few recent fiddle tunes from local group Notorious, and Texas fiddlers The Quebe Sisters.

The only songs not using fiddle were the opening Golden Gate Quartet number, and the ending number by local duet Blue Around the Edges (Dianna Tetreau & Carol Campbell).

Thanks for listening!

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Bedside Of A Neighbor (1937) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (1926) / Gid Tanner & His Skillet-Lickers with Riley Puckett / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1` / Document
Turkey In The Straw (1922) / Eck Robertson / Vintage Recordings 1922-1929 / County
Brilliancy Medley (1929) / Eck Robertson / Vintage Recordings 1922-1929 / County
Little More Sugar In The Coffee (1930) / Fiddlin' John Carson / Complete Recorded Works Volume 6 / Document
Black Eyed Susie (1927) / Fiddlin' Doc Roberts / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document
Lonesome Road Blues (1927) / Williamson Brothers & Curry / Old Time Music From West Virginia / Document
Earl Johnson's Arkansaw Traveler (1927) / Earl Johnson & His Clodhoppers / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 / Document
Henry Ford's Model A (1929) / Oscar Ford / Georgia Songsers / Document
Up Jumped The Rabbit (1930) / Georgia Pot Lickers / The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of / Yazoo
Rocking My Sugar Lump (1930) / Lowe Stokes & His Pot Lickers / In Chronological Order Volume 1 / Document
Give Me Back My Fifteen Cents (1928) / Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers / Nashville, 1928 / Document
The Georgia Hobo (1927) / Cofer Brothers / Georgia String Bands Volume 1 / Document
Jolly Blacksmith (1928) / Theron Hale & Daughters / Nashville, 1928 / Document
Stone Rag (1928) / Paul Warmack & His Gully Jumpers / Nashville, 1928 / Document

Maryberry Corner Trivia: What part did Barney sing in the Mayberry Choir? Answer: Tenor

Old Joe Clark (1927) / Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters / Complete Recorded Works / Document
Podunk Toddle (1935) / The Freeny Harmonizers / Mississippi String Bands Vol. 1 / Document
Ride That Mule (1927) / The Hill Billies / Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters / Complete Recorded Works Volume 3 / Document
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues (1925) / The North Carolina Ramblers / Charlie Poole with the North Carolina Ramblers / JSP
Lye Soap (1930) / Dilly & His Dill Pickles / Old Mountain Stringband Songs & Tunes / Living Era
Never Be As Fast As I Have Been (1929) / Grayson & Whitter / Old Mountain Stringband Songs & Tunes / Living Era
Ragtime Annie (1931) / The Corn Cob Crushers / Old Mountain Stringband Songs & Tunes / Living Era
Johnny Grey (1938) / Uncle Dave Macon w. Sid Harkreader / Uncle Dave Macon 1928-1936 / JSP
Johnson’s Old Grey Mule (1936) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Golden Age of J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Cattle
Cumberland Gap (c.1968) / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / Tommy & Fred: Best Fiddle-Banjo Duets / County
Nobody Cares (Not Even You) (1952) / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Bluegrass - Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
Orange Blossom Special (1939) / The Rouse Brothers / Bluegrass - Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
Up Jumped The Devil (1940) / Byron Parker and his Mountaineers / Byron Parker and his Mountaineers / Old Homestead
Sarah Jane (2008) / Notorious / Elkins / Black Socks [local music!]
So Long To The Red River Valley (2007) / The Quebe Sisters Band / Timeless / FiddleTone
Let Your Light Shine On Me (2007) / Blue Around The Edges (Dianna Tetreau & Carol Campbell) / Heaven’s Front Door / Self-released [local music!]

Last Show of the Year - 12/28/2008

2008-12-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

For our last show of the year we brought you some music that we either haven't played or haven't played much. In some cases we just found it for the first time. Of note was three tracks we played from Marti's brand new acquisition -- a box set of music from the movies of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

We finished with a good dose of classic country music.

Thanks for listening. We hope you tune in again in 2009.

Jim & Marti

Title (Year) / Artist / Album / Label

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
You Ain't Got Faith (Till You Got Religion) (1949) / Golden Gate Quartet / Volume 6 (1949-1952) / Document
Jangle Bells (1953) / Lonzo & Oscar / There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea / B.A.C.M
Frosty The De-Frosted Snowman (1953) / Lonzo & Oscar / There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea / B.A.C.M
Defrost Your Heart (1956) / Charlie Feathers / The Legendary Sounds of Sun Studios / Union Square
Belle Starr (1961) / Johnny Bond / That Wild, Wicked But Wonderful West / Starday
Western Wonderland (1944) / Roy Rogers & the Sons of the Pioneers / It Was Always the Music / RR & P
The Timber Trail (1944) / Sons of the Pioneer / It Was Always the Music / RR & P
I Drottled a Drit Drit (1944) / Jean Porter & the Sons of the Pioneers / It Was Always the Music / RR & P
It's Round-Up Time in Reno (1937) / Gene Autry / The Last Round-up / ASV
Goodbye, Dear Old Step Stone (1927) / Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Stoneman / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String
John Hardy (1928) / "Justin Winfield" (Ernest Stoneman) / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String
The Burial Of Wild Bill (1929) / Frank Jenkins' Pilot Mountaineers / The Unsung Father Of Country Music / 5-String
The Unlucky Road To Washington (1928) / Ernest V. Stoneman / Edison Recordings / County
Down South Blues (1974) / Chet Atkins & Merle Travis / Chet Atkins, Merle Travis & Doc Watson / Raven
Don't Monkey 'Round My Widder When I'm Gone (1979) / Chet Atkins & Doc Watson / Chet Atkins, Merle Travis & Doc Watson / Raven

Mayberry Corner Trivia: Who was the adult who attended Miss Crump's elementary school class? Answer: Ernest T. Bass

