Some Of My Favorite Country & Bluegrass Songs

[jerryd6818]

Great song. T.J., are you that good on the mandolin?

I see you haven't taken a stab at the Jim Reeves / Patsy Cline question.

[tjmurphy]

Great song. T.J., are you that good on the mandolin?

I see you haven't taken a stab at the Jim Reeves / Patsy Cline question.

Hecky NO. Mike Compton is as good as they get. He'll play a lot of Monroe style mandolin or anything else he wants to.

Jim Reeves/Patsy Cline duet, don't know. They were both alive and working at the same time weren't they? Maybe over-dubbed? Remember the Hank, Sr. and Hank, Jr. duet "Tears in my Beers"?

[jerryd6818]

Over-dubbed / mixed about three years after they had passed on. Brought to you by the magic of electronics. I have to wonder if along with television, electronics hasn't ruined the world. Just a thought.

A thought. If I'm able to get down to Louisville for a visit with my buddy next summer, maybe we could meet up for a little visit. Bring your music box?

[tjmurphy]

Now that sounds like a plan. I'm just at 100-miles from Louisville, I-71 all the way. Keep me posted - if we ever get out of winter.

[jerryd6818]

I had forgotten you're in the Cincinnati area. I had your location mixed up with Philco's. Isn't he about that same hundred miles south of you?

[tjmurphy]

Yeh - about the same distance for me either way, though Stanford, Ky may me a little longer driving time since its not directly of an interstate highway.

[tjmurphy]

Who'd a ever thunk this would come out of that man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWR6FLnP ... re=related

[jerryd6818]

Almost as big of a surprise as Jim Nabors was. That's the first time I've ever heard "Festus" sing. Very good.

I read the Ken Curtis entry in Wikipedia and was amazed at all the things he did.

[jerryd6818]

Another one brought to you by the magic of electronics. Elvis Presley and Martina McBride, singing one of Elvis's favorite Christmas songs, "Blue Christmas".

http://release.theplatform.com/content. ... me=Unknown

Elvis - Born January 08, 1935. Died August 16, 1977
Martina - Born July29, 1966 -

[tjmurphy]

Very nice, Jerry. Thanks for sharing that one.

[Oman]

Darn! that brings a tear to eye. I miss Elvis, and John Lennon, Janis and Jimmy.

Peace

[tjmurphy]

Dottie Rambo and Gov. Jimmie Davis, former governor of Louisiana, singer/songwriter. "Nobody's Darlin' But Mine" and "You Are My Sunshine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KW6cgbR ... re=related

[jerryd6818]

The music our parents enjoyed - Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers - 'Soldiers Joy' - 1929

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p952jSL ... re=related

[tjmurphy]

Now that was fun. That "Old Timey" music will never die, but if it does, I hope that it is after I'm gone. If you go to a Bluegrass festival there will always be at least one banjo player who is a great claw-hammer style player, and that style will drive the dancers crazy, they love it. I had an old friend, Ballard "Pappy" Taylor who was at one time a member of the Skillet Lickers, he played old time fiddle and banjo. There was another feller here in Boone County who was a member, played fiddle. Last name was Middleton, can't remember his first.

Here's Pappy and his brother Tommy Taylor with a song caller "Run Boy Run" which is the politically correct name for a tune called "Run 'N' Run, the original name. You can guess what the 'N' word is. Pappy's gone now and Tommy is eat up with arthritis and can't play anymore, two great losses to our music. Bert Lane was also a part of the Skillet Lickers at one time, I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgvmG3xb ... re=related

This is Gid Tanner's version, not so politically correct. (Posting this tune in no way, shape or form implies any prejustices on my part, just some history of the song).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rZHiDGX630

[jerryd6818]

I don't know what "claw-hammer banjo" is but that is a catchy little tune that makes you want to pat your foot. Do you think our generation will be remembered as fondly as we remember those old boys? I hope so.

