A revisit to the Music Thread

[Bruce Cohen]

Back before the day of the “Great Database Meltdown” or to be known forever as “BGDMD”, there was a thread about what music one listened to while running some perfectly good wood.

As slow as I am, I missed posting to it.

Well. I’ve been thing about that thread and since then, I’ve been introduced to the following people:

Steve Earl,
Ralph Stanley,
James McMurtry,
Iris Dememt, and
Delbert McClinton.

Now living mainly most of my life in the east Coast and for the most part, being a confirmed Yankee, I do know some about music that comes from places other than NY, London and California.

What got me thinking is “Wow these people are really something and they all have more than 2 or 3 albums recorded”. H**l, I’ve been missing out on some real good music.

I have two questions,

Are these people really that popular outside of NY (no one has ever heard of them) and

Can anyone suggest more artists to listen to along these lines?

Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Bruce

[Warren]

If you want Ralph Stanley in the original get a couple the Stanley Brothers albums. Iris Dement writes a lot her own stuff and I really enjoy her. If you want a different Dement sound she is featured on four cuts on John Prine album "In Spite of Ourselves."

If you're up for a little education in "Bluegrass" music tune the WSM webcast on your computer. Sunday evening, 9 to midnight (cst) you can listen to the "Orange Possum Special" which is hosted by Hairl Hensley, one of the most knowledgable people around when it come to Bluegrass.

See if you can find some "Reno and Stanley" recordings. Don Reno's son, Ronny, hosts a segment on an RFD-TV cable program titled "Reno's Oldtime Music Festival" which features a lot of old and some new Bluegrass singers and bands. I don't have access to cable but, I've known Ronny for yers and his dad is one of the father's of Bluegrass and the acorn didn't fall far from the tree. Ronny and his brothers still tour and record. They stay pretty true to their roots so I thinnk the show would expose you to a lot of names you wouldn't hear in NY. Don Reno was with Bill Monroe at the start as were a lot of pickers and singers who went on to become stars in their right.

Sorry to get so wordy but, when I hear soeone expressing an interest in Bluegrass I gotta speakup.

[smc331]

Some suggestions...

A rather eclectic mix you have, so I'll try to list a similarly interesting melange:

Pinmonkey
Nickel Creek
Hot Rize
Michelle Malone
Niacin
Rite of Strings
Gillian Welch
Allison Moorer
Alison Krause & Union Station
Patty Loveless
Del McCoury Band

...must stop now, or I'll be up all night listening to music!

[dbarnett]

I must live under a rock....

I have never heard any of these musicians in the previous two threads, and I am 39. I guess I listen to Top 40 all of the time.

Dan - San Diego

[Warren]

Scott, I met lot of bluegrass and Country performers in another life when i helped produce shows. Even became friends with a couple of them. Fishing's good in Alaska and I've only found a couple of the boys that didn't love fishing.

Bruce: Scott mentiioned Alison Krause and for the life of me I don't know why I omitted her. She's one of the purest and, at times, most innovative performers doing Bluegrass and Appalachian music around today. Emmy Lou Harris can do it right most of the time also. It's where her roots are but,she likes to go mainstream sometimes and other times God only knows where she's off to.

Also, I misspoke myself when I suggested Reno and Stanley. I should have typed Reno and Smiley. I guess I had Dr. Stanley on my mind.

Bluegrass and Appalachian music are authentic American artforms. As much as jazz is. Go to www.midwestirishradio.com, they have a couple of show which play the old irish music. You'll recognize some of the tunes and few if any of the lyrics. But, that's the roots of Bluegrass and Country music. The Scots-Irish and Irish who came over to North America in the 16 and 1700"s brought it with them. I guess that's why so many of our American singers are sometimes more popular in Ireland and Scotland than here.

Didn't mean to start a history lesson. Just go and start listening. I think your in for a real treat.

[MoldnMaker]

Bluegrass fan here too. I enjoy listening to great bluegrass on "Music from th front porch" on NPR (national public radio). I am listening to it as I type. In my area it broadcast each Saturday at 10:00am-12:00am.

Recognize most of the above and do like their great music. I would also like to say I find the fiddle one of the most soulful instrument in Irish and Bluegrass music and could listen to a good player for hours.
Just curious on others opinion on this without loosing the main purpose of the thread. Which musical instrument Bluegrass or other do you find most enjoyable?