Foggy Mountain Top (1964) / Bill Monroe and Doc Watson / Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980 / Smithsonian
Shady Grove (1996) / Marvin Gaster / Uncle Henry's Favorites / Rounder
Sugar Baby (1964) / Dock Boggs / Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian / Smithsonian
Railroad Blues (1964) / Sam McGee / Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian / Smithsonian
Bravest Cowboy (1991) / John Lilly and Ralph Blizard / Blue Highway / Self
When the Bees Go Buzzing Along (1965) / Doc & Chickie Williams / Early Recordings, Volume 4 / Wheeling
Dog-Gone It Baby, I'm in Love (1953) / Carl Smith / The Essential / Columbia
Don't Think It Ain't Been Fun, Dear (Cause it Ain't) (1950) / Lefty Frizzell / Look What Thoughts Will Do / Columbia
My Heart Is Broken In Three (1952) / Slim Whitman / Vintage Collections / Capitol
F.O.B. Tennessee (1951) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family
Mr. And Mississippi (1950) / Tennessee Ernie Ford / Country Western / Documents
A Good Time Was Had By All (1955) / Porter Wagoner / RCA Country Legends / BMG
Yodel Your Blues Away (1948) / Bill Haley / Country Western / Documents
Walkin' The Floor Over You (1941) / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
Sweet Thang (1966) / Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn / The Definitive Collection / MCA
A Satisfied Mind (1954) / Porter Wagoner / RCA Country Legends / BMG
Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine (c.1951) / Hank Williams / The Gospel According To Luke The Drifter Vol. 1 / Sugo

Christmas Show with Novelties - 12/21/2008

2008-12-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

This was our Christmas show for the year, and it came after we had a week off for a sports preemption.

The weather fit the mood as it was snowing like crazy, so Marti did as Marti does and stayed home ("I'm not going out in that mess. You can go out in it if you want to."), so we had Marti join the show by telephone a couple of times.

Since we think it is a good thing to be in good humor for the holidays, we augmented our take on old and new Christmas songs with some classic novelty songs. We hope you smiled as you recalled (or heard for the first time) some of these gems (or whatever they are).

Jim & Marti

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Go Where I Send Thee (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document
The Last Month of the Year (1959) / Vera Ward / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn (1929) / Cotton Top Sanctified Singer / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Christmas is A-Coming (1940) / Lead Belly / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Lady Gay (1928) / Buell Kazee / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
The Creak of the Leather (1991) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Christmas / Warner Bros
Christmas on the Line (1991) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Christmas / Warner Bros
Corn, Water, and Wood (1999) / Riders in the Sky / Christmas the Cowboy Way / Rounder
Sidemeat's Christmas Stew (1999) / Riders in the Sky / Christmas the Cowboy Way / Rounder

The following four tracks are from "Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday - The Breaking Up Christmas Story" on the County label, released in 1997:

Old Bunch of Keys / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham
Tempy / Andy Cahan and Band
Little Maggie / Earnest East, Lawrence Lowe, Paul Sutphin
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys

At The Christmas Ball (1925) / Bessie Smith / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over (1927) / Fiddlin' John Carson & His Virginia Reelers / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Breaking Up Christmas (1959) / Norman Edmonds, Rufus Quesinberry / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Jingle Bells (1951) / Maddox Brothers & Rose / Where Will You Be on Christmas Day / Dust-to-Digital
Something You Can't Buy (1978) / The Statler Brothers / The Christmas Collection / Mercury
Christmas Dinner (1997) / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / The Christmas Album / Rising Tide
My Birthday Comes On Christmas (1956) / Spike Jones / It's A Spike Jones Christmas / Rhino
The Christmas Yodel (1999) / Riders in the Sky / Christmas the Cowboy Way / Rounder
Swiss Boy (c.1961) / Smiley Burnette / Smiley Burnette is Frog Millhouse / King
Tennessee Birdwalk (1970) / Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Country Music Nightmare (1983) / Boxcar Willie / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
I've Been Everywhere (1962) / Hank Snow / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
The Auctioneer (1956) / Leroy Van Dyke / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Chit Akins, Make Me A Star (1964) / Don Bowman / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
I'm A Nut (1966) / Leroy Pullins / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Lord, Mr. Ford (1973) / Jerry Reed / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
That's My Pa (1962) / Sheb Wooley / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Welfare Cadillac (1970) / Guy Clark / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Ode To The Little Brown Shack Out Back (1964) / Billy Edd Wheeler / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Johnny's Cash And Charley's Pride (1969) / Mac Wiseman / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
The Movies (1977) / The Statler Brothers / World's Greatest Novelty Records / Echo
Christmas Medley (1978) / The Statler Brothers / The Christmas Collection / Mercury

Country Roots Two-fers - 12/7/2008

2008-12-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is hard for us to pick a song from an artist because there are so many interesting songs to choose from.

We made that task a little easier for this show by playing two songs from each artist. Of course that made us want to play three or four or ten more, but what the heck...

The only exception to our two-fer policy on this show was our Golden Gate Quartet opener. We had a request for a Mississippi John Hurt number, so we fulfilled the request and then played a second John Hurt song at the end to make that a two-fer, too!

We hope this was as much fun for you as it was for us.

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Troubles Of The World (1939) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 / Document
When I Lived In Arkansas (1930) / Hugh Cross & Clayton McMichen / Old Time Music From The Smoky Mountains / B.A.C.M
When It's Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia (1930) / Hugh Cross & Clayton McMichen / Old Time Music From The Smoky Mountains / B.A.C.M
Smoke On The Water (1944) / Red Foley / The Country Hits of the 40s / Living Era
Aunt Jemima's Plaster (1950) / Red Foley / Hank Williams Live at the Grand Old Opry / Mercury
Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me (1938) / Morris Brothers (Zeke & Wiley) / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
Let Me Be Your Salty Dog (1938) / Morris Brothers (Zeke & Wiley) / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
Sunny Side Of Life (1936) / The Blue Sky Boys / The Blue Sky Boys / JSP
I'm Troubled, I'm Troubled (1936) / The Blue Sky Boys / The Blue Sky Boys / JSP
Pallet On The Floor (1963) / Mississippi John Hurt / D.C. Blues: The Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 1 / Fuel
Tom Cat's Kitten (1956) / Johnnie & Jack / Johnnie & Jack and The Tennessee Mountain Boys / B.A.C.M
The Humming Bird (1951) / Johnnie & Jack / Johnnie & Jack and The Tennessee Mountain Boys / B.A.C.M
Brown's Ferry Blues (1933) / The Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts 1933-41 / JSP
Put Me On The Trail To Carolina (1936) / The Delmore Brothers / Classic Cuts 1933-41 / JSP
Pretty Flowers (1947) / The Bailes Brothers / Sing Their Hearts Out For You / Cattle
I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You) (1945) / The Bailes Brothers / Sing Their Hearts Out For You / Cattle
Willy Roy, The Crippled Boy (1949) / Doc Williams and The Border Riders / The Original Historical Early Recordings Vol. 1 / Wheeling
Red Wing (1949) / Doc Williams and The Border Riders / The Original Historical Early Recordings Vol. 1 / Wheeling

