Hi folks,
I wrote the final transcription for the Bear Family complete UDM. I learned a lot of Uncle Dave's songs personally from Mr. Kirk McGee who helped me sort out lyrics that I couldn't hear at the time. I lived around Nashille for 20 odd years and played old-time music for ten years with The Stillhouse Reelers a fine four-piece string band. I am a two-time National Old-Time Banjo Champeen (Uncle Dave Macon Days) and still play Macon and McGee tune every day. I spent several months on the record project and believe it to be about as complete as it can be (bar the typos from Bear Family). It certainly made a difference that I lived there and knew well that part of the country, as well as having the fabulous opportunity to met and play with a number of Opry old-timers (Herman Crook and Lewis Crook, Sid Harkreader, Deford Bailey, Omer Forrster, Blythe Poteete and many others of that generation). It didn't hurt as well that I married a girl whose family first settled that part of Tennessee in the 1790s. Some of the tunes I listened to 3 or 4 hours a day for a solid week to try and understand the meaning of the lyrics, but I got 'em! I hope now that there is a compendium of Uncle Dave's songs that you all sing 'em loud and often. That is how to keep their memories alive.

Sorry for buttin' in,
Paul Ritscher