Just to add a couple other artist not listed above, that I personally enjoy:
-

• Rhonda Vincent
• The Cox Family
• The Grascals

I may get razed for this yet....
And I'd also like to say I enjoy another artist that more people should recognize, but seems more well known for her counrty music, well endoment, and DollyWood. Dolly Pardon a great all around singer with a huge heart and a huge voice and a great Bluegrass singer. I ecspecially like her songs "Jolene" and here remake of "Heaven let your light shine down" origianlly sang by Collective Soul.

[Warren]

I'm also a fan of the fiddle but, I really focus when a good Carter style guitar picker takes the lead. A good fiddler can get my feet going so I never listen when I never listen when I'm at a tool with fast moving, metal teeth.

You're absoluely right. When Dolly reaches back to her roots her singing seems to reach higher, purer level than when she's singing pop country or mainstream. She's never bad but, sometimes she can bring a tear to your eye when she sings down home stye

We're gonna drive Bruce nuts if he tries to listen to all of the suggested artists in near future. But, he's sure gonna have fun.

[Scottydont]

I am a 44 y/o musician and have varied tastes. 80's rock, Alternative rock, blues, jazz, country, bluegrass just to name a few. My ears and my fingers (I'm a guitar man) naturally gravitates to live acoustic music.

I like watching MTV Unplugged, HBO Live, Austin City Limits, Soundstage on TV or listen to Rockline on the radio. For example Alice in Chains. I don't care much for their regular stuff but listen to the acoustic live recordings on MTV unplugged and boy I'm there.

As for specific musicians here are a few:
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Buddy Guy
Johnnie Lee Hooker
John Mayer
Kenny Wayne Sheppard
David Wilcox
Bonnie Raitt
Patty Griffin
Counting Crows
Green Day
Matchbox20
B52's
The Knack
Alicia Keys
Sheryl Crow
Allison Krause
Dixie Chicks
Doogie MacLean

I have seen most of these artists live and I am drawn to their musicianship and artistry that appeals to my accute ear that most often rejects mainstream "made for the masses" music.

[LarryG]

Ah, music. Makes the world go round!

Is that the same Steve Earle who did "Copperhead Road"? (If so, that's the only song of his with which I'm familiar.)

I've heard of Iris Dement, but that's all.

Now, Delbert, he's in my collection with a couple-three albums.

I'm 53, also a guitar player (after a fashion), and have musical tastes that run mainly to classic rock and blues, with a dabbling of Bakersfield-style country thrown in:

Classic Rock: Allmans, ARS, Beatles, CCR, Clapton, Cream, the Dead, Eagles, Foghat, Grand Funk, Hendrix, James Gang, Led Zep, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Miller, Savoy Brown, Webb Wilder, ZZ Top ... you know, pretty much all the usual suspects.

Blues: Most of the well-known cats like BB King, Mike Bloomfield, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Robert Cray, SRV, Johnny Winter, and Muddy but also many lesser-knowns such as James Armstrong, RL Burnside, Johnny Copeland, Luther Johnson, brothers Jimmy and Syl Johnson, Vance Kelly, Joe Kubek, Magic Slim, Coco Montoya, Otis Grand, Otis Rush, Sonny Rhodes, Smokey Wilson, Joe Louis Walker ... and many many more. I'd estimate about 75% of my CD collection is either blues or blues-based rock. Of that 75%, I'd say 95% or better is heavily guitar-oriented.

Country: Hank Sr., Buck, Dwight, The Derailers, Marty Stuart, and Mary-Chapin Carpenter.

A couple of personal favorites who are hard to categorize are Ry Cooder and John Hiatt. If I was picking my Ten Desert Island Discs, Cooder's "Get Rhythm" and Hiatt's "Bring The Family" would be the first two I'd grab.

[Wood_workur]

Classic rock all the way

Hmm...

Beatles
Blue Oyster Cult
Eric Clapton
Alice Cooper
Deep Purple
Foghat
Guns N Roses
Judist Preist
Kansas
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Neil Young
Ozzy
Rush
Triumph
The Who
ZZ Top

And others...

[germdoc]

I saw Iris Dement last year--great old-time country voice.

The absolute best female singer-songwriter these days is Lucinda Williams. Get her Live at Fillmore West album--she blows away most C/W singers these days.

I've been getting into REAL country music, that is, made by rebels and outlaws. Check out Gram Parsons and the Byrds' Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Check out Townes van Zandt's albums High, Low and In-between and The Late, Great Townes van Zandt. Willie Nelson has a lot of great stuff--still does good work, but I particularly like Red-Headed Stranger and Stardust. Also old Kris Kristofferson.

I've been filling out my Elvis Costello collection recently--he's been getting more alt-country these days. I'd vote him as the best lyricist of all time. Great songwriter and performer.

