Bluegrass Cafe

On the home stretch...AND DONE!

2010-01-06T12:46:00.004-05:00

Looks like the fund for David McLaughlin is growing very nicely: as of last night (1/5/2010), it had reached $6,093.30! That's pretty amazing when you consider that Claire Lynch only put the word out about David's need a few days after Christmas 2009. It always sounds cliche, but I guess it's true that BG people are often like a family and want to support their own.

Thanks to everyone who's made a donation so far...and if you haven't yet, it's still not too late. The goal is $7,000, but sometimes, the last few dollars are the most challenging to raise...

If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, read my earlier post, or check out the original posting on the Bluegrass Blog from last week.

Amy

UPDATE: As of last night (1/6/2010), the David McLaughlin Fund had raised the needed $7,000 for the purchase of David's hearing aid devices! That's absolutely astounding, especially when you consider that this "campaign" had only really been going for about 2 weeks. Read fund organizer Claire Lynch's heartfelt thank you as posted on the Bluegrass Blog today -- and thanks again to everyone who contributed!

Helping one of my BG heroes...

2009-12-30T12:39:00.007-05:00

It's no secret that I am now and have always been a huge admirer of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Growing up in eastern CT, I recall seeing them perform many times, especially every February at the Chestnut Lodge in Colchester in shows sponsored by the now-defunct Connecticut Friends of Bluegrass. I fully believe that my exposure to this band and their music and showmanship paved the way for my introduction to Bluegrass and later, Bluegrass radio. Without getting overly sentimental here, this band and all of its members mean an awful lot to me, and I believe that there are still lots and lots of folks in CT and New England who are big fans of the Johnson Mountain Boys. Even though the band has been broken up for more than a decade, I still try to play at least one tune from JMB on the air every week, and I'm pretty comfortable in saying that Jim shares my high opinion of these guys.

(By the way, the photo at the top of this page was taken at one of those JMB shows at the Chestnut Lodge, circa 1984. From left to right, it's David McLaughlin, Richard Underwood, Dudley Connell, Larry Robbins, and Eddie Stubbs. Longtime BGers from New England will notice #1 Bluegrass Fan Alice Waters right on the front row, too -- naturally).

Just yesterday, I read a post on the very fine Bluegrass Blog about the JMB mandolin player, David McLaughlin. In addition to JMB, David has performed with Josh Crowe in the duo known as Crowe & McLaughlin, as one of the first members of the Lynn Morris Band, and with Linda & David Lay in Springfield Exit (among other groups). In 2006, David experienced almost total hearing loss, but was able to restore a good portion of his hearing by using some powerful hearing aids. I recall seeing David perform with Lynn Morris at the 2007 Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival, and he was using the hearing aids then. According to the BG Blog post, recently, David has found a device called the Oticon Dual which (when paired with an Oticon Streamer) has allowed him to hear nearly as well as he did before 2006. This device is currently "on loan," but can be purchased by David for $7,000. To help raise funds for David to purchase this device, his good friend and fellow musician, Claire Lynch, has established a benefit fund, and folks are encouraged to contribute whatever they can. So far, they've raised just over $2,000, but every penny helps. If you'd like to contribute, please note that donations can be made via PayPal using the email address McLaughlinFund@gmail.com, or send a check payable to David McLaughlin Benefit Fund to:

Jennifer Hardiman

805 East College Street

Pulaski, TN 38478

Please consider making a contribution, if you're able.

To read the full post on the Bluegrass Blog, click here.

Thanks!

Amy

Addendum as of 1/1/2010: Jennifer Hardiman says that the total amount of donations to the McLaughlin Fund as of 12/31/2009 was $3,555.95. That's more than half of the needed $7,000, but there's still a ways to go. Please consider making a donation soon, won't you?

Two December fill-ins for Amy...

2009-12-30T11:27:00.007-05:00

As it's the Christmas/Holiday/Winter Break at UCONN, there are lots of opportunities for us community members to pick up extra radio shifts to help out vacationing students. I've been able to do a couple of Tuesday afternoon (1-3PM) fill-ins so far this month, and in them, I've played a good bit of country music with a bit of the Bluegrass thrown in for good measure. The country music I've played has mostly been in the "classic" category, although I have been able to play newer music from performers such as Roseanne Cash and Kathy Mattea. Playing this music is very enjoyable for me, and I'm always glad to hear from WHUS listeners who may not necessarily be listeners of the BG Cafe, but who keep their radios tuned to WHUS during work hours, and enjoy the sounds we've been playing on those Tuesday afternoons.

My December 22nd playlist included -- as you might expect -- a good number of Christmas selections, but on December 29th, I put more of a spotlight on the immortal Hank Williams (who died January 1, 1953). You've really got to wonder what country music would have been like had Hank not made such a contribution in his short 29 years on this Earth. His music has certainly touched many, many different genres, and I'm sure will still be heard long after any of us are still alive.

Incidentally, if you're interested in learning more about Hank Williams and his brief life, here's a recommendation for a couple of very good Williams biographies: Hank Williams: The Biography by Colin Escott and Lovesick Blues: The Life Of Hank Williams by Paul Hemphill. Both books were well-written and provide a lot of insight into the brief life of a true country music legend. Copies of these books can likely be borrowed at your local library -- I might suggest that you call the library in your hometown to see if they might be able to find copies of one or both of these books.

I'll do at least one more Tuesday afternoon fill-in before the semester break ends -- Tuesday, January 12th from 1-3PM. I hope you'll consider joining me. Of course, too, we strongly suggest you join Jim & Marti this coming Sunday, January 3rd for the BG Cafe -- including the "bonus" hours from 2-4PM. That means there will be FIVE big hours of the BG: 2-7PM. Join them!

And, of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Amy

12/22/2009 PLAYLIST:

Goodbye Old Pal / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
Wabash Cannonball / Roy Acuff & His Smokey Mountain Boys / The Golden Age / Columbia
Wildwood Flower / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Maybelle Carter / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Soldier's Joy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Blue Christmas / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / Gene Autry / The Time-Life Treasury Of Christmas / Time-Life
Bluegrass, White Snow / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
Here Comes Santa Claus / Riders In The Sky / Merry Christmas From Harmony Ranch / Columbia
To Heck With Ole Santa Claus / Loretta Lynn / The Best Of Loretta Lynn : The Christmas Collection / MCA
Smooth Sailin' / Tommy Collins / Words And Music Country Style / Capitol
Mama Tried / Merle Haggard / Vintage Collections / Capitol
All I Want For Christmas Is You / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked A Lot Like Him) / Buck Owens / Christmas With Buck Owens & His Buckaroos / Sundazed
I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried / Rodney Crowell / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia
Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow / Roseanne Cash / The List / Manhattan Records
Tennessee Flat-Top Box / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
A Hundred Years From Now / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems /
I'm Feeling For You (But I Can't Reach You) / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin' Town / Rounder
Call Collect On Christmas / Del McCoury / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time-Life
Teach Your Children / Bill Emerson with Charlie Waller / Reunion / Webco
A Memory Of You / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
Late For School / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
I Never Spend A Christmas That I Don't Think Of You / Statler Brothers / Christmas Card / Mercury
An Old Christmas Card / Jim Reeves / Twelve Songs Of Christmas / RCA
Shut In At Christmas/Shut-In Prayer / Louvin Brothers / Songs That Tell A Story / Rounder
It's Been So Long / Webb Pierce / 20th Century Masters / MCA
Settin' The Woods On Fire / Hank Williams / 24 Greatest Hits / Mercury
Steppin' Stones / Jimmy Martin / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
As Long As I Live / Kitty Wells with Red Foley / 20th Century Masters / MCA
It's A Lovely, Lovely World / Carl Smith / Satisfaction Guaranteed / Living Era
Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / Snow On Christmas / Bear Family

12/29/2009 PLAYLIST:

Little Log Cabin By The Sea / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
Blue Grass Stomp / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Columbia
Maybelle's Guitar And Monroe's Mandolin / Robin & Linda Williams / Buena Vista / Red House Records
Coal Tattoo / Kathy Mattea / Coal / Captain Potato Records
No Mother Or Dad / BearTracks / From The Hollow / AMT Records
I Got You / Waylon Jennings & Anita Carter / Best Of Country Duets / RCA
Night Train To Memphis / Roy Acuff / The Essential Roy Acuff / Sony
I Never See Maggie Alone / Kenny Roberts / Indian Love Call / Starday
The Fields Have Turned Brown / Jerry Garcia / Bluegrass Reunion / Acoustic Disc
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
Nobody's Lonesome For Me / Hank Williams / Long Gone Lonesome Blues / Country Stars
I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
Why Don't You Love Me / Hank Williams / Long Gone Lonesome Blues / Country Stars
Cold Cold Heart / Hank Williams / The Unreleased Recordings / Time Life
Last Driftin' Cowboy / Hank Williams, Jr. / 127 Rose Avenue / Curb
Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
I Can't Like Myself / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Hello City Limits / Fred Pike, Sam Tidwell & the Kennebec Valley Boys / The Last Log Drive / Revonah
When You Go Walking After Midnight / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose / Dwight Yoakam / Last Chance For A Thousand Years / Reprise
Above And Beyond / Rodney Crowell / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia
You're For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
A-11 / Buck Owens / Together Again/My Heart Skips A Beat / Capitol
Take These Chains From My Heart / Ray Price / In A Honky Tonk Mood / Jasmine
Goin' Steady / Faron Young / The Complete Capitol Hits Of Faron Young / Collectors' Choice Music
Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy / Webb Pierce / Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy / Proper
There's Nothing As Sweet As My Baby / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era
The Singing Waterfall / Kitty Wells / Johnnie & Jack With Kitty Wells At KWKH / Bear Family
Daddy Sang Bass / Johnny Cash / At San Quentin / Sony Legacy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/27/2009

2009-12-27T22:38:00.008-05:00

For our last BG Cafe of 2009, our goal was to play a whole lot of the great BG music that was released in 2009. Approximately 110 new BG CDs were received and added to our collection at WHUS over the past year. Time constraints (even with 5 broadcast hours for the show) didn't allow us to play a song from each new CD, but we did manage to make more than half of the tunes we played new releases from 2009. It has been a mighty fine year for BG music, and we're happy to have been able to bring you so much great music each week.

While the focus was on the 2009 releases, we still put two more classic country singers in the spotlight, and played a combination of them singing their own songs along with several BG remakes of tunes from their respective song catalogs. This time around, we featured two gentlemen who first found great success on the country charts in the 1950s, who are both members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and who both were married to June Carter at one point in their lives. The singers: Carl Smith and Johnny Cash. For me, it's always enjoyable to combine the original country singers with BG covers of some of their tunes -- hope you liked it, too.

Jim & Marti will be with you to welcome in 2010 on the BG Cafe next Sunday. Start your year off right with some great BG music.

Happy New Year!!