Mayberry Corner Trivia: Where did Barney stay on his visits to Raleigh? Answer: The YMCA

Sales Tax On The Women (1936) / Dixon Brothers / Weave Room Blues / Old Homestead
I Didn't Hear Anybody Pray (1938) / Dixon Brothers / Complete Recorded Works Volume 3 / Document
Wasn't It Sad About Lemon (1930) / John Byrd & Washboard Walter / Rare Country Blues Volume 2 / Document
Old Timbrook Blues (1930) / John Byrd & Washboard Walter / Rare Country Blues Volume 2 / Document
A Pretty Girl's Love (1930) / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / B.A.C.M
You Make My Heart Go Boom (1938) / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / B.A.C.M
Never Be As Fast As I Have Been (1929) / G. B. Grayson & Henry Whitter / The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter / County
Short Life Of Trouble (1928) / G. B. Grayson & Henry Whitter / The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter / County
Riding Old Paint Leading Old Bald (1934) / Stuart Hamblen / Vol. 2 Prettiest Girl In Town / B.A.C.M
Prettiest Girl In Town (1940s) / Stuart Hamblen / Vol. 2 Prettiest Girl In Town / B.A.C.M
My Window Faces The South (1955) / Grady Martin & His Slewfoot Five / Cornstalk Hop / B.A.C.M
Just Because (1955) / Grady Martin & His Slewfoot Five / Cornstalk Hop / B.A.C.M
(I've Got A) Humpty Dumpty Heart (1947) / Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys / Vintage Collections / Capitol
Whoa Sailor (1949) / Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys / Vintage Collections / Capitol
Down In The Valley / Slim Whitman / 16 Greatest Love Songs / Prism Leisure
You Are My Sunshine / Slim Whitman / 16 Greatest Love Songs / Prism Leisure
Waiting For A Train (1963) / Mississippi John Hurt / D.C. Blues: The Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 1 / Fuel

Live Stuff - 11/30/2008

2008-12-29T22:14:00.000-08:00

We have either recorded or come across lots of interesting material about early 20th century American music in the course of our musical lives (and this radio show), so we thought we would highlight some of the more interesting material on this program. That's why we call it "Live Stuff."

Jim & Marti

Playlist:

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Everything Moves By The Grace Of God (1939) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 / Document

Robert L. Harmon, Sr. (Marti's Dad) told us about early radio and early music, including The Briarhoppers, Mainer's Mountaineers, and The Carter Family (interviewed in 1994)

Theme: Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie (c.1986) / The Briarhoppers / The Legendary Briarhoppers / Lamon
My Old Saddle Horse Is Missing (c.1986) / The Briarhoppers / The Legendary Briarhoppers / Lamon
Maple On The Hill (1935) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Golden Age Of J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Cattle

The following songs were from a 1941 Carter Family border radio transcription and are from the box set “Early Country Radio” on the JSP label:

May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister
The Dying Soldier
My Heart's Tonight In Texas
Lover's Farewell
I Never Loved But One
Grave On The Green Hillside
Shall We Gather At The River
Lily Of The Valley

J. E. Mainer, Jr. told us about the history of his family in music (interviewed in 2006)

Seven And A Half (1963) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Run Mountain / Arhoolie
I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail (1963) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Run Mountain / Arhoolie

Wade Mainer Interview (interviewed by John Morris in 1999) / Wade Mainer / Live For Collectors / Old Homestead
Just As The Sun Went Down (1936) / Wade Mainer's Mountaineers [sic] / Volume 1 1935-1936 / Old Homestead
Take Me In The Lifeboat (1935) / Wade Mainer's Mountaineers [sic] / Volume 1 1935-1936 / Old Homestead

Mayberry Corner Trivia: Who hit the baseball through the window of the haunted house? Answer: Opie

"Checkerboard Fun Fest" with Eddy Arnold (c.1945 radio transcription)

My Honeymoon Bridge Broke Down / The Cackle Sisters (DeZurik Sisters)
Down By The Old Mill Stream / The Old Hickory Singers
Pins And Needles In My Heart / Eddy Arnold and the Tennessee Plowboys
Comedy / Rod Brasfield
Honeysuckle Rose (instrumental) / Mac McGar
Many Tears Ago / Eddy Arnold and the Tennessee Plowboys

Dialog: "The Legend of Tom Dooley" (2001) / Doc Watson and David Holt / Legacy / High Windy
Tom Dooley / Doc Watson and David Holt / Legacy / High Windy
Dialog: "Top of the Heap" / Doc Watson and David Holt / Legacy / High Windy
Tennessee Stud / Doc Watson and David Holt / Legacy / High Windy

Willie Robbins (Jim's Mom) tells about seeing Charlie & Bill Monroe perform live (interviewed in 2001)

What Would You Give In Exchange? (1936) / The Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family

The following Hank Williams recordings are from his 1951 “Mother’s Best” radio show:

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (1951) / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
Dust On The Bible (1951) / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (1951) / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life

David Peterson performed this song solo -- just he and his guitar -- live in the WHUS Studio, November 26, 2006

Put Me On The Trail To Carolina / David Peterson

Cowboys and Westerns - 11/23/2008

2008-12-29T19:51:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that Marti loves Western music (and yes, there is a difference between "country" and "Western.")

This show was Marti's brainchild and she put a string of cowboy songs, western swing, and Western songs together for a unique cowboy and western experience.

We also paid tribute to some birthdays (listener Meg's was the day of broadcast, Marti's was the next day) and anniversaries (same listener Meg and her husband Jack was the same day (!) and my parents' was the same day, too.) We played the "Happy Anniversary" song from The Flintstones TV show.

We lost a bit of a couple of songs when we had a brief power surge in Storrs that knocked us off the air for a couple of minutes, but we hope you enjoyed the show in spite of that.

Jim

TITLE (Year) / ARTIST / ALBUM / LABEL

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
My Time Done Come (1942) / Golden Gate Quartet / Swing Down, Chariot / Legacy
Little Johnny Pilgrim (1950) / Gene Autry / Year-Round Cowboy / Varese Sarabande
Guffy The Goofy Gobbler (1950) / Gene Autry / Year-Round Cowboy / Varese Sarabande
Prairie Lullabye (1993) / Don Edwards / The Best Of Don Edwards / Warner Western
Old November Moon (1940) / Gene Autry / Year-Round Cowboy / Varese Sarabande
Lonely Is the Hunter (1959) / Jimmy Wakely / The Singing Cowboy / Varese Sarabande
Roll Along Prairie Moon (1935) / Girls of the Golden West / Roll Along Prairie Moon / B.A.C.M.
Doggone Cowboy (1999) / Rex Allen and Don Edwards / A Pair to Draw To / Garrett Music
Fort Worth Stomp (c.1934) / Crystal Springs Ramblers / Kings of Western Swing / Fuel
Nancy Jane (1932) / Fort Worth Doughboys / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper
Down By The O-H-I-O (1935) / Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper
New San Antonio Rose (1940) / Bob Wills / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia
Stay A Little Longer (1945) / Bob Wills / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia
The Strawberry Roan (1930) / Paul Hamblin / When I Was A Cowboy Vol. 2 / Yazoo
Fate Of Old Strawberry Roan (1936) / Wilf Carter "Montana Slim" / Old Faithful: Songs From The Saddle / Jasmine
Strawberry Roan (1959) / Marty Robbins / Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs / Columbia

Mayberry Corner Trivia: What was Andy's favorite magazine? Answer: National Geographic

Yodelin' Tex / Tex Roy / Yodeling Songs- Various Artists / RCD
I'm Gonna Yodel My Way To Heaven / Frank Marvin / Yodeling Songs- Various Artists / RCD
The Cowboy's Dying Dream (1937) / Cliff Carlisle and Fred Kirby / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / Primo
Devil's Great Grandson (1937) / Roy Rogers with The Sons of the Pioneers / Yodeling Songs- Various Artists / RCD
The Oregon Trail (1936) / Tex Morton / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / Primo
Saddle Serenade / Roy Rogers / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / Primo
Cattle Call (1934) / Tex Owens / Songs Of The West / Rhino
(Take Me Back To My) Boots And Saddle (1936) / Tex Ritter / Songs Of The West / Rhino
Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1964) / Walter Brennan / Songs Of The West / Rhino
Big Iron (1959) / Marty Robbins / Songs Of The West / Rhino
Out Where The West Winds Blow (1946) / Kenny Roberts / Then And Now / Longhorn
Who's Gonna Kiss You When I'm Gone (1946) / Kenny Roberts with the Down Homers / Then And Now / Longhorn
The Line Rider (1990) / Riders In The Sky / Songs Of The West / Rhino
Down the Trail to San Antone (1998) / Bar-J Wranglers / Headin' For the Home Corral / Self
Leavin' Cheyenne (1983) / Ian Tyson / Songs Of The West / Rhino

Fred Tales - 11/16/2008

2008-11-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

If you have listened to RRP for a while, perhaps you have heard us talk about Fred.

Fred was a beagle -- or mostly beagle (Marti called him a "bagle") -- who adopted us right after we moved to Maryland when he was just a pup. He had moved into the woods outside our home just before the previous residents moved, and then cautiously watched us until he decided we were worthy.

That was over 16 years ago. Fred passed away 16 October 2008.

Fred turned out to be one of the best friends we ever had. He and Marti had a bond that went beyond the typical human-animal relationship. She literally knew what Fred was thinking at any time, and I believe he knew what Marti was thinking.

Fred was an outdoor farm dog until we moved to Connecticut. The proximity of the house to the road along with the cold winters influenced us to let him move inside with us. Not only that, but because he was not capable of staying in the house by himself throughout a whole workday, Marti took him to school daily. It is rare to be able to take a dog to work these days, but Watkinson School allowed that to happen, and in doing so provided Fred many new friends, provided therapy for students, and perhaps extended Fred's life.

In the times we couldn't have Fred with us, Baywood Kennels was his most excellent home-away-from-home. We couldn't have been luckier to have them nearby.

For this show we played songs and comedy bits about dogs or mentioning dogs, and we told "Fred Tales" -- stories we gathered about Fred over the years -- between sets.

We hope you enjoyed our tribute to Fred, and all dogs everywhere.

Song (Year) / Artist / Album / Label

Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Noah / Golden Gate Quartet / Radio Transcriptions 1941-1944 / Document
Ya Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Aroun' (1927) / The Skillet-Lickers / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 / Document
Old Rattler (c.1975) / Grandpa Jones / An American Original / CMH
How Much is That Hound Dog in the Window (c.1955) / Homer & Jethro / Lassoes 'N Spurs / BMG
The Dog and the Bear (c.1980s) / Jerry Clower / More Good 'Uns / MCA
Fred Tale: Fred rescues Marti from two big dogs
Old Blue (1964) / The Dillards / There is a Time / Vanguard
Dog House Boogie / Hawkshaw Hawkins / Best of the Best 1921-1963 / Gusto
Choc'late Ice Cream Cone (1950) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family
Fred Tale: Fred's barn surprise
Tennessee Hound Dog (1977) / The Osborne Brothers / From Rocky Top To Muddy Bottom / CMH
Dog (1989) / The Eddie Adcock Band / Dixie Fried / CMH
Bull Dog in Sunny Tennessee (1962) / Dock Walsh with The Carolina Tar Heels / Doggone Country / CMH
Crack, W.L., and Rover (1984) / Jerry Clower / Classic Clower Power / MCA
Fred Tale: Fred and the grandma deer
Oh Where is My Little Dog Gone (1927) / Al Hopkins and His Bucklebusters / The Hill Billies Volume 3 / Document
The Poodle Dog Song (1950) / Jimmie Davis / Doggone Country / CMH
Dad Gave My Dog Away (1948) / T. Texas Tyler / The Best Of T. Texas Tyler / Collector's Choice
Fred Tale: Fred and the cat team to hunt voles

Mayberry Corner Trivia: In the "Dogs Dogs Dogs" episode, where does Barney take the dogs when the state inspector is coming?
Answer: Barney drove them to a field out in the country

Salty Dog Blues (1945) / Morris Brothers / Salty Dog Blues / BACM
Bird Dog Hunt Off (1998) / Jerry Clower / Peaches & Possums / MCA
Dirty Old Egg-sucking Dog (1966) / Johnny Cash / The Essential 1955-1983 / Columbia
Fred Tale: Fred and Bob's great adventure
Hound Dog (1960s) / Hoosier Hot Shots / Doggone Country / CMH
Beagle Hound (2000s) / Mac Wiseman / 1st Recorded Live Concert / Wise
Echo Mountain (2004) / James King / The Bluegrass Storyteller / Rounder
I Found My Best Friend In The Dog Pound (1963) / Burl Ives / A Little Bitty Tear / Bear Family
Fox Chase (1959) / Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys / Mountain Music Bluegrass Style / Smithsonian Folkways
Fred Tales: Fred and road kill
Did You See My Dog Mr. (1999) / Joe Leggo / Always Country / Self
Old Shep (1941) / Red Foley / As Good as it Gets / Disky
Dog And Gun (c.1975) / Grandpa Jones / An American Original / CMH
Black Labs (1980s) / Lewis Grizzard / The Best Of Lewis Grizzard / Southern Tracks
Old Rattler's Pup (1969) / Grandpa Jones / Everybody's Grandpa / Bear Family
Old Blue (1960s) / Louisiana Honeydrippers / Doggone Country / CMH
Chattanooga Dog (1971) / Jimmy Martin / 1954-1974 / Bear Family
Newgene And The Lion (1980s) / Jerry Clower / Jerry Clower's Greatest Hits / MCA
Recitation: Rainbow Bridge
Let Your Light Shine On Me (2007) / Blue Around The Edges / Heaven's Front Door / Self-produced

Playlist 11/9/2008 - Veterans Day

2008-11-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks.

We celebrated Veterans Day by playing songs from America's past related to veterans, either by, for, or about.

Jimmy Driftwood seemed to resonate with listeners, so we played quite a few songs from the former Arkansas schoolteacher-turned-folk-musician.

We also had enough of a show (thanks to only just a small sports preemption) to bring back the Mayberry Corner Trivia contest.

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you Sunday, 16 November.

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster" Intro (1994)
I Will Be Home Again (1945) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works volume 5 / Document
There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere (1942) / Elton Britt / The Victory Collection / Smithsonian / RCA
Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Jeep (1942) / Spike Jones and His City Slickers / The Victory Collection / Smithsonian / RCA
Sailor Man (1959) / Jimmy Driftwood / The Best of Jimmy Driftwood / Monument
One Letter Home (1941) / Jazz Gillum / The Victory Collection / Smithsonian / RCA
They're Gonna Kill Ya (c.mid 1940s) / Stuart Hamblen / Vol. 2 Prettiest Girl In Town / B.A.C.M.
G.I. Joe and Lillie (2003) / Oak Ridge Boys / Colors / Spring Hill
No One To Welcome Me Home (1950) / Uncle Dave Macon / Uncle Dave At Home / Spring Fed
The Lonely Train (1949) / Mainer's Mountaineers / Good Ole' Mountain Music / King
At Mail Call Today (1945) / Gene Autry / The Country Hits of the 40s / Living Era
I Told Them What You're Fighting For (1966) / Maybelle Carter / Sara & Maybelle Carter / Bear Family

Mayberry Corner Trivia: Who permanently replaced Barney on The Andy Griffith Show?
Answer: Warren Ferguson (played by Jack Burns)

We All Miss You Joe (1966) / Maybelle Carter / Sara & Maybelle Carter / Bear Family
Old Rebel Soldier (c.1960s) / Jim Greer / Country Roots / Rural Rhythm
Soldier's Joy (1957) / Jimmy Driftwood / The Best of Jimmy Driftwood / Monument
The Soldier's Sweetheart (1927) / Jimmie Rodgers / The Bristol Sessions vol. 1 / RCA
Washington Post March (1897) / Sousa's Band / Wipe Him Off the Land - The 1890s vol 1 / Archeophone
The Battle Of New Orleans (1958) / Jimmy Driftwood / The Best of Jimmy Driftwood / Monument
The Two Soldiers (1927) / Carl T. Sprague / Cowtrails, Longhorns and Tight Saddles / Bear Family
Cold Cold War (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Country Routes
Down Where The River Bends (1945) / The Bailes Brothers / Sing Their Hearts Out For You / Cattle
The General Jumped At Dawn (1944) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works volume 6 / Document
That Crazy War (1940) / Lulu Belle & Scotty / Doom & Gloom / Trikont
Comin' In On a Wing and a Prayer (1943) / The Four Vagabonds / The Victory Collection / Smithsonian / RCA
Off to War I'm Going (1928) / Carolina Twins / Doom & Gloom / Trikont
The Forgotten Soldier Boy (1936) / The Monroe Brothers / Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky / Bear Family
A Distant Land to Roam (1929) / The Carter Family / In The Shadow Of Clinch Mountain / Bear Family
Cowboy Bugle Boy (c.1945) / Rose Maddox & the Maddox Brothers / When the Sun Goes Down / B.A.C.M.
Tennessee Stud (1958) / Jimmy Driftwood / The Best of Jimmy Driftwood / Monument
Precious Memories (2007) / Blue Around The Edges / Heaven's Front Door / Self

Playlist 11/2/2008 - Kenny & Bettyanne, Hank, Homer & Jethro, Eddy, Buell, Uncle Dave, Grandpa, Al, and J. E.

2008-11-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

Another short show because of a UCONN sports preemption, but we packed in some interesting old music in our hour.

We played a song each from the husband/wife team of Kenny and Bettyanne Roberts. Kenny was the first to record "Blue" which was a hit much later for Lee Ann Rimes. Bettyanne is a fine songwriter and singer, and "Right In Front of Me" is a song she wrote and sang.

We played a couple of Hank Williams songs from a 1949 radio show and then a Hank Williams song parody from Homer & Jethro.

We found several 1945 radio broadcasts of Eddy Arnold and The Checkerboard Fun Fest, and put on one of those shows that included the DeZurik Sisters, known as the "Cackle Sisters" on the Fun Fest.

In an acknowledgment of current events, we played some early 20th century songs about elections and politics (we are strictly an apolitical show and only play historical political songs). From the early old time and hillbilly songs we picked, it seemed the primary issue of concern for Buell H. Kazee, the Carolina Night Hawks, and Uncle Dave Macon between 1927 and 1929 was the repeal of prohibition. On a slightly more serious note, Grandpa Jones took sides against communism in support of private property in 1952.

We finished with a couple of old string band tunes from and Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters and J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers. The latter did a song he heard a drunken fiddler perform just prior the man being hit and killed by a passing train. J. E. went back the next day to the scene of the mishap, collected the remains of the man's fiddle, and repaired it to be one of his first instruments.

You can hear the show again at this link.

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Religion Is A Fortune (1949) / The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 6 / Document
Blue (1988) / Kenny Roberts / You're My Kind of People / Bluebonnet
Right In Front of Me / Bettyanne Roberts / The Singer - The Songwriter / Self produced
You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) (1949) / Hank Williams / The Final Sessions / Proper
A Tramp On The Street (1949) / Hank Williams / The Final Sessions / Proper
Your Clobbered Heart (1953) / Homer & Jethro / Volume 3 / B.A.C.M
Eddy Arnold and The Checkerboard Fun Fest (1945) / Radio Program with The Cackle (DeZurik) Sisters, Louis Buck, Shelby Jean Davis, Speedy McNett, etc.
Election Day In Kentucky - Part 1 (1929) / Buell H. Kazee / Mountain Frolic / JSP
Election Day In Kentucky - Part 2 (1929) / Buell H. Kazee / Mountain Frolic / JSP
Governor Al Smith For President (1927) / Carolina Night Hawks / Music From The Lost Provinces / Old Hat
Governor Al Smith (1928) / Uncle Dave Macon / Classic Sides / JSP
I'm No Communist (1952) / Grandpa Jones / You're Never Too Old For Love / B.A.C.M
Black Eyed Susie (1927) / Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters / Mountain Frolic / JSP
Drunkard's Hiccups (1939) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / 1935-1939 / B.A.C.M

Playlist 10/26/2008 - Jim's Dad's Birthday

2008-10-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

We had another sports-shortened show -- only 15 minutes because the UCONN women's soccer game went into double overtime -- but we squeezed in a few songs, including a 1962 Kenny Roberts-Elton Britt duet on WWVA, before our birthday tribute to Jim's dad who celebrates on October 27th.

Jim's dad and mom are in the photo with Red Rooster Party host Jim Jr. in his mom's lap. Two cousins are looking on.

You can hear it again at this link --> listen

Song (Year) / Artist / Album / Label

Hattie Dalton Old Red Rooster Party Introduction (1994)
I Looked Down The Line And I Wondered (1939) / The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3 / Document
Things Are Getting Rough All Over (1952) / Hank Penny & His California Cowhands / The Penny Opus #1 / Jasmine
Cannonball Yodel (1962) / Kenny Roberts and Elton Britt / Then and Now / Longhorn
Happy Birthday to Jim (2007) / The Bristol Boys / Live at WHUS 28 October 2007 / transcript
Jealous Hearted Me (1936) / The Carter Family / In The Shadow of Clinch Mountain / Bear Family

Playlist 10/19/2008 - Kenny Roberts: King of the Yodelers

2008-10-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Kenny Roberts!

We are very fortunate to have a music legend living nearby in New England. Kenny Roberts, King of the Yodelers, though born in Tennessee, grew up near Athol, Massachusetts, and got his start in music while a teen in New England working with Yodeling Slim Clark, and then the Down Homers.

WW2 interrupted things for a while in the 1940s, but along the way Kenny trained his wartime replacement, Bill Haley (yes, THAT Bill Haley), who relinquished the job when Kenny returned. Kenny then recorded a beautiful 78 RPM picture disc on the Vogue label, "Out Where The West Winds Blow," that introduced his future wife and songwriter, the beautiful Bettyanne, to his unbelievable singing voice.

A string of solo songs followed on the Coral label (a division of Decca) that included the huge hit "I Never See Maggie Alone" which reached the #9 position on the pop charts in 1949 and #4 on the country charts, followed by "Choc'late Ice Cream Cone."

Kenny won the World Championship Yodeling title at Madison Square Garden in 1964 singing the most amazing version of "She Taught Me To Yodel" that has ever been sung.

Kenny celebrated his 82nd birthday on October 14, so we celebrated on RRP by replaying an interview we had with Kenny two years ago after his 80th birthday, and then topped it off by having Kenny join us live at the end of the show.

If you missed it, you can go here to listen.

Kenny loves to get letters and frequently responds. You can write to Kenny and Bettyanne at:

Kenny Roberts
165 Allen Street
Athol, MA 01331

Kenny and Bettyanne also have e-mail which is not quite as reliable as snail mail:

kennybett (at) verizon.net be sure to replace the (at) with "@"

Songs played during the interview:

Kenny Roberts' first recording...

Out Where The West Winds Blow (1946) / Kenny Roberts and the Down Homers / Vogue 78RPM Picture Disc

Kenny said he sold over a million of this next song which was also his biggest hit. It reached #9 on the pop charts and #4 on the country charts...

I Never See Maggie Alone (1949) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family

This next song is probably the most amazing demonstration of yodeling you will ever hear...

She Taught Me To Yodel (1953) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family

Kenny's wife, Bettyanne, is a fine songwriter and singer. She wrote and performed the following song about an adopted child...

Pretty (1988) / Bettyanne Roberts / The Singer - The Songwriter / self-released

The following song was nearly as popular as "Maggie." Kenny performed it regularly on his children's television shows...

Choc'late Ice Cream Cone (1950) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family

Kenny still performs and records occasionally, and still retains his wonderful voice. The following song is one of his later country recordings...

Those Pretty Eyes (1988) / Kenny Roberts / Then and Now / Longhorn

Happy Birthday, Kenny Roberts!

Playlist 10/12/2008 - The Earl & Jeff Show

2008-10-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

We had two outstanding guest DJs picking the music for this show: Earl Dunton from Willimantic (left in the picture) and Jeff Perkins from Canterbury (on the right). They selected the "guest DJ" premium during the WHUS Radiothon back in April, and finally got the opportunity to do their thing on this show.

What a show it was! The guys brought some excellent music to RRP that covered everything from classic country to modern retro-folk.

We liked what they did so much that we may just have them back sometime in the future.

You can listen to The Earl & Jeff Show using this link to our main site ---> listen

For the playlist below, Earl's selections are in red, and Jeff's in blue.

Title (Year) / Artist / Album / Label

Hattie Dalton Old Red Rooster Party Introduction (1994)
The Preacher And The Bear (1937) / The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 / Document
Daddy's Girl (1975) / Red Sovine / The Best of Red Sovine / Tee Vee Records
Sink The Bismarck (1960) / Johnny Horton / Classic Country Golden 60s / Time Life
Breezing Along with the Breeze (1926) / Johnny Marvin / Breezin' Along With The Breeze / Living Era
So Is Your Old Lady (1926) / Johnny Marvin / Breezin' Along With The Breeze / Living Era
Daddy Sang Bass (1969) / Johnny Cash / Classic Country 1965-1969 / Time Life
Teddy Bear (1976) / Red Sovine / The Best of Red Sovine / Tee Vee Records
No Restricted Signs (Up In Heaven) (1946) / The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Rock My Soul / Living Era
Shadrack (1946) / The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Rock My Soul / Living Era
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail (1965) / Buck Owens / Classic Country Golden 60s / Time Life
Okie From Muskogee (1969) / Merle Haggard / Classic Country 1965-1969 / Time Life
Heaven's Radio (1940) / The Carter Family / Chicago, New York City 1940-1941 / JSP
There'll Be No Distinction There (1940) / The Carter Family / Chicago, New York City 1940-1941 / JSP
Is The Blue Moon Still Shining? (1991) / Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick / Hand-Picked 25 Years of Bluegrass / Rounder
Every Time You Say Goodbye (1992) / Alison Krauss / Hand-Picked 25 Years of Bluegrass / Rounder
Peekaboo Waltz (2002) / Alan Jabbour, James Reed, Bertram Levey / A Henry Reed Reunion / self-produced
Ebenezer (2002) / Alan Jabbour, James Reed, Bertram Levey / A Henry Reed Reunion / self-produced
Budapest Breakdown (1979) / Pilgrim / Silver Lady / LP self-produced
Phantom 309 (1968) / Red Sovine / The Best of Red Sovine / Tee Vee Records
Cluck Old Hen (2004) / The Ebony Hillbillies / I Thought You Knew / self-produced
Time To Learn (2004) / The Ebony Hillbillies / I Thought You Knew / self-produced
Cool Water (c.1960s) / Sons of the Purple Sage / At Western Campfires / Somerset
Harper Valley P.T.A. (1968) / Jeannie C. Riley / Classic Country 1965-1969 / Time Life
Hard Times (2005) / Skip Gorman / Mandolin In The Cow Camp / Old West
Sitting in the Stern of a Boat (2005) / Skip Gorman / Mandolin In The Cow Camp / Old West
Funny Face (1972) / Donna Fargo / Classic Country 1970-1974 / Time Life
The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. (1972) / Donna Fargo / Classic Country 1970-1974 / Time Life
Goodnight (2000) / Tom (Sauber), Brad (Leftwich) & Alice (Gerrard) / Holly Ding / Copper Creek
Jaybird, Cherokee Shuffle (1990) / Bill Spence with Fennig's All-Star String Band / The Hammered Dulcimer / Front Hall Records

Playlist 10/5/2008 - Nick Reynolds, Children's Songs, Classic Country

2008-10-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks.

We were preempted again as seems to be the case nearly every week during UCONN soccer season, but we managed to slip in an hour's worth of RRP.

We paid tribute to recently-departed Kingston Trio member Nick Reynolds by playing two of the Kingston Trio's biggest hits that Nick happened to sing, and played earlier songs from whence the Trio's versions came.

We also debuted a recently-released CD from the Yazoo label of children's songs from the early 20th century, and we finished with some good ole early and classic country, including an earlier 1935 version of "You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey" from Milton Brown (dedicated to the WHUS sports crew, of course) to augment the 1952 Hank Penny version we played two weeks earlier, and squeezed in some Delmore Brothers tunes and a great country song from RRP friend Kenny Roberts.

Tune in next week when Jeff and Earl, two great listeners, will be picking the tunes and shooting the bull.

Thanks for listening.

Jim & Marti

Title / Artist / Album / Label

Massa's In The Cold, Cold Ground (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document
The Ship That Never Returned (1966) / Sara & Maybelle Carter / Sara & Maybelle Carter / Bear Family
Wreck Of The Old Southern 97 (1924) / Vernon Dalhart / Country Music Pioneers on Edison / Document
M.T.A. (1959) / The Kingston Trio / Collector's Series / Capitol
Tom Dooley (1964) / Doc Watson / The Essential Doc Watson / Vanguard
Tom Dooley (1958) / The Kingston Trio / Collector's Series / Capitol
I Am Just What I Am (1938) / Homer Briarhopper (Homer Lee Drye) / The Story That The Crow Told Me Vol. 1 / Yazoo
Pretty Little Pink (1929) / Bradley Kincaid / The Story That The Crow Told Me Vol. 1 / Yazoo
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-me-o (1929) / Chubby Parker / The Story That The Crow Told Me Vol. 1 / Yazoo
Hop Along Peter (1938) / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / The Story That The Crow Told Me Vol. 1 / Yazoo
Blue Yodel (1927) / Jimmie Rodgers / Howdy - 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
Red Wing (1927) / Riley Puckett / Howdy - 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats / Living Era
Hey, Good Lookin' (1952) / Hank Williams / American Music Legends Volume Two / Cracker Barrel
You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey (1935) / Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies / Daddy Of Western Swing / Proper
In The Blue Hills Of Virginia / The Delmore Brothers / 1940-1941 / JSP
Make Room In The Lifeboat For Me (1940) / The Delmore Brothers / 1940-1941 / JSP
A Mighty Pretty Waltz (1952) / Kenny Roberts / Jumpin' & Yodelin' / Bear Family

Playlist 9/21/2008 - Bradley Kincaid, Briarhoppers, and more...

2008-09-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

Sometimes it is difficult to justify the work required to produce a radio show when the whole thing can be preempted at the whim of the sports department. Such was the case today when UCONN broadcast two soccer games simultaneously taking all but 30 minutes of RRP. That's not all. The entire show appears to be preempted next Sunday 28 September, reinforcing the fact that this is the most difficult time of the year to have a weekend show on WHUS.

The thing that keeps Marti and me going is a look at the dates of the songs we play. How many people will remember these collegiate athletic events 50 to 75 years from now? On the other hand, the music is still alive!

In our short time today we featured one of my favorite Hank Penny songs ("You're Bound To Look Like a Monkey"), and we finally got around to featuring a couple of songs from Bradley Kincaid. A listener who saw me at a local concert about a year ago made a request for Bradley Kincaid (who by the way spent some time on the radio in New England last century), but because most of my Bradley Kincaid music is on LP, I had taken my time getting to it. Today was the day.

We also spent some time with the (WBT) Briarhoppers, the house band of WBT radio in Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning in the 1930s. Revivalist interest caused later versions of the band to cut new records in the mid 1990s recreating the kind of music they did for the old radio shows, so we played from those records. The Blue Sky Boys (Bill and Earl Bolick from Hickory, North Carolina), Johnnie & Jack, under-recognized country artist Howard Vokes, and Hank Williams filled out the half-hour.

You can hear the show by clicking on this link to our main website ---> Listen

Thanks for listening, and keeping the music alive.

Jim

Song (Year) / Artist / Album / Label

You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey (When You Grow Old) (1952) / Hank Penny & His California Cowhands / The Penny Opus #1 / Jasmine
Long Long Ago (1933) / Bradley Kincaid / Volume 2 Favorite Old Time Songs / Old Homestead
Old Joe Clark (1930) / Bradley Kincaid / Volume 2 Favorite Old Time Songs / Old Homestead
Theme: Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie (1996) / The Briarhoppers / The Legendary Briarhoppers / Lamon
Smiling To Hide A Broken Heart (1996) / The Briarhoppers / The Legendary Briarhoppers / Lamon
Amazing Grace (1949) / Blue Sky Boys / Farm & Fun Time Favorites Volume Two / Copper Creek
How Can I Believe In You (1951) / Johnnie & Jack and the Tennessee Mountain Boys / [self-titled] / B.A.C.M
Yellow Tomb (1964) / Howard Vokes / Songs Of Tragedy and Disaster / Starday
I'm A Long Gone Daddy (1948) / Hank Williams / Settin' The Woods On Fire / Snapper Music

Playlist 9/7/2008 - Jerry Reed, Western Horses, and more...

2008-09-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

RRP was only an hour show today because the second hour was preempted by UCONN sports, a semi-regular occurrence throughout the school year but a situation we accept because this is the ideal time for us to produce the show.

We took the opportunity to pay tribute to Jerry Reed, the 71 year-old super-picker who passed away (from emphysema) on Labor Day (1 Sept 2008). Many folks might know him as an actor in films such as "Smokey and the Bandit," or from his song hits "Amos Moses" or "She Got the Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)" among others, but we remember him for his fantastic finger picking.

Marti put this playlist together, so she included a set of Western music with horse themes as well.

I especially liked the country set with Byron Parker's Mountaineers because it sounded like bluegrass music a full five to six years before the generally acknowledged beginning of bluegrass music with Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. I also liked the lesser-heard Hank Williams song near the end.

Thanks for listening!

Jim

Song Title (date when known) / Artist / Album / Label

Aunt Hattie Dalton "Old Red Rooster Party" Introduction (1994)
Time's Winding Up (1941) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 4 / Document
Guitar Man (1966) / Jerry Reed / The Essential Jerry Reed / RCA
The Crude Oil Blues (1973) / Jerry Reed / The Essential Jerry Reed / RCA
Here We Are (1992) / Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed / Sneakin' Around / Columbia
The Claw (1992) / Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed / Sneakin' Around / Columbia
We've Got to Have 'Em, That's All (1929) / Blind Alfred Reed / Complete Works 1927-29 / Document
Travelin' Railroad Man Blues (1931) / Alabama Sheiks / A Richer Tradition / JSP
Peanut Special (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / [self-titled] / Old Homestead
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / [self-titled] / Old Homestead
Concerning Charlie Horse / Omar Blondahl "Sagebrush Charlie" / Songs From the Saddle / Jasmine
Old Faithful and I / Les Wilson / Songs From the Saddle / Jasmine
Smoky That Wild Stallion / Smoky Dawson "The Cowboy Folk Singer" / Songs From the Saddle / Jasmine
Old Faithful / Rex Allen Sr. / Songs From the Saddle / Jasmine
The Return of Charlie Horse / Omar Blondahl "Sagebrush Charlie" / Songs From the Saddle / Jasmine
Fly Trouble (1947) / Hank Williams / Settin' The Woods on Fire / Snapper Music
Summertime (1992) / Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed / Sneakin' Around / Columbia

Welcome to the "Red Rooster Party" Blog

2008-09-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

Red Rooster Party hosted by Marti & Jim is a program of early American recorded music tilted towards the roots of country music and bluegrass music. Along the way we explore blues, early jazz, and black and white gospel, but we really like to keep it close to the ground. You might be surprised at some of the earlier versions of familiar songs you will hear. The show is broadcast every Sunday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern on WHUS Storrs, 91.7 FM -- the radio station of the University of Connecticut -- and webcast on whus.org. The show precedes Bluegrass Cafe on WHUS, a show of the best in bluegrass music hosted alternately by Amy Orlomoski and Jim, so it provides a great afternoon of early country and bluegrass.

This blog is an offshoot of RedRoosterParty.com which is our primary web site, but which is much more difficult to update. Therefore we will always send you to RedRoosterParty.com first and will link to this blog from that site. Our latest playlists will be posted here beginning 7 September 2008 and this will serve as the archive for those playlists from that date on. The earlier playlists will remain on the primary web site.

To our listeners, we thank you for your interest in Red Rooster Party -- our labor of love -- and hope you continue listening. We want to keep the early music alive.

Marti & Jim