Playlist 8/25/2013 - Black String Bands and a Pedal Steel Primer

Hi Folks,

Ebony Hillbillies

This version of Red Rooster Party began by fulfilling some requests from previous weeks.  We played a set of music from black string bands which included the deans of the genre, Joe and Odell Thompson, as well as modern versions from The Ebony Hillbillies and Carolina Chocolate Drops.


We followed with a brief primer on the pedal steel guitar from Bud Isaacs, the great early pedal steel picker who made pedal steel an essential part of classic country music with his work on Webb Pierce's "Slowly," and then a couple of his solo instrumental pieces.  We slipped a request for Hazel Dickens in there, too.

The remainder of the show was programed by Marti who brought us some gems from the vast vintage 78 collector Joe Bussard, some cat-themed songs from Johnnie & Jack, comedy from Minnie Pearl, Leroy Troy, and Andy Griffith, the nearly-forgotten Jenks "Tex" Carman, and a relatively new set of Western Music on Marti's Bunkhouse that featured Skip Gorman, Jim Hendricks, The Bar-J Wranglers, and Riders In The Sky.

We finished with some selections from 1950 radio broadcasts of The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins.

We had a ball and hope you did, too.

Tune us in next week on The Red Rooster Party for more fun from our musical past.

Marti and Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton backed by Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham
• Dip Your Fingers In The Water (1942) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.4 / Document
• Old Joe Clark (c.1989) / Joe and Odell Thompson / Ain't Gonna Rain No More: Blues and Pre-Blues from Piedmont NC / Rounder
• Oh Susanna (2004) / The Ebony Hillbillies / Sabrina's Holiday / EH Music
• Don't Get Trouble In Your Mind (2007) / Carolina Chocolate Drops / Heritage / Music Maker
• Slowly (1954) / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA Nashville
• Bud's Steel Guitar Stomp (1954) / Bud Isaacs / Bud's Bounce / Bear Family
• The Waltz You Saved For Me (1954) / Bud Isaacs / Bud's Bounce / Bear Family
• Beyond The River Bend (1983) / Hazel Dickens / By The Sweat Of My Brow / Rounder
• The School House Fire (1937) / Dixon Brothers / Down In The Basement-Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s / Old Hat
• Uncle Dave's Beloved Solo (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Down In The Basement-Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s / Old Hat
• Handsome Molly (1927) / Grayson & Whitter / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
• Going Around The World (1928) / Emry Arthur / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
• Chittlin' Cookin' Time In Cheatham County (1936) / Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners / Appalachian Stomp Down / JSP
• Tom Cat's Kitten (1956) / Johnnie & Jack with The Tenn. Mtn Boys / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
• Sing Tom Kitty (1947) / Johnnie & Jack with The Tenn. Mtn Boys / Self-titled / B.A.C.M
• Hawaii With Elvis (1970) / Minnie Pearl / Lookin' Fer A Feller! / Gusto
• Ghost Chickens In The Sky (2010) / Leroy Troy / Suppertime Serenade / Bos Records
• What It Was Was Football (Parts 1 & 2) (1953) / Andy Griffith / The Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith / EMI Capitol
• Hillbilly Hula (1953) / Jenks "Tex" Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
• Dixie Cannonball (1954) / Jenks "Tex" Carman / Hillbilly Hula / Bear Family
• The Yodeling Cowboy's Last Song (2012) / Skip Gorman / A Herder's Call / Old West
• A Cowboy's Prayer (2013) / Jim Hendricks / A Cowboy's Prayer / Green Hill
• Cool Water (2013) / Jim Hendricks / A Cowboy's Prayer / Green Hill
• Silver Spurs (1996) / Bar-J Wranglers / Wyoming Wind / Self-Produced
• The Biscuit Blues (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• Wah-Hoo (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• Rawhide (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• You're Wearing Out Your Welcome Matt (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• You Made Toothpicks Of The Timber Of My Heart (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• When I'm Gone (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Guitar Solo (Deep River Blues) (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Jam Session (1950) / Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle with Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes

Playlist 8/18/2013 - Grand Ole Opry 1948 and More...