Amy

Selections in BOLD BLUE are from 2009 releases.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
My Brown Eyed Darling / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
The Old Home Place / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Pain In My Heart / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Curly Seckler with Mac Wiseman / 60 Years Of Bluegrass With My Friends / Copper Creek
Stop The World (And Let Me Off) / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
New Camptown Races / Frank Wakefield / Ownself Blues / Patuxent Music
Best Of Her (Cooper's Song) / Acoustic Blue / This Is Now / Self-Produced
Let's Live A Little / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way / Barry Berrier / First Time With Feeling / Pinecastle
Are You Teasin' Me? / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
Satisfaction Guaranteed / Carl Smith / Let's Live A Little / Living Era
I Overlooked An Orchid / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine
Loose Talk / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
(When You Feel Like You're In Love) Don't Just Stand There / Carl Smith / The Essential Carl Smith / Columbia
Look For Me / Angelica Grim / Look For Me / Patuxent Music
Flat Creek / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
Detour / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
Mama Tried / Herman McGee / Family And Friends / WMB Records
Try To Be / NewFound Road / Same Old Place / Rounder
Tears On My Tracks / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Self-Produced
My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Cry, Cry, Cry / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
Hey Porter / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
Big River / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
Get Rhythm / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
I Still Miss Someone / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / 16 Biggest Hits / Columbia
There You Go / Jimmy Gaudreau / Classic J.A.G. / Webco
Papa Played The Dobro / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
Ring Of Fire / Johnny Cash / The Essential Johnny Cash / Columbia
The Crow / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Why Don't You Tell Me So / Richard Bennett / Flatpicking Bluegrass / GSM Records
Turn Up The Bottle / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Comin' On Strong / David Peterson / Comin' On Strong / Self-Produced
Farm Of Yesterday / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Calloway / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Does My Ring Burn Your Finger? / Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
In Despair / Spring Creek / Way Up On The Mountain / Rebel
I've Been All Around This World / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Two Dimes & A Nickel / Rebel
In Memory / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
Foggy River / Ricky Skaggs / Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Jerusalem Ridge / Bill Monroe & Kenny Baker / High Lonesome / CMH Records
Gotta Travel On / Don Reno & Bill Harrell / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
Roll On Buddy / Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Best Of Bluegrass, v.1 / Rural Rhythm
To Warm And Comfort You / Gail & Gordon Pike & Mainly Grass / Hard Words / Self-Produced
Downhearted / High Country / Perfect Companions / Squirty Records
Cold And Lowdown Lonesome Blues / Blue Highway / Some Day : The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection / Rounder
To Warm And Comfort You / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / To Warm And Comfort You / Rebel
Julie's Train / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Home
Prisoner Of The Highway / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Self-Produced
Riverhead Polka / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
Bramble And The Rose / Patty Loveless / Mountain Soul II / Saguaro Records
Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey with Dan Tyminski / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Winter's Come And Gone / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
Wreckin' The Train / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
Roll On Buddy, Roll On / Sam Bush with Del McCoury / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
The Memory Of Your Smile / Dede Wyland / Keep The Light On / Patuxent Music
Goin' To The Dance / Chris Warner / Goin' To The Dance / Patuxent Music
I Want To Be Wanted / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
Mountain Girl / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Self-Produced
I Never See Maggie Alone / Sky Blue Boys / Music In The Air / Self-Produced
Lonely Street / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely River / Rounder
I'm Leaving Town / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Rural Rhythm
Ride Of Your Life / GoldHeart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
Picture Me There / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
She's More To Be Pitied / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
Signs / Special Consensus / Signs / Pinecastle
Down The Road / Phil Rosenthal / A Treasury Of Bluegrass & Country Songs / American Melody
When The Time Had Fully Come / Northern Lights / Can't Buy Your Way / Flying Fish
Heaven / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass Records
Oh What A Day / Barry Scott & Second Wind / In God's Time / Rebel
Automobile Of Life / Bear Minimum / / Self-Produced
Meet Me Over On The Other Side / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute, v.2 / MasterShield Records
Little White Frame Church / Larry Sparks / I Just Want To Thank You Lord / Rural Rhythm
Who'll Sing For Me? / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
Some Day / Blue Highway / Some Day : The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection / Rounder
Auld Lang Syne / Bill Keith / O Christmas Tree / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 12/20/2009 Christmas Show

2009-12-22T00:45:00.006-05:00

Hi Folks,

We split the extended four hours we had for this show into two distinct parts -- the first two hours were programmed by longtime Bluegrass Cafe listeners and occasional DJs James Ward and Cathy Ward; the last two hours were my Christmas program for 2009.

We were saddened at the recent news of the passing of Phyllis Boyens, one of the most soulful bluegrass and folk singers we've ever heard. Many bluegrass fans are familiar with the electrifying "Last Old Shovel" that has appeared on several Rounder Records compilations, so we played a set of four Phyllis Boyens songs in tribute, ending with that song.

The real time response to the Christmas Show was very positive. I know many folks could have been using their time to shovel out from the big snow dump we had the night before Bluegrass Cafe, so we are especially grateful for everyone who listened.

Amy will be back next Sunday for the last Bluegrass Cafe of 2009. Be sure to tune in to hear the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

James & Cathy Ward selections in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

Christmas Time's A Coming / Rhonda Vincent / O Christmas Tree (Collection) / Rounder
Long List Of Heartaches / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
The Room Over Mine / Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
I Like The Old Time Way / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Why Don't You Give Jesus A Try / Blue Circle
God Bless Mommy / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Sledd Ride / Seth Taylor / Movin' On / Self-released
Don't Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Does My Ring Burn Your Finger / The Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Skippin' In The Mississippi Dew / John Hartford / Good'le Days / Rounder
My Old Kentucky & You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / A Stop In Southport Towne / Blue Circle
Traveling The Highway Home / Various Artists / The Stanley Gospel Tradition / Doobie Shea
Rain And Snow / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Long Journey / Rounder
Here Today, We're Gone Tomorrow / Rhonda Vincent & The Sally Mountain Show / Bound For Gloryland / Rebel
Come Early Morning / The Lynn Morris Band / The Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
Proud To Be A Daughter Of Bluegrass / The Daughters of Bluegrass (Various Artists) / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
I Can Go Back Anytime / Carrie Hassler / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
I Wouldn't Change You If I Could / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
Keep On Walkin' / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
Heart Wrenching Lovesick Memories / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
Rusty Old Halo / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
My Blue Eyed Darling / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Rural Rhythm
Always Thinkin' You / Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina / Carolina Blue / Webco
Where His Wheels Left The Road / Alecia Nugent / A Little Girl, A Big Four Lane / Rounder
Move On In And Stay / Mickey Harris / Dog House Blues / MJH
Purple Robe / Ralph Stanley and Joe Isaacs / A Gospel Gathering / Freeland
Apple Jack / Pam Gadd with Dolly Parton / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
Meadow On The Mountain / David Parmley & Continental Divide / Three Silver Dollars / Pinecastle
Hard Times / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Live At Last / Rounder
Black Eyed Susie / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
Jesus Is Coming Soon / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder

Old Fashioned Christmas / Jimmy Martin / Christmas Jamboree / Hollywood
New Born King / Doc & Merle Watson / Lonesome Road & Look Away! / EMI
Red Checkered Shirt / Mike Jackson / When We Goin' Back / Red Oak
Winter On The Great Divide / Anne & Pete Sibley / Winter On The Great Divide / Self-released
I'm Going Home, It's Christmas Time / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley / Freeland
Christmas Time's A-Coming / Bill Monroe / 1950-1958 / Bear Family
Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe / 1950-1958 / Bear Family
Christmas Time On Rocky Top / The Osborne Brothers / Christmas On The Mountain / Universal South
Train Songs / Ralph Stanley II / This One Is II / Lonesome Day
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / John Starling / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
The Carpenter Shop / The Bluegrass Cardinals / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
Christmas Doll / Reno And Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
Making Plans / Tim O'Brien / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
We Wish You A Merry Christmas / Raymond Fairchild / Smoky Mountain Christmas / Rural Rhythm
The Mountain's Gonna Sing / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
This Christmas Morning / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / The Christmas Album / Rising Tide
The Christmas Guest / Andy Griffith / The Christmas Guest / Sparrow
Dream Of a Miner's Child / Phyllis Boyens & Hazel Dickens / O Sister 2 / Rounder
Don't Sell Daddy Any More Whiskey / Phyllis Boyens / I Really Care / Rounder (LP)
Hewed Out of the Mountain / Phyllis Boyens / I Really Care / Rounder (LP)
Last Old Shovel / Phyllis Boyens with Hazel Dickens / O Sister / Rounder
Christmas In Carolina / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
Favorite Christmas Memories / The Grass Cats / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
Jesus On The Mainline / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Live at Newburyport Fire House / Rounder
The King As A Babe Comes Down / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes III - Don't Believe / Skaggs Family
O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Anne & Pete Sibley / Winter On The Great Divide / Self-released
There's A Light / Emmylou Harris / Light of the Stable / WB-Rhino
Standing In The Need Of Prayer / The Stanley Brothers / Little Country Church / Wango
Angels We Have Heard On High / Emory Lester / Christmas Carols / Quiet Fire
I Can Hear The Angels Singing / Reno & Smiley / Christmas Jamboree / Hollywood
Just A Moment Now To Pray / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley / Freeland
Silent Night / Raymond Fairchild / Smoky Mountain Christmas / Rural Rhythm
The Coventry Carol / Emory Lester / Christmas Carols / Quiet Fire

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/13/2009

2009-12-13T22:31:00.004-05:00

Things are winding down for the semester for UCONN students, so that generally means slight modifications to the WHUS air schedule for a few weeks. In the case of BG Cafe, we'd like to think that things have gotten better, as we can now offer you FIVE hours of BG programming every Sunday (basketball preemptions notwithstanding, of course). Until sometime in the middle of January, we'll begin broadcasting BG Cafe at 2PM on Sunday afternoons. Join us!

Today's show was my last BG Cafe before Christmas, so I played a good bit of Christmas music. During the "bonus hours" from 2-4PM, I didn't feel quite as "obligated" to play strictly BG tunes, although I pretty much did today. It's no secret that I am a great admirer of many of the classic country singers of the 1950s and 1960s: Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Johnnie & Jack, just to name a few. We know that many a BG performer has recorded tunes originally made famous by at least one of these performers through the years, so I thought it might be fun to put a bit of the spotlight on the performers themselves, as well as some of the BG remakes of their song catalogs. Today, I focused on The Singing Ranger, Hank Snow, by playing 4 of his original tunes (including the fabulous "Reindeer Boogie"), as well as 7 BG remakes of Snow tunes. Next time, we'll shine our "spotlight" on someone else...

If you like banjo music, today was a banner day, as well. Patuxent Music has recently shipped us 2 great new recordings featuring a whole lot of banjo: "Yessir!" by 18-year-old Jessie Baker (currently working with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper), as well as former Sunny Mountain Boy, Chris Warner, whose new CD is called "Goin' To The Dance." Both CDs are mighty fine, and you can bet you'll be hearing plenty more from them in future weeks.

As I mentioned on the show today, legendary BG performer Curly Seckler will celebrate his 90th birthday on Christmas Day. Curly's manager, Penny Parsons, is encouraging everyone to send Curly a birthday greeting to help him celebrate a BG career that began in 1935. If you'd like to drop Curly a note, please do so in one of these two ways -- via an email sent to curly@curlyseckler.net, or through the U.S. mail: Curly Seckler, c/o Penny Parsons Co., PO Box 51605, Durham NC 27717. Please take a few moments and send Curly a card or note, won't you?

Be sure to join Jim & Marti (and maybe even James & Cathy Ward) next Sunday for at least four big hours of BG. I believe there MAY be a basketball game on the WHUS schedule for next Sunday, but we'll let you know later in the week...

Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

Amy

REQUESTS ARE RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
Sold Down The River / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin’ Town / Rounder
I Believed In You Darling / Peter Rowan / The First Whippoorwill / Sugar Hill
Bitter Green / Tony Rice / Bluegrass Class Of 1990 / Rounder
Come Back Darling / Lester Flatt / Lester Raymond Flatt / Flying Fish
That’s Christmas Time To Me / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
A Daisy A Day / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
Reno Bound / Bill Harrell / Drive-Time Bluegrass / Rebel
Eating Out Of Your Hand / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
Through The Window Of A Train / Blue Highway / Through The Window Of A Train / Rounder
Country Side Of Heaven (Where The Bluegrass Music Flows) / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine / Osborne Brothers / Once More, Volumes I & II / Sugar Hill
Living In These Troubled Times / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
Big Train From Memphis / Seldom Scene / 15th Anniversary Celebration / Sugar Hill
Forever Yours / Hagar's Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-Produced
Chicken Reel / Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys / In The Tradition / Rounder
Here We Go A-Goin’ / Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset / Good Home Grown Sampler, 2009 / Blue Circle
I’m Movin’ On / Hank Snow / The Essential Hank Snow / RCA
(Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I / ASH & W / ASH & W / Rebel
The Goldrush Is Over / Warrior River Boys / Sounds Like Home / Rounder
Honeymoon On A Rocketship / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
Miller’s Cave / Michael Cleveland with Audie Blaylock / Let ‘Er Go, Boys! / Rounder
The Golden Rocket / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
Would You Mind / Hank Snow / The Essential Hank Snow / RCA
One More Ride / Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
Down The Trail Of Aching Hearts / Special Consensus / The Trail Of Aching Hearts / Pinecastle
Reindeer Boogie / Hank Snow / The Goldrush Is Over / Bear Family
Hank Snow Medley / Country Gentlemen / Live In Japan / Rebel
John Hardy / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
Don’t Give Your Heart To A Rambler / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
I’ve Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / 30th Anniversary / Rounder
Devil On A Plow / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
Banjo In The Hollow / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Dooley / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Jingle Bells / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Ro / under
Christmas At The Old Homeplace / David Parmley & Continental Divide / A Pinecastle Christmas Gatherin’ / Pinecastle
Christmas Is Near / Stanley Brothers / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
Christmas Lullaby / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House / SSK
I Feel The Blues Moving In / Del McCoury / By Request / McCoury Music
Sharecropper’s Son / Ernie Thacker / The Stanley Tradition / Doobie Shea
Willy Roy The Cripple Boy / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / WMB Records
Bad Moon Rising / Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill
Big, Big Heartaches / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Foot Hill Hop / Derek Easter et al. / Born Into Bluegrass : The Songs Of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads Recordings
Walk The Way The Wind Blows / Hot Rize / So Long Of A Journey / Sugar Hill
That White Christmas Song / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
Dear Old Dixie / Red Smiley & the Tennessee Cut-Ups / The Best Of Red Smiley / Rural Rhythm
Salt Creek / Clay Jones / Mountain Tradition / Rural Rhythm
The Letter Edged In Black / Mac Wiseman / Bluegrass Hits And Heartsongs / Rebel
I’m Not Living Life (It’s Living Me) / Bo Isaac / I’m Not Living Life (It’s Living Me) / GoodTyme Records
The Last Old Shovel / Phyllis Boyens / Hand-Picked : 25 Years Of Bluegrass On Rounder Records / Rounder
We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage
I Don’t Care Anymore / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / Class Of 2009 Sampler / Rural Rhythm
An Old Christmas Card / Carolina Sonshine / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
Follow The Leader / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
Johnson Mountain Chimes / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
Yessir! / Jessie Baker / Yessir! / Patuxent Music
Saturday Night Company / The Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
Say You Lied / Neon Valley Boys / Bluegrass / Sudden Comfort Records
Lickity Split / Chris Warner / Goin’ To The Dance / Patuxent Music
Almost Hear The Blues / James Reams & the Barnstormers / / Self-Produced
Goin’ To The Dance / Chris Warner / Goin’ To The Dance / Patuxent Music
Christmas Medley / Southern Rail / / Self-Produced
Christmas In Carolina / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Christmas In Carolina / Blue Circle
All That’s Left (For You To Do Is Leave) / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business /
Mountain Roads Recordings
China Grove, My Hometown / Curly Seckler / Cabin In Caroline / Copper Creek
Your Love Is Like A Flower / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
We’ll Stay Here / Gibson Brothers / Another Night Of Waiting / Hay Holler
Christmas Time Back Home / Country Gentlemen / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
Don’t Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Pitkin County Turnaround / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Christmas Story / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Tinsel Tunes / Sugar Hill
This World Is Not My Home / Ricky Skaggs / Ricky Skaggs Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
The Friendly Beasts / Johnson Mountain Boys / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
Country Church / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Pike Brothers & Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
The First Noel / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
Bubbling In My Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Jamie Dailey & Darren Vincent / Christmas Grass / Koch
I Feel The Christmas Spirit / The Isaacs / Christmas Time’s A-Comin’ / Time Life
Joy To The World / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 12/6/2009

2009-12-06T21:41:00.009-05:00

Hi Folks,

This version of Bluegrass Cafe had plenty of specials, including a birthday set, a train set, a Hylo Brown tribute, and a tribute and remembrance of Jack Cooke who passed away December 1st.

I recall a conversation I had with Jack Cooke during his last appearance in East Hartford July 6, 2007, where he was very interested in how I liked his first and only solo album: "Sittin' On Top Of the World." Jack confided that he had thought about his inevitable mortality and it had occurred to him that he should leave something to represent his legacy. The solo album was the result. We played several tracks from that album including the two bonus tracks recorded in 1963. It is clear that Jack was much more than Ralph's bass player.

Our birthday set included songs from Jim Eanes (12/6/1923), the Gillis Brothers (John Gillis, 12/6/1966), and ironically, Jack Cooke (12/6/1936).

A caller on a previous show requested something from Hylo Brown, so I created a whole set to pay tribute to Hylo including tracks from his Starday, Rural Rhythm, and Jessup periods. I also played Jimmy Martin's version of "Grand Ole Opry Song" that Hylo wrote.

Other new music included tracks from Missy Werner, Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, Sam Bush, Adam Steffey, and the hot 16-year-old North Carolina banjo and guitar picker Seth Taylor who currently holds down the banjo position with Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad.

I mined the Heritage Corner vaults for classic tracks from Joe Val, Jimmy Martin, and a hair curling song from Buzz Busby.

The upcoming exam and holiday season at UCONN will be opening up the 2-4pm slot, so Amy and I will be happily stepping in to provide up to five hours of Sunday afternoon bluegrass music beginning next Sunday, December 13th. So don't forget to tune in early at 2pm EST to get a really good dose of the best in bluegrass.

We'll see you out and about...

Jim Beaver

requests in blue, Jack Cooke tribute in red

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die / Jim Eanes / All American Bluegrass / Sun
Ice Cold Stone / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
I'm Walking The Dog / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Choo Choo / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
I Could Love You / Flatt Mountain Boys / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
I've Always Been A Rambler / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Over In The Glory Land / The Stanley Brothers with Jack Cooke / On The Air With Ray Davis Volume Two / Wango (Cassette)
Sittin' On Top Of The World / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Live At McCabe's Guitar Shop / DCN
Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All-American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
John Henry / Hylo Brown / All American Bluegrass / Sun
Hills Of Georgia / Hylo Brown / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
Sad Prison Song / Hylo Brown / The Best Of Starday Bluegrass / King
Lost To A Stranger / Hylo Brown / Bluegrass In The Smokies / Rural Rhythm
Grand Ole Opry Song / Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys / 1954-1974 / Bear Family
Love You Don't Know Cannot Hurt You / Darren Beachley & the Legend of the Potomac / [CD single] / Patuxent
A Broken Heart Keeps Beatin' / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
The Ballad Of Stringbean And Estelle / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
All She Wrote / Jim Lauderdale / Could We Get Any Closer? / Sky Crunch
Crazy Love / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
I Won't Back Down / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
Sylvie / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
The Ballad Of Charlie Dill / Ernie Thacker / The Hangman / Pinecastle
Down In Caroline / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Roads
Gypsy, Joe and Me / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-released
I Wouldn't Change You If I Could / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
Midnight Train / Warrior River Boys / Freight Train Special Volume One / Wango
Baggage Coach Ahead / Bill Harrell / Freight Train Special Volume Two / Wango
Bye Bye Black Smoke Choo Choo / Dick Unteed / 25 Classic Train Songs / Rural Rhythm
The Wreck Of The Old 97 / Connie & Babe and the Backwoods Boys / Bluegrass Express / Rounder
My Blue Eyed Darling / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
Don't Leave Me Alone / J. Sisk, G. Jones, B. Hawks, J. Boulding, B. Hiatt / Born Into Bluegrass / Mountain Roads
Dime Store Rings / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
My Angeline / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
I Got A Letter / Valerie Smith & Becky Buller / Here's A Little Song… / Bell Buckle
Heart Of Caroline / U.S. Navy Country Current / Navy Blue Bluegrass / RWB
Don't Be Waitin' / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Self-titled / Self-released
Studebaker / Seth Taylor / Movin' On / Self-released
1950 Studebaker / Prairie Siding / North To Ontario 2009 / Independent-release
Arkansas Traveler / Roger Williams / A Resophonic Retrospective / Happy Appy
Try To Be / Newfound Road / Same Old Place / Rounder
Done Gone / Don Stover / Things In Life / Rounder
Call Me Up And I'll Come Callin' / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely Street / Rounder
Where Will This End / Buzz Busby / Going Home / King
Tennessee Hound Dog / Pam Gadd / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
Who Will Sing For Me / James King & Danny Paisley / Little Old Country Church / Wango
You'll Be Rewarded Over There / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / One Morning In May / Rounder
River Of Jordan / Tommy Webb / Heartland / Rural Rhythm
I'm On The Last Mile / The Easter Brothers / Favorites / Life Line
When I Safely Reach That Other Shore / Tommy Magness / The Best Of King Bluegrass / King
Voice Of My Savior / Tommy Brown & The County Line Grass / Mountain Bluegrass / Hay Holler
I'll Wear The Banner / Jim & Jesse / Heaven Bound / Time-Life
Shoutin' On The Hills Of Glory / Darren Beachley / Sad Songs & Sunday Mornings / MasterShield
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Ralph Stanley with the Clinch Mountain Boys / Heaven Bound / Time-Life
The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Best Of The Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/29/2009 plus a mid-week fill-in

2009-11-29T23:18:00.005-05:00

If you listen to the show with any frequency, you know that from time to time, various WHUS sports events will preempt the BG Cafe. Today was one of those days, as Women's Basketball took over the airwaves at WHUS at 4:30PM. As we had a built-in "bonus hour" of the program due to the absence of many a student DJ during the Thanksgiving break, the program ended up airing from a bit before 3PM until the game started at 4:30PM. Overall, I think it's safe to say that neither Jim nor I ever enjoy sports preemptions, but in the case of today's early ending for the program, we both got to enjoy some great music at the Firebox in Hartford. More on that later...

As for the radio show, we squeezed in as much music as we could in a limited amount of time. We made sure to put a tiny bit of the spotlight on Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad, who will make a return engagement at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center this Thursday evening, December 3rd. For more information on this show, click here.

It's no secret that each Sunday evening, Nick Novia & Joe DeLillo have worked very hard with the fine folks at the Firebox Restaurant in Hartford to make live BG one of THE events to attend in the capital city. Generally, these fine shows feature regional - and occasionally national - BG bands, but today's grouping featured Nick on the guitar & Joe on the bass, as well as some extremely talented New England musicians with whom they don't normally work: Dick Bowden on the banjo, Stacy Phillips on the fiddle & Dobro, and Ben Weiss & Robert Fraker taking turns with the mandolin work. The basketball preemption allowed me to go to this show today -- Jim & Marti had already planned on being there. While I was disappointed to miss the show's airtime, I was absolutely delighted to get to see these dandy musicians play great, hard-driving Bluegrass. What a great way to end a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend! In the spirit of the season, I'm very thankful that we have such talented folks in our own collective backyard. If you haven't yet attended a BG show at the Firebox, put it on your list of things to do as soon as you can. Next week's show will feature a great CT BG band, GrassRoutes.

During this Thanksgiving week, I also got to do a Tuesday afternoon fill-in, and the music I played was of the classic country & BG mix. That playlist is posted here, as well.

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with your friends and families, and be sure to join Jim & Marti next Sunday for what we hope will be three big hours of great BG and no sports preemptions!

Amy

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
Summertime Is Past And Gone / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe / Columbia
Have You Come To Say Goodbye / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems /
Uncle Pen / Bill Monroe / Bean Blossom / MCA
Some Old Day / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
I Know You’re Married But I Love You Still / Reno & Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
Love Of The Mountains / Lost & Found / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
Home Is Where The Heart Is / Connie & Babe & the Backwoods Boys / Hand-Picked : 25 Years Of Rounder Bluegrass / Rounder
I Only Exist / Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Self-Produced
Love Please Come Home / James Monroe / Bean Blossom / MCA
My Darling’s Last Goodbye / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
Things In Life / Don Stover / The Stained Glass Hour / Rounder
You’re My Darling / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
When / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
I’m Lonesome Without You / Balsam Range / Last Train To Kitty Hawk / Mountain Home
Carter / Ralph Stanley II / This One Is II / Lonesome Day
Our Last Goodbye / Stanley Brothers / 20th Century Masters / Mercury
Rock Bottom Blues / Nashville Bluegrass Band / The Boys Are Back In Town / Sugar Hill
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow / Hazel Dickens with Johnson Mountain Boys / Blue Ribbon Bluegrass / Rounder
Crazy Blues / Jimmy Gaudreau’s Bluegrass Unit / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
Sunny Side Of The Mountain / Jimmy Martin / Bean Blossom / MCA
Love You Don’t Know Cannot Hurt You / Darren Beachley & the Legends of the Potomac / / Patuxent Music
Run On / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm
Snowbird / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-Produced
Sparkling Brown Eyes / Joe Val / One Morning In May / Rounder
Have Mercy / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Your Love Is Like A Flower / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
I Bowed On My Knees And Cried Holy / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm
Justified / Billy Boone Smith / Five Flat Rocks / Self-Produced

POST-SCRIPT - BG tunes played by Susan Forbes Hansen, who kindly filled whatever time remained from the end of the basketball game to the beginning of her own "Sunday Night Folk Festival" at 7PM:

I'm A Lie / Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time / Took Down And Put Up / Lonesome Day
Eighth Of January / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
The Mountain's Gonna Sing / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Single Girl / Bearfoot / Doors And Windows / Compass Records
Awful Lonesome Train / Pine Mountain Railroad / Alone With Forever / Steeltown Records
Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold) / Dede Wyland / Keep The Light On / Patuxent Music
Molly / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
A Warmer Kind Of Blue / Kathy Kallick Band / Warmer Kind Of Blue / Copper Creek