[Bruce Cohen]

First, thanks to those of you who suggested a bucket full of music to get into, hopefully I'll be able to hear most of them before I die,

Warren, many thanks for the lengthy reply, perhaps I gave the opinion that I had no Bluegrass Background. In college I was into The Country Gentlemen, Flatt & Scruggs, Hedy West, Jean Richie and The West Maryland Highballers, besides the usual bluegrass NY college kids listened to in the late ‘60’s.

I do own a few Allison Krauss & Union Station Cds along with 3 or 4 Tim O’Brien Albums. If you’re into Irish music, check out a group named “Nightnoise”. They were popular during the “New Age” trend. I’ve got all their Cds, you might not be able to find too many out there, but if you find you like them, email me, and I’ll help you out (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

What confused me is that the artists I mentioned don’t see to fall into any category? I wouldn’t consider them Bluegrass and it seems a reach to call them country, but I guess that’s where their at. Somehow, living in NY, Country Music brings to mind Waylon Jennings, and Tammy Winette. Good, but not too much my taste.

Scott (smc331),
Your list is really different, with a very few exceptions, I never heard of any of them, I got to check them out in the next few days. Thanks

MoldnMaker, Thanks for the heads up on NPR, never knew they played Bluegrass.

Scotty don’t,

Your blues list seems to only be missing Victoria Spivey and Sippie Wallace. These are two excellent ladies from the 30’s, and Victoria Spivey was from Brooklyn, NY. She couldn’t get a label in the east to record her so she started her own company. Of course, the name was Spivey Records and if you can find any original 78’s, you might be able to retire.

And now I finally get to answer the question of what I listen to in the shop: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Warren Zevon, Little Feat and the Allman Brothers, AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE.

The H**l with the neighbors, they hate me anyway.

Bruce

[germdoc]

I would highly recommend the soundtracks to O Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain. Also new soundtrack to Brokeback Mtn. is good, even with Willie's "friendly cowboy" song.

FYI Nightnoise was formed by Kevin Burke and Michael O'Domnaihl (?sp)--prev. with the Bothy Band. Their old stuff is legendary and well worth checking out.

Which reminds me about another brilliant but often overlooked musician, Richard Thompson, founding member of Fairport Convention. What all the above have in common is great songwriting, poetic lyrics and great musicianship--pretty rare in music these days.

[Bruce Cohen]

Jeff,
Thanks for the answers. I've been into Iris Dement, Lucinda Williams, and I own one very worn copy (in Vinyl) of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. Also, I'm hooked on Townes van Zandt, Lowell George and Ry Cooder. Never could get into Willie's stuff.

Check out New Riders of the Purple Sage (wirh Jerry Garcia, Spencer Dryden and Mickey Hart), Patty Griffin and Cowboy Junkies both singularly and collectively, real good stuff
Again thanks for the reply.

Bruce

[jobucks]

This thread reminds me of music and the old homestead

Boys, not being "sarcastic" being a little honest, this thread reminded me of the old homestead, Peavine Rd. Crossville, TN. And Momma and fried bread, hocks and beans. And after the meal, family and neighbors getting on the porch for a little music. A banjo, fiddle, wash board, spoons, a saw, and jews harp. And once the first little brown jug was empty, someone blowing on it. Brings a little mist to the eye and twang to the heart.

Anywho, noticed that no one mentioned:
Flatt & Scruggs
Mac Wiseman
Wright Brothers

Or how about Jimmie Rogers or Tommy Collins?

Someone did mention Miss Dolly.(Parton) Think of her music when she and sisters/family were still around the Sevierville, TN. area before she made the trip to Ft. Lenard Wood, MO. (actually Waynesville, MO.) to join Porter Wagoner. She and family used to do the full version (about 5 or 6 minutes) of the song "Barbara Allen." Upbeat but would still put a tear in your beer if you listened to the words.

Up the "time ladder" someone did mention Iris Dement with John Prine. Listen to some of Prine's music, some a throw back to his "down home" days. Especially the song "Paradise" talking about Muelenburg County, KY.
About the same time frame, "modern blue-grass" you had Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and then Ricky Scaggs. That boys version of "Rocky Top" (Rocky Top, TN.) with mandolin and uke was right down home. And others from him and Buck Trent.

Bruce, if your ears are liking this music, too bad you aren't a neighbor and lived next door. You could come over and listen to some of it as we made some saw dust. And if you wonder how some "po' folks" lived, and want to bring a smile to you lips, listen to a copy of Sheb Wolly's "That's My Pa."