While searching for the lyrics to the politically incorrect version (I don't hear so good and can't make out what they're saying), I ran on to this bit of history. I thought it was interesting reading so will share it here for anyone who cares to take the time.

http://undercoverblackman.blogspot.com/ ... r-run.html

[tjmurphy]

Interesting read, Jerry. I think that I had heard that it was originally a slave pep ralley song, but can't say for sure.

Claw hammer banjo style is played without finger picks and the player will carry a rythem on the banjo while also playing a lead line. Earl Scruggs, and most Bluegrass players, play what is called a "three finger style" using the thumb, index and middle finger, but usually playing only a lead line or a rythem line, but not at the same time. Claw Hammer style is also referred to as "Drop Thumb" and "Frailing". Grampa Jones, Dave "Stringbean" Akemon, Ralph Stanley, etc. are/were masters of the Claw Hammer style. If you listen to some of the very early Bill Monroe cuts you will hear "Stringbean" playing a style that encompasses both, a roll and a claw hammer style all rolled into one. A three finger roll is a pattern played in Bluegrass banjo, where certain strings are played one after the other and not all together. Not very good at explaining banjo techniques.

[jerryd6818]

"Not very good at explaining banjo techniques." That's because it's in a different language. I would need to know the terminology.

Lorreta Lynn and I wish you all a good old Country Christmas

[tjmurphy]

Bluegrass Christmas with the Stanley Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuo-gesX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkef-ana ... re=related

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to all my friends at AAPK. You all are the BEST

[tjmurphy]

How could I forget these two? My Favorite Bluegrass Band, "Wait a Minute" and "Tennessee 1949"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGvVT81WdSk

[jerryd6818]

T.J., is that you plunkin' that old guitar? You've posted that video before and I thought you said it was you playing guitar.

[tjmurphy]

Hey Jerry - Yep that's me on guitar. Wished it was an OLD Martin guitar, but alas, it was made in 2008. We have since added a Dobro player.

[jerryd6818]

Not a bad set of pipes on ya either. I love to sing (at least that's what I call it) but God saw fit to make me handsome instead of talented.

[tjmurphy]

Here's a dandy for you Jerry. Bill Monroe with his own composition, "Southern Flavor". The mandolin he is playing is a 1923 Gibson Lloyd Loar F-5 which he paid $250 for in 1946 and sold for $1million+ after he died. Another bit of trivia is that the guitar that Marty Stuart is playing is Hank Williams, Sr.'s pre-war Martin D-45. Bill was about 80-years old in this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NcCgsAM ... re=related

[jerryd6818]

Bill gettin' down in his back there towards the end?

A million dollars for that old mandolin. Wow! Wonder how much of that was the instrument and how much was because it belonged to Bill Monroe. A whole lot of each, I'd guess.

Where was that video of you and the boys recorded?

Hey, I just noticed. Today is my two year anniversary here on AAPK.

[tjmurphy]

When Bill was stooped over taking his third solo, his mike had slipped down and he was just going to the mic. Bill was a trooper all the way. Back in the 60's he was playing a festival in Canada and became so sick that after his first set they carried him to the hospital in an ambulance, but, he made them carry him back for his second set. He was diagnosed with cancer. The last time I saw Bill it was winter and he had slipped on the ice and cracked his wrist, right hand, and had a cast on it. It restricted his playing and he took his pocket knife and cut it off so that he could play.

Actually, the last price I recall was 1.15 million. I'd say that it was $100G's for the mando and the rest Bill. Typically the 1922 - 1924 Gibson F-5 Lloyd Loar mandolins are priced at $75,000 to $250,000, depending on condition and provinance(sp?) They are considered the Stradivarious of mandolins. The guitar that Marty Stuart is playing, Hank, Sr's. pre WWII Matin D-45 would be considered priceless. I believe that Marty donated this guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He also has Lester Flatt's 1950's D-28 Martin.

That video was shot at the Wilder, Kentucky Vol. Fire Department. Each year they have a benefit festival, players play for free, to raise money for equipment and charitable donations to the needy.

Happy Anniversary to ya Jerry.

Well, are you totally bored with useless information now?