Classic Country & Bluegrass fill-in, 11/24/2009

Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
Ben Dewberry’s Final Run / Jimmie Rodgers / Train Whistle Blues / RCA
It Makes No Difference Now / Gene Autry / Columbia Country Classics / Columbia
Chime Bells / Elton Britt / Yodel Songs / RCA
I Am A Pilgrim / Merle Travis with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Ride The Wild Turkey / Clay Jones / Mountain Tradition / Rural Rhythm
Have A Feast Here Tonight / Monroe Brothers / Are You From Dixie? / RCA
Eat At The Welcome Table / Bluegrass Patriots / Springtime In The Rockies / Copper Creek
Thanks A Lot / Ernest Tubb / The Definitive Collection / MCA
Thank You World / Statler Brothers / The Best Of The Statler Brothers / Mercury
Sweethearts In Heaven / Buck Owens & Rose Maddox / On The Bandstand / Sundazed
You’re For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) / Ray Price / Greatest Western Hits, v.1 / Columbia
Move On In And Stay / Mickey Harris / Dog House Blues / MJH Records
Loose Talk / Carl Smith / Greatest Western Hits, v.1 / Columbia
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way / Barry Berrier / First Time With Feeling / Pinecastle
Dumb Blonde / Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / RCA/Legacy
Jolene / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Ragin’ Live / Rounder
Last Thing On My Mind / Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / RCA/Legacy
Farewell Wagon Master / Pam Gadd / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway Productions
Sea Of Heartbreak / Roseanne Cash with Bruce Springsteen / The List / Manhattan Records
Blue Blue Day / Don Gibson / Hard To Find Hits / Time Life
Katie Dear / Blue Sky Boys / Are You From Dixie? / RCA
Roll On Buddy Roll On / Wilburn Brothers / Folk Songs / Decca
Long Time Gone / Everly Brothers / 36 All-Time Favorites / GSC Music
Forever Has No End / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Cash On The Barrel Head / Louvin Brothers / Encore / Capitol
Cindy Mae / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
Wildwood Flower / Phil Rosenthal / A Treasury Of Bluegrass And Country Songs / American Melody
Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
The Fields Have Turned Brown / Stanley Brothers / Columbia Country Classics / Columbia
Would You Mind / Hank Snow / Essential Hank Snow / RCA
I Know You’re Married (But I Love You Still) / Patty Loveless with Travis Tritt / Mountain Soul / Epic
I Thought That She Loved Me / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Rocky Road Blues / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe / Columbia
The Crow / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder

A slight change in Sunday's BG programming...

2009-11-28T11:01:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone -

We found out late Wednesday night that the WHUS Sports Department will be preempting at least 2 hours of the BG Cafe this Sunday, 11/29 to air coverage of the Women's Basketball game. This preemption will begin about 4:30PM; WHUS "Sunday Night Folk Festival" host, Susan Forbes Hansen, will pick up whatever portion of BG Cafe time remains after the basketball game has ended and before her program's normal start time of 7PM.

This preemption, however, doesn't mean that there will be NO BG Cafe on the air this week. Instead, we will begin broadcasting one hour earlier than normal -- 3PM. We hope you can join us for a shorter - perhaps even a bit more stream-lined, if you will - version of the BG Cafe from 3-4:30PM. If you're in southern New England, you'll find us at 91.7 on your FM dial, and if you're anywhere else, do feel free to listen online: http://www.whus.org/.

Hope you all had a most wonderful Thanksgiving!

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 11/22/2009

2009-11-24T23:36:00.006-05:00

Hi Folks,

It's not too often we get to extend our bluegrass programming at Bluegrass Cafe, but the holiday break gave us an opportunity to add an hour to the show. While Marti was home compiling end-of-trimester grades, I got to bring you four hours of the best in bluegrass this week. Even better, Amy will get to bring you four more hours next Sunday starting at 3pm ET.

We were saddened by news of the passing of North Carolina banjo virtuoso Allen Shelton 21 November, so we honored Allen by playing eight tracks displaying his brilliant banjo picking with Jim Eanes, Jim & Jesse, and from his solo effort.

The newest of the new music came from Missy Werner whose debut album is a fine one, and banjo picker Ross Nickerson whose latest album features members of Blue Highway.

I used the extra hour of this week's show to play some of my favorite music from the Heritage Corner vaults, including a 13 year-old CD from the Shankman Twins which generated a listener request, and a "moonshine set" inspired by a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about Junior Johnson marketing his brand of legal moonshine. Whew!

Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad will be making an appearance in East Hartford on December 3, so we picked a hard-driving tune from one of their recent albums to whet our listeners' appetites.

Be sure to tune in early at 3pm next Sunday when Amy will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim

requests in blue, Allen Shelton tribute in red

Song Title / Performer / Album Title / Label

Turn Up The Bottle / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Long Journey Home / The Johnson Mountain Boys / At The Old Schoolhouse / Rounder
Bluest Man In Town / The Johnson Mountain Boys / At The Old Schoolhouse / Rounder
When Springtime Comes Again / The Vern Williams Band / Bluegrass From The Gold Country / Rounder
Wandering Boy / The Isaacs / Bluegrass Preserved / Horizon
Blue Yodel No. 3 / David Peterson & 1946 / self-titled / Self-released
The Kitten And The Cat / Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys / Poor Rambler / King
This Morning At Nine / Tony Rice / Plays And Sings Bluegrass / Rounder
Robin Built A Nest On Daddy's Grave / Tommy Brown & The County Line Grass / Hard Drivin' / Lavinir
Paint The Town / Chris Warner / Back Again / Pinecastle
Riding That Midnight Train / Doc Watson / Riding The Midnight Train / Sugar Hill
Sophronie / Crowe, Williams, Blaylock, Ingram / A Tribute To Jimmy Martin / Koch
Boxcar Blues (Hello Sunshine) / Jeff & Vida / Selma Chalk / Rosebank
Home With The Blues / Junior Sisk, Rick Allred, et.al / Born Into Bluegrass / Mountain Roads
Plant Some Flowers / Missy Werner / Drifting And Dreaming / Self-released
John Henry / Ross Nickerson / Let's Kick Some Ass / Bones
Ring The Bell / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
Waterbound / The Shankman Twins / Duality / City West
Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
No More To Be Lonesome / Larry Gillis / Old Man Dreaming / Tinman Recording
I'll Go Steppin' Too / Mark Delaney / Sidecar / Patuxent
Your Old Standby / Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys / Your Old Standby - Complete Starday Recordings / Starday
Bending The Strings / Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys / The Appalachian Way - Roots of Bluegrass / Delta
Log Cabin In The Lane / Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys / Your Old Standby - Complete Starday Recordings / Starday
Dine-e-o (Sail Away Ladies) / Jim Eanes & The Shenandoah Valley Boys / Your Old Standby - Complete Starday Recordings / Starday
Sleepy-Eyed John / Jim & Jesse / The Jim & Jesse Story / CMH
I Will Always Be Waiting For You / Jim & Jesse / The Jim & Jesse Story - Special Edition / CMH
She Left Me Standing On The Mountain / Jim & Jesse / Bluegrass at Newport / Vanguard
Sourwood Mountain / Allen Shelton / Shelton Special / Rounder (LP)
Montana Cowboy / The Shankman Twins / Duality / City West
Sally Ann / The Shankman Twins / Duality / City West
Losin' In Las Vegas / Ricky Wasson / From The Heart And Soul / Rural Rhythm
What Gives You The Right / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Diamond Joe / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
Have Mercy / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Don't Be Knockin' / Chris Warner / Back Again / Pinecastle
You'll Never Be The Same / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
Red Checkered Shirt / Mike Jackson / When We Goin' Back / Red Oak
Banjo Whiz / Bill Emerson / Bluegrass Spectacular / Country Stars
Mountain Dew / Grandpa Jones / Everybody's Grandpa / Bear Family
Moonshine / The Earl Brothers / Moonshine / Big Hen
Moonshiner / Peter Rowan / The Walls Of Time / Sugar Hill
Nobody's Darling / Cullen Gaylean and Bobby Harrison / Let Me Fall / Smithsonian Folkways
Cindy Mae / Crowe Brothers / Brothers -n- Harmony / Rural Rhythm
The Love She Left Behind / Chris Jones & The Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM
Papa Loved Ringing That Bell / Johnny Williams / Last Day Of Galax / Mountain Roads
Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa / Self-titled / Self-released
Some Old Day / Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray / The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band / RadioTherapy
I'd Rather Live By The Side Of The Road / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute (Volume II) / Self-released
Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life / Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band / Self-titled / Rebel
Clementine / Pine Mountain Railroad / Alone With Forever / SteelTown
Roving Gambler / Peter Rowan / The Walls Of Time / Sugar Hill
How Mountain Girls Can Love / Tony Rice / Plays And Sings Bluegrass / Rounder
I Love You To The Moon And Back / Darren Beachley / Sad Songs & Sunday Mornings / MasterShield
Scotty's Bow / The Stonemans / Patsy, Donna & Roni / Patuxent
Heart Wrenching Lovesick Memories / Rhonda Vincent / Destination Life / Rounder
Circles Around Me / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
Train Songs / Ralph Stanley II / This One Is II / Lonesome Day
Church Street Blues / Bryan Sutton and Friends / Almost Live / Sugar Hill
Imagine That / Kristin Scott Benson / Second Season / Pinecastle
Houses On The Farm / Shady Creek / Back To The Roots / pre-release
Beautiful Blue Eyes / Red Allen & The Kentuckians / The Bluegrass Hall Of Fame / Hollywood
Campin' In Canaan Land / Carl Story and His Rambling Mountaineers / Mighty Close To Heaven / Starday
They're Holding Up The Ladder / Easter Brothers / By Request - Their Greatest Hits / Thoroughbred
The Touch Of God's Hand / James King / Gardens In The Sky / Rounder
When The Savior Reached Down For Me / Darrell Webb / Live At Bellamys / Upper Management
Weeds In The Wheat / Front Range / One Beautiful Day / Sugar Hill
Sinner, You Better Get Ready / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots - 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
Get Up Peter (And Put Your Sandals On) / The Special Consensus / Green Rolling Hills / Turquoise
Hide Me, Rock Of Ages / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
What Kind Of Man / Larry Sparks / I Just Want To Thank You Lord / Rural Rhythm Christian
I Can't Sit Down / The Steep Canyon Rangers / Feel Like My Time Ain't Long / Rebel
Greencastle Hornpipe / Kristin Scott Benson / Second Season / Pinecastle

Mid-week fill-in for Amy...

2009-11-24T12:29:00.002-05:00

It's Thanksgiving break for the students here at UCONN, so that gives us "non-students" plenty of opportunities to do fill-in shows. I'm getting ready to go on the air in a few minutes: 1-3PM today, Tuesday, November 24, 2009. My intentions are to play a little mix of classic country & BG tunes. I think it'll be fun -- we'll see. Feel free to listen, if you like. You can find us at 91.7 on your FM dial if you're in eastern CT, or listen online.

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/15/2009

2009-11-15T21:59:00.004-05:00

After two weeks away from the radio, I got to present Sunday's BG Cafe with absolutely no sports preemptions. Hooray! While we didn't have any featured guests or lots of new music to share, we still pulled together a good number of tunes that we hope you found enjoyable...

As I had a fabulous time at the Boston Bluegrass Union-sponsored show last night featuring both Audie Blaylock & Redline and Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac, naturally, I just had to include music from them. While Darren's CD with his new band hasn't been released yet -- we look forward to hearing it in 2010 -- we still heard from him with his most recent band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Audie's self-titled recording from Rural Rhythm has been out for about a year, and while we've played music from the CD plenty of times, I tried to include a couple of tunes on Sunday's show that we hadn't played quite as much. Both bands were fabulous, by the way, and I would hope to see them both playing again in New England in the not-too-distant future.

There was just a tiny bit of new music to share on Sunday. Several months back, I read on the Bluegrass Blog about a "new" retro-Bluegrass band from northern California who had released a 78 RPM single. This band -- Matt & George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys -- sent their 78 to WHUS this summer, but we were unable to play it on our equipment. Eventually, we were able to transfer the 78 to CD, and we finally got a chance to play one half of the record on Sunday's show. These folks appear to take their "vintage" style pretty seriously, and the record is very enjoyable.

In addition, we played music from soon-to-be-released projects by Michael Martin Murphey and Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie. Both of these projects are due in early 2010 and will be released on the Rural Rhythm label. We look forward to hearing them...