Lulu Belle & Scotty (Wiseman)

Hi Folks,

Marti put another great playlist together for this show, but I was wondering if she had some hidden messages seeing that she played "Wish I Was A Single Girl Again" by Lulu Belle & Scotty and "Drop Dead" by Tex Williams.  She assured me that there was no nefarious meaning to those selections, but also said she would be writing a song parody called "Old Jim" about living with me. Boy am I lucky!

Walter Brennan

Marti's picks included a set of early women country singers, brother duos, and some great story songs from the likes of Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall (perhaps the king of story song writers), and Walter Brennan.

I picked out a Grand Ole Opry broadcast from

Don Edwards

December 12, 1948 of which we played about half.  The show included host Red Foley, The Blue Sky Boys, Minnie Pearl, and The Old Hickory Singers.

Marti's Bunkhouse featured Andy Parker and the Plainsmen, a couple of Australian cowboy singers, Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) from Canada, a couple of great live tracks from super cowboy singer Don Edwards with Waddie Mitchell, and Riders In The Sky to close the show.

Tune in next Sunday for more fun from our recorded past.

Jim, writing for Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue.

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Personal Interview / 
• Pure Religion (1938) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.1 / Document
• Wish I Was A Single Girl Again (1939) / Lulu Belle & Scotty / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
• Round-up Time In Texas (1933) / Girls Of The Golden West / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
• My Poncho Pony (1939) / Patsy Montana / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
• How'm I Doin'? (1932) / The Aaron Sisters With The Song-O-Pators / Flowers In The Wildwood / Trikont
• Turn Your Radio On (1940) / The Blue Sky Boys / O Brothers! / Living Era
• Maple On The Hill (1935) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / O Brothers! / Living Era
• The Weary Lonesome Blues (1937) / The Delmore Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
• Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (1936) / The Monroe Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
• The Fields Have Turned Brown (1949) / The Stanley Brothers / O Brothers! / Living Era
• Sick, Sober, And Sorry (1951) / Johnny Bond / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• Indian Summer (1951) / Spade Cooley / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• Moanin' The Blues (1950) / Hank Williams / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• Mr. And Mississippi (1950) / Tennessee Ernie Ford / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• Drop Dead (1948) / Tex Williams / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• Gonna Paint The Town Red (1949) / Tommy Scott / Classic Country Hits / Music & Melody
• The Battle Of New Orleans (1959) / Johnny Horton / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
• Don't Take Your Guns To Town (1959) / Johnny Cash / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
• A Week In A Country Jail (1969) / Tom T. Hall / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
• Old Rivers (1962) / Walter Brennan / Classic Country Great Story Songs / Time Life
• Grand Ole Opry Broadcast (1948) / Various / Transcription 12 Dec 1948 / na
• The West Is As Wild As Ever (1946) / Andy Parker & The Plainsmen / Vol. 2 Coast Records / B.A.C.M
• In The Hills Of Old Wyoming (1946) / Andy Parker & The Plainsmen / Vol. 2 Coast Records / B.A.C.M
• Happy Cowboy (1948) / Tim McNamara / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
• Texas Lil / Smoky Dawson with His Rocky Canyon Boys / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
• Square Dance Polka (1949) / Rosalie Allen & The Black River Riders / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
• West Of Rainbow Trail (1941) / Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) / A Cowboy's Life Is Good Enough For Me / Jasmine
• Ballad Of The Alamo (1960) / Marty Robbins / My Rifle, My Pony And Me / Bear Family
• Wagons West (1950) / Sons Of The Pioneers / My Rifle, My Pony And Me / Bear Family
• Coyotes (1994) / Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards / The Bard and the Balladeer / Warner Western
• Cattle Call (1994) / Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards / The Bard and the Balladeer / Warner Western
• Home On The Range (2012) / Riders In The Sky / America's Favorite Cowboy Songs / Cracker Barrel

Playlist 8/11/2013 - Music From All Over

Hi Folks,

This was another show in which Marti did most of the programming, and she really covered a wide spectrum in her selections.

Marti, Fred Kirby, Marti's brother Bob

Marti started with a group of songs on country radio in 1951, then had Fred Kirby do his original "Atomic Power" that he wrote 68 years ago this week after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

We heard a set of songs from female cast members of a west coast TV show called Ranch Party from 1957-1960 that was unique with a hint of early rock & roll with the country.

Marti's Bunkhouse was as good as ever with songs from Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette (who also did comedy), and more recent selections from Michael Martin Murphey, and Riders in the Sky.  There was even an Australian cowboy singer in the mix -- Smokey Dawson.

Rex Allen

Following Marti's Bunkhouse we heard a couple of tunes from Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham to salute the big 78th annual Galax Fiddler's Convention that just ended this weekend, one of the tunes being the theme of our show ("Breaking Up Christmas".)

Smiley Burnette

The show was capped by a gospel number from Jerry Lee Lewis recorded in 1970 during the period he had eschewed secular music.

There was no vintage radio show within this show because Jim forgot to bring one, but we'll try again next week.

We hope you enjoyed something you heard, and will tune in next week for another great show of American country and western roots music.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Personal Interview / 
• Massa's In The Cold, Cold Ground (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
• The Shot Gun Boogie (1951) / Tennessee Ernie (Ford) / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
• I Want To Play House With You (1951) / Eddy Arnold / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
• Mockin' Bird Hill (1951) / The Pinetoppers / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
• Chew Tobacco Rag (1951) / Zeb Turner / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
• Uncle Pen (1951) / Bill Monroe / Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Hillbilly Music / Bear Family
• Empty Arms And A Heart Full Of Sorrow (1947) / Wally Fowler / with the Georgia Clodhoppers Early Days / Cow Girl Boy Records (LP)
• Atomic Power (1945) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
• Jukebox Jackson From Jacksonville (1948) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
• Oh Ma! Can't You Make Hiim Behave! (c.1959) / Lorrie Collins / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
• Old Fiddler Joe (c.1959) / Rose Lee Maphis / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
• Dirty Dishes (c.1959) / Jeannie Mack / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
• I Ain't Gonna Wash My Face (c.1960) / Dorothy Wright / Country Girls on Western Ranch Party 1957-1960 / Country Routes
• What's The Matter With The Mill (1936) / Bob Wills / Country Western / Documents
• All The Good Times (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Country Western / Documents
• It Makes No Difference Now (1938) / Cliff Bruner / Country Western / Documents
• Walkin' The Floor Over You (1941) / Ernest Tubb / Country Western / Documents
• I've Been Drafted (1941) / Bill Mounce / Country Western / Documents
• Cowpoke (1951) / Rex Allen / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• I Wish I Had Never met Sunshine (1946) / Gene Autry / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• Cowboy's Roundup Song / Smokey Dawson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• I'm Gonna Gallop, Gallop to Gallup New Mexico (1948) / Roy Rogers / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• Comedy (1962) / Smiley Burnette / Is Frog Milhouse / King
• Swiss Boy (1962) / Smiley Burnette / Is Frog Milhouse / King
• Purt Near! (1953) / Peggy Godfrey / Cowboy Poetry Classics / Smithsonian Folkways
• Leanin' On The Old Top Rail (2001) / Bar-J Wranglers / Leanin' On The Old Top Rail / Self-produced
• The Streets Of Laredo (2002) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Classics: Playing Favorites II / Real West
• Sidekick Heaven (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• Salting Of The Slug (2003) / Riders In The Sky / Silver Jubilee / Acoustic Disc
• Susanna Gal (1972) / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / Tommy & Fred / County
• Breaking Up Christmas (1971) / Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham / Tommy & Fred / County
• Sugar Pie (c.1950) / Maddox Brothers & Rose / That'll Learan Ya Durn Ya / Proper
• I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone (1970) / Jerry Lee Lewis / Old Time Religion / Bear Family

Playlist 8/4/2013 - Marti's Show and Roy Rogers

Hi Folks.

This show was unique in a couple of ways.  One way is that most of the music was selected by Marti -- not just Marti's Bunkhouse, but the whole show.  Another way is that we played a half-hour Roy Rogers Show radio program from 1953 -- a first for Red Rooster Party.

Hardrock Gunter

A good portion of the first hour consisted of mostly obscure classic country recordings from well-known artists like Johnny Horton, Hardrock Gunter, Ray Price, and Hank Snow, with a few well-known chestnuts thrown in for fun.  We did catch a few old recordings from Kentucky old time musicians, and some comedy from Jerry Clower and Andy Griffith.

Pat Brady, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans

The second hour, typically the time for Marti's Bunkhouse, began with The Roy Rogers Show from new years day 1953, and transitioned to a couple of great sets of Western music.  We closed with some radio transcriptions from The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle and Chet Atkins, and a real poignant song about cowboys from the awe-inspiring cowboy singer Don Edwards.

We hope you enjoyed what your heard.  If Marti continues programming Red Rooster Party shows, we may ask WHUS to keep it on through the fall.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton / Interview (1994) / 
• Daniel Saw The Stone (1941) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Words v.4 / Document
• I Believe Mountain Music Is Here To Stay (1951) / Hardrock Gunter / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Coal Smoke, Valve Oil and Steel (1951) / Johnny Horton / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Old Nevada Moon (1939) / Patsy Montana / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Breeze (1947) / Cowboy Copas / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• You've Got My Troubles Now (1951) / Ray Price / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Nine Pound Hammer (1946) / Merle Travis / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Music Makin' Mama From Memphis (1951) / Hank Snow / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• Miss Molly (1947) / Tex Williams / Country & Western Hits / Membran Music
• He's Only A Miner Killed In The Ground (1928) / Ted Chesnut / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo
• She Is A Flower From The Fields of Alabama (1928) / Rutherford, Moore & Burnett / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo
• Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (1952) / Hank Williams / The Final Sessions / Proper
• Tears In The Eye Of A Potato (1965) / Jimmy Murphy / Southern Roots: The Starday Sessions / Ace
• The Ship That Never Returned (1966) / Sara and Maybelle Carter / self-titled / Bear Family
• A New Bull (1974) / Jerry Clower / Country Ham / MCA
• Be Yourself (1974) / Jerry Clower / Country Ham / MCA
• The Fishin' Hole (1961) / Andy Griffith / American Originals / Capitol
• North Carolina, My Home State (1959) / Andy Griffith / American Originals / Capitol
• The Roy Rogers Show 1-1-1953 / Roy Rogers, Dale Evans / Old Time Radio Shows - Westerns / Island View
• The Lantern On The Wagon (1997) / Red Steagall and the Boys In The Bunkhouse / Dear Mama, I'm A Cowboy / Warner Western
• My Old Waddy Pal (1996) / Skip Gorman / Lonesome Prairie Love / Rounder
• Cannonball Yodel (2004) / Bar-J Wranglers / Roamin' Wyoming / Self-produced
• Night Riding Song (1997) / Ranger Doug (Douglas B. Green) / Songs Of The Sage / Warner Western
• Opening Theme, I Wish I Had A Nickel (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Ain'tcha Tired Of Making Me Blue (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Don't Wait (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Guitar Solo (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• The Cowboy's Song (1992) / Don Edwards / The Best of Don Edwards / Warner

Playlist 7/28/2013 - Old Radio and Classic Parody

Roy Hall (top center) and his Blue Ridge Entertainers

Hi Folks.

This show had a goodly amount of old radio transcriptions from the likes of Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers (1939), The Blue Sky Boys (1949), and The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle and Chet Atkins (1949).

Additionally, we played the first set (from the original vinyl) of the classic Statler Brothers parody of a generic amateur country band by the name of Lester "Roadhog" Moran and his Cadillac Cowboys.  This was Marti's first time hearing this hilarious record, and she thought it was terrible, which of course it would have been had it been intended as a serious effort -- "I could make a record like that!" she said. Marti thought we might have driven off all five of our listeners.  I hope everyone got the joke.

Marti's Bunkhouse was a spendid cross section of Western music, as usual, with a special set of "Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys" -- a description that captures all the stereotypes.  Marti also gave away a Riders In The Sky CD to a lucky caller.

We'll be back next Sunday, so tune us in to join in the fun.

Marti & Jim

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton 1974 / Interview
• Behold The Bridegroom Cometh (1937) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
• Hold The Woodpile Down (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Go Long Mule / County
• Answer To Blue Eyes (1938) / Morris Brothers / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
• The Girl I Left In Sunny Tennessee (1925) / Charlie Poole / With The North Carolina Ramblers / JSP
• Gathering Flowers From The Hillside (1966) / Lee Moore / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
• Old Spinning Wheel (1966) / Lee Moore / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
• The Weary Traveler (1968) / Lee Moore & The Bluegrass Cut-ups / Log Cabin Favorites / Rural Rhythm
• Radio Show, WBJD Radio, Roanoke, Virginia 1939 / Roy Hall & His Blue Ridge Entertainers / Early Country Radio / JSP

Introduction and Dr. Pepper Commercial

Fisher's Hornpipe

Don't Cause Mother's Hair To Turn Grey

Roy Hall Song Book Commercial

Remember Me

Doctor Pepper Commerccial

South Of The Border

Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home

Take Me Back To The Blue Ridge Mountains

• Lonesome Road Blues (1949) / Blue Sky Boys / Farm & Fun Time Favorites V.2 / Copper Creek
• Whispering Hope (1949) / Blue Sky Boys / Farm & Fun Time Favorites V.2 / Copper Creek
• Alive At The Johnny Mack Brown High School (1974) / Lester"Roadhog" Moran and his Cadillac Cowboys / Alive At The Johnny Mack Brown High School / Mercury (LP)

Little Liza Jane

Hey Joe

Filipino Baby

SixteenTons

Rubber Dolly

Wildwood Flower

Keep On The Sunny Side

Waterloo

• You Don't Love Me But I'll Always Care (1941) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• My Love Went Without Water (Three Days) (1941) / Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• Killer Diller / Bar-J Wranglers / Fiddles, Funnies n' Food For Thought / Self-produced
• The Shopping Trip / Bar-J Wranglers / Fiddles, Funnies n' Food For Thought / Self-produced
• Over And Over Again (1946) / Gene Autry / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
• Just A-Pickin' and A-Singin' (1948) / Curley Williams / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
• The Daughter of Jole Blon (1948) / Johnny Bond / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
• Catch Me Cheatin' (1951) / Smokey Rogers / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
• Detour (1946) / Foy Willing / Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys / Proper
• Song Of The Rover / Sons Of The San Joaquin / A Retrospective / Western Jubilee
• Song Of The Trail (2011) / Riders In The Sky / Land Beyond The Sun / Riders Radio Records
• Cowboy Camp Meeting (2011) / Riders In The Sky / Land Beyond The Sun / Riders Radio Records
• Belle Star (1993) / Michael Martin Murphey / Cowboy Songs III / Warner Western
• The Bald Head Of A Broom (1949) / The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle & Chet Atkins / Self-titled / Country Routes
• Beer, Bait and Ammo (2006) / George Jones / All Gone Fishing / Bandit

Playlist 7/21/2013 - Before Bluegrass

Hi Folks.

The first Mainer recording group 1935
J.E. & Wade Mainer, Zeke Morris, John Love
Announcer Fisher Hendley

Charlie & Bill Monroe c.1936

Everyone knows that Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys created bluegrass music in December 1945 when Bill and his band with new banjo picker Earl Scruggs stepped on the stage of the widely broadcast Grand Ole Opry program at the Ryman Auditorium.

That's what everyone knows.



Today's show was intended to show that Bill had a lot of help getting there.  We started with J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers who were picking string band music at high speed with the two-finger banjo style of Wade Mainer a decade earlier, then Charlie and Bill Monroe's recordings from that same early period.

Charlie Monroe (c), Zeke Morris (l)
Bill Calhoun (r)

First recorded version of Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys
Bill Wesbrooks, Tommy Magness, Bill Monroe, Clyde Moody

We followed with Charlie Monroe's post-Monroe Brothers recordings, Bill Monroe's post-Monroe Brothers recordings, and then Byron Parker & His Mountaineers -- a 1940 evolution of J.E. Mainer's band -- with Snuffy Jenkins picking banjo three-finger style.  Of all this music, the only thing we heard that could be identified as bluegrass as we know it today was the music of the Byron Parker configuration, and this was a full five years or more before Bill Monroe hit the stage with Earl Scruggs.

We hope this was mind-opening.

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith

Marti had a super day programming Marti's Bunkhouse with some great Western music that is too-little-known.  The rarer material came from Texas Jim Robertson, Goebel Reeves, and New Zealand cowboy singer Cole Wilson (1922-1993).  We also heard a couple of songs from a tribute album Riders In The Sky did for the North Carolina train attraction Tweetsie Railroad.  Tweetsie has been giving train rides on real former working steam engine locomotive driven trains for well over half-century and continues to do so today.

We finished with some comedy from Spike Jones, Homer & Jethro, and Louis Grizzard, and then a couple of songs from Carolinas musical stalwart Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, including his first recording of "Guitar Boogie" which became his namesake.

We hope you heard something you enjoyed.

Join us next Sunday and we'll have another interesting listen to our musical past.

Jim & Marti

Marti's Bunkhouse in blue

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction / Aunt Hattie Dalton / 1994 Interview
• Way Down In Egypt Land (1939) / Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Complete Recorded Works v.3 / Document
• Take Me In The Lifeboat (1935) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
• Seven And A Half (1935) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
• Number 111 (1936) / J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers / The Early Years / JSP
• My Long Journey Home (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (1936) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Have A Feast Here Tonight (1938) / Monroe Brothers / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Tell Him To Come Back Sweet Fern (1938) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
• You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone (1938) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
• Oh Death (1939) / (Charlie) Monroe's Boys / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
• We Shall Rise (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
• Carroll County Blues (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
• Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar (1940) / Byron Parker & His Mountaineers / Bluegrass Classic Recordings Remastered / JSP
• Mule Skinner Blues (1940) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Dog House Blues (1941) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Tennessee Blues (1941) / Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
• Ride Tenderfoot Ride (1938) / Gene Autry / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• I'm Gonna Throw My Lasso (1939) / Texas Jim Robertson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• The Outlaw / Cole Wilson / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• Cowboy's Dream (1930) / The Yodelling Rustler (Goebel Reeves) / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• Red River Valley (1947) / Sons Of The Pioneers / All Time Great Singing Cowboys / PR1MO
• Tweetsie Railroad Line (2002) / Riders In The Sky / Ridin' The Tweetsie Railroad / Tweetsie Railroad
• I've Been Working On The Railroad (2002) / Riders In The Sky / Ridin' The Tweetsie Railroad / Tweetsie Railroad
• Yippee-Yi Your Troubles Away (1993) / Sons Of The San Joaquin / Songs Of The Silver Screen / Warner Bros Western
• Old Cowboys (1984) / Everett Brisendine / The Cowboy Tour / Rounder
• Banks Of The Ponchatrain (1984) / Brownie Ford / The Cowboy Tour / Rounder
• Wild Bill Hiccup (1949) / Spike Jones / The Spike Jones Anthology / Rhino
• Your Clobbered Heart (1953) / Homer & Jethro / Volume 3 / B.A.C.M
• Guitar Boogie (1944) / Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith / The Golden Age of Arthur Smith / Cattle
• Foolish Questions (1948) / Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith / The Golden Age of Arthur Smith / Cattle
• Valley Of Peace (2010) / Taylors Grove / Keep On The Sunny Side / Fishtraks

Playlist 7/14/2013 - Possum & Biscuits, Cotton Mills, Salty Dogs, and Chickens

The DeZurik Sisters
a.k.a. "Cackle Sisters"

Hi Folks.

No, the title for this playlist is not the menu for today, although during a certain period of time it could have been.  We played songs from that period, including Uncle Dave Macon, The Coon Creek Girls, David McCarn, The Carolina Ramblers String Band, G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, Charlie Parker and Mac Woolbright, J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers, Jerry & Sky, and the amazing DeZurik Sisters -- also known as The Cackle Sisters.


Relative to cotton mills, of significant note was the inclusion of all three of the "Cotton Mill Colic" songs and a couple more created by Gastonia NC textile mill hand David McCarn.  Gastonia is near where we were born and raised, and textile factories -- an industry that moved South from New England over a century ago -- were a significant employer in the Carolinas. The major mill in our hometowns (Cannon > Fieldcrest-Cannon > Pillowtex) ran for about a century before closing its doors in 2003.

Marti's Bunkhouse featured a yodeling set -- something we've been wanting to do for a while -- plus a great Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers set plus some great songs from Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Bob Wills, and Eddy Arnold.  Our own Carolinas singing cowboy, Fred Kirby, sang a song for us, and we ran to the finish with some 1950s, 60s, and 70s classic country.

We hope you enjoyed something you heard on this show.  If you have requests, just leave them in the comments, or send an e-mail to redroosterparty "at" gmail "dot"com.

Jim & Marti

Marti's Bunkhouse in burgundy.

Title / Artist / Album / Label

• Introduction (1994) / Aunt Hattie Dalton
• Preacher And The Bear (1937) / Golden Gate Quartet / Complete Recorded Works V.1 / Document
• Carve That Possum (1927) / Uncle Dave Macon / Go Long Mule / County
• How Many Biscuits Can You Eat (c.1941) / The Coon Creek Girls / Early Radio Favorites / Old Homestead
• Let Me Be Your Salty Dog (1938) / Morris Brothers / Salty Dog Blues / B.A.C.M
• Orange Blossom Special (1947) / Jerry & Sky / The Appalachian Tradition / Great American
• Radio Show (San Antonio 1941) / J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers / Early Country Radio / JSP

My Old Pal Of Yesterday
Indian River Hoedown

Letter Edged In Black

Goodbye Maggie

• Cotton Mill Colic (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
• Everyday Dirt (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
• Take Them For A Ride (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
• Poor Man, Rich Man (1930) / David McCarn / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
• Serves 'em Fine (1931) / Dave (McCarn) & Howard (Long) / Gastonia Gallop / Old Hat
• Will, The Weaver (1927) / Charlie Parker & Mac Woolbright / The Appalachian Tradition / Great American
• Cluck Old Hen (1928) / Grayson & Whitter / Cluck Old Hen / Old Hat
• Barnyard Frolic (1932) / Carolina Ramblers String Band / Cluck Old Hen / Old Hat
• The Checker Time Radio Hour excerpt (c.1941) / The DeZurik Sisters (The Cackle Sisters) / Radio transcription / na
• Cowboy Rhythm (1938) / Patsy Montana / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
• That's How The Yodel Was Born (1953) / Elton Britt / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
• Yodelin' Boogie (1949) / Rosalie Allen / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
• Hobo Bill's Last Ride (1930) / Gene Autry / Yodeling Memories / Country Stars
• My Saddle Pals And I (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• Heavenly Airplane (1940) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• Blue Juniata (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• Billy The Kid (1937) / Roy Rogers and Sons Of The Pioneers / Way Out There / Bear Family
• Git Along, Little Dogies (1932) / Tex Ritter / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
• Cherokee Maiden (1941) / Bob Wills / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
• Cattle Call (1955 version) / Eddy Arnold / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
• South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way) (1939) / Gene Autry / Tumbling Tumbleweeds / Dynamic
• Jukebox Jackson From Jacksonville (1948) / Fred Kirby / The Original "Atomic Power" / Cattle
• Tears In The Eyes Of A Potato (1965) / Jimmy Murphy / Southern Roots / Ace
• No Charge (1974) / Melba Montgomery / Queens Of Country / Time Life
• Alabam (1960) / Cowboy Copas / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
• Blue Blue Day (1957) / Don Gibson / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
• Little Sadie (1960-2) / Clarence Ashley / Classic Old Time Music / Smithsonian Folkways