Sunday, January 25, 2015

Playlist - 1/25/2014 - RIP Julia Mainer, and Happy Birthday J. E. Mainer, Jr.

Hi Folks.

This was an all-Mainer show because of a couple of significant Mainer family events over the past week.

Wade and Julia Mainer  (photo by David Holt)
First, Julia Mae Brown Mainer, a.k.a. Hillbilly Lilly, a.k.a. "Princess," female bluegrass and country music pioneer and wife of the late Wade Mainer, passed away from a stroke at 95 Wednesday, January 21, 2015.  Because Julia had worked with her husband Wade since their engagement and marriage in 1938, there was much recorded material -- especially from the period of the 1960s forward -- from which to select songs on which she sang lead. The earliest recordings we had of Julia were from a couple of Wade Mainer singles from 1938, and of course Jim played them.

For more about Julia, read this article from the Winston Salem Journal, and this item from Bluegrass Today.  Also, a remembrance by Julia of her late husband Wade shortly after his death in 2011.

J. E. Mainer, Jr. performing at the ceremony inducting his
father into the N.C. Music Hall of Fame, 10/11/2012
(photo by NCMHoF)
Second, Jim's great friend from his hometown, J. E. Mainer, Jr., a.k.a. "Curly," son of the legendary string band leader and early bluegrass influence J. E. Mainer, celebrated his 91st birthday Thursday, January 22, 2015.  Jim had all the recordings J. E. Jr. made with the Mountaineers over the years, and played as many as he could in the time allotted, including all five 1946 King recordings written by J. E. Jr. and all six, included those five, on which he sang lead.  Jim also played several tracks from the 1963 Arhoolie recording of the Mountaineers made as a field recording by Chris Strachwitz in Concord NC (J. E. Jr.'s hometown and current residence).

Jim spoke with J. E. Jr. by telephone after the show and is happy to report J. E. Jr. is doing well, and was surprised by a big gathering by his church in his honor at a local restaurant last Thursday on his birthday.

Tune in next Sunday for another great window into the obsolete music of America's past.

Jim Beaver

Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

  • Golden Gate Quartet / Bedside of a Neighbor / Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1937) / Document / 1937
  • Wade Mainer & Sons of the Mountaineers / Where Romance Calls / Classic Sides 1937-1941 / JSP / 1938
  • Wade Mainer & Sons of the Mountaineers / Another Alabama Camp Meetin' / Classic Sides 1937-1941 / JSP / 1938
  • Wade Mainer and the Mainer's Mountaineers / I Want To Go There / Sacred Songs Mountain Style / Old Homestead / 1972
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / Bring Back My Mountain Boy To Me / In The Land of Melody / June Appal / 1991
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / The Soldier Boy / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / Didn't It Rain / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / Royal Telephone / In The Land of Melody / June Appal / 1991
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / I Like To Hear Elijah / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / Jonah / In The Land of Melody / June Appal / 1991
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / Fade Coat of Blue / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / I Saw Mom with God Last Night / Old Time Sacred Songs / Old Homestead / 1985
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / I Cannot Stand Alone / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / I Claim Jesus First / Old Time Sacred Songs / Old Homestead / 1985
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / Old Blind Bartemous / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / God Moved In The Windstorm / Old Time Sacred Songs / Old Homestead / 1985
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / It Seemed Heaven Was There / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / He Gives Me More Than Enough / Old Time Sacred Songs / Old Homestead / 1985
  • Wade and Julia Mainer / What Are They Doing There Now / Family Album / Old Homestead / 1982
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Yodelin' Mountaineer / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Forks Of The Road / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Walking For The Lord / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Lonely Train / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Johnson County Blues / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Before Judgment Day / 78 RPM Single / King / 1946
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Ramshackle Shack / The Legendary Family From The Blue Ridge Mountains / Arhoolie / 1963
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Over In The Gloryland / The Legendary Family From The Blue Ridge Mountains / Arhoolie / 1963
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Maple On The Hill / The Legendary Family From The Blue Ridge Mountains / Arhoolie / 1963
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Mama Don't Allow / The Legendary Family From The Blue Ridge Mountains / Arhoolie / 1963
  • Wade & Julia Mainer / I Can't Sit Down / In The Land of Melody / June Appal / 1991

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Playlist - 1/18/2015 - Marti's Western Show

Hi Folks.


Marti created the playlist for this show featuring mostly western and cowboy music which is Marti's favorite.  The irony is that Marti was unable to be in the studio during the broadcast. When we arrived at UCONN, all parking was consumed by basketball fans, and Marti was forced to drop off Jim and drive around looking for parking (which she never found.)

Nevertheless, Jim played Marti's song picks, and it made a great show.  Marti was able to call in during the show and explained that she used the time to go shopping.


We played a couple of bonus songs from a Brother Claude Ely disc that was sent to us by regular listener Joel.  We will play more from that excellent disc in future weeks.

Red Rooster Party has been renewed for the spring semester at the same time -- 2 to 4pm ET Sundays -- and we hope you will continue to join us for our show of what Dick Spottswood calls "obsolete music."


Jim & Marti



Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

  • Golden Gate Quartet / What Are They Doing in Heaven Today? / Golden Gate Quartet Vol. 2 (1938-1939) / Document / 1938
  • Brother Claude Ely / Send Down That Rain / Satan Get Back! / Ace King / 1953
  • Brother Claude Ely / There Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down / Satan Get Back! / Ace King / 1953
  • Rex Allen and Don Edwards / Cow Poke / A Pair to Draw To / Garrett-Duetz / 1999
  • Tex Ritter / Bad Brahma Bull / High Noon / Living Era / 1945
  • Sons Of The Pioneers featuring Roy Rogers / The Preacher And The Bear / Under Western Skies / Varèse Sarabande / 1934
  • Sons Of The Pioneers featuring Roy Rogers / Black Sheep Blues / Under Western Skies / Varèse Sarabande / 1935
  • Ronstadt, Ramirez & the Santa Cruz River Band / Lily of the West / Volume 1 / Self-released / 2004
  • Marty Robbins / El Paso / Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs / Columbia / 1959
  • Babe Humphrey / Night Ride / Babe Humphrey's Favorite Rhymes From The Range / Bar-J Chuckwagon / 2007
  • Jimmie Rodgers / Treasures Untold / Chime Bells - Best of Country Yodel Volume Three / Jasmine / 1928
  • Rex Allen Sr. / Texas Plains / Chime Bells - Best of Country Yodel Volume Three / Jasmine / 1940s
  • Riders In The Sky / The First Cowboy Song (with Chris O'Connell) / Yodel the Cowboy Way / Rounder / 1998
  • Riders In The Sky / Desert Serenade / Yodel the Cowboy Way / Rounder / 1998
  • Jules Allen / The Old Chisholm Trail / The Singing Cowboy / B.A.C.M / 1929
  • Jimmy Wakely / I'm An Old Cowhand / The Singing Cowboy / Varese Saraband / 1975
  • Jimmy Wakely / Cowboy's Prayer / The Singing Cowboy / Varese Saraband / 1975
  • Skip Gorman / A Cowboy's Wild Song to His Herd / A Cowboy's Wild Song to His Herd / Rounder / 1999
  • Skip Gorman / Away Out on the Mountain / A Cowboy's Wild Song to His Herd / Rounder / 1999
  • Tony Norris / Old Chisolm Trail / A Letter From Home - Up The Trail - Summer 2003 / famlyfolk / 2003
  • Tony Norris / The Camp Cook / A Letter From Home - Up The Trail - Summer 2003 / famlyfolk / 2003
  • Tony Norris / Goodnight Loving Trail / A Letter From Home - Up The Trail - Summer 2003 / famlyfolk / 2003
  • Sons of the Pioneers Featuring Rex Allen / Wind / Cowboy Jubilee / Texas Moon  / 1950s
  • Fred Kirby / Cowboy's Dying Dream / That Good Old Utah Trail / B.A.C.M / 1937
  • Peter Rowan & Don Edwards / Goodbye Old Paint / High Lonesome Cowboy / Shanachie / 2002

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Playlist - 1/11/2015 - Western Swing

Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies
photo courtesy Roy Lee Brown
Hi Folks,

We have played segments of Western Swing music over the five year history of Red Rooster Party, but never a whole show.  That changed today as we went back to the roots of Western Swing beginning with the Ft. Worth Doughboys in 1932, the Light Crust Doughboys, Milton Brown, and Bob Wills.

We also played many of the other Western Swing bands created in the powerful wake of these bands beginning in 1935.  In fact, all of the Western Swing music we played pre-dated the 1940s except the music of Bob Wills who carried it further than the rest.


Since we barely scratched the surface of this dance-able musical style, we likely will revisit it at some time in the future based on listener response.

Be sure to tune in again next week.

Jim & Marti


Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year
  • Golden Gate Quartet / Saints Go Marching In / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 1938-1939 / Document / 1938
  • Jerry Reed / Preacher and the Bear / Georgia Sunshine / BMG / 1969
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / Garbage Man Blues / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1934
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / My Precious Sonny Boy / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1934
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / Get Along Cindy / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1934
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / Pray For The Lights To Go Out / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1935
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Steel Guitar Rag / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1936
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Time Changes Everything / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1940
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / New San Antonio Rose / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1940
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Take Me Back to Tulsa / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1941
  • Fort Worth Doughboys / Sunbonnet Sue / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1932
  • Fort Worth Doughboys / Nancy Jane / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1932
  • Bill Boyd And His Cowboy Ramblers / Boyd's Blues / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1935
  • Roy Newman & His Boys / Sadie Green (The Vamp Of New Orleans) / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1935
  • Doug Bine & his Dixie Ramblers / Rambler's Stomp / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1936
  • Tune Wranglers / Red's Tight Like That / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1936
  • Jimmie Revard & His Oklahoma Playboys / Big Daddy Blues / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1936
  • Washboard Wonders / Feather Your Nest / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1936
  • Shelly Lee Alley & His Alley Cats / Women, Women, Women / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Buddy Jones / Mean Old Lonesome Blues / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Derwood Brown and his Musical Brownies / Bring It On Down To My House Honey / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers / Corrine Corrina / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Crystal Spring Ramblers / Fort Worth Stomp / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Bob Skyles & His Skyrockets / Hot Tamale Pete / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • W. Lee O'Daniel & his Hillbilly Boys / There'll Be Some Changes Made  / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Sons Of The Pioneers / Hold That Critter Down / Doughboys, Playboys and Cowboys / Proper / 1937
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / Brownie Special / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1935
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1935
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1935
  • Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies / You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey / Daddy of Western Swing / Proper / 1935
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Maiden's Prayer / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1941
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Miss Molly / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1942
  • Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys / Stay a Little Longer / The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947 / Columbia / 1945

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Playlist - 1/4/2015

Hi Folks.

For this first show of 2015, Marti selected the music except for a couple songs Jim played to fulfill requests.

We heard The Maddox Brothers & Rose during the struggling 1950s where their music took on a more rock & roll aesthetic to remain viable during the times.  We also heard a couple of the earliest recordings of the Dixon Brothers and similar early recordings of Ernest Stoneman.

Perhaps the surprise of the show was a collection of Merle Travis songs transcribed from Jimmy Wakely radio shows of the mid-1950s.  They provided a different take on the aural history of Travis' great picking and singing.

We haven't played much from Eddy Arnold in a while, but we played three of his number 1 country hits on this show including Kentucky Waltz.  Even the song's writer and first performer, Bill Monroe, wasn't able to get the song that high on the country charts.

A couple of great misogynist-themed songs from Texas Jim Robertson provided some humor, but the closing classics from Andy Griffith, including Preacher and the Bear and What It Was Was Football sealed it.

We hope you enjoyed our much-too-short one-hour-preempted show, and hope you will join us next week when we make another go of it.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Disk / Label / Notes

  • The Golden Gate Quartet / Preacher and the Bear / Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 / Document / 1937
  • The Maddox Bros & Rose / Wild Wild Young Men / Ugly And Slouchy / Bear Family / 1955
  • The Maddox Bros & Rose / Ugly And Slouchy / Ugly And Slouchy / Bear Family / 1957
  • The Maddox Bros & Rose / The Death Of Rock And Roll / Ugly And Slouchy / Bear Family / 1956
  • Dixon Brothers / Intoxicated Rat / Weave Room Blues / Old Homestead / 1936
  • Dixon Brothers / Sales Tax on the Woman / Weave Room Blues / Old Homestead / 1936
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / Broken Hearted Lover / With Family & Friends / Old Homestead / 1928
  • Ernest V. Stoneman / Cripple Creek / With Family And Friends Volume 1 / Old Homestead / 1926
  • Merle Travis / 16 Tons / The Very Best - The Shasta Masters / Varèse Sarabande / 1950s
  • Merle Travis / Guitar Rag / The Very Best - The Shasta Masters / Varèse Sarabande / 1950s
  • Merle Travis / Hominy Grits / The Very Best - The Shasta Masters / Varèse Sarabande / 1950s
  • Eddy Arnold / I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms) / Ultimate Eddy Arnold / RCA-BMG Heritage / 1947
  • Eddy Arnold / Anytime / Ultimate Eddy Arnold / RCA-BMG Heritage / 1947
  • Eddy Arnold / Kentucky Waltz / Ultimate Eddy Arnold / RCA-BMG Heritage / 1950
  • Texas Jim Robertson / You Can't Do Nothin' With a Woman / Purple Night On the Prairie / B.A.C.M / 1950
  • Texas Jim Robertson / Jaw Jaw Yap Yap Yap / Purple Night On the Prairie / B.A.C.M / 1950
  • Andy Griffith / The Preacher and the Bear / The Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith / EMI Capitol / 1958
  • Andy Griffith / What It Was, Was Football (Parts I & II) / The Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith / EMI Capitol / 1953

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Fill-in Playlist - 1/3/2015 - Old Time Country

Hi Folks.

Jim has been doing a late night fill-in for a couple of months at WHUS early Saturday mornings
beginning at midnight and running one or two hours.  Jim uses these fill-ins to augment Red Rooster Party by playing typical RRP themed music for each show.

Last night's show topic was old-time country music from the pre-WW2 era.  This particular show generated considerable online interest, so we are publishing the playlist here so you know what was played. 

If you are up late and wish to catch the show for the next two weeks (when the WHUS schedule switches changes for the spring), it happens at midnight Friday nights (Saturday mornings).  If you have requests, just reply in the comments here or comment on our Red Rooster Party on WHUS Facebook page.

Jim Beaver


Artist / Song / Disk / Label / Year

  • Georgia Pot Lickers / Up Jumped The Rabbit / The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of / Yazoo / 1930
  • Georgia Pot Lickers / Chicken Don't Roost Too High / The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of / Yazoo / 1930
  • Frank Jenkins' Pilot Mountaineers / Sunny Home In Dixie / In The Pines / Old Hat / 1929
  • Mainer's Mountaineers / The Longest Train / In The Pines / Old Hat / 1935
  • Dixon Brothers / Intoxicated Rat / Dixon Brothers Vol. 1 (1936) / Document / 1936
  • Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers / Medley Of Old Time Dance Tunes Pt. 1 / Classic Old Time String Band Music / B.A.C.M / 1928
  • Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers / Medley Of Old Time Dance Tunes Pt. 2 / Classic Old Time String Band Music / B.A.C.M / 1928
  • Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers / Cripple Creek / Classic Old Time String Band Music / B.A.C.M / 1931
  • Georgia Yellow Hammers / Going To Raise A Rucus Tonight / Volume 2: August 9, 1927 - February 21, 1928 / Document / 1927
  • Georgia Yellow Hammers / G Rag / Volume 2: August 9, 1927 - February 21, 1928 / Document / 1927
  • John Dilleshaw (Dilly And His Dill Pickles) / Bust Down Stomp / Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order 1929-1930 / Document / 1930
  • Gid Tanner & His Skillet-Lickers with Riley Puckett & Clayton McMichen / Leather Breeches / Complete Recorded Works Volume 4 1929-1930 / Document / 1930
  • Gid Tanner & His Skillet-Lickers with Riley Puckett & Clayton McMichen / Sugar in the Gourd / Complete Recorded Works Volume 4 1929-1930 / Document / 1930
  • Uncle Dave Macon / Grey Cat On The Tennessee Farm / Go Long Mule / County / 1927
  • Uncle Dave Macon / Carve That Possum / Go Long Mule / County / 1927
  • Uncle Dave Macon / Rabbit in the Pea Patch / Go Long Mule / County / 1927
  • Lowe Stokes & His Pot Lickers / Four Cent Cotton / In Chronological Order Volume 1 - 1927-1930 / Document / 1930
  • Earl Johnson & His Dixie Entertainers / Buy A Half Pint And Stay In The Wagon Yard / Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 2, 1927-1931 / Document / 1930
  • Burnett & Rutherford (R. D. Burnett & Lyn Woodard) / Going Across the Sea / Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order 1926-1930 / Document / 1929
  • Jarvis & Justice / Muskrat Rag / Old Time Music From West Virginia / Document / 1929
  • Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters / Carolina Moonshiner / The Hill Billies - Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters Vol. 3 (1927-1928) / Document / 1928
  • The Coon Creek Girls / Sweet Fern / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead / late 1930s
  • Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / Hop Along Peter / Fisher Hendley & His Aristocratic Pigs / B.A.C.M / 1938
  • Morris Brothers / Wabash Cannon Ball / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M / 1939
  • McGee Brothers / C-h-i-c-k-e-n Spells Chicken / Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order 1926-1934 / Document / 1927
  • Andrew & Jim Baxter (Georgia Yellow Hammers) / G Rag / String Bands 1926-1929 / Document / 1927
  • Grayson & Whitter / Train 45 / The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter - Recorded 1928-1930 / County / 1927
  • Grayson & Whitter / Short Life Of Trouble / The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter - Recorded 1928-1930 / County / 1928
  • Grayson & Whitter / Tom Dooley / The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter - Recorded 1928-1930 / County / 1929
  • Fiddlin' John Carson / The Raccoon And The Possum / Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 7 / Document / 1930
  • Fiddlin' John Carson / Little More Sugar In The Coffee / Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 7 / Document / 1930
  • J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Kiss Me Cindy / Good For What Ails You / Old Hat / 1937