Jim & Marti will join you next Sunday -- I think possibly an hour earlier (barring sports preemptions, of course). Do be sure to join them!

As I won't be on the air again (with BG Cafe, anyway) until November 29th, I'll take a moment now to send best wishes to you all for a very Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Amy

Requests are RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
Home Is Where The Heart Is / Connie & Babe & the Backwoods Boys / True Bluegrass /
Rounder
It’s Raining Here This Morning / Red Smiley & the Tennessee Cut-Ups / Best Of Red Smiley / Rural Rhythm
No Mother Or Dad / Curley Seckler / That Old Book Of Mine / County
True Life Blues / David Grisman with Del McCoury / Home Is Where The Heart Is / Rounder
Two Lonely Hearts / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
The Hills Of My Home / Laurie Lewis / Earth & Sky / Rounder
Beauty Of My Dreams / Blackjack / 10 Years Of European World Of Bluegrass / Strictly Country
Farm Of Yesterday / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Self-Produced
Don’t Act / Rhonda Vincent / All-American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
More Than A Name On A Wall / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
Home With The Blues / Junior Sisk / Born To Bluegrass : The Songs Of Cullen Galyean /
Mountain Roads Recordings
I’m Gonna Love You Now / Daughters Of Bluegrass with Frances Mooney / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
You Are My Sunshine / Norman Blake / O Brother Where Art Thou? / Mercury
There’s A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen / Songs Of The American Spirit / Pinecastle
My Blue Tears / Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / Legacy
My Blue Tears / Gloria Belle / Love Of The Mountains / Webco
I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Columbia
Heart Of A Little Mountain Girl / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Quicksilver Rides Again! / Sugar Hill
Black Diamond / Mark Delaney / Sidecar / Patuxent Music
Think Of What You’ve Done / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers / King
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow / Soggy Bottom Boys / O Brother Where Art Thou / Mercury
Old Joe Clark / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
I’ve Been All Around This World / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Two Dimes And A Nickel / Rebel
Don’t Tell Me Stories / Lynn Morris Band / Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
Two Little Boys / Country Gentlemen / Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
Heavy Traffic Ahead / Matt & George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys / <78> / Pleasant Valley Music
Running Gun / Michael Martin Murphey with Audie Blaylock / Class Of 2009 Sampler / Rural Rhythm
Lead Foot / Dixie Bee-Liners / Susanville / Pinecastle
I Don’t Care Anymore / Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie / Class Of 2009 Sampler / Rural Rhythm
Don’t Lie To Me / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
I’ll Go Steppin’ Too / Rickey Wasson / From The Heart And Soul / Rural Rhythm
We’ll Meet Again Sweetheart / Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall /
Self-Produced
Matterhorn / Country Gentlemen / Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
Love Me As Hard As You Hurt Me / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
At The End Of A Long Lonely Day / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
There Ain’t No Easy Street / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Untamed / Del McCoury Band / The Company We Keep / McCoury Music
No Blues Is Good News / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
Goodbye / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
The River Of Jordan / Louvin Brothers / When I Stop Dreaming / Razor & Tie
When The Last Of Our Days Shall Come / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely Street / Rounder
Justified / Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
So Happy I’ll Be / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Ragin’ Live / Rounder
Will You Be Ready? / Southern Rail / Drive By Night / Turquoise
You Can Feel It In Your Soul / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Legacy
What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? / Jimmy Martin / This World Is Not My Home / MME
I’m Getting Ready To Leave This World / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’, & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm

No shortage of great live music this Saturday....

2009-11-12T11:05:00.003-05:00

Wow! Looking at the BG calendar, it appears that there are no fewer than three great BG or BG-related shows in the area this Saturday, 11/14. Hopefully, you'll be able to get out there and support at least one of them, as all are great options, and obviously, supporting live Bluegrass music is a mighty fine thing to do. Check it out:

The Infamous Stringdusters at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center. Showtime is 8PM. EHCCC is located at 50 Chapman Street in East Hartford. More info: (860)291-7160 or click here.
Anne & Pete Sibley at the Sounding Board Coffeehouse in West Hartford. Showtime is 8PM. The Sounding Board is located at 433 Fern Street, West Hartford. More info: (203)272-8404 or click here.
Audie Blaylock & Redline along with Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac at the National Heritage Museum, Lexington, MA. This is a Boston Bluegrass Union production, and showtime is 7:30PM. More info: hotline number is (617)782-2251 or click here.

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 11/8/2009 Veteran's Day

2009-11-09T21:22:00.013-05:00

Hi Folks,

I like to remember our veteran's every year near Veteran's Day by playing songs related to military service, so I devoted a little more than an hour of this show to bluegrass and string band music about soldiers from at least the mid-19th century all the way to today.

Newer music was featured from Southern Rail, Bear Minimum, O'Reilly/Miller/Lester from the North To Ontario 2009 CD, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Grasstowne, The Anita Fisher Band with Ray Deaton, The Dixie Bee-Liners, The Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, Adam Steffey, Ricky Skaggs, and Larry Sparks.

From the Heritage Corner vaults I featured a couple of really interesting tracks from Cullen Galyean, one of which was on a Folkways LP from 1983 with Bobby Harrison, and the other Cullen's winning banjo performance at the world's first multi-day bluegrass festival in Fincastle, VA, in 1965 that is on the new CD "Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean." We also featured historic cuts from The Lilly Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs, and Charlie Monroe.

We were surprised and delighted to get a call from Mr. Bud Godreau -- the former WHUS DJ who started bluegrass programming at WHUS over 27 years ago! Bud lives in North Carolina these days (how fitting!) and was visiting friends in the Northeast when he checked in with us, so we put Bud on the air to say hello to our listeners, all of whom owe Bud thanks for getting this great music started on radio in our neck of the Southern New England woods. You can read more about Bud's role in bluegrass at WHUS here and see a photo here.

Be sure to tune in next Sunday when Amy Orlomoski will make the banjos and fiddles ring.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Flatt & Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Sessions / Mercury
Down Where The River Bends / Ralph Stanley & Dwight Yoakam / Saturday Night & Sunday Morning / Freeland
You'll Be Loving Another Man / David Parmley, Larry Stephenson, Ricky & Ronnie Simpkins, Bill Emerson / Live At Mr. B's / B's Records
I'm Comin' Back But I Don't Know When / Charlie Monroe / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
God Bless The Soldier / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
Soldiers Return / Dave Evans & Riverbend / The Vetco Sessions / Vetco
Forgotten Soldier Boy / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots - 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
Soldier's Joy / John McKuen, Earl Scruggs, Junior Huskey / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Two Little Boys / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Who Will Calm The Storm - Live In Holland / Strictly Country
On The Road From Appomattox / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Railway Records
Coat of Southern Gray / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / Rebel
Poor Rebel Soldier / Dave Evans & Riverbend / The Vetco Sessions / Vetco
Caleb / O'Reilly-Miller-Lester / North To Ontario 2009 / Self-released
My Southern Soldier Boy / Larry Gillis / Today Marks The Day / Self-released
Who Will Calm The Storm / Liz Meyer / Who Will Calm The Storm - Live In Holland / Strictly Country
Soldier / ShoreGrass / Going Home / Self-released
Marching Home / Balsam Range / Marching Home / Mountain Home
A Little Boy Called Joe / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
Have Mercy / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Dancin' In The Dirt / Melvin Goins & Windy Mountain / Dancin' In The Dirt / Blue Circle
Have I Stayed Away Too Long / The Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
Big, Big Heartaches / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Your Horses Ain't Hungry (Wagoner's Lad) / Cullen Galyean and Bobby Harrison / Let Me Fall / Smithsonian Folkways
Midnight Ramble / Cullen Galyean / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Truck Stop Baby / The Dixie Bee-Liners / Susanville / Pinecastle
White Pass Railroad / The Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Rebecca / Herschel Sizemore / Back In Business / Hay Holler
Roll On Buddy, Roll On / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
My Tennessee Mountain Home / Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / RCA Nashville / Legacy
Years Ago / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
Smoke Along The Track / Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Self-released
Gonna Settle Down / Crowe, Douglas, Hicks, Lawson, Phillips, Rice / The Bluegrass Compact Disc, Vol. 2 / Rounder
Sixteen Years / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
We Can't Be Darlings Anymore / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Live at The Birchmere / Rounder
Shackles And Chains / Charlie Moore / Plum Pitiful Vol. 2 / Wango
Cheshire Tragedy / Bear Minimum / Different Brothers With The Same Sister / Self-released
Little Bessie / Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Ancient Tones / Skaggs Family
Peter Was A Fireball / Easter Brothers / By Request - Their Greatest Hits / Thoroughbred
I'll Live Again / Anita Fisher Band With Ray Deaton / It's Amazing What A Prayer Can Do / C and L Entertainment
Take Your Shoes Off Moses / Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys / Cry From The Cross / Rebel
City That Lies Foursquare / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Better Farther On / Larry Sparks / I Just Want To Thank You Lord / Rural Rhythm Christian
My Lord Had Mercy On Me / Larry Gillis / Today Marks The Day / Self-released
Church In The Wildwood / Bill Clifton & Jimmy Gaudreau / River Of Memories / Elf Records
The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Sunshine In The Shadows / Hay Holler

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 11/1/2009 - Ricky Skaggs

2009-11-02T22:41:00.013-05:00

Sunday was a great day to be listening to Bluegrass Cafe because we brought you a 35 minute interview with one of the best known performers of bluegrass music today: Ricky Skaggs. Ricky and his band Kentucky Thunder will be performing in Hartford this coming Friday, Nov. 6.

We devoted most of the first hour of the show to various groups over the past forty years that have featured Ricky Skaggs as a performer. Besides Ricky's numerous projects, we also featured Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris, David Grisman, and the group Boone Creek -- all of which featured Ricky either picking or singing, or both.

Ricky then joined us by phone for a delightful half-hour of a very candid discussion. Some of the interesting things discussed were the large quantity of home tapes that Ricky's dad Hobert made over the years (which still exist), the relationship between Ricky and his father, and the personal discussions Ricky had with his father about the direction of Ricky's career. He called his return to bluegrass in 1997 "the greatest decision I've ever made musically." It's not hard to see why Ricky's latest CD is titled "Songs My Dad Loved." Ricky also emphasized the importance of his Christian faith, and hoped he would be remembered for that before his music.

I hope to get an audio version of the interview posted in the near future.

We also had Deb Noble and Joe Mellet in the studio during the last hour promoting a concert this com ing Saturday, Nov. 7, in Willimantic that features Sean Kershaw and the N ew Jack Ramblers, and bluegrass band Pine Creek opening. All the members of Pine Creek (including me) live in the listening area of WHUS and Bluegrass Cafe. I even got to pick a tune with Joe during his visit.

While our discussions with our on-air guests reduced the size of the playlist, we did manage to play some newer music from Billy Boone Smith, Jeff & Vida, Canucky Bluegrass Boys, Darin Aldridge & Brooke Justice, The Del McCoury Band, and Dailey & Vincent.

Marti and I will be back next week, and looking at the calendar it might be time to feature some songs for Veterans Day, so I'll see what I can do.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-released
I Ain't Broke (But I'm Badly Bent) / David Grisman with Ricky Skaggs / Hand Picked: 25 Years of Rounder Bluegrass / Rounder
Country Boy / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
It's Mighty Dark To Travel / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder / Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass / Skaggs Family
Cry, Cry Darlin' / Ricky Skaggs featuring Dolly Parton / Ricky Skaggs & Friends / Lyric Street
I'll Go With You / Darin Aldridge and Brooke Justice / I'll Go With You / Pinecastle
Cold Wind / David Peterson & 1946 / David Peterson & 1946 / Self-released
Keep My Love With You / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys / Echoes Of The Stanley Brothers / Varese Sarabande
Almost Right / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Muddy Sunshine
One Way Track / Boone Creek / One Way Track / Sugar Hill
Head Over Heels / Boone Creek / One Way Track / Sugar Hill
There's More Pretty Girls Than One / Ricky Skaggs & Tony Rice / Skaggs & Rice / Sugar Hill
My Little Georgia Rose / Ricky Skaggs featuring Travis Tritt / Ricky Skaggs & Friends Songs of Bill Monroe / Lyric Street
Boxcar Blues (Hello Sunshine) / Jeff & Vida / Selma Chalk / Rosebank
Standin' Up / Canucky Bluegrass Boys / North To Ontario 2009 / Self-released
Roses In The Snow / Emmylou Harris / Roses In The Snow / Warner Bros
Pig In A Pen / Ricky Skaggs / Ancient Tones / Skaggs Family
Get Up John / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder / Live At The Charleston Music Hall / Skaggs Family

Ricky Skaggs Interview

Sinners, You Better Get Ready / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
City That Lies Foresquare / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Take This Train And Ride / The Gillis Brothers / Live / Self-released
Days of Grey and Black / Various Artists / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
When The Sheriff Comes To Town / Sean Kershaw / Coney Island Cowboy / Self-released
Orphan Girl / Pine Creek / Live 2008 recording / Private
The Golden Streets Of Glory / Dolly Parton / Box Set Sampler / RCA Nashville/Legacy
Hello Lonely / The Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Prayer Bells Of Heaven / Frosty Mountain Boys / Get In Line Brother / Rural Rhythm
God's Not Dead / J. D. Jarvis / Get In Line Brother / Rural Rhythm
Man In The Middle / Tony Trischka and Skyline / Angels Rejoiced / Strictly Country
I've Found A Hiding Place / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Favorites / Rounder
This World Is Not My Home / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Who'll Sing For Me? / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Rural Rhythm
Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
Angels Rejoiced / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / Angels Rejoiced / Strictly Country
Take Your Shoes Off, Moses / Dan Tyminski, Dwight McCall / The Stanley Gospel Tradition / Doobie Shea
The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Sunshine In The Shadows / Hay Holler

Ricky Skaggs on Bluegrass Cafe, Sunday 11/1/2009

2009-10-30T00:34:00.006-04:00

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will be performing at the Bushnell in Hartford on Friday, November 6th. We are taking this opportunity to have Ricky join us by telephone on Bluegrass Cafe this Sunday, November 1, at 5:00pm ET, when we will get to ask Ricky all kinds of questions about his music. Don't miss it. You can hear it on WHUS 91.7 FM in eastern Connecticut, or you can hear it simulcast over the Web at WHUS.ORG

Also, around 6:00pm we will have a visit from Deb Noble, promoter of what promises to be a fine evening of honky tonk and bluegrass music in Willimantic on Saturday, November 7th as part of the Windham Arts Collaborative. Performing will be Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers from New York, and Pine Creek Bluegrass Band from Connecticut. (Full disclosure: Bluegrass Cafe host Jim Beaver is banjo picker with Pine Creek.) Perhaps Jim and Joe Mellet, Pine Creek mandolin player, will pick a little during Deb's visit. We may even have Sean Kershaw join us by phone. Don't miss it!

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/25/2009

2009-10-26T12:27:00.004-04:00

Jim was called away on business this week, so I got to spend my second Sunday in a row with you at the BG Cafe. I certainly enjoyed myself, and hope you were able to do the same...

We included a teeny bit of brand-new-received-this-very-week music from Canada's Spinney Brothers ("When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall" on their own label), as well as the Del McCoury Band ("Family Circle" on McCoury Music). Several of the other tunes played were taken from projects that were released within the last few months. There is a bumper crop of great music out there right now -- it's very, very challenging to get to all of the things we might want to play in only 3 hours a week! We'll keep on keeping on, though...

A few requests rounded out the playlist for this Sunday, too. Keep those requests coming in -- we love to know what you folks want to hear, so don't be shy. Call us during showtime at (860)486-9487 or send email anytime: bgcafe@gmail.com.

Jim's got lots of great things in store for you for the next week or two in the BG Cafe -- be sure to join him (and maybe even Marti, too). I believe Jim may even be speaking to Ricky Skaggs on the phone next Sunday, in anticipation of Ricky's show at the Bushnell in Hartford on November 6th. Good stuff! I'll be listening...and I hope you will, too!

Have a great week, and a happy Halloween...

Amy

Requests are RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
I Was Left On The Street / McCoury Brothers / McCoury Brothers / Rounder
We Live In Two Different Worlds / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue / Rebel
The Young Fisherwoman / Country Gentlemen / Folk Session Inside / Copper Creek
I’ll Pretend It’s Raining / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
AppleJack / Pam Gadd with Dolly Parton / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Harmony Productions
Riverhead Polka / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
Whole Lot More Living / Rickey Wasson / From The Heart And Soul / Rural Rhythm
Look For Me / Angelica Grim / Look For Me / Patuxent Music
After The Fire Is Gone / Pam Gadd with Marty Raybon / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Harmony Productions
Stranger In My Home / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
What A Ways We’ve Come / Gibson Brothers / Red Letter Day / Sugar Hill
Cold And Windy Night / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
Mama Tried / Herman McGee / Family And Friends / Self-Produced
Prisoner Of The Highway / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Railway Records
You’re For Me / Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters / Phoenix / Happy Appy Records
How Many Times / Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Self-Produced
I Remember You / Del McCoury Band / Family Circle / McCoury Music
Home With The Blues / Junior Sisk / Born Into Bluegrass : The Songs Of Cullen Galyean /
Mountain Roads Recordings
A Broken Heart Keeps Beatin’ / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Lost And Lonesome / Billy Boone Smith / Live From The Moose Lodge / Self-Produced
Somebody’s Gonna Let You Down / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Flat Creek / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
Carolina Blue / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
You Left Me Alone / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
Georgia Bound / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
Past The Point Of Rescue / Gary Ferguson / I’m Really Leaving / Webco
Down The Road / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Flatt & Scruggs At Carnegie Hall! / Koch
I’ll Go Stepping Too / Osborne Brothers / Yesterday, Today, & the Osborne Brothers / Decca
No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine / Reno & Smiley / Good Old Country Ballads / King
Keep A Memory / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Gusto
Roanoke / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
Hard Hearted / Jim & Jesse / In The Tradition / Rounder
My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Give This Message To Your Heart / Larry Stephenson with Dailey & Vincent / Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, v.100 / KBC
Something In My Heart / Tommy Webb / Heartland / Rural Rhythm
As The Crow Flies / Songs From The Road Band / As The Crow Flies / Lucks Dumpy Toad Records
Red Rockin’ Chair / Darren Beachley / Sad Songs And Sunday Mornings / MasterShield Records
Like A Train Needs A Track / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
Skip Hop And Wobble / Patrick McAvinue with Audie Blaylock / Rutland’s Reel / Patuxent Music
There Ain’t No Easy Street / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
This Weary Heart You Stole Away / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Can’t You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
I Want To Be Wanted / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
The Angels Rejoiced / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Angels Rejoice / Strictly Country
The Boat Of Love / Balsam Range / Marching Home / Mountain Home
It’s Hard To Stumble (When You’re Down On Your Knees) / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
This World Is Not My Home / Ricky Skaggs / Ricky Skaggs Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Meet Me Over On The Other Side / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute, v.2 /
MasterShield Records
Working On A Building / Hot Rize / Traditional Ties / Sugar Hill
Let The Light Shine Down / Spinney Brothers / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Self-Produced
So High / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm
The Church By The Side Of The Road / Charlie Sizemore / Old Homestead Gospel Collection / Old Homestead
Throne Of Grace / Warrior River Boys / New Beginnings / Rounder
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Sam Tidwell Tribute Day - Sunday, June 14th -- The Videos

2009-10-20T12:44:00.003-04:00

If you attended Sam Tidwell Tribute Day on June 14th , you know you were treated to a lot of fine music performed by some good folks in honor of a true New England Bluegrass original, Sam Tidwell. You may also recall that there were several television cameras at the event from Charter Television in North Windham, CT. All of the music performed that day was recorded for future broadcast on Charter's Community Access Channel, CTV 14. To this point, none of the shows have made it on the air, but two of these shows are in the pipeline for broadcast later this month:

Sunday, October 25th - 7PM: a program featuring the Massachusetts band, Spare Parts

Saturday, October 31st - 8PM: a program featuring Rhode Island native (and Sam Tidwell prodigee) Jimmy Gaudreau along with his duet partner, Moondi Klein

Please note that you will only be able to view these programs if you live in one of the 16 towns in eastern CT serviced by Charter Television (and, of course, you are a Charter subscriber). If you live in Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Pomfret, Scotland, Thompson, Willington, Windham, or Woodstock, be sure to tune into these programs on Channel 14 this month. We'll let you know when the other installments are ready to be broadcast.

Don't forget, too, that if you subscribe to Charter and live in one of the 16 towns they service, you should be able to hear former "Bluegrass Cafe" producer, Myrna Riquier, every Friday AM as she hosts her own Bluegrass program called, "New England Bluegrass Showcase." For just about 50 minutes every Friday morning (starting about 10:10AM), Myrna plays music performed (mostly) by New England performers. The audio is broadcast only on CTV 14.

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/18/2009

2009-10-19T13:44:00.003-04:00

Sunday was a somber day on the University of Connecticut campus, as a UCONN football player was stabbed to death outside the Student Union building in the early morning hours of Sunday. Condolences to the family and friends of this student athlete - Jasper Howard. Doubtless, the UCONN community will be shaken by this horrific event for quite some time, and the investigation into this murder is ongoing.

At the Bluegrass Cafe, we tried to take a bit of a reprieve from the constant news coverage of Sunday's stabbing by providing some solid programming. Hopefully, we were able to accomplish that for our listeners.

After a bit of a false start, we were able to visit a bit with Claire Lynch, as she wanted to make folks aware of her appearance with bandmade Jason Thomas last night at the Salem Barn (a venue operated by the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association). Hopefully, many of you were able to enjoy that show.

While we didn't focus too much on new music, we still tried to put together a decent mix of the new and the not-quite-as-new. Hope you can join us once again next Sunday, 10/25 on the ol' WHUS airwaves from 4-7PM.

Amy

REQUESTS ARE RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
Freight Train Blues / Bill Harrell & the Virginians / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
Your Love Is Dying / Reno & Smiley / Sweethearts In Heaven / Bear Family
Standing Room Only / Stanley Brothers / Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown / King
I Washed Your Love From My Heart / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
Have You Come To Say Goodbye / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems /
The Day That Lester Died / Claire Lynch / Crowd Favorites / Rounder
Ocean Of Diamonds / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
I’ll Have To Make Some Changes / Barry Berrier / First Time With Feeling / Pinecastle
Putnam Valley Flash / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
Brand New Heartache / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes / Skaggs Family
One Door Away / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
My Smokey Mountain Home / Bill Emerson with Wayne Taylor / Reunion / Webco
Foggy River / Ricky Skaggs / Ricky Skaggs Solo : Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
One Step Ahead Of The Blues / Rhonda Vincent / Ragin’ Live / Rounder
Pikearoo / Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / Pike Brothers & the Pine Hill Ranchers / Rebel
Randy Lynn Rag / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Essential Earl Scruggs / Columbia
Teardrops In My Eyes / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
Whispering Waters / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Audie Blaylock & Redline / Rural Rhythm
Whispering Sea / Stan Keach / /
My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Great Day In The Mornin’ / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
I Thought That She Loved Me / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Leave Me The Way I Am / Sawmill Road / Fire On The Kettle / Self-Produced
Picture Me There / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
Born To Be With You / J.D. Crowe / Blackjack / Rebel
Wreckin’ The Train / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
Waltz Medley / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
Call Me Up And I’ll Come Callin’ On You / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely Street / Rounder
Pitkin County Turnaround / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Big, Big Heartaches / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Holdin’ On When You’ve Let Go / Crowe Brothers / Brothers-n-Harmony / Rural Rhythm
Ghost Of A Love / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business / Mountain Roads Recordings
Ashes Of Love / The Radio Gang / Two Different Roads / Fishtraks
Will You Be Loving Another Man / Tim Graves & Cherokee / Prodigal Son / C & L Entertainment
Sister / Gold Heart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
Smoke Along The Track / Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers / Rambler’s Call / Self-Produced
The Wishing Well / Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass Records
Where The Smoke Goes Up (And The Money Goes Down) / Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rebel
The Cheshire Tragedy / Bear Minimum / / Self-Produced
Better Get In That Number / Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self-Produced
Old Country Church / Darren Beachley / Sad Songs And Sunday Mornings / MasterShield Records
You Must Come In At The Door / Doc Watson / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
When We All Get To Heaven / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm
God’s Coloring Book / Country Gentlemen / The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
I Can Tell You The Time / Johnson Mountain Boys / Johnson Mountain Boys / Rounder
Lord Lift Me Up / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning / Hot Rize / Traditional Ties / Sugar Hill
Happy On My Way / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Sugar Hill
Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Claire Lynch in the area (and on the air!)

2009-10-15T12:41:00.005-04:00

It seems like Claire Lynch has been playing quite a few dates in New England for the past year or so. Add a couple more gigs to her New England playlist this weekend, when she performs on Saturday in Shirley, MA and on Sunday, October 18th at the Salem Barn in Salem, CT. This show will be a bit different from a "regular" Claire Lynch Band gig, as it will feature just Claire and her guitar along with multi-instrumentalist and bandmate, Jason Thomas. As with all of the Salem Barn shows (sponsored by the CT Bluegrass Music Association), you will need to email ctbma@yahoo.com to be put on the reservation list. Showtime is 7:30PM. For more information, visit the CTBMA website by clicking here and scrolling down to October 18th.

Before the show starts in Salem, Claire will be joining us via phone at the Bluegrass Cafe. Be sure to tune in around 5PM to hear Claire as she tells us about her fine new Rounder CD ("Whatcha Gonna Do") and whatever else she'd like to talk about!

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 10/11/2009

2009-10-12T12:53:00.017-04:00

Hi Folks.

I was all by myself for this show because Marti was doing mid-term grades, but I had a great time bringing you songs from many of the great new releases that have arrived in recent weeks.

One of the outstanding new releases is a new CD of the songs of Cullen Galyean titled "Born Into Bluegrass".

Mr. Galyean is a pioneering bluegrass artist from the Galax VA/Mt. Airy NC area who has written many great songs (one you can find on Audie Blaylock's latest CD). The CD features 15 songs from the pen of Cullen Galyean performed by Junior Sisk, Terry Baucom, Johnny Williams, Rick Allred, Jimmy Haley, Cullen Galyean, his son Mickey Galyean, and other great musicians. Included is Mr. Galyean's winning banjo performance at the first bluegrass festival at Fincastle, Virgina in 1965.

By the way, "Galyean" is pronounced like a Spanish galleon. I called Mr. Galyean in Low Gap, NC, just prior to the show to make sure I pronounced it correctly. He is in the phone book. (I love bluegrass!)

Other recent releases featured were from Sam Bush, Gold Heart, Grasstowne, Jeff & Vida, Jim Lauderdale, Claire Lynch, Buddy Merriam, Ross Nickerson, Lou Reid, Southern Rail, the Steep Canyon Rangers, Adam Steffey, and Bill Yates. I also featured a song from a CD titled "North To Ontario 2009" which appears to be songs from bluegrass artists in Ontario, Canada. Nice CD.

Also, to reprise Steve Martin's performance the previous Monday night with the Steep Canyon Rangers on Dave Letterman, I played the song "Saga Of The Old West" from Martin's CD, "The Crow."

I have to commend our listeners for the many great requests. One of every five songs on this show was listener-requested.

Remember Don Reno who passed away October 16, 1984.

Amy will make the banjos and fiddles ring next Sunday, so tune in 4-7 pm ET.

Jim Beaver

requests in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-produced
Roll On Buddy, Roll On / Sam Bush w / Del McCoury / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
Don't Wake Me Up / Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
Have Mercy / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Judy Lou / Various Artists - Junior Sisk, Johnny Williams, Cullen Gaylean / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
Angel Band / The Stanley Brothers / The Definitive Collection (1947-1966) / Time Life
Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar / Bryan Sutton and Friends / Almost Live / Sugar Hill
Don't Throw Mama's Flowers Away / Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
There Is A Trap / The Gillis Brothers / Live / Self-produced
Barbed Wire Boys / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Hobo On A Freight Train / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Railway Records
Batchin' It / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad
Let Me Fall / Dudley Connell and Laurie Lewis / Masters of the Banjo / Arhoolie
Out On The Ocean / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
The Legend Of The Rebel Soldier / The Country Gentlemen / Classic Bluegrass Collection Volume 2 / Time Life
One More For The Road / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Branded Wherever I Go / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
All She Wrote / Jim Lauderdale / Could We Get Any Closer? / Sky Crunch
Leaving Baker County / Junior Sisk / Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Rebel
Apple Jack / Pam Gadd featuring Dolly Parton / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway
Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys / The Music Of Bill Monroe from 1936 to 1994 / MCA
My Friend Clyde / The Spinney Brothers / If I Were Your Brother / Self-produced
Boxcar Blues / Jeff & Vida / Selma Chalk / Rosebank Records
Alabama / Marianne Girard / North To Ontario 2009 / Independent
Kentucky Mandolin / Ross Nickerson / Lets Kick Some Ass / Bones Records
Traded The Bottle For A Bible / Various Artists - Johnny Williams / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
Turn Up The Bottle / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Show Me The Way To Go Home / Various Artists - Mickey Gaylean, Brad Hiatt / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Gaylean / Mountain Roads
Always Have, Always Will / Brandon Rickman / Young Man, Old Soul / Rural Rhythm
Somebody's Missin' You / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
Hard Rock Mountain Prison ('Till I Die) / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Self-titled / Rural Rhythm
In Despair / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
What Can I Do? / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
The Window Up Above / The Stanley Brothers / Folk Festival / Independent
Sad Wind Sighs / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
Little Willie / Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can't You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
Sing A Little Louder / Gold Heart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
Grand Ole Opry Song / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Jimmy Martin / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Capitol
Hard Workin' Man / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Saga Of The Old West / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Meet Me Over On The Other Side / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute (Volume II) / Self-produced
Saints Go Marching In / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Bluegrass At the Roots 1961 / Smithonian Folkways
Rock Of Ages / The Osborne Brothers / Essential Bluegrass - Bluegrass Gospel / Pinecastle
Is She Praying There / Mac Martin / Get In Line Brother (Various Artist Compilation) / Rural Rhythm
Where Will I Shelter My Sheep / Danny Paisley / Little Old Country Church House (Compilation) / Wango
I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap / Reno & Smiley and The Tennessee Cut-ups / 1951/1959 / King
Carry It Back To The Cross / Various Artists - Mickey Galyean, Greg Jones, Brad Hiatt / Born Into Bluegrass - The Songs of Cullen Galyean / Mountain Roads
Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven / Tommy Brown & The County Line Grass / Hard Drivin' / Lavenir
When My Time Has Come To Go / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Angels Rejoiced - Bluegrass Gospel Live In Holland / Strictly Country
Don't You Wanna Go To Heaven / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / The Best of The Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/4/2009

2009-10-06T12:06:00.004-04:00

'Twas another busy Sunday at the ol' BG Cafe. The show ran its full three hours this week, so that was a good thing, and we sure didn't run out of great music to play in that timespan.

As the IBMA Awards were given out on Thursday, October 1st, we played a few tunes from some of the winners. Congratulations to all of them! We paid special tribute to the two Hall of Honor recipients for 2009: the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and the Dillards. How many people got their first taste of BG by seeing the Darling Boys (a/k/a the Dillards) on a few episodes of the "Andy Griffith Show?" I'm sure there have been studies of this somewhere, but the number of folks exposed to BG through Mayberry has GOT to be pretty high...

To see a full list of IBMA Award winners, click here.

To stay a bit with the IBMA Awards theme, we also played five of tunes that have been voted "Song of the Year" over the past 20 (!) years. There were definitely a few tunes that we played that I personally had not heard in a long, long time, so that was fun.

As for new music, we revisited some of the newer discs we'd received over the past month or so, including tunes from the Steep Canyon Rangers, Bill Yates & Friends, the Hagar's Mountain Boys, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Southern Rail, Ricky Skaggs, Gold Heart, the Grass Cats, and Grasstowne. We also featured brand-spanking-new music from the likes of Sam Bush ("Circles Around Me" on Sugar Hill) and Dailey & Vincent (an a cappella CD called "Singing From The Heart," which D&V started recording in 2001 as a benefit for the Tennessee Bible College; the CD is distributed by Rounder Records). And speaking of older music being reissued, a fine recording made by Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys in the mid-1980s is once again available, this time on Rounder. Dr. Ralph is in fine form on this CD, and the Clinch Mountain Boys of the mid-80s are great, too: Charlie Sizemore on guitar & lead vocals, Junior Blankenship on lead guitar, Curley Ray Cline on the fiddle, and Jack Cooke on bass. It just doesn't get much better than that.

We mixed in a few requests, too -- those are noted in RED in the playlist below.

Be sure to join Jim & Marti next Sunday -- I'm sure Jim has something great in store for you. I'll be talking to you again in a couple of weeks.

Until then, have a great week -
Amy

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
The Old Home Place / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
You Broke Your Promise / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
Never See My Home Again / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
Pain In My Heart / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
Jerusalem Ridge / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin’ Town / Rounder
East Kentucky Home / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
Proud To Be A Daughter Of Bluegrass / Daughters Of Bluegrass / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
Knee Deep In The Blues / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Rural Rhythm
I’d Rather Love You / Chris Jones & the Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
AppleJack / Pam Gadd with Dolly Parton / Benefit Of Doubt / Home Sweet Highway Productions
The Year That Clayton Delaney Died / Charlie Sizemore / The Story Is… The Songs Of Tom T. Hall / Rebel
Who’s Going Down To Town / Vern Williams Band / Bluegrass From The Gold Country / Rounder
No Mother Or Dad / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
Never Get To Hold You In My Arms Anymore / White Mountain Bluegrass / Oh So Many Years / Self-Produced
Wall Around Your Heart / Reno & Smiley / Classic Bluegrass / King
Come Walk With Me / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / One Morning In May / Rounder
Little Annie / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
I’m Bound To Ride / Larry Sparks / Bound To Ride / Rebel
I’m Coming Back But I Don’t Know When / Curley Seckler with Jimmy Martin / 60 Years Of Bluegrass With My Friends / Copper Creek
Wasted Words / Johnson Mountain Boys / Live At The Birchmere / Rounder
Doin’ My Time / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
Darby’s Castle / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute, Volume II / MasterShield Records
There Ain’t No Easy Street / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Detour / Grass Cats / A Good Way To Get The Blues / New Time Records
You Left Me Alone / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
The Ballad Of Stringbean And Estelle / Sam Bush / Circles Around Me / Sugar Hill
High Lonesome Sound / Vince Gill with Alison Krauss & Union Station / Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, Volume 22 / KBC
Kentucky Borderline / Rhonda Vincent / One Step Ahead / Rounder
Cold Virginia Night / Ronnie Bowman / Cold Virginia Night / Rebel
Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
Don’t Let Your Sweet Love Die / Lost & Found / Love, Lost & Found / Rebel
Chasing Lightning Bugs / Gold Heart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
Left Handed Dreamer / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
My Friend Clyde / Spinney Brothers / If I Were Your Brother / Self-Produced
Two Hours Down / Rick Hayes / Fly By Night / Kang Records
I’ll Go To My Grave Lovin’ You / Special Consensus / Signs / Pinecastle
When You Go Walking After Midnight / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Can’t You Hear The Mountains Calling / Rounder
Hide Me, Rock Of Ages / Dailey & Vincent / Singing From The Heart / Rounder
Goin’ Up / Blackstone Valley Bluegrass / Debut / Self-Produced
I Love To Tell The Story / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Railway Records
Salvation Of The Lord / Grasstowne / The Other Side Of Towne / Pinecastle
Sinners, You’d Better Get Ready / Ricky Skaggs / Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
Lord, Don’t Leave Me Here / Hagar’s Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-Produced
Gotta Travel On / Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys / Anthology / MCA
The Automobile Of Life / Bear Minimum / / Self-Produced
Gone Home / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill
I’m Travelin’ On And On / Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys / Columbia

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 9/27/2009

2009-09-28T10:59:00.002-04:00

Sunday's show was of the condensed variety, as WHUS broadcast a Men's Soccer game beginning at 6PM. This may happen from time to time throughout the soccer season, but we'll try to keep you posted when we know it's coming...

Anyhow, in our 2-hour show, we took a quick preview of some of the big nominees for this week's IBMA Awards (to be given out in ceremonies on October 1st), and played just a teeny bit of great new music from the likes of the Steep Canyon Rangers (their fourth CD from Rebel Records is called "Deep In The Shade") and Bill Yates & Friends ("Country Gentlemen Tribute, Volume II" on MasterShield). There were a couple of fine new independent releases, too, from singer-songwriter Billy Boone Smith ("Live From The Moose Lodge"), a North Carolina group known as the Hagar's Mountain Boys ("Forever Yours"), and an all-instrumental recording from Long Island bandleader, Buddy Merriam ("Back Roads Bluegrass"). Time wouldn't allow us to play more than one tune from each of these fine recordings, but we'll get to more in future weeks, I'm certain...

We still managed to squeeze in a couple of requests, too -- thanks to everyone for calling. We're always curious to know what listeners really WANT to hear. Don't be shy -- give us a call during the show at (860)486-9487 or drop an email request anytime to bgcafe@gmail.com.

I'll join you once again on October 3rd -- this time for 3 big hours of BG, I'm pretty sure.

Have a good week -
Amy

REQUESTS ARE RED.

Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rocky Grass / Blue Planet
When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
White House Blues / Don Reno & Bill Harrell / 20 Bluegrass Favorites / Rural Rhythm
This Morning At Nine / Jimmy Gaudreau’s Bluegrass Unit / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
The Sky Is Weeping / Virginia Squires / The Best Of The Virginia Squires / Rebel
Girl In The Valley / Dailey & Vincent / Brothers From Different Mothers / Rounder
Keep On Walkin’ / Daughters Of Bluegrass with Jeanette Williams / Bluegrass Bouquet / Blue Circle
Leaving Baker County / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Rebel
Who Showed Who / Dan Tyminski / Wheels / Rounder
Iron & Diamonds / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill
Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
Don’t Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
Muleskinner Blues / Muleskinner / A Potpourri Of Bluegrass Jam / DBK Works
I’m Feeling For You (But I Can’t Reach You) / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin’ Town / Rounder
Pick Along / Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson & Ricky Skaggs / The Three Pickers / Sugar Hill
I Won’t Be Far From Here / Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
Air Mail Special On The Fly / Kenny Smith / Flatpicking Bluegrass / FGM Records
Tears On My Tracks / Billy Boone Smith / Live At The Moose Lodge / Muddy Sunshine
Call Of The Wild / Hagar’s Mountain Boys / Forever Yours / Self-Produced
Spirit Of Rosine / Buddy Merriam / Back Roads Mandolin / Lily Pad Records
The Old Pine Tree / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute, Volume II / MasterShield Records
Have Mercy / Steep Canyon Rangers / Deep In The Shade / Rebel
Pitkin County Turnaround / Steve Martin / The Crow / Rounder
Boogie Grass Band / Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition / Portfolio / Self-Produced
Never Again / Stanley Brothers / Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown / King
Leave Me The Way I Am / Sawmill Road / Fire On The Kettle / SMR Records
Old Kentucky Shore / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business / Mountain Roads Recordings
Cabin On The Hill / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Classic Bluegrass Live / Vanguard
God Reached Down / David Parmley & Continental Divide / Three Silver Dollars / Pinecastle
Old Country Church / The Radio Gang / Two Different Roads / Fishtraks
The Room Over Mine / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 9/20/2009

2009-09-22T23:04:00.007-04:00

Most of this show was dedicated to newer releases that have graced our mailbox in recent months. The most recent of those included CDs from Claire Lynch, Adam Steffey, Southern Rail, Too High String Band, Monroe Crossing, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff & Vida, Lou Reid and Carolina, Brandon Rickman, Mike Jackson, Gold Heart, Chris Jones, Ricky Skaggs, and Tim Graves.

We also had a delightful interview with Becky Buller -- half of the Valerie Smith and Becky Buller duo as well as a member of Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike. Becky informed our listeners who might be attending IBMA about the "Dare To Be Different" event next Sunday, September 27th, in Bell Buckle just prior to the WOB activities, and told us a bit about Bell Buckle and the most recent CD from Valerie and Becky ("Here's A Little Song...")

Heritage Corner focused on our gospel segment and included songs from Carter and Ralph Stanley, Joe Val, Carl Story, and Jim Greer.

Amy will make the banjos and fiddles ring for the next couple of weeks, so be sure to tune in to hear the best in bluegrass!

Jim & Marti

requests in blue

Song / Artist / Album / Label

Fire On The Mountain / Michael Cleveland / Sawing On The "C" String / Self-produced
Deep Rough / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
My Florida Sunshine / Claire Lynch / Whatcha Gonna Do / Rounder
Prisoner Of The Highway / Southern Rail / On The Road From Appomattox / Railway Records
Let Me Fall / Adam Steffey / One More For The Road / Sugar Hill
Winter's Come And Gone / Red Wine / Winter's Come And Gone / Self-produced
Ferris Wheel / Two High String Band / Hot Texas Bluegrass Burrito / Self-produced
Rock Bottom / The Gillis Brothers / Best Of The Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler
Twenty-Two Years / The Gillis Brothers / Live / Self-produced
Heartache And Stone / Monroe Crossing / Heartache & Stone / Self-produced
Almost Satisfied / Jim Lauderdale / Could We Get Any Closer? / Sky Crunch
Heartache Train / Jeff & Vida / Selma Chalk / Rosebank Records
Two Highways / Alison Krauss and Union Station / Classic Bluegrass Collection Volume 2 / Time Life
I'd Worship You / Lonesome River Band / No Turning Back / Rural Rhythm
Little John, I Am / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Rural Rhythm
She's More To Be Pitied / Lou Reid & Carolina / My Own Set Of Rules / Rural Rhythm
Always Have, Always Will / Brandon Rickman / Young Man, Old Soul / Rural Rhythm
I Got A Letter / Valerie Smith & Becky Buller / Here's A Little Song… / Bell Buckle
Interview with Becky Buller
Whisper Baby / Valerie Smith & Becky Buller / Here's A Little Song… / Bell Buckle
Farm Of Yesterday / The Gibson Brothers / Ring The Bell / Compass
Coat Of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / Live And Well / Sugar Hill
It's Never Yesterday With You / Mike Jackson / When We Goin' Back / Red Oak Records
Skip Hop Wobble / Patrick McAvinue / Rutland's Reel / Patuxent
Another Day, Another Dollar / Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers / Rambler's Call / Self-produced
Meet Uncle Bud (comedy) / John Boy & Billy / Dixie Diner / Self-produced
Three Silver Dollars / David Parmley & Continental Divide / 3 Silver Dollars / Pinecastle
Little Bit Of This, Little Bit Of That / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Rebel
The Only Wind That Blows / Liz Meyer / The Storm / Strictly Country
Grin and Bear It / Gold Heart / My Sisters And Me / Rural Rhythm
Hillbilly Goddess / Alecia Nugent / Hillbilly Goddess / Rounder
Darlin' Corey / Red Molly / Red Molly / Self-produced
Tall Pines / Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands / Live / Spruce & Maple
One Door Away / Chris Jones & The Night Drivers / Cloud Of Dust / GSM Records
My Love For You Grows / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes III - Don't Believe / Skaggs Family
Pickin' In Caroline / Ricky Skaggs / Solo - Songs My Dad Loved / Skaggs Family
John Wilkes Booth / Tony Rice / Night Flyer / Rounder
Yesterday's Songs / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Lonely Street / Rounder
Second Chances / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
Roll On Blues / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Rural Rhythm
Ruby Ann / Tim Graves & Cherokee / Prodigal Son / C&L Entertainment
The Gospel Way / Kristin Scott Benson / Second Season / Pinecastle
Heaven / Dale Ann Bradley / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass
My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan's Land / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin', Praisin' & Singin' / Rural Rhythm
Will He Wait A Little Longer / James King / Gardens In The Sky / Rounder
Soul Of Man Never Dies / Nothin' Fancy / Lord Bless This House / Pinecastle
Standing In The Need Of Prayer / Stanley Brothers / Little Old Country Church House / Wango
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / Angels Rejoiced - Live In Holland / Strictly Country
He Will Set Your Fields On Fire / Carl Story / The Late and Great - 1916-1995 / Kingdom
I Like To Hear Them Preach It / Jim Greer & The Mac-O-Chee Valley Boys / Get In Line Brother / Rural Rhythm
Gloryland / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys / Feel Like My Time Ain't Long (collection) / Rebel
The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / The Best of The Gillis Brothers / Hay Holler

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 9/13/2009 Monroe's Birthday

2009-09-14T23:14:00.007-04:00

With this particular show falling on what would have been William Smith Monroe's 98th birthday, we simply made the whole show a tribute to the man who gave us the reason to bring you a bluegrass program in the first place.

Everything we played was either written by, performed by, written about, or related to Bill Monroe - The Father of Bluegrass Music.

Big thanks go to Dick Bowden who dropped by and donated a "Rank Stranglers" poster for us to give away (congratulations Barbara!). Dick also tried to stump the DJ with a request for an obscure Monroe song ("Sailor's Plea") that we miraculously were able to find. Thanks Dick!

Barbara, our poster winner, also requested anything by John Hartford related to Bill Monroe, and we found the ultimate song ("Old Riverman") -- John and Bill singing together -- to close the show.

Thank you all for listening, and especially thank you to the folks calling in requests.

Marti and I will be back next week, so tune in 4-7 pm ET when we'll make the banjos and fiddles ring. We may even have a special guest join us by phone.

Jim & Marti

Blue Grass Breakdown / Bill Monroe / 16 Gems / Columbia Legacy
Uncle Pen / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
Heavy Traffic Ahead / Bill Monroe / 16 Gems / Columbia Legacy
Kentucky Waltz / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin' / Lonesome River Band / Carrying The Tradition / Rebel
Y'all Come / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
Sailor's Plea / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
On And On / Jack Cooke / Sittin' On Top Of The World / Pinecastle
Kentucky King / Larry Cordle, Glen Duncan, and Lonesome Standard Time / self-titled / Sugar Hill
Dog House Blues / Nashville Bluegrass Band / My Native Home / Rounder
Blue And Lonesome / Seldom Scene / Scene It All / Sugar Hill
She's Young (And I'm Growing Old) / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Live At The Birchmere / Rounder
Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine / Billy & Terry Smith / Bill Monroe Tribute / K-Tel
You'd Better Get Right / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
Tennessee Blues / Ricky Skaggs & Tony Rice / Ricky Skaggs & Tony Rice / Sugar Hill
My Little Georgia Rose / Ricky Skaggs And Friends feat. Travis Tritt / Songs Of Bill Monroe / Lyric Street
Goin' Back To Old Kentucky / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder / Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass / Skaggs Family
New Mule Skinner Blues / Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys / Live At The Opry / MCA
Katy Hill / The Osborne Brothers / Live In Germany / Pinecastle
White House Blues / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
Road To Columbus / James Reams, Walter Hensley and the Barons of Bluegrass / Wild Card / Mountain Redbird
The Bluest Man In Town / Del McCoury / By Request / McCoury Music
In The Pines / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / My Dixie Home / Wango
Body And Soul / Patrick McAvinue / Rutland's Reel / Patuxent Music
Is The Grass Any Bluer / Rhonda Vincent / The Storm Still Rages / Rounder
When You Are Lonely / Monroe Crossing / Heart Ache & Stone / self-produced
Can't You Hear Me Calling / Boone Creek / One Way Track / Sugar Hill
Molly And Tenbrooks / Bill Monroe / Two Days At Newport / And More Bears
Dark As The Night Blue As The Day / Dave Evans and River Bend / The Best Of The Vetco Years / Rebel
Midnight On The Stormy Deep / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1959-1969 / Bear Family
All The Good Times Are Past And Gone / Bill Monroe / Blue Grass 1959-1969 / Bear Family
Goodbye Old Pal / Blue & Lonesome / Some Old Day / self-produced
Jerusalem Ridge / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Leavin' Town / Rounder
I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling / Balsam Range / Marching Home / Mountain Home
My Long Journey Home / The Monroe Brothers (Charlie & Bill) / Bill Monroe - Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
What Is Home Without Love / The Monroe Brothers (Charlie & Bill) / Bill Monroe - Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
Have A Feast Here Tonight / The Monroe Brothers (Charlie & Bill) / Bill Monroe - Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Bear Family
Oh Death / Charlie Monroe & Zeke Morris / I'm Old Kentucky Bound / Bear Family
Six White Horses / Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys / Mule Skinner Blues / BMG-RCA
Brown County Breakdown / Alan Munde Gazette / Made To Last / Munde's Child
What Would You Give In Exchange / Wade Mainer's Mountaineers (sic) / Wade Mainer's Mountaineers Vol I 1935-1936 / Old Homestead
Old Cross Road Is Waitin' / Bill Monroe / 16 Gems / Columbia / Legacy
Get Down On Your Knees And Pray / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Live At The Birchmere / Rounder
Shake My Mother's Hand For Me / Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys / Mule Skinner Blues / BMG-RCA
Mansions For Me / Jeremy Stephens & Tom Mindte / Old Time Duets / Patuxent
I'm Working On A Building / Bill Monroe And The Blue Grass Boys / Live Recordings 1956-1969 / Smithsonian Folkways
Old Riverman / Bill Monroe and John Hartford / Bill Monroe's Friends / MCA